Hi teacher IMs
I’m writing to vent and look for advice. I work in a low-socioeconomic area. I used to find it fulfilling and I’m confident in my behaviour management. However most of our kids have high level trauma or just feel a level of violence is normal. It’s getting to me now, me getting hit or seeing them hit each other. Our parents will blame teachers at times when so many variables in terms of behaviour are outside of my control. Our admin are a bit dysfunctional. I used to enjoy teaching at this place but now I’m just feeling the burn out. I love my role but how can we go on when we feel like this?
This is a place where women from different backgrounds, cultures and beliefs come together to support one another judgement free.
5 Replies
There was a post recently, you should go and read that. Try teacher groups for professional advice
I’d actually just leave. Nothing is worth your mental health and health. Stuff being a teacher. I don’t know how you do it. It sickens me to hear daily how disrespectful kids treat teachers. I feel for the kids with no support at home but something needs to be done about it. They can’t keep burning teachers out like this.
Thankyou for being that teacher who gives a shit.
I was a kid with behavioural problems and my home life wasn't great. The abuse use to happen when dad wasn't home and that was often. Mom was a drinker.
CPS were called repeatedly and they did nothing. My teachers were the only people who I felt safe with. I sent my weekends sleeping over at friends houses.
The only reason why I graduated was being of my home room teacher.
Looking back, I thought I was the only one but now I know there's thousands of kids like me that you would see daily for years.
Although I wasn't the type who hit my teachers or classmates, I did see how my classmates would hit each other, hit their teachers and threaten them.
The only thing I can say is, these early years are important but YOU are important too.
Out of all my teachers, I only remember those who I trusted and I felt safe with and I bet ANYTHING that in the years to come, you'll probably make a huge difference to some kid's lives.
I would resign and take some R&R. You can always start teaching elsewhere.
Don't throw away four years of university, find a job in a better area with a more supportive leadership group.
Good luck x
I wrote a post very similar to this not long ago and ended deleting it. I don’t know what the answer is. I have spoken to my admin, nothing changes. I feel like I’ll be resigning in the near future.
I’m scared for the future of teaching, there’s going to be zero teachers in 5-10 years. I hope parents enjoyed home schooling because that’s what is going to happen again, only teachers won’t be around for the teaching and learning this time round.
There’s so much abuse it teaching and worse of all we’re teaching other kids to ‘ignore’ disgusting behaviours so they can get their learning done. Education right now is a fricken joke, and I absolutely love teaching, just not the physical and mental abuse that comes with it from student, parents and admin.