Teachers, how are you surviving? I understand that everyone needs an education but the behaviours are seriously out of control. In the last week I have been hit, weed on, huge tantrums, class tipped upside down and one of my students kicked and another one hit. All by 2 kids. I have 20 amazing kids and 2 severe behaviours that seriously make me question why I do it and if it’s worth it.
I agree all kids need an education but far out, we need supports in place at school like dedicated behaviour units that specialise in helping students that don’t cope in the main stream classroom. There is only so much differentiating we can do.
I’m exhausted and emotional and it’s only week 3. I don’t know if I can keep going on. Something seriously needs to change or this teaching crisis is about to get severe.
This is a place where women from different backgrounds, cultures and beliefs come together to support one another judgement free.
7 Replies
How awful for you and I don’t know how you do it. This all starts at home and it’s shocking to think kids can treat people like this. I tell my kids all the time how hard teachers work and that they are to be respected and appreciated weather they like the class or not. The horror stories I hear from my kids about the things that students do or call teachers, I can’t believe it. I couldn’t do it and then come home to my own kids. It’s no life, it would be mentally draining and I can’t stand disrespectful kids. Just know that I am a mum who appreciates my kids teachers everyday and make sure my kids do too.
A child I know like this ended up being suspended for every incident to the point he was never at school. The school had just had enough. That was high school though and its sad it gets to that point because he really should have got the help when he was younger to avoid that. You are also so right about some kids not fitting into main stream schooling but there's nothing really out there for kids with severe behaviour problems. There's a few great programs around the country but they are small and run by volunteers, there needs to be something in every area run by the states. You haven't said the year for your class. If they are younger please suggest they are evaluated for being on the spectrum or behaviour disorders so they can receive extra help which will make your life easier as well as future teachers.
I’m the OP, it’s a primary setting. One of the kids is diagnosed the other has trauma. It’s so hard for them as well trying to hold in the meltdowns. I totally agree that there needs to be more support for these kids needing behaviour support. I think there should be a social emotional classroom in every primary school dedicated to helping kids needing behaviour support.
It’s hard for them, it’s hard for the kids in the class as well, and it’s super hard for the teachers, I wake up and am just in a state of fight mode all the time. It sucks because these are sweet kids, but we just never know what we’re walking into.
Thanks for such a nice response
This so so true and I feel
Like parents use school as a break at times and they need to be actively seeking regular treatment and medication options for their kids when they are so bad. Obviously I don’t know if these kids seek regular help but I believe there needs to be more involvement by parents and dedicated classrooms or spaces
To help
These kids. I have a friend who gets help now and then because she gets NDIS but is always accusing teachers of not doing their job. Honestly she is a lazy cow who expects the best from teachers but isn’t doing her part and creates the fear and anxiety in her kids everyday the way she acts. She puts her all stress and anxiety on to her kids then expects the teachers to pick up the mess. Yes it’s not easy for her but she can’t expect teachers to do it. She is always posting on Facebook about it and I am ready to let her have it!
Nurse here - All my friends are teachers and it isn’t easy!!
I almost changed careers for the money, but it’s better the devil you know so to speak.
Last week I was slapped, assaulted, screamed at and hit.
I agree, something needs to change.
The government isn’t listening and my friends are dropping out of the career left right and centre. (1 on stress leave).
1 of the teachers suggested opening a Steiner style school in the same grounds, having more support for the troubled children and better routine (and stops disruptive behaviours for the other children in main stream) including having nursing support in terms of medication and assistance with personal hygiene (as some of these children have severe needs ASD, non verbal etc etc) and their care workers are struggling to assist. The headmaster said no- it would be seen as segregation.
So yeah, there’s no support and no real solution. Even there was funding and government grants available for school upgrades….
*edited spelling mistakes*
OP here, this is exactly the problem….. we’re told we need to be inclusive and we can’t exclude BUT, I firmly believe that it’s not. Setting up a site with an accessible curriculum is differentiating. It’s targeting what these kids need and teaching to that. They need behaviour support, in a way that we can’t provide. We need the support as well.
Your friends idea is amazing, if only someone would ask teachers what we need!
Nursing is also a tough gig. You’re amazing.
My sons class last year was horrendous.
There were 6 kids out of 25 that were causing so many problems. Atleast 3 times a week for more than 2 hours each time my son and the other students would be evacuated onto the oval due to the behaviour of one or more of these students.
The teacher was 23 and fresh out of uni. This was her first ever class and she had no idea how to deal with it.
This caused so many issues for my child who loved school but suddenly felt very alone. His grades dropped due to the disruptions in class and the lack of attention he and the other behaving students received as the misbehaving ones took so much focus.
I feel sorry for teachers who have to deal with these issues.
Something needs to be done to support everyone (teachers, and students).