Dr. Julia Hare’s words ring true: “The teachers are afraid of the principals; the principals are afraid of the Superintendents; the Superintendents are afraid of the school board, the school boards are afraid of the parents; the parents are afraid of the kids and the kids aren’t afraid of anyone!”
Wish I could double-like this quote. Exactly right. It's a kind of political system based on fear and self-preservation where the teacher gets the bulk of responsibility and blame.
@ Quentenius That’s ridiculous. And they wonder why kids are falling academically behind more and more (even before covid). Teachers are required to focus on everything BUT education. Students learning is the last thing on the school boards priority list🙄
“When you’re good at your job, it’s almost like you’re getting punished for being good at your job,” that part. Sis, best friend, I feel you so much.🥺🥺🥺
I’m not a teacher, but yeah! Every workplace I’ve ever been in adds to your workload if you’re awesome. And you have to carry the deadwood workers too.
The teacher who got shot by the 6 year old told administrators he had a gun and they did nothing. Teachers need to be protected. Kudos for thinking about your daughter and your health. You’re in my prayers.
@K Camp Then the admin should have been fired and arrested for not doing anything. Idk what needs to happen. Maybe if more and more kids are bring in weapons and hurting everyone on campus, they’ll take it seriously.
That childs life will also be forever affected by that incident. When you let children run rampant and evil it affects the victims of it and their own future. It literally helps no one.
It has always blown my mind that we say, “It takes a village to raise a child,” but then we expect a teacher to manage a class of 30 or more by themselves. I’m so sorry they didn’t listen to you and I’m glad you got out of there and prioritized your health. I hope you are well.
the MOST important role. I learned that if I didn't behave in class, trouble would be awaiting me at home. Doesn't anyone discipline their kids anymore? Better to do it when they're young because they will have problems growing up and being out in the world. @@amylee8969
The village doesn't raise the child, parents do. The village can tell a parent or remind the child to behave. For example, my friends daughter was caught playing Chinese fire drill at a red light and the person in the car behind new her mom and her daughter and reported to the mother. She got in trouble and didn't repeat that behavior. That's what it means for a village to take part in the welfare of the community.
Kids do not want the village. They want a real mother and a real father. As you now know the village has raised thugs, murderers, thrives , rapist, killers and drop outs. How is that working for you?
My wife quit after just 3 years, citing impossible, conflicting standards, a hostile school administrator, and a decline in health. Teaching, while an honorable profession, has become too difficult of a job.
Well, it’s no longer a job. It’s a dumping ground. I left teaching five years ago, and it took me two years before I could sleep more than two hours in a row, and a further six months before I could stop having anxiety attacks that prevented me from falling asleep because I was so worried that I wouldn’t get enough sleep because I was so stressed.
I concur. I quit mid year after 3.5 years. Mental and physical health declined so quickly and consistently. Not to mention being injured on campus by students fighting, and teachers & admin NOT intervening because they thought I was a student. I deserve better. My OWN kids and family deserves better. Prayers to all educators.
@@tahvyearains7261 edTech is a great alternative. You use all these learning platforms for a living, which means you know what's wrong with them & how to make it better. Use that to your advantage.
I am quitting at the end of this year and getting out for sure. This job is killing people and its admin and the higher ups that don't support us and make our profession unbearable.
That happened to me years ago. I left teaching in the classroom but found a way to use my teaching experience in a different job at a university. It’ll all work out. She’ll find a new job.
Administration just doesn’t care about their staff. This happens everywhere. It got so bad for me I had a complete breakdown in front of my class and landed in the hospital for 2 weeks. You were right to walk away. It is what is best for you. I got a job at the airport escorting unaccompanied minors to their connecting flights. It doesn’t pay as much, but I’m much happier.
From an administrator, with 13 years as a teacher and 13 as an administrator, I quit after 26. I cared very deeply for my staff. I still care for them! Sometimes things are out of our control also. I had 628 students, 80 employees to handle with crazy parents on top of that. I had teachers divide classes for the next year so everyone had equal behavior problems, troublesome parents, easy students, all of it! I had no problem taking over a class when a teacher was overwhelmed. I always felt appreciated by my staff! However, I didn’t feel supported by MY superiors. Please don’t make blanket statements about ALL administrators. My first couple of years… I made less than teacher pay, per day…..js…
More like the parents don’t care about taking the responsibility of raising their kids properly. Admin has their faults too, buts it’s the parents who are ignorant enough to call and threaten the school for trying to give their kids consequences they rightfully deserved.
I literally gasped when you said your blood pressure was 217/133. That is an actual medical emergency, as in people can have strokes and other organ damage from BP that high. I’m glad you’re ok and have been able to walk away from that situation
YOU know the meaning of success, good for you! You are showing you know where your priorities should be. Your health, your family and if possible, your neighbor(students). If the administration doesn’t care about their teachers, who will? Without teachers, where would we all be? Love your videos. Keep up the great work. You are still making a difference. Thank you❤️
I know right? I am super surprised they didn't admit her to the hospital for observation. Unless it started going down really fast once they took her to the ER. That is scary stuff.
“If you’re good at your job, it’s almost like you get punished for being good at your job.” Yes. A thousand times yes. I couldn’t agree more. I feel your stress and anxiety and worry and desire deep in my bones. Thank you for being so open - it makes me feel a little less alone. ❤️
Yes!! I got all the reclassified freshmen. One told me someone would be waiting for me after school. He was suspended and his mom called and cussed me out. That was my last year...
I am no doctor, but blood pressure that high with fainting symptoms is very dangerous. You did the right thing. It’s tragic that they ran off a good teacher, but you’re exactly right you have your own family to care for. I hope you find a better place and I’ll say a prayer for you .
@@ujdd201 it’s not because of that. The state government do not want to raise taxes; therefore prefer to keep teachers with low pay. For them teachers are replaceable
“Y’all will let teachers pass out and have a stroke, and won’t do nothing except replace us the next day.” THIS. I’m a first year teacher and I had to have one of my co-teachers grab me by the shoulders one morning and tell me this. She said, “It’s important for us to be good at our job, but our job is not more important than our personal lives and families. There is only ONE of you in your family and friends lives. There are hundreds of teachers that can walk in your classroom and teach your kids. They will replace you tomorrow if God forbid something happens to you.” And yes my job is important, but I go about my days a lot differently now. As hard as I know it was for you to walk out, the people that love you are thankful that you did. 💛
I was a special education teacher for 15.5 years (that .5 is not an accident), and I was the department chair for 10 of those years - during the first 14 years of that time I was considered by the administration and my peers to be a damn good teacher and department leader. Then we got a new principal... that person, in the year and a half I worked with them, forced a bunch of 20+ year veteran teachers to retire, and I guess I was too dense to read the writing on my back, so they forced me out in the middle of the next year. I never had any evaluation less than "clearly outstanding" or "exceeds expectations," and I got written up on the first day of the inservice week because I was preparing IEPs for two meetings the following day instead of doing bureaucratic paperwork. I knew it was going to be a bad year, but I didn't know how bad... Anyway, they forced me out in the middle of the year with a "separation agreement," promising me a "fresh start" with a "neutral reference" so I could find another job, with all my excellent evaluations, yaddayadda. Hahaha hahaha... For the next 2.5 years, I was a substitute teacher in three districts, with applications active in 22 districts in the large metropolitan area and the towns around. In all that time, I had a total of three interviews. None of them happened through HR departments - they happened when an admin person heard about me and called HR and told them, "talk to this guy." When I was interviewing for a non-teaching position that involved a psych screening, the evaluator who talked to me told me, "you know they did things, right?" Yeah, I know. So because they didn't like me, they destroyed my career, took my livelihood (substitute teachers don't get paid squat, and there are no benefits), and I was lucky to have survived. It came VERY close. I have been an adjunct professor for the last 11 years, and I love what I do, but until just now there has not been any opportunity to get full-time employment in my department. So that stunt, 15 years ago, resulted in 15 years (so far) of impoverished conditions for me and my family. I'm sorry I went on so long, and nobody likely has read this whole thing - but I just wanted to say good on you for standing up for yourself.
I felt this on a visceral level. I have suffered through a similar experience and have been suffering since both physically and mentally. Personally, I just feel stuck because of retirement and financial issues. I am sorry you had to experience what you did, and your story is just too relatable for words. I wish all the best for you and your family.
I also read the whole post. I also have had very similar thing happen to me during my 15th and 16th year teaching from one particular principal. I got evaluations from this petty jerk that were all good to great until I questioned a ridiculous and insane email he sent me about a recent observation. He was wrong and admitted he was wrong in a meeting but spent 2 years harassing me with bad evaluations and constant observations. I hated him, dreaded working, and worst of all began to question my value as a teacher. I took awhile for me to finally another teaching job: 2 1/2 years. I was broken still and resigned at the end of my 2nd year at this school when they reassigned me to teach Kinder which I am Not certified to teach. They just wanted me to go. I subbed for awhile then got a teaching position in Nov. 2019 at a public charter school. I earned TEA recognized teacher status that 2019-2020 school year. One pandemic and 2 years later, it’s bad evaluations and moving me to two different positions than the grade I had been teaching. I’m getting lots of interviews but it’s hard for me to interview with complete sincerity because of borderline trauma from all my years of teaching.
I'm a teacher in public school. No one gets what we go through and/or appreciates us! I get exactly what you are saying. I am a seasoned, veteran, decorated teacher of 30 years who has great classroom management. It is all so overwhelming and no one gets it! They are pushing good teachers out!!!!!
@ KJ I agree. Don’t get me wrong, I love the routine of working with and helping my kiddos at work. But I DON’T love the current system of kids getting away with things without real consequences. It’s like all the consequences are removed and highly limited. The makes it harder not just for teachers and staff, but the students as well. I feel like todays kids are not being prepared enough for the real world, they’re just sliding by without learning the true value of respect and hard work.
Yes we do... your students spend years in schools and colleges dealing with all the same horrific problems if not being thrown into classes with kids, teenagers, and even over 20s who are really messed up and shouldn't even be there really traumatizes you. Then how it makes the teachers behave towards you like you are the problem too if a few students act out then somehow everyone else should suffer for that if not they know they're doing that making an example out of all the students just because of a few. Your students are traumatized for life and then that only encourages the dysfunctional behavior because they know they can now hold everyone back for what they did, if not the teachers do this in order to encourage it to make things horrible for the class. Not saying all teachers do this but most do and it needs to be stopped 100% just because they know they have their students all day. Mixing the kids also needs to be stopped because in no way does anyone learn anything nor benefit in any way being in classes with other students who are far too messed up, it's a whole other level of dysfunction and you just get re-traumatized over and over again as a result. All you learn is 101 ways to be taken advantage of and hurt everyday and all of that effects your ability to form relationships and creates huge trust issues because you can never trust anyone running the schools or colleges do what's right for you, including the environment they put you in. Students are young, innocent and naive even in your 20s some more than others which should be protected, you don't understand things when you're younger, so that should never be taken advantage of but currently and for a long while now that has gone out the window.
I know some people are going to disagree, but I think what you did was brave. I was a teacher....it's difficult. I was also in a supervisor position that became so stressful that I felt my blood pressure spiking and I felt unsupported and I started to feel targeted. I was getting ready for work one morning and I was sitting on the side of the tub, and I was dreading walking through the front door of my job. And I put pajamas back on and crawled back into bed. And I slept like a rock! I never called in or put in my notice. I just stayed home with my babies! Best decision I ever made. So good for u! If u don't take care of u...no one else will.
27 year teacher here. I’m resigning this year. I can’t take it anymore. It was the same for me. The stress became unbearable. I got to the point that I was crying every morning before work. It was NOT the kids. It was the administration and the utter disregard for their teachers as professionals and even sometimes as human beings. Horrible. God bless you and help you through this time.
Behaviour comes from home. Parents really are co-partners in educating children. At the very least parents should teach good manners and good behaviour if nothing else. Much respect for this teacher!!
27 year teacher as well. I am just a bit shy on hitting retirement, but things just keep getting worse instead of better. No one seems to get this. I am job hunting this summer, and it won't be in teaching. I will be looking for something and at this point, I just can't drum up an "I give a damn." I don't care if I make chit in $$. This job is killing me.
I'm sorry you had to endure that. Thank you for the 27 years.👊 A lot was put on teachers because our society is broken. Maybe you can be a light in your neighborhood or community by tutoring. Many people homeschool today. 🙂🙏
Amen! I remember going to a funeral for a colleague. When we returned from the funeral, the custodians already had her classroom cleared out. Her belongings were placed in the hallway for anyone to take. That let me know that as teachers, we are replaceable.
I'm a custodian. Just wanted to let you know that it's not us. What usually happens is that we're told by the office to make sure the room is clear before anyone comes back and makes a fuss. I've had principals and VP's watch us and tell us to move faster when clearing a room in a clandestine manner.
@@wolfdolphen hi! Thanks for answering! My biggest “principal” pet peeve is them deciding they can run summer clean up better than the BSS and having them hand the school back to you at the end of summer when they find out they mismanaged the time and are behind schedule, and you have to play catch up.
I just left teaching after 7 years. I know I was amazing as a teacher but I dealt with a lot of this similar issues including being assaulted by a student with ZERO repercussions. You are not alone and nobody understands it unless you've been there. I am SO happy for you.
This! I was only a T.A., but witnessed bruised and bitten teachers have to go back into the classroom with their assailant who got a slap on the wrist. Absolutely not. I’m happy that you got out, too.
This is INSANE to me. I was a teacher for just one year and left because of stress, the parents/admin, etc. I never had to deal with violence though, I cannot imagine on top of all the general teacher stress having that piled on top.
This is insane!!! Growing up in a traditional home if I would EVER lay hands on authority ESPECIALLY teacher... I would of ended up dead 💀 One time I school I did something that got me suspended and my parents literally beat my ass in front of the class u til I passed myself 😂😂😂 Unfortunately you can't do that anymore
@@monique911 Oh but children are living gods in "the homeland of America." Their farts are precious gifts! Their boogers are little nuggets worth more than gold! Always believe the child! 😂
My advice to teachers in these situations is to document, document, document and then hire a bulldog of an attorney to sue your district and principal. It can be done! Everyone makes mistakes, even serious ones…administrators especially do. Keep your eyes and ears open. Record data. Only when districts have to pay out millions will this abuse of teachers stop. Remember too to vote for candidates who support teachers specifically. Join and strengthen your unions.
YES! JOIN YOUR UNION OR THE PROFESSIONAL ASSC THAT REPRESENTS YOU (in right-to-work states). Beware of American Assc of Educators. They're funded by the billionaires who are dismantling our public schools and putting out the "indoctrination" propaganda. And contact your state reps.
I feel this in my soul. I had a notebook titled "survival" that I kept everything in, in case I needed my own backup! Learned double-quick after my first teaching experience!
Girl, as a nurse, you did the right thing. Your 1st priority is going home to your baby. That blood pressure and that feeling sounds like an early stroke. Your body was warning you. You did everything that you could, they did wrong by you.
As a custodian, I've seen this way too often. I've been the one sitting in a room with a crying teacher who is contemplating quitting or worse. Been the shoulder, voice of reason, ear to be ranted to, and the tissue holder. The parents, administration, and government have a huge disconnect from the teachers. Parents act like a teachers personal life is all access for them and that they should have an input in every aspect of it (ex: clothes you wear to the beach). Admin act like petty corporate bosses working in another state. You lodge a complaint about something, they will find a way to make it worse all while saying it is to make it easier on you. (admin doing evals the last day before a holiday "because you'll have less students and it'll be easier for you to handle them")
Thank you for the work you do. I make sure to show my appreciation for the custodial staff. This past Wednesday, there was supposed to be some bad weather so my board closed schools. No other board did. I saw a bunch of comments online blaming teachers for just wanting another day off as if we don’t get enough time off. As if we control the weather or have any say in anything the board does.
Custodians are the heart of the school. The custodian asked me yesterday how I was liking my first year in the district. The admins have not even asked me that. Thanks for being a shoulder to lean on!
I had panic attacks, major depression, lost 15 pounds, and cried nearly every day to work when I was a teacher. It was so terrible. I’m so sorry this happened to you. It’s so messed up.
i don't blame you and emphasize you in every way. i hope you're doing better in life. And found a better way to live. Nobody deserves the shit teachers take
I'm a teacher from Spain. I'm on my 7th year of teaching now. Last year I taught in the US for a school year ( ideally it was really going to be more) as part as an exchange program. Almost everyday there I question If I wanted to be a teacher and in these 7 years never happened to me before. In the end I ended it up leaving at the end of the school year ( for other health reasons) but I can't say I regret leaving and coming back to Spain
I'm a therapist and I work with so many teachers. This year I swear only 25% of my teachers are returning to the field because they just cannot deal with the conditions they face. Happy to see them pivot to a less stressful field but makes me sad that the schools are losing such amazing people!
Yeah it sucks. You’d think that after the covid pandemic……when schools were forced to close, that society would learn a lesson after this tragedy. Which is to value and appreciate members who contribute so much to society b/c you never know when everything will be taken away.
I wish had good teacher for my child this whole year. She differently was not a communicator and waited the last minute to inform you about your child. 90% of the time my child would tell me before the teacher did. I would even ask the teacher about testing and homework. Never got a conference the first half of the year. But got one upon request of me for a conference the 2nd half of the year. On stop of that the teacher went to jail and they covered that up. My child was getting hit on in by a boy and she would tell the teacher... nothing was done about. I had to plan out tell my child to defend herself because ur going to be a punching bag. This can cause her to think it ok to be hit on because the teacher didn't defend her. School is not school no more.
@@tawanda4090- go to the school district and document everything, such as any marks, bruises, and even the words of the other bully. If the teacher didn't do anything, go directly to the principal and the district. I just got done with my student teaching, and I know your situation pretty well. In many places, they hesitate to suspend or boot kids. If you can, I would recommend observing for a day or whatever amount of time you can. Keep up the good fight on protecting your kiddo!
@@tawanda4090did you just listen to the video.. most teachers are spread too thin. And are dealing with so much. 30 kids for 5 to 6 classes. Do the math.
Honestly, I left America behind when I got my teaching degree. My mother was a teacher throughout my childhood and I remember the days she would break down crying because she had no help beyond myself and my sister cutting out laminate. I work in another country now and my classrooms are around 10-12 students and I have an assistant. The respect they give to teachers overseas is night and day compared to American schools.
@@Rosyblvsh I have my DELTA, so currently I work in an international school in Korea, but I've also worked in Italy, China, and Malawi. I wouldn't suggest teaching in China atm since they're changing policies to make it more difficult for foreign teachers. If you're American and want to teach overseas, getting into an Asian country is pretty easy. I'd suggest doing that first. You typically work as an immersion teaching assistant rather than solo teaching. It's a good way to get experience. Getting a visa for the EU is difficult but not impossible, but being more experienced and having a better degree will get them more willing to hire you. I wouldn't say that Korea is perfect when it comes to schools, but the way they treat teachers is very different compared to America. Just be careful about who hires you and look into them before accepting a job, especially when it comes to hagwons/cram schools.
I’m headed overseas to teach after this school year. I’ve heard so many good things about teaching outside of the US. Excited to see what it’s like over there!
I pursued teaching before and while I earned a role as a T.A. at my local elementary school. After seeing the lack of support from admin, I absolutely changed my mind. I left after 6 years to work in a call center. I had no degree and no idea of what I wanted to do. I went from call center CSR to business analyst in just a few short years. I work from home and make almost tripled what I would have made my first year of teaching. I never looked back and it moves me to tears knowing that I make more than teachers. Teachers are THE backbone in any society and I’m truly disgusted.
2 years after my nervous breakdown in school (I'm a teacher)- I still can't listen to you're story without feeling like a desperate cornered animal. It's not right that people are treated this way.
I am not a teacher, but I am a custodian and I see the pressure they put you under. I see the way they tie your hands and ignore the problems. I see the way they set up classes, and I know it’s not the kids themselves, but large class sizes and high needs kids and a single teacher is a bomb waiting to implode. 30 kids is too much. I’m sorry you went through that. Im glad you did the right thing for yourself and I hope for the best for you.
Thank you for the work that you do. Underrecognized, underappreciated. You all are the smart ones, not the suckers like us, enduring the constant blame and harassment.
Wow you nailed it. I was thinking the same 30 kids? Things are so out of control, such lack of true support from administrators for teachers, administrators one of buddy buddy with the kids instead of supporting teachers these days. Thank you for speaking up and speaking out. Custodians are some of our core people in education, you are obviously one that cares deeply and pays attention so thank you for that as well.
22 year teacher here…All of these comments are so spot-on. No one understands what we endure besides other teachers. The “good teachers get punished” hit home! The behaviors we’re expected to manage in the last few years are abhorrent! I’m lucky to have great administrators and co-workers, but SOMETHING has to change in society as a whole! I’m sorry you had to experience this.❤️
I am doing my Ph.D. on why teachers leave the classroom and I would love for you to complete my survey if you have time. A survey can be found on the about me page section of CZcams.
You nailed it! I’ve been coming home exhausted every day and over chats with my concerned husband, I’ve said this very same thing. It’s becoming a societal issue! We can’t keep up a constant dog and pony show to deflect these behaviors. I very much believe that unmonitored social media in the hands of our kids has contributed to this mess. I’ve been in this for 24 years now. I’m retiring at the end of next year. My two daughters are teachers too, and one is contemplating leaving the profession.
You are SO RIGHT when you say that you get punished for being good at your job. I worked for a while at an alternative school where I would always get placed with the most difficult students, even when I specifically requested not to be paired with certain students due to various reasons (and this did not happen often; I was flexible and enjoyed working with most students, but drew the line at those who would deliberately projectile vomit or defecate during a behavioral incident). Meanwhile, I had coworkers who were always given the easiest students because "Well, we know so-and-so won't be able to handle them". Girl, watch me start to not handle students if I'm consistently expected to only deal with the ones with the most explosive behaviors! It's crazy! We're people, not machines!
I was losing my hair due to stress. My admin had me document 5 different students in my class all day, every day, yet nothing happened. They sent a staff to document, and they said afterwards that my worst student stole things off my desk 5 times while I was rotating around the room helping my students. They finally admitted that they weren’t going to do anything. I sat in my car crying before going in to the school each morning. I had taught for 26 years, but just couldn’t do it anymore. I used to love teaching, but with the increased behavior problems, lack of parents taking responsibility, and poor administration it was putting too much stress on me. Sad to say that most of the teachers I taught with have also left the profession.
@Linda Young I’d hate to be dealing with “leaders” like that. It’s like they’re either lazy OR too scared of angry parents coming up to the school and yelling at them. The purpose of consequences is being strict is to keep everyone on campus safe and prepare students. Then they wonder why kids are academically falling more and more behind. Even after remote learning during the pandemic has ended. There’s no more excuses.
Yep, as a sub I had students attack me and then report me to the principal. Without asking my side, I was banned from that campus. They principal just gave the control 100% to the students
I did the exact same! Toxic positivity, false sense and focus on “self care”, and the expectation to do more with less is taking a toll. I’m proud of you for doing what is necessary for you. In the end our position is replaceable, but our lives are not.
I love teaching, I do. But, admin is taking us for granted and I am just trying to be there for our kiddos! But these two or so yrs, it’s been painful.
We put up posters all around our school this year that say "We will do anything to support our students." I was like, "RED FLAG FOR HOW THIS YEAR IS GOING TO GO." I will do what I can to help my students, but not anything.
It feels like administration forgets you're a teacher and they think you're just there to watch the kids. Teachers aren't babysitters, they're educators. It's wild that daycare has a legal limit for adult to child ratios, but schools don't. I'm so sorry you reached the point of a medical emergency and still weren't taken seriously. Thank you for the time and energy you put into the kids. I hope you find financial AND emotional stability wherever you go next, because you deserve it
And all kids do better when there's a lower student to teacher ratio. I had 5 kids in my class and a co teacher and we could go back and forth from teaching to getting the next project ready to cleaning without gaps in the learning process and it never felt like work.
🙋🏽♀️ childcare teacher here.... Ratios are not being followed in the times we are living in right now and we are dealing with many of the same stressors as the teachers in the public schools. We also had all the kids when schools were closed trying to do their virtual schooling.... We are feeling it too. We are short staffed, over worked (I work 50+ hours just in the building not counting what I do outside the building), and we are struggling financially. We have so many special needs kids who are not diagnosed yet or have IEP’s because parents don't want to see it or doctors won't help until they start school. We are also dealing with behaviors or unregulated children who are often violent towards us and other children. And the states are putting pressure on us to perform as if we were elementary school teachers so we are still very much providing a curriculum, observations, and assessments all while changing diapers and potty training and being pulled out of our regular classes to sub for other teachers because you're the best one in the baby room or the 2 year old room so now you're preschoolers have to deal with their teacher coming in and out for days or weeks at a time and when you get back you have to start over with your rules and expectations because while you were away there was no structure, and you need to out your classroom back together because nobody was cleaning it up or putting things back where it goes. She hit the nail on the head when she said it's like if you're good at your job you'll get punished. I feel that deeply.
As a former teacher, you’re wrong. That’s how it should be. We aren’t allowed to educate, not really, not outside AP classes and even then it’s only teaching how to get into college instead of how to be productive adults. We are literally babysitters first and foremost. I was chewed out multiple times for “teaching too much and not giving enough busy work” (administrations exact words).
What you are describing is known as PTSD, pure and simple. As a principal in the same building I formerly taught, one of the things I TRIED to do was push in as much as possible and support the teachers. I was lucky and I was able to be use the only tool I had consistently - my time - to be present in the rooms, and CARE for the teachers. What was interesting was that the kids saw that, and for that time I was there, it helped. I took kids out of rooms and placed them in other rooms, I was able to communicate with parents, and again, I was LUCKY. . . I was supported by a social worker and a really good resource room teacher, AND a great staff. What you are talking about is so typical, and the courage it takes to provide context without blame is wonderful. I am so sorry for your experience, and I truly understand your feelings and your experience. As disruptive as resignation is for YOUR life, you did the right thing. You need to take your ability to speak to the heart of the matter(s) without demonizing the kids, and take your show on the road! I know you know that not all schools are like what you experienced, BUT the pressure teachers are under is the same everywhere. You are giving voice to what EVERYONE is going through, and you have an audience. As one door closes, another door opens, so maybe this is another opportunity to continue in education in a new, impactful and different way. I don’t need to wish you luck, because I know you will be successful. I do wish you peace and will remind you that your actions were correct and showed courage and common sense.
Exactly! somebody who finally says it without claiming we're talking crazy, i've even had teachers on here tell me i'm crazy and trying to make me look like i'm whacko for talking about any kind of mental health impact that schools, colleges, and unis are having on people and the deeper meaning behind how the culture is. Of course they would lol because many teachers are like this i've had my fill of them over the 19 years i was a student, and at the moment there are truly many who believe they're exempt from the behaviors going on they're SO confident about it, until of course they start to get targeted. I defo have ptsd too and for the life of me i don't trust anyone and i can't concentrate at all with anyone near me, looking at me, standing over me, or in the same room as me. Anxiety and depression already runs in the family but they made it a million times worse where i'm so anxious about learning anything around people i freeze and it's so triggering for me. Like during the initial learning stage where i'm clearly not going to be confident about anything, so i never want to be put myself in a position again where i'm being pushed to understand things within the hour or less, it's not going to happen for anyone it's unrealistic and designed just to reach work targets. How they put the pressure on in various abusive ways just because the teachers are being pressured oh man... now all i want is a quiet room away from everyone with zero interference, and i stop doing things if someone comes in until they're gone. If they don't leave i'm going to start getting very frustrated and triggered, i used to get treated like i was going to explode something if i didn't get things right the very first time and then they'd whack me over the head with it on purpose. People still do this on purpose or just to interfere claiming they know what they're on about and then take offense when you don't listen to them when we never asked for it, i just so don't want to deal with it ever because t's controlling and that's how it is in education to get you to do things that won't actually benefit you. If i don't have control over what i'm doing then that's not good, it's not because "you can't take criticism" aka "you're not doing what i told you to do" aka "the way i do things" as they like to hide behind now to excuse abusive and controlling behavior. There's no point to things if people can't take initiative or have control over things, what's the point? how can people be taught if they can't actually do things? it's insane.
It's tragic when good teachers quit. A lot of teachers I know who leave teaching become real estate agents. On the news they asked a former teacher what was one advantage of leaving teaching he said he can go to the restroom when he needs to.
Current teacher, year 4. And I COMPLETELY agree with every word spoken. Behavior is a MAJOR issue. And our health is literally at risk daily, from parents sending SICK kids to school without a mask! too exhausted to constantly workout, stress from all angles. It’s dangerous at this point. And we have to choose us first because no one else will! Life is too precious, I lost a dear friend/coworker due to stress! Heart attack. She was not even 30 years old. We love the kids!!!! But… Discipline your children at home!
I had a teacher tell me that her husband asks her to wear long sleeves because she is always bruised or cut up from her special needs students and he doesn't want anyone to think he abuses her. One kid actually fractured several small bones in her foot.
I went to school in the 50s and 60s and this behavior was unimaginable. Teachers today have my total compassion ... I retired as a teacher just before this insanity began, and I feel for parents with kids in public school and the teachers who have to deal with this politically driven insanity ...love and prayers to all of you.
Wow. I am so sorry for the loss of your friend. Stress literally damages our bodies. Mental health is just as important as any other health issue, if not more so.
Parents discipline your children! It isn't the teachers job to do this and children who are brought up without any respect for others are growing up without boundaries and are unmanageable and nothing is my fault self entitled brats!
I recently resigned in January from my teaching position. Our stories are incredibly similar. I'm glad that you put yourself and your family first. I gave ample notice, stocked my classroom full of supplies and snacks, and left two weeks' worth of lesson plans and copies... I was still labeled the bad guy for leaving mid-year. But I have zero regrets for leaving. It was what was best for me.
I retired 3 years ago in the middle of the school year. I had some health issues along with the stress of classes like the one she described. I understood and agreed with every word she said.
Sister you should have left earlier, but your one of those many good dedicated teachers out there who fight and support your children; your administrators don't really care about teachers or children and should not be in the positions they now hold. They're mean incentive and ignorant. Thank God for saving your life to take care of yourself and your child. You could haved died under that pressure but we all have an appointed time and God saved your life so you can live and share your story Love. These people treat animals so well but the human race they really don't care about which is very sad. God bless you, someone as honest and dedicated as you're God has a special plan for you, you commit your life to Him and stay faithful. It shall be well🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
The fact that they are trying to blame YOU for leaving instead of making teaching easier and better for teachers says the martyr culture that the teaching profession has cultivated.
I’m a new teacher this year, hired on as a long-term sub, though I’m expected to act and meet all of the expectations of a licensed teacher. Just graduated with my business degree and have no teaching experience, though I have a heart and passion to teach and have a huge heart for little ones. I got placed in the most challenging class (behaviorally) in my Title 1 school, whom as a whole, is severely falling behind academically and is a behaviorally challenged school. And I just want to scream from the top of my lungs, THANK YOU for “making some noise” and being a voice for all of us. I’m only 8 weeks into this profession, and am so fired up to advocate on behalf of all teachers for how screwed up the system is. Not only am I learning everything about teaching from complete scratch, but also while actively managing a class full of major behavioral challenges (to the point where I’m practically just babysitting a group of kids and not teaching a class) and then outside of those 7&1/2 hours of teaching, spending every waking second trying to meet all of the other demands small to big. From a software that I have to set up to paperwork that I have to fill out. From parent contacts I have to make to training I need to complete. And I’m averaging 4-5ish hours of sleep a night and sacrificing so many meals. And I still need about 8 hours extra in a day to get all done that is “mandatory” for me to complete. Mark my words, the teaching exodus will continue to happen and increase significantly, and will be the next thing to the Pandemic to wreak havoc on our country. Because if there’s not teachers to teach, then kids are going to be at home. Which either means parents have to quit their jobs to teach or kids just won’t get taught at all. SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE!!!!
Same here. First year- first grade teacher, 20 kids. No training no education degree. I have a business degree. I have the passion and I am loving what I’m doing, but unfortunately I’m already thinking this is not a sustainable career path for me 😔 my car had trouble the other day and I’m gonna need a new one soon… on this teacher pay I won’t be able to get myself a new car. The pay is a big factor for me, I will not be able to afford the life I want to build for my family. If it paid more I would be hooked.
That's the problem the system is free childcare now or just ways of parents getting rid of their kids even in their 20s into college, my own parents did it my entire life and still tried to push me into going back to college after extremely abusive behavior that got worse and worse as i went up from high school through each year and then the 5 and a half years i tried college. Moved back to england after living in scotland for nearly 9 years from age 10 and my local college is horrendous it totally put me over the edge where they put me down SO hard and controlled things SO much, while only caring about money and using people that i couldn't care less what happens to any school or college anymore. Its broken and no steps are going towards fixing it, just earn money despite who it hurts. For a start 12 years and over in high school they shouldn't have to be there all day anymore, it needs to start turning into lecture based classes where they start to teach students how to be responsible with their own learning and work. Teachers need to start taking a step back because for a long time now it's like it's been primary school and you never leave, you're constantly treated like you're still a child and infantilized when teenagers and adults need a different environment and to start having control over their own things. It would also stop parents pushing off all responsibility to schools and colleges and allowing bad people to start teaching and taking advantage of the fact the students are there all day. I've been through it all and even older folk who decide to go to college get completely infantilized and babysat ughh... this is not what we all need. Kids need supervision but teenagers and adults not so much anymore... apart from those with disabilities but even they need to be allowed to grow not kept in primary 2.0 and 3.0. It's time the system stopped to think about what does and doesn't really help people grow as humans and just relax a lot more.
I was a secretary at an elementary school, and I do know what teachers deal with. I quit after one year as secretary. I barely made it to the end of my contract! I’ve seen what goes on. God bless all of you teachers!
Our society has this messed-up idea that if you're a good teacher, you can work miracles. They don't let us be human. They make you feel like your refusal to tolerate abuse is somehow a character flaw or a lack of skill. You're totally right that if you had stayed and had a stroke, the school would have replaced you without any guilt or sense of responsibility. I can tell you're an incredible teacher from the videos you post, and your school has lost BIG TIME. Sadly, admin will probably never realize that because I bet they're totally out of touch with the needs of their students. All you needed was a good faith gesture, to know you're being heard and valued on a very basic level, and when they couldn't do that, you were 100% right to get yourself out of that situation.
Absolutely agree! You’re supposed to do 100% everything for them as if you are superhuman. We have to buy the supplies for the students, practically raise them because they’re coming in with absolutely no respect, stagger our groups to meet all of the academic needs in the class, create lessons, grade work, provide snacks because the children are always hungry meanwhile the school only provides an evening snack twice a week. All to still go home to our OWN children that we actually have 100% responsibility for and be completely burnt out. . . Just absolutely insane
💯 It’s as if admin forgets what it’s like to be a classroom teacher. Sadly, most of my fellow teacher colleagues are on anxiety or anti-depressant meds
I quit in my first year. I was UTTERLY disillusioned. and I was in a KINDERGARTEN classroom. Despicable. Now I'm a mom who would NEVER send my children to public school. Home education for the win❤️
I always planned to homeschool (and do) because I wanted the individualized curriculum and attention and I didn't like certain things (academic and non-academic) in the public curriculums. But even if I thought classrooms of 30 were fine and the curriculum was top-notch, at this point I would still homeschool because the discipline structure and behaviour problems in the schools are SO BAD. I remember when good teachers ran good classrooms, and bad teachers had insane classrooms - now, it's all nuts...the job itself is becoming impossible.
I'm not a teacher, but simply opting out of the public school system is not an option for the vast majority of families. That's not the solution to this problem. What we need is for everyone in society to push for better funding, staffing and overall conditions in our public schools. I know you advocated for home schooling (not charter/private schooling), but diverting funding from already struggling public school teachers is a huge part of the problem. Everyone pulling out will only make things worse for them. As a society, we all need to make a renewed commitment to improving the teaching conditions in our public schools, which will be better for students as well. That means more funding for pay increases, supplies, etc as well as additional staffing and other resources to lighten the load. Fixing public schools must become a priority for everyone in society.
Wow, I wanted to teach ever since I was a little girl. I loved school and absolutely loved all of my elementary school teachers! But reality really hit me during my undergrad year after shadowing teachers in my school district. Discipline issues took up a lot of instruction time and regional test scores were below standard. But that was over a decade ago. Now everything has gotten worse in regards to discipline issues and now it's couples with serious mental health issues too. Our superintendent in our district is actually capitalizing on those problems by introducing curriculum like "gender and sexuality identity" which further confuses kids and creates more problems than helps. Our education system is on life support. And the prognosis is horrible. I pray it gets better but I would suggest any concerned parent to do a lot of research before sending their child to a public schools. Homeschool and Classical private schools are by far superior.
A job is not worth having a stroke over! So glad you chose your health and safety. I’m a para and one one of the science classes I was in had 31 kids, which is fairly uncommon in my district, but not unheard of in that school since the city keeps expanding housing developments in that area. Luckily, there no major behaviors. My kids were awesome students and so were there gen ed peers. The science teacher and I were fortunate!!! That so disheartening to hear you did not have the support you needed and asked professionally for. I don’t see how difficult it would have been to switch some of your kids to different blocks to reduce the load on that block. Shameful.
I went thru so much like this in my 35 years as a teacher. I want you to know this.Let me be very very clear: this is a SPIRITUAL BATTLE. !!!! Teachers across America are dealing with this too. God bless you.
This breaks my heart that this happened to you. (And those students to be honest because they clearly need more.) The public school system and lack of support (emotionally, physically, and def financially) is one of America’s biggest problems. It’s not right and it’s not fair. Teachers are one of the most important jobs we have yet one of the most under appreciated. Thank you for trying. I pray God will lead you to the place you are called to be. God bless you 🙏🏼💙
You're right . But even if they doubled your pay the problems that are making the job impossible would not go away with a bigger paycheck. You give that job your all. Time not with your own family, your health, a big chunk of your income buying what your students need, trying to satisfy the unsatisfiable administration.
This is so true. My mom was an elementary school teacher for 30 years. She started out teaching 1st grade and as she got older, moved up through the grades. In those 30 years, they would give her all of the behavior problems because "You can handle them better than anyone else." They also gave her all of the kids in that particular grade who had IEPs. She had kids in and out of her classroom all day long. They gave her split classes (4th/5th grade) multiple times, so she had to do TWO sets of lesson plans. 😣 All of this was done without even a classroom aide. And this was 30 years ago. I cannot imagine how difficult it is now. Miss, you did the right thing. You have to take care of yourself so you are around for your little girl.
I taught for a while and then went to more corporate type work, it was like going to heaven...actual lunch time, bonuses, respect, appreciation and oh yeah great pay! You are obviously very intelligent and talented. Glad you decided to care for YOU! Love watching you talk.
Congrats to you! What do you do for work now? Im trying to grapple my mind around what jobs can a teacher who is trying to transition outside of the school environment.
I am doing my Ph.D. on why teachers leave the classroom and I would love for you to complete my survey if you have time. A survey can be found on the about me page section of CZcams.
I’m a special education teacher , and believe me, I know what you are talking about! You did the right thing, we love our students, but the system is failing them and us ! Not wonder why so many great teachers are leaving! I have been there!
I agree. I love the students but hate the current system. It’s clearly not working. Eventually more and more teachers will quit forcing parents to homeschool their kids at home forever.
“ your not about to have a stroke up in here for no one” is my new life motto! You are amazing and as a fellow SPED Teacher I totally get it ;you are amazing and your videos make me smile. Thank you so much
Don’t feel bad about not giving a two weeks notice. Why extend to them that courtesy when they couldn’t even respond to an email? You’re never doing anything wrong when you’re doing what feels right in your heart.
I have seen a coworker have a high blood pressure and us and stroke at work, all that was sent was one email and we never saw her or heard from her again she ended up having to go to a long-term care facility! The School Board does not care about anybody.
@ Rachel S. Yes! It’s quite sad for society as a whole. Admin and school boards don’t even prioritize learning and education anymore. Teachers support staff are forced to take on so many different issues except the one job they’re meant to do…..which is to teach.
You were on my sons schedule to be his teacher last year which would have been his 7th grade year. Ironically the same class period that you’re referring to in this video. We walked to the room that was listed on the schedule and found out real quick it wasn’t you. She was mad at me when I asked about you and got offended Was very disappointed with the replacement we had. . Hopefully with the new head principal, change will happen but time will tell. Still a lot of the same of the other administrators and counselors. It’s not a good school or environment to be in. You’re 💯 correct on the principle you’re referring too and the board of education is not too far off from it. I referred to him as “ole spiky head boy.” 😂🤷🏻♀️. Couldn’t stand him. No professionalism. I hate it got to the point it did but know that it all happened for a reason. I’m proud of you for protecting yourself! Keep up the amazing work with your current career. You’re absolutely amazing! ❤❤
I am a teacher of 20 working with disabled students for my entire career. It is sad that the support wasn't there for you. Because the truth is that the kiddos lost an amazing teacher that career but you had to prioritize you. If you are not well you can't help anyone. Our administration keeps forgetting that. We need to be supported in order to do our job well. Hope you are doing better and I am sending you good thoughts your way.😊
Girl, no mom has 30 kids of the same age. It's not natural to have that many kids, especially alone. I believe you that the kids weren't awful. Just busy kids are a handful! I'm sorry you had to experience a body crash to see how hard it all was! Hugs and prayers! 💕
That’s it exactly. Kids have challenges, and it’s the responsibility of the school to group kids in a way that allows everyone to receive the attention and care they need. If you have a dozen kids with challenges, you spread them out so the teacher can have the time and attention for each kid, so that their behavior doesn’t negatively impact their classmates, and so that the teacher doesn’t have more than can be handled at one time. Thirty is just too many, even if they’re all “angels” with no particular challenges.
An aid is not enough. A daycare has to have a person per six kids I believe so why is a school different. Not good for the kids, not good for the teachers.
As a school nurse who only sees a part of what teachers experience... I'm surprised this doesn't happen to more teachers. Prayers for you. It's like hidden trauma that no one will validate.
It does but we don’t talk about it. We get a lot of hate for real talk as if summer vacation is some kind of cure for the anxiety and stress we experience for 9 months of physical and mental abuse we experience- especially in special Ed.
I went to the doctor with the same experience. I couldn't believe him when he said it was anxiety/panic attacks. But lo and behold, that's exactly what it was. Long story, short: after 25 years in the classroom, I retired at the age of 50.
Your body was telling you what your mouth was not allowing you to say. You cannot love teaching or the kids more than you love yourself. Putting yourself first is one of the hardest things you have to do in life. I’m glad you’re making yourself and your family a priority.
I started crying when you mentioned blood pressure. My BP went crazy last year. I'm on so many meds, including BP now. I'm so sorry you had to go through this. No one cares about us teachers. I wish you well.
@Sharon Bugenhagen Sad truth is no ever learns from history’s past. During the pandemic when schools were forced to close, kids were forced into online learning. B/c of this households were worried about child care while parents worked, daily meals for kids, social development, etc. You’d think that after such a tragedy that society would have more compassion and respect not just for teachers, but retail workers, after-school program workers, cafeteria workers, etc. but sadly, that hasn’t happened. It only got worse.
Retired teacher here after almost 35 years ( middle school and high school English ). One year, I took a job at a school, which was questionable, in order to make a lateral move to a different field so that I could meet some of my lifelong goals as a teacher. I had to take the job in November when the position came open. ( The previous teacher had a nervous breakdown and left before Thanksgiving Break, never to return, but I did not know this until later in the year. The administration did not tell me this when they hired me. They only told me that it would be difficult “coming in” in the middle of the school year, and they would support me every step of the way, yada yada. ) It was one of the most horrible years of my life. My marriage was breaking down, and there was emotional abuse at home; my car broke down ( I was driving 50 miles total to work and back ), and I had no money that year for expensive repairs. A relative was driving my way and back to work, and she offered to drive me, to drop me off and pick me up after she got off from work at 5:30 in the evenings. She had to leave early for work, so she would pick me up at 6:30 AM at my home. I spent a few hours after school, making the most of my time alone by grading papers and preparing lessons each day, while waiting for her to pick me up to take me home. The janitor was worried about me because the neighborhood and students were dangerous, and I was often alone or it was just me and the janitor in the building ( this was in the late 1980’s way before schools were always on lockdown). The administration was somewhat supportive, as they promised they would be, but the other teachers were horrible to me, and I could never figure out why…still don’t know to this day. One particularly rough day, I could not breathe and found my pulse racing. I thought I was dying, maybe having a heart attack or something. I ran to the bathroom and held on to the inside of the stall until I could stop shaking and crying and until I could regulate my breathing. It was scary as He//. It hit me out of the blue. Later, I talked to my doctor, and she said it was a classic panic attack and recommended I talk with a counselor for few months. I’m tough, so I went back to work immediately after the attack, but I did talk to a counselor. And I have no shame about that. I mean I had no refuge that year…my work life was bad, my finances were bad, my home life was bad. I literally was surrounded by “BAD”. I stayed and completed my contract for that year. (Surprisingly, the students were the only bright spot in my life that year.) Later, I moved to a different school and district with a different set of teachers. Stayed in that same school 25 years. Sometimes it’s best to fold up and leave…close one door and open a door to a better place.
People who’ve never been teachers before think that we are overpaid and don’t do anything! They have no idea as to the level of stress we face on a daily basis! Thank you so much for sharing your experience…your bravery is immeasurable!
My dear friend was a teacher for 30 years, high school. She went through threats from the administration, football coach threatened her when she wouldn’t change a player’s grade, and a student blabbed about HIGHLY confidential information on another student. Many more examples. I was a substitute for two years and some the teachers treated me like dirt. Kids were undisciplined towards a sub. Vice Principal yelled at me for stopping a child running in the road during a fire drill. Last day for me.
@@alyssahamlett while true. Teachers are amazingly well paid compared to most essential workers. Which essentially just means they actually make enough to live off of (even if frugally)
I can't believe people would think that. My teacher (who has now retired after teaching for 42 years) has taught me many lessons about life. She even taught and helped our class with math issues we where having. Teachers teach us everything. I don't know why people regard teachers as lazy. If doesn't make any sense.
Honestly this is my 8th year of teaching and I am seriously considering quitting teaching. It just keeps getting progressively worse. The demands are higher and higher, the support is less and less. Parents are crazier, kids are crazier, admin has no backbone. I just hate the idea of quitting a job I've literally wanted to do since grade 1. I spent 6.5 year getting my teaching degree and masters of education. I feel like it would be such a waste, and I don't even know what I would do, teaching is all I ever wanted to do. But walking in to school everyday is a chore, as soon as the bell goes I get an instant tension and stress knowing how bad it's going to get for the next 6 hours. I totally understand that feeling like you are failing the kids. Like you can't help everyone or give them what they need. It's just so disheartening. I haven't gotten that sick yet but just a constant feeling of being rundown. Every Saturday I am in bed until 2pm recuperating from the week. I actually made the same request of my class, splitting up the toxic behaviours. I had 26 the other class had 21 (because of people moving) and I was told I can't just shuffle kids off on other people. I even said I would be willing to swap kids and keep my numbers, it isn't the numbers it's the personalities, and I was told no. Now I'm getting daily emails from parents complaining about the class and how violent and verbally abusive they are, and yet my principal just keeps falsely telling parents we have all the support we need, while also not enforcing any of our behavioural policies to help address the behaviour. It's just exhausting.
Just know that I FELT EVERY WORD and there are 1million teachers nodding their heads in agreement and saying YASSSS as you tell your story. I also reach 7th grade SpEd, and NOTHING you said was a bit dramatized. I say ON THE DAILY we get punished for being good at our jobs. Leaving the way you did was the only option. You would’ve been GAS LIGHTED and guilted back into that classroom if you did it any other way.
I was nodding the whole time & saying “yes!”. I felt every word & I teach 2nd grade. This is across the entire nation, so it’s definitely not a “me” problem like they gaslight us to think; it’s systemic.
THIRTY Special Ed students!?!?!?!? I'm surprised that you lasted as long as you did! God bless you. YOU didn't fail the kids at all; they school system failed them. I pray that one day, administration figures out that treating teachers right is what will give them the outcomes they want. I almost cried just listening to you. As a retired state social worker, I kind of know how you feel. If I hadn't been able to get to the administrative level, I would have quit. And when I got to administration, I NEVER forgot to consider the well-being of the line staff.
Thats my thing, 31 students is wayyyyy too much for any one person to handle alone and especially with the different behaviors. Wow! But not surprised. It’s so sad the great Educators get treated so unfairly.
I am so glad you left and took care of you. I ended up tracing at a small private religious school for advance learners. I was shocked to find supportive, wonderful, admin, and every teacher looking out for each other. Classes capped at 24. I actually taught all day and didn’t have to deal with never-ending discipline issues. It sounds like you are an amazing, excellent teacher. I hope you won’t give up on teaching, but find a better environment in which to teach. You are amazing and talented. I hope you find a place that will care about you.
When I worked at an alternative school, we had a big procedure about introducing new students. A new student changes the whole dynamic of the calm and structured environment we worked hard to create. I almost got punched in the face when a new good ball jokester provoked a gang member who was finally working hard to get his diploma. He was becoming a good student and finally trusted us because we gave him the space he needed. Then this kid comes in and throws off the whole dynamic. I’m Illinois your only supposed to have 7 sped/IEP kids in a class and then you need another teacher or Para. 30 students by yourself!!!! So glad you are taking care of yourself!! My sister had a stroke and they still didn’t care. I have another story but still working on that. THANK YOU FOR SHARING!! 🙏🙏🙏🙏
Dear Lord please bless this former teacher good measure, pressed down, and overflowing with financial stability and peace beyond understanding. You have a host of understanding teachers and former teachers who understand and empathize with what you are saying AND who are praying for and with you! 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
It's like looking in a mirror.....this is the EXACT reason I quit. Unacceptable, dangerous classroom environment that admin purposely ignored. They were so unhelpful, unapproachable and unkind it truly blew my mind. I ended up getting injured on the job, needing workers comp. & physical therapy from the lack of care I got. Unanswered emails, unanswered texts, lies & laughs. I was not able to let one classroom & shitty admin drive me back to psychiatry and an early grave. I'm with you 100% and I'm so sorry that good teachers get treated like shit and run out of the profession.
It takes a whole village. Teachers cannot provide the best service for kids without everyone doing their job. Admin have to support teachers, respect their work, and take things into consideration. And parents need to do the most important job they committed too….which is to properly raise the kids they brought into the world.
This breaks my heart. So many of us have gone into teaching well prepared, excited about possibilities, and full of hope for educating young minds. It breaks my heart every time another teacher leaves the profession. If you have children in school, I hope you can find it in yourself to be kind to your child's teacher. Your encouragement matters.
I know how u feel. I quit my job at the school to. I was just fed up and needed a change. Teachers are getting burnt out and the school districts don’t understand or don’t care☹️. I agree when your good at your job it seems like you are punished. ☹️
I used to get physically ill every time my 3rd period came to class. My stomach and chest would hurt, headache etc. it got to where I couldn’t stand seeing the kids walk in the room. No person is supposed to feel like this at any job! Glad I got out of teaching.
You absolutely nailed it when you identified being gaslighted. When someone else minimizes your pain or doesn’t own their responsibility in the problems, they are trying to undermine your experience of your reality. You’re right: they don’t care. I’m impressed with your self-awareness and willingness to step away.
My aunt was a teacher for over 30 years, retired in the early 1970’s and her best piece of advice was ‘never stress over a job that will have your position posted before your obituary’. I have seen it first hand with a local district while working for an attorney. I don’t know what caused the shift so quickly but it has a domino effect and we are losing over 20 teachers in my area next month.
I cannot stand how people are used and abused in their jobs. And it's becoming normalized. So sorry this happened to you. I don't know you personally but I know you deserve better. As dedicated and committed as you have been to your job, you absolutely deserve to be heard and respected. It's disgusting how dismissive people can be and then treat you like you have no right to be upset about it. I would like to help if you have an account set up for that. Love and hugs from Delaware 🖤
Todays generation in general just has no respect. It’s not just educators who deal with this. But employees who work in retail etc. and with the school system failing to fully prepare kids for adulthood, there’s sadly going to be more and more entitled Karens harassing employees who work in retail and department stores.
Soooo proud of you! You did the only thing you could do. I've been in a similar place. People have no idea how toxic teaching can be when the admin refuse to listen to the ones on the front lines. So happy that you've found a place you can be happy and celebrated in.
What a sad day for education to lose another great teacher because they (the administrators/education structure) has set up such a toxic and stressful working environment. Praying for you to find your peace in a work that truly validates you and sees your worth to their company/organization!
I am a teacher 30 kids there should be an assistant to help out. Teachers need to be taken care of and if they are not you need to stop and take care of you.
This is the problem with the States, and probably other places. The only ones getting paid are the ones who work in the districts. They put all these kids in one classroom comes to show you they don't care about these students.
As a fellow teacher.. I'm so sorry to hear this. People have no idea what really goes on in schools and what teachers deal with on a daily basis. Put your health 1st!! 😘
I understand why Japan puts so much emphasis on order and discipline in the classroom for the first 3-4 years of school. Yes you can goof around on the break in designated area. You can have different opinions during classroom debate. But always you need to have proper manners and be decent.
It WAS a slap in the face, almost certainly deliberate. I've seen similar tactics in other workplaces. If it was "just" negligence on the part of admin, that's still a huge problem. I've loved your sense of humor in the dozens of videos I've watched, and your pain and vulnerability here are quite moving. I wish you the best as you move forward. (I can't help but hope you'll write a novel or memoir, join the writing staff of "Abbott Elementary," or do something else with your experiences that will both help audiences and provide some financial reward for you.)
I'm in Australia and have just graduated from university to be a teacher. I love how respectful you are of your children and their disabilities and learning needs. Of course, it isn't their fault. This is totally the school system's fault and the lack of respect for teachers. Classes like that should not be so full, and that is out of respect for the teachers but also the respect of the students! Their physical and learning need issues are far more exacerbated by a room so full.
I'm a retired therapist. I heard these stories all the time from my teacher clients. It breaks my heart that teachers are forced to cope with situations like this. 🙏 for you.
The talk therapy is so necessary. Spouses and those that don't live this- don't get it. I wonder how many teachers see a psychiatrist in order to medicate to get through the day..
When more and more teachers quit and the teacher shortage becomes outta hand, school boards will go out of business and parents will have to homeschool their own kids. Maybe then they’ll wake up
This is why we have a teacher shortage!! I use to teach an now I work at a children’s museum and I LOVE it! I feel like I am a person and have a work life balance not just a teacher only, with no social life but my teacher friends!
I'm really happy you love your job. I applied for a job at a children's museum after I retired from teaching. They asked me a lot of interview questions about how I would handle situations with complaining, overbearing mothers--moms who want their child to have a toy someone else is playing with or want to interrupt the class field trip constantly, etc. I left the interview feeling so much anxiety, had nightmares, got sick. When they offered me the job I couldn't take it. Teaching had destroyed me emotionally.
As far as the work life balance, I saw a video of a teacher explaining some stats about tests and how they don't do anything (except make teachers have to grade papers for free in their own personal time) and that homework is unnecessary. We could take some of this work load away from teachers when we see that they aren't working. Creating personal plans/curriculum to the individual child is labor intensive at first, but gives children a better understanding and control over their education than test. Some kids get so stressed out that even when they know the answers they get it wrong. Many forget 96 % of the information in 3 days from constant cramming for different tests and their brains can only absorb and store so much information. Taking breaks once an hour for 15 minutes helps retain information. We could do much better to help teachers and students have better classroom experiences.
You did what you needed to do. I pulled my kids out of public school to home school them something I have always been against. All they are worried about is numbers. God's got you. I'm praying for you.
Wow! I didn't realize how much my 4th period class contributed to my forced retirement!!! Thank you for sharing your story. I hope we can make the changes needed to modify a 100 yr old system to be effective for this and upcoming generations!
When an admin and counselling team are not willing to move schedules it PROVES that they don't actually care about kids. We ask for schedule changes because it is best for kids. When admin don't take care of their teachers they are failing the kids. Period. Full stop. No argument. Caring for teachers is caring for kids. Proud of you. Find a place that wants what is best for teachers and kids.
My husband got offered a new teaching job yesterday and will likely take it, largely in part to this very thing…as well as admin not doing their jobs and bowing to helicopter parents/parents who threaten.
It breaks my heart watching this video. Everything you said, I mean everything you said is 100% true. I’m a teacher and I’m quitting in two days. Looking back on my years as a teacher, I’ve been bullied, threatened, belittled, and even physically attacked. As a teacher you’re expected to just deal with it or have better classroom management. Teachers are responsible for everything and parents are barely held accountable for nothing. Years of teaching, a master’s degree, and thousands in student loans and I’m walking out! I choose me. I choose my health. I choose life. I see so many young teachers with high blood pressure, stomach ulcers, depression. This is the most stressful job I know of. Give a two weeks notice? You might not have survived for two more weeks 🤷🏽♀️ Who’s to say you wouldn’t have had a stroke or heart attack within those two weeks. Every job has some amount of stress to it, but teaching has enormous stress on a daily basis throughout the day. Your body will eventually give out. I’m happy you chose you before it was too late. Teaching is horrible and I hope one day the system changes to benefit the kids because the public school system is doing a great injustice to our society.
I am doing my Ph.D. on why teachers leave the classroom and I would love for you to complete my survey if you have time. A survey can be found on the about me page section of CZcams.
I have a similar experience where a teacher turned on me. Made me miserable and then got me in trouble with the principal. Principal believed the teacher and I was released 2 months before the end of the year. After that I decided I no longer had the passion for being a teacher. It’s quite the story. It’s awful when school systems are toxic and run off good people.
I'm SO sorry you went through all this and no one was there to support you. All the love and respect for you, love. 💕 Your story is almost EXACTLY my story. 😢 When you said, "Our head principal is so unbelievably unapproachable" is EXACTLY how my principal and both APs were. It was why I resigned too. On top of that, one of the APs consistently harassed me for 4 years and they still blamed me. Teachers need support and respect. Period.
Yeah. And honestly its not so much the teaching and kids that educators gets stressed about. It’s the toxic environment is some schools and lack of discipline with some kids.
Nursing student here. The fact that your BP was 217/133 is extremely alarming! I can only imagine the amount of stress you and all other teachers go through on a daily basis. God bless you and all other teachers. This country desperately needs more teachers to help make class numbers smaller.
She's also overweight...look at her. Smaller class sizes aren't the problem, it's parents who don't parent or discipline their kids or take any interest in their lives. The parents are the problem. The kids are a projection of their home environment.
@HoneyNut Cocaine that's more of a you and your "community" problem than a white problem. Look up education, wedlock, incarceration gang and poverty rates by demographics. Then look in the mirror.
I just subscribed and saw this video. I’ve been a RN since 1982. I FEEL your pain. After 33 years of nursing and 25+ years of psychiatric care( yeah!) , i took the only safe course of care for my patients by walking out( and into a 14 day stay in psychiatric hospital) . I had the same panic attack response as you described and spent two stints of hospitalization for high blood pressure. I have so much empathy for you. ❤
I quit teaching in the UK, I didn’t realise the effect the stress had on my health until I left it behind and my illnesses disappeared. You seem like you were a great teacher with so much good energy, such a loss to the profession. Teachers and schools are bearing the brunt of a broken society and it’s breaking us. Best wishes and good health to you.
I actually had a mild stroke in my classroom 2 weeks ago. Then get a letter saying I may not be rehired due to professionalism and attendance. I have more professionalism then administration. Especially when you confide in your principal and they run and tell the person that I said something about them, so I get bullied by that person. So I completely feel your pain. It really is horrible that administration makes us feel this way.
It's the "never got a response to the email" for me. Just hearing that gave me like...PTSD. The lack of response by admin when teachers are at their most vulnerable is one of the reasons I walked away too. Sometimes they are not interested in responding, sometimes they don't feel the situation warrants a response and sometimes there is an inability to respond to teachers because their hands are tied due to outside circumstances. Either way, it makes for an emotionally unsupportive and unhealthy working environment for teachers. Good for you for seeking the best solution for yourself. You've got so many bright things ahead of you!
This is going to sound counterintuitive, and I know teachers feel threatened by this proposition because it is such a departure from the status quo and also associated with conservative, Republican politics, but in other white collar professions the issue of a poorly run workplace & bad management is handled by employees who simply change to a different employer but in the same industry. Businesses that can't retain good employees shrink and then go out of business. I realize that model might not actually work, I'm not saying for a fact that it does, but what I see with teachers is that they change jobs less. This puts less pressure on the school to try and retain employees. Additionally, public institutions are less agile and less adaptable, and they can be hamstrung by other regulations that sound good on paper but make everyone's lives worse at the workplace (at the school). I wish a state, say texas or georgia or something, experimented with going full voucher, and stayed that way for 2 decades. We need experiments to be run, not just in a single charter school, but over an entire geographical region. That's my (unpopular and never-gonna-happen) 2 cents.
I also felt PTSD when I heard about your admin's lack of support. I had a similar situation: I asked my principal to move an extremely disruptive, disrespectful student from my class to a colleague's (after discussing it first with my colleague, who was fully on board). I told her this move would be better for the student - and for the rest of the students in his class. My principal also said, "We'll see," then did nothing. After experiencing physical symptoms of anxiety (angina and arrhythmia), I went to my district's director of human resources. I told him I would not return to work until the student was moved out of my class (and got a note from my doctor to back up my need for a medical leave). After two days out of the classroom in our sub-starved district, they moved the student. So, a happier ending for me - but one that has left a very bitter taste in my mouth, as I realized how little my principal actually cares about the teachers. If I died at work, they'd replace me and move on. I realized I need to prioritize my health and my family, because no one else will. Good luck in the next chapter of your life! You deserve to be appreciated and treasured.
I find it hillarious that I am required, by my district, to respond to parent communications within 24 hours but our principal rarely responds to teachers' emails!
I completely know what you experienced. I hope you have time to heal. ❤ I have panic attacks, which are different from anxiety attacks, and this is exactly what happens. I have even lost vision temporarily. You are not a failure. Super big hugs from Canada.
This is so sad. Students are allowed to be disruptive, disrespectful and excuses are made for their behaviors. Teachers deserve the same amount of empathy and understanding. We tolerate so much mistreatment and criticism from parents, students, administrators and people who have NEVER even spent time in a classroom. More accountability should be directed toward parents and students and less toward teachers who are simply trying to do their jobs. You did nothing wrong! Unfortunately, due to a lack of support, the profession has lost another great educator.
Dr. Julia Hare’s words ring true:
“The teachers are afraid of the principals; the principals are afraid of the Superintendents; the Superintendents are afraid of the school board, the school boards are afraid of the parents; the parents are afraid of the kids and the kids aren’t afraid of anyone!”
Wish I could double-like this quote. Exactly right. It's a kind of political system based on fear and self-preservation where the teacher gets the bulk of responsibility and blame.
@ Quentenius
That’s ridiculous. And they wonder why kids are falling academically behind more and more (even before covid).
Teachers are required to focus on everything BUT education. Students learning is the last thing on the school boards priority list🙄
You words are so true!!! If PARENTS would be PARENTS, children would not be having this behavior in school!!!!
Lol!
Yup!!! 1000% true
“When you’re good at your job, it’s almost like you’re getting punished for being good at your job,” that part. Sis, best friend, I feel you so much.🥺🥺🥺
My husband always tells me, dont be a pretty horse, they always get fucked the hardest. Sad but true
I'm a truck driver. I felt that to my bones I don't know what else to say but that I feel for everyone in this same situation 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🎯🎯🎯
I managed units at a residential treatment center and that’s exactly how it was.
The reward for good work is more work! It is so discouraging
I’m not a teacher, but yeah!
Every workplace I’ve ever been in adds to your workload if you’re awesome.
And you have to carry the deadwood workers too.
The teacher who got shot by the 6 year old told administrators he had a gun and they did nothing. Teachers need to be protected. Kudos for thinking about your daughter and your health. You’re in my prayers.
@K Camp
Then the admin should have been fired and arrested for not doing anything. Idk what needs to happen. Maybe if more and more kids are bring in weapons and hurting everyone on campus, they’ll take it seriously.
That childs life will also be forever affected by that incident. When you let children run rampant and evil it affects the victims of it and their own future. It literally helps no one.
@@jomr4249 lock that kid he will get worse
It has always blown my mind that we say, “It takes a village to raise a child,” but then we expect a teacher to manage a class of 30 or more by themselves. I’m so sorry they didn’t listen to you and I’m glad you got out of there and prioritized your health. I hope you are well.
@ jam
It’s takes a village. But the parents play an important role in that village.
the MOST important role. I learned that if I didn't behave in class, trouble would be awaiting me at home. Doesn't anyone discipline their kids anymore? Better to do it when they're young because they will have problems growing up and being out in the world. @@amylee8969
The village doesn't raise the child, parents do. The village can tell a parent or remind the child to behave. For example, my friends daughter was caught playing Chinese fire drill at a red light and the person in the car behind new her mom and her daughter and reported to the mother. She got in trouble and didn't repeat that behavior. That's what it means for a village to take part in the welfare of the community.
Kids do not want the village. They want a real mother and a real father. As you now know the village has raised thugs, murderers, thrives , rapist, killers and drop outs. How is that working for you?
Teachers are some of the most important people in our society and they need to be better supported in so many ways.
mic drop
@@indiald3373 Yes, but ultimately, the good ones need to quit.
Period pooh!
Exactly!!!
I love Your channel SBSK 💖💖💖
My wife quit after just 3 years, citing impossible, conflicting standards, a hostile school administrator, and a decline in health. Teaching, while an honorable profession, has become too difficult of a job.
So So TRUE
essential
Well, it’s no longer a job. It’s a dumping ground. I left teaching five years ago, and it took me two years before I could sleep more than two hours in a row, and a further six months before I could stop having anxiety attacks that prevented me from falling asleep because I was so worried that I wouldn’t get enough sleep because I was so stressed.
I concur. I quit mid year after 3.5 years. Mental and physical health declined so quickly and consistently. Not to mention being injured on campus by students fighting, and teachers & admin NOT intervening because they thought I was a student. I deserve better. My OWN kids and family deserves better. Prayers to all educators.
@@tahvyearains7261 edTech is a great alternative. You use all these learning platforms for a living, which means you know what's wrong with them & how to make it better. Use that to your advantage.
I just quit my teaching job due to stress, anxiety, and panic attacks during class. I was a teacher for 16 years. Thank you for talking about this 💗
So sorry that happened to you. You made the right decision.
I am quitting at the end of this year and getting out for sure. This job is killing people and its admin and the higher ups that don't support us and make our profession unbearable.
Omg! I’m right behind you
That happened to me years ago. I left teaching in the classroom but found a way to use my teaching experience in a different job at a university. It’ll all work out. She’ll find a new job.
I'm leaving teaching, too....
Administration just doesn’t care about their staff. This happens everywhere. It got so bad for me I had a complete breakdown in front of my class and landed in the hospital for 2 weeks. You were right to walk away. It is what is best for you. I got a job at the airport escorting unaccompanied minors to their connecting flights. It doesn’t pay as much, but I’m much happier.
From an administrator, with 13 years as a teacher and 13 as an administrator, I quit after 26. I cared very deeply for my staff. I still care for them! Sometimes things are out of our control also. I had 628 students, 80 employees to handle with crazy parents on top of that. I had teachers divide classes for the next year so everyone had equal behavior problems, troublesome parents, easy students, all of it! I had no problem taking over a class when a teacher was overwhelmed. I always felt appreciated by my staff! However, I didn’t feel supported by MY superiors. Please don’t make blanket statements about ALL administrators. My first couple of years… I made less than teacher pay, per day…..js…
More like the parents don’t care about taking the responsibility of raising their kids properly. Admin has their faults too, buts it’s the parents who are ignorant enough to call and threaten the school for trying to give their kids consequences they rightfully deserved.
I literally gasped when you said your blood pressure was 217/133. That is an actual medical emergency, as in people can have strokes and other organ damage from BP that high. I’m glad you’re ok and have been able to walk away from that situation
YOU know the meaning of success, good for you! You are showing you know where your priorities should be. Your health, your family and if possible, your neighbor(students). If the administration doesn’t care about their teachers, who will? Without teachers, where would we all be? Love your videos. Keep up the great work. You are still making a difference. Thank you❤️
I know right? I am super surprised they didn't admit her to the hospital for observation. Unless it started going down really fast once they took her to the ER. That is scary stuff.
Yes
Why weren’t you admitted. That blood pressure!!
You need to be screened for essential hypertension please.
“If you’re good at your job, it’s almost like you get punished for being good at your job.” Yes. A thousand times yes. I couldn’t agree more. I feel your stress and anxiety and worry and desire deep in my bones. Thank you for being so open - it makes me feel a little less alone. ❤️
If you good at discipline they give you all the behavior problems
Yes!! I got all the reclassified freshmen. One told me someone would be waiting for me after school. He was suspended and his mom called and cussed me out. That was my last year...
My admin keeps telling me I am a saint this year. I don’t want to be a saint. I want have something left for my own kids and husband when I get home.
Amen!!!
Bless you! Take care of yourself!
I am no doctor, but blood pressure that high with fainting symptoms is very dangerous.
You did the right thing.
It’s tragic that they ran off a good teacher, but you’re exactly right you have your own family to care for.
I hope you find a better place and I’ll say a prayer for you .
i’m not understanding why teachers aren’t getting paid more. you guys 100% deserve a big raise like your job is the literal backbone of the country.
Well said! They aren't here to parent, they're TEACHING kids who are gonna be running the country and taking care of us in a few decades.
Administration gets all the money.
@@ujdd201 it’s not because of that. The state government do not want to raise taxes; therefore prefer to keep teachers with low pay. For them teachers are replaceable
But men who put a ball in a hoop (hit ball w stick, throw ball through goal posts) make millions. 🤔
Right! It’s business 101 invest in your nations human capital like wtf is our government doing????
“Y’all will let teachers pass out and have a stroke, and won’t do nothing except replace us the next day.”
THIS. I’m a first year teacher and I had to have one of my co-teachers grab me by the shoulders one morning and tell me this. She said, “It’s important for us to be good at our job, but our job is not more important than our personal lives and families. There is only ONE of you in your family and friends lives. There are hundreds of teachers that can walk in your classroom and teach your kids. They will replace you tomorrow if God forbid something happens to you.”
And yes my job is important, but I go about my days a lot differently now. As hard as I know it was for you to walk out, the people that love you are thankful that you did. 💛
Amen 🙏🏾
I'm really sorry that you went through this.
That’s crazy. Sounds like desert storm or something. Teachers deserve the treatment that football players get. Plus the salary
That's how all jobs are. They don't care about us that's why I don't believe in working hard for others. Only work hard for yourself
This applies to more jobs also.
I was a special education teacher for 15.5 years (that .5 is not an accident), and I was the department chair for 10 of those years - during the first 14 years of that time I was considered by the administration and my peers to be a damn good teacher and department leader. Then we got a new principal... that person, in the year and a half I worked with them, forced a bunch of 20+ year veteran teachers to retire, and I guess I was too dense to read the writing on my back, so they forced me out in the middle of the next year. I never had any evaluation less than "clearly outstanding" or "exceeds expectations," and I got written up on the first day of the inservice week because I was preparing IEPs for two meetings the following day instead of doing bureaucratic paperwork. I knew it was going to be a bad year, but I didn't know how bad...
Anyway, they forced me out in the middle of the year with a "separation agreement," promising me a "fresh start" with a "neutral reference" so I could find another job, with all my excellent evaluations, yaddayadda. Hahaha hahaha... For the next 2.5 years, I was a substitute teacher in three districts, with applications active in 22 districts in the large metropolitan area and the towns around. In all that time, I had a total of three interviews. None of them happened through HR departments - they happened when an admin person heard about me and called HR and told them, "talk to this guy." When I was interviewing for a non-teaching position that involved a psych screening, the evaluator who talked to me told me, "you know they did things, right?"
Yeah, I know. So because they didn't like me, they destroyed my career, took my livelihood (substitute teachers don't get paid squat, and there are no benefits), and I was lucky to have survived. It came VERY close. I have been an adjunct professor for the last 11 years, and I love what I do, but until just now there has not been any opportunity to get full-time employment in my department. So that stunt, 15 years ago, resulted in 15 years (so far) of impoverished conditions for me and my family.
I'm sorry I went on so long, and nobody likely has read this whole thing - but I just wanted to say good on you for standing up for yourself.
I read the whole thing. Been there done that.
I felt this on a visceral level. I have suffered through a similar experience and have been suffering since both physically and mentally. Personally, I just feel stuck because of retirement and financial issues. I am sorry you had to experience what you did, and your story is just too relatable for words. I wish all the best for you and your family.
I also read the whole post. I also have had very similar thing happen to me during my 15th and 16th year teaching from one particular principal. I got evaluations from this petty jerk that were all good to great until I questioned a ridiculous and insane email he sent me about a recent observation. He was wrong and admitted he was wrong in a meeting but spent 2 years harassing me with bad evaluations and constant observations. I hated him, dreaded working, and worst of all began to question my value as a teacher. I took awhile for me to finally another teaching job: 2 1/2 years. I was broken still and resigned at the end of my 2nd year at this school when they reassigned me to teach Kinder which I am
Not certified to teach. They just wanted me to go. I subbed for awhile then got a teaching position in Nov. 2019 at a public charter school. I earned TEA recognized teacher status that 2019-2020 school year. One pandemic and 2 years later, it’s bad evaluations and moving me to two different positions than the grade I had been teaching. I’m getting lots of interviews but it’s hard for me to interview with complete sincerity because of borderline trauma from all my years of teaching.
It's all done to you on purpose. it's part of a bigger plot to destroy education
Read it all. This is so real to so many teachers.
I'm a teacher in public school. No one gets what we go through and/or appreciates us! I get exactly what you are saying. I am a seasoned, veteran, decorated teacher of 30 years who has great classroom management. It is all so overwhelming and no one gets it! They are pushing good teachers out!!!!!
@ KJ
I agree. Don’t get me wrong, I love the routine of working with and helping my kiddos at work. But I DON’T love the current system of kids getting away with things without real consequences. It’s like all the consequences are removed and highly limited. The makes it harder not just for teachers and staff, but the students as well.
I feel like todays kids are not being prepared enough for the real world, they’re just sliding by without learning the true value of respect and hard work.
Yes we do... your students spend years in schools and colleges dealing with all the same horrific problems if not being thrown into classes with kids, teenagers, and even over 20s who are really messed up and shouldn't even be there really traumatizes you.
Then how it makes the teachers behave towards you like you are the problem too if a few students act out then somehow everyone else should suffer for that if not they know they're doing that making an example out of all the students just because of a few. Your students are traumatized for life and then that only encourages the dysfunctional behavior because they know they can now hold everyone back for what they did, if not the teachers do this in order to encourage it to make things horrible for the class.
Not saying all teachers do this but most do and it needs to be stopped 100% just because they know they have their students all day. Mixing the kids also needs to be stopped because in no way does anyone learn anything nor benefit in any way being in classes with other students who are far too messed up, it's a whole other level of dysfunction and you just get re-traumatized over and over again as a result.
All you learn is 101 ways to be taken advantage of and hurt everyday and all of that effects your ability to form relationships and creates huge trust issues because you can never trust anyone running the schools or colleges do what's right for you, including the environment they put you in. Students are young, innocent and naive even in your 20s some more than others which should be protected, you don't understand things when you're younger, so that should never be taken advantage of but currently and for a long while now that has gone out the window.
Yep
I know some people are going to disagree, but I think what you did was brave. I was a teacher....it's difficult. I was also in a supervisor position that became so stressful that I felt my blood pressure spiking and I felt unsupported and I started to feel targeted. I was getting ready for work one morning and I was sitting on the side of the tub, and I was dreading walking through the front door of my job. And I put pajamas back on and crawled back into bed. And I slept like a rock! I never called in or put in my notice. I just stayed home with my babies! Best decision I ever made. So good for u! If u don't take care of u...no one else will.
So true, u must look after yr own health first ❤
27 year teacher here. I’m resigning this year. I can’t take it anymore. It was the same for me. The stress became unbearable. I got to the point that I was crying every morning before work. It was NOT the kids. It was the administration and the utter disregard for their teachers as professionals and even sometimes as human beings. Horrible. God bless you and help you through this time.
Love and hugs to you. Such a big loss, a teacher with 27yrs of experience. I'm really sorry.
Behaviour comes from home. Parents really are co-partners in educating children. At the very least parents should teach good manners and good behaviour if nothing else. Much respect for this teacher!!
27 year teacher as well. I am just a bit shy on hitting retirement, but things just keep getting worse instead of better. No one seems to get this. I am job hunting this summer, and it won't be in teaching. I will be looking for something and at this point, I just can't drum up an "I give a damn." I don't care if I make chit in $$. This job is killing me.
@@jss61 best of luck!! I feel ya!
I'm sorry you had to endure that. Thank you for the 27 years.👊 A lot was put on teachers because our society is broken. Maybe you can be a light in your neighborhood or community by tutoring. Many people homeschool today. 🙂🙏
Amen! I remember going to a funeral for a colleague. When we returned from the funeral, the custodians already had her classroom cleared out. Her belongings were placed in the hallway for anyone to take. That let me know that as teachers, we are replaceable.
I'm a custodian. Just wanted to let you know that it's not us. What usually happens is that we're told by the office to make sure the room is clear before anyone comes back and makes a fuss. I've had principals and VP's watch us and tell us to move faster when clearing a room in a clandestine manner.
@@blockmasterscott understood!
My heart breaks at this. 💔❤️🩹
@@blockmasterscott hi I'm a custodian as well. Your right! It's true some principles just don't understand.
@@wolfdolphen hi! Thanks for answering!
My biggest “principal” pet peeve is them deciding they can run summer clean up better than the BSS and having them hand the school back to you at the end of summer when they find out they mismanaged the time and are behind schedule, and you have to play catch up.
I just left teaching after 7 years. I know I was amazing as a teacher but I dealt with a lot of this similar issues including being assaulted by a student with ZERO repercussions. You are not alone and nobody understands it unless you've been there. I am SO happy for you.
This! I was only a T.A., but witnessed bruised and bitten teachers have to go back into the classroom with their assailant who got a slap on the wrist. Absolutely not.
I’m happy that you got out, too.
I agree. People outside of teaching can't even imagine.
This is INSANE to me. I was a teacher for just one year and left because of stress, the parents/admin, etc. I never had to deal with violence though, I cannot imagine on top of all the general teacher stress having that piled on top.
This is insane!!! Growing up in a traditional home if I would EVER lay hands on authority ESPECIALLY teacher...
I would of ended up dead 💀
One time I school I did something that got me suspended and my parents literally beat my ass in front of the class u til I passed myself 😂😂😂
Unfortunately you can't do that anymore
@@monique911 Oh but children are living gods in "the homeland of America." Their farts are precious gifts! Their boogers are little nuggets worth more than gold! Always believe the child! 😂
My advice to teachers in these situations is to document, document, document and then hire a bulldog of an attorney to sue your district and principal. It can be done! Everyone makes mistakes, even serious ones…administrators especially do. Keep your eyes and ears open. Record data. Only when districts have to pay out millions will this abuse of teachers stop. Remember too to vote for candidates who support teachers specifically. Join and strengthen your unions.
Unions unions unions !!!!!! Yes
YES! JOIN YOUR UNION OR THE PROFESSIONAL ASSC THAT REPRESENTS YOU (in right-to-work states). Beware of American Assc of Educators. They're funded by the billionaires who are dismantling our public schools and putting out the "indoctrination" propaganda. And contact your state reps.
That does nothing. My union didn’t back me up. And lawyers cost lots of money.
I feel this in my soul. I had a notebook titled "survival" that I kept everything in, in case I needed my own backup! Learned double-quick after my first teaching experience!
Yesss!!! Only thing is when there isn’t a union :(
Girl, as a nurse, you did the right thing. Your 1st priority is going home to your baby. That blood pressure and that feeling sounds like an early stroke. Your body was warning you. You did everything that you could, they did wrong by you.
Definitely sounds like a mild stroke! Or signs of it at least.
Yep, NO job is worth your life!!!
Well said, Ashley!! I did have two strokes with these feelings beforehand.
A panic attack, maybe? Take care of yourself.
I had a 42 year old day she had a stroke at her teaching job!
As a custodian, I've seen this way too often. I've been the one sitting in a room with a crying teacher who is contemplating quitting or worse. Been the shoulder, voice of reason, ear to be ranted to, and the tissue holder. The parents, administration, and government have a huge disconnect from the teachers. Parents act like a teachers personal life is all access for them and that they should have an input in every aspect of it (ex: clothes you wear to the beach). Admin act like petty corporate bosses working in another state. You lodge a complaint about something, they will find a way to make it worse all while saying it is to make it easier on you. (admin doing evals the last day before a holiday "because you'll have less students and it'll be easier for you to handle them")
Thank you for recognizing all of this. I so appreciate your comment and consideration. ❤️
Our custodian saved my sanity last year. Thank you!!!!
Thank you for the work you do. I make sure to show my appreciation for the custodial staff. This past Wednesday, there was supposed to be some bad weather so my board closed schools. No other board did. I saw a bunch of comments online blaming teachers for just wanting another day off as if we don’t get enough time off. As if we control the weather or have any say in anything the board does.
Thank you for being awesome at your job too because it is HARD. The custodian at my school is my best work friend too!
Custodians are the heart of the school. The custodian asked me yesterday how I was liking my first year in the district. The admins have not even asked me that. Thanks for being a shoulder to lean on!
I had panic attacks, major depression, lost 15 pounds, and cried nearly every day to work when I was a teacher. It was so terrible. I’m so sorry this happened to you. It’s so messed up.
Did you quit? I have been a sub after military retirement, and I get what you are saying. The military was a safer environment.
i don't blame you and emphasize you in every way. i hope you're doing better in life. And found a better way to live. Nobody deserves the shit teachers take
I'm a teacher from Spain. I'm on my 7th year of teaching now. Last year I taught in the US for a school year ( ideally it was really going to be more) as part as an exchange program. Almost everyday there I question If I wanted to be a teacher and in these 7 years never happened to me before. In the end I ended it up leaving at the end of the school year ( for other health reasons) but I can't say I regret leaving and coming back to Spain
I'm a therapist and I work with so many teachers. This year I swear only 25% of my teachers are returning to the field because they just cannot deal with the conditions they face. Happy to see them pivot to a less stressful field but makes me sad that the schools are losing such amazing people!
Yeah it sucks. You’d think that after the covid pandemic……when schools were forced to close, that society would learn a lesson after this tragedy. Which is to value and appreciate members who contribute so much to society b/c you never know when everything will be taken away.
I wish had good teacher for my child this whole year. She differently was not a communicator and waited the last minute to inform you about your child. 90% of the time my child would tell me before the teacher did. I would even ask the teacher about testing and homework. Never got a conference the first half of the year. But got one upon request of me for a conference the 2nd half of the year. On stop of that the teacher went to jail and they covered that up. My child was getting hit on in by a boy and she would tell the teacher... nothing was done about. I had to plan out tell my child to defend herself because ur going to be a punching bag. This can cause her to think it ok to be hit on because the teacher didn't defend her. School is not school no more.
@@tawanda4090- go to the school district and document everything, such as any marks, bruises, and even the words of the other bully. If the teacher didn't do anything, go directly to the principal and the district.
I just got done with my student teaching, and I know your situation pretty well. In many places, they hesitate to suspend or boot kids. If you can, I would recommend observing for a day or whatever amount of time you can. Keep up the good fight on protecting your kiddo!
@@tawanda4090did you just listen to the video.. most teachers are spread too thin. And are dealing with so much. 30 kids for 5 to 6 classes. Do the math.
Honestly, I left America behind when I got my teaching degree. My mother was a teacher throughout my childhood and I remember the days she would break down crying because she had no help beyond myself and my sister cutting out laminate. I work in another country now and my classrooms are around 10-12 students and I have an assistant. The respect they give to teachers overseas is night and day compared to American schools.
Where is this?
^ I second this question, currently finishing my ECE degree and want to work over seas, are you a ESL/TEFL teacher?
@@Rosyblvsh I have my DELTA, so currently I work in an international school in Korea, but I've also worked in Italy, China, and Malawi. I wouldn't suggest teaching in China atm since they're changing policies to make it more difficult for foreign teachers. If you're American and want to teach overseas, getting into an Asian country is pretty easy. I'd suggest doing that first. You typically work as an immersion teaching assistant rather than solo teaching. It's a good way to get experience. Getting a visa for the EU is difficult but not impossible, but being more experienced and having a better degree will get them more willing to hire you.
I wouldn't say that Korea is perfect when it comes to schools, but the way they treat teachers is very different compared to America. Just be careful about who hires you and look into them before accepting a job, especially when it comes to hagwons/cram schools.
I’m headed overseas to teach after this school year. I’ve heard so many good things about teaching outside of the US. Excited to see what it’s like over there!
Great...Which country is that?
I pursued teaching before and while I earned a role as a T.A. at my local elementary school. After seeing the lack of support from admin, I absolutely changed my mind. I left after 6 years to work in a call center. I had no degree and no idea of what I wanted to do.
I went from call center CSR to business analyst in just a few short years. I work from home and make almost tripled what I would have made my first year of teaching. I never looked back and it moves me to tears knowing that I make more than teachers. Teachers are THE backbone in any society and I’m truly disgusted.
🔥🔥🔥
2 years after my nervous breakdown in school (I'm a teacher)- I still can't listen to you're story without feeling like a desperate cornered animal. It's not right that people are treated this way.
I am not a teacher, but I am a custodian and I see the pressure they put you under.
I see the way they tie your hands and ignore the problems. I see the way they set up classes, and I know it’s not the kids themselves, but large class sizes and high needs kids and a single teacher is a bomb waiting to implode.
30 kids is too much. I’m sorry you went through that. Im glad you did the right thing for yourself and I hope for the best for you.
Thanks for noticing. God bless!
Thank you for the hard work you do also ❤
Thank you for the work that you do. Underrecognized, underappreciated.
You all are the smart ones, not the suckers like us, enduring the constant blame and harassment.
30 kids is too much but I wished that my class size was that small. 50 and 50 plus is over kill. My form class is 52 kids.
Wow you nailed it. I was thinking the same 30 kids? Things are so out of control, such lack of true support from administrators for teachers, administrators one of buddy buddy with the kids instead of supporting teachers these days. Thank you for speaking up and speaking out. Custodians are some of our core people in education, you are obviously one that cares deeply and pays attention so thank you for that as well.
22 year teacher here…All of these comments are so spot-on. No one understands what we endure besides other teachers. The “good teachers get punished” hit home! The behaviors we’re expected to manage in the last few years are abhorrent! I’m lucky to have great administrators and co-workers, but SOMETHING has to change in society as a whole! I’m sorry you had to experience this.❤️
I am doing my Ph.D. on why teachers leave the classroom and I would love for you to complete my survey if you have time. A survey can be found on the about me page section of CZcams.
I have been teaching for 23 years and I feel the same way. Sadly, I feel very unsupported by my district. I am truly glad you have support.
🙏
You nailed it! I’ve been coming home exhausted every day and over chats with my concerned husband, I’ve said this very same thing. It’s becoming a societal issue! We can’t keep up a constant dog and pony show to deflect these behaviors. I very much believe that unmonitored social media in the hands of our kids has contributed to this mess. I’ve been in this for 24 years now. I’m retiring at the end of next year. My two daughters are teachers too, and one is contemplating leaving the profession.
And that's why I try to go above and beyond for my kids teachers with supplies and support and thank them every chance I get
You are SO RIGHT when you say that you get punished for being good at your job. I worked for a while at an alternative school where I would always get placed with the most difficult students, even when I specifically requested not to be paired with certain students due to various reasons (and this did not happen often; I was flexible and enjoyed working with most students, but drew the line at those who would deliberately projectile vomit or defecate during a behavioral incident). Meanwhile, I had coworkers who were always given the easiest students because "Well, we know so-and-so won't be able to handle them". Girl, watch me start to not handle students if I'm consistently expected to only deal with the ones with the most explosive behaviors! It's crazy! We're people, not machines!
I was losing my hair due to stress. My admin had me document 5 different students in my class all day, every day, yet nothing happened. They sent a staff to document, and they said afterwards that my worst student stole things off my desk 5 times while I was rotating around the room helping my students. They finally admitted that they weren’t going to do anything. I sat in my car crying before going in to the school each morning. I had taught for 26 years, but just couldn’t do it anymore. I used to love teaching, but with the increased behavior problems, lack of parents taking responsibility, and poor administration it was putting too much stress on me. Sad to say that most of the teachers I taught with have also left the profession.
@Linda Young
I’d hate to be dealing with “leaders” like that. It’s like they’re either lazy OR too scared of angry parents coming up to the school and yelling at them. The purpose of consequences is being strict is to keep everyone on campus safe and prepare students. Then they wonder why kids are academically falling more and more behind. Even after remote learning during the pandemic has ended. There’s no more excuses.
Yep, as a sub I had students attack me and then report me to the principal. Without asking my side, I was banned from that campus. They principal just gave the control 100% to the students
I did the exact same! Toxic positivity, false sense and focus on “self care”, and the expectation to do more with less is taking a toll. I’m proud of you for doing what is necessary for you. In the end our position is replaceable, but our lives are not.
I love teaching, I do. But, admin is taking us for granted and I am just trying to be there for our kiddos! But these two or so yrs, it’s been painful.
I respect you taking care of you! Even tho I know it hurts, remember you are valued and matter !
That part!!!
We put up posters all around our school this year that say "We will do anything to support our students." I was like, "RED FLAG FOR HOW THIS YEAR IS GOING TO GO." I will do what I can to help my students, but not anything.
It feels like administration forgets you're a teacher and they think you're just there to watch the kids. Teachers aren't babysitters, they're educators. It's wild that daycare has a legal limit for adult to child ratios, but schools don't. I'm so sorry you reached the point of a medical emergency and still weren't taken seriously. Thank you for the time and energy you put into the kids. I hope you find financial AND emotional stability wherever you go next, because you deserve it
Not babysitters, more like zookeepers.
And all kids do better when there's a lower student to teacher ratio. I had 5 kids in my class and a co teacher and we could go back and forth from teaching to getting the next project ready to cleaning without gaps in the learning process and it never felt like work.
🙋🏽♀️ childcare teacher here.... Ratios are not being followed in the times we are living in right now and we are dealing with many of the same stressors as the teachers in the public schools. We also had all the kids when schools were closed trying to do their virtual schooling.... We are feeling it too. We are short staffed, over worked (I work 50+ hours just in the building not counting what I do outside the building), and we are struggling financially. We have so many special needs kids who are not diagnosed yet or have IEP’s because parents don't want to see it or doctors won't help until they start school. We are also dealing with behaviors or unregulated children who are often violent towards us and other children. And the states are putting pressure on us to perform as if we were elementary school teachers so we are still very much providing a curriculum, observations, and assessments all while changing diapers and potty training and being pulled out of our regular classes to sub for other teachers because you're the best one in the baby room or the 2 year old room so now you're preschoolers have to deal with their teacher coming in and out for days or weeks at a time and when you get back you have to start over with your rules and expectations because while you were away there was no structure, and you need to out your classroom back together because nobody was cleaning it up or putting things back where it goes. She hit the nail on the head when she said it's like if you're good at your job you'll get punished. I feel that deeply.
I praise our teachers! You deserve better!
As a former teacher, you’re wrong. That’s how it should be. We aren’t allowed to educate, not really, not outside AP classes and even then it’s only teaching how to get into college instead of how to be productive adults. We are literally babysitters first and foremost. I was chewed out multiple times for “teaching too much and not giving enough busy work” (administrations exact words).
What you are describing is known as PTSD, pure and simple. As a principal in the same building I formerly taught, one of the things I TRIED to do was push in as much as possible and support the teachers. I was lucky and I was able to be use the only tool I had consistently - my time - to be present in the rooms, and CARE for the teachers. What was interesting was that the kids saw that, and for that time I was there, it helped. I took kids out of rooms and placed them in other rooms, I was able to communicate with parents, and again, I was LUCKY. . . I was supported by a social worker and a really good resource room teacher, AND a great staff. What you are talking about is so typical, and the courage it takes to provide context without blame is wonderful. I am so sorry for your experience, and I truly understand your feelings and your experience. As disruptive as resignation is for YOUR life, you did the right thing. You need to take your ability to speak to the heart of the matter(s) without demonizing the kids, and take your show on the road! I know you know that not all schools are like what you experienced, BUT the pressure teachers are under is the same everywhere. You are giving voice to what EVERYONE is going through, and you have an audience. As one door closes, another door opens, so maybe this is another opportunity to continue in education in a new, impactful and different way. I don’t need to wish you luck, because I know you will be successful. I do wish you peace and will remind you that your actions were correct and showed courage and common sense.
Exactly! somebody who finally says it without claiming we're talking crazy, i've even had teachers on here tell me i'm crazy and trying to make me look like i'm whacko for talking about any kind of mental health impact that schools, colleges, and unis are having on people and the deeper meaning behind how the culture is. Of course they would lol because many teachers are like this i've had my fill of them over the 19 years i was a student, and at the moment there are truly many who believe they're exempt from the behaviors going on they're SO confident about it, until of course they start to get targeted.
I defo have ptsd too and for the life of me i don't trust anyone and i can't concentrate at all with anyone near me, looking at me, standing over me, or in the same room as me. Anxiety and depression already runs in the family but they made it a million times worse where i'm so anxious about learning anything around people i freeze and it's so triggering for me.
Like during the initial learning stage where i'm clearly not going to be confident about anything, so i never want to be put myself in a position again where i'm being pushed to understand things within the hour or less, it's not going to happen for anyone it's unrealistic and designed just to reach work targets. How they put the pressure on in various abusive ways just because the teachers are being pressured oh man... now all i want is a quiet room away from everyone with zero interference, and i stop doing things if someone comes in until they're gone.
If they don't leave i'm going to start getting very frustrated and triggered, i used to get treated like i was going to explode something if i didn't get things right the very first time and then they'd whack me over the head with it on purpose. People still do this on purpose or just to interfere claiming they know what they're on about and then take offense when you don't listen to them when we never asked for it, i just so don't want to deal with it ever because t's controlling and that's how it is in education to get you to do things that won't actually benefit you.
If i don't have control over what i'm doing then that's not good, it's not because "you can't take criticism" aka "you're not doing what i told you to do" aka "the way i do things" as they like to hide behind now to excuse abusive and controlling behavior. There's no point to things if people can't take initiative or have control over things, what's the point? how can people be taught if they can't actually do things? it's insane.
It's tragic when good teachers quit. A lot of teachers I know who leave teaching become real estate agents. On the news they asked a former teacher what was one advantage of leaving teaching he said he can go to the restroom when he needs to.
Current teacher, year 4. And I COMPLETELY agree with every word spoken. Behavior is a MAJOR issue. And our health is literally at risk daily, from parents sending SICK kids to school without a mask! too exhausted to constantly workout, stress from all angles. It’s dangerous at this point. And we have to choose us first because no one else will! Life is too precious, I lost a dear friend/coworker due to stress! Heart attack. She was not even 30 years old.
We love the kids!!!! But…
Discipline your children at home!
I had a teacher tell me that her husband asks her to wear long sleeves because she is always bruised or cut up from her special needs students and he doesn't want anyone to think he abuses her. One kid actually fractured several small bones in her foot.
I went to school in the 50s and 60s and this behavior was unimaginable. Teachers today have my total compassion ... I retired as a teacher just before this insanity began, and I feel for parents with kids in public school and the teachers who have to deal with this politically driven insanity ...love and prayers to all of you.
Wow. I am so sorry for the loss of your friend. Stress literally damages our bodies. Mental health is just as important as any other health issue, if not more so.
@@navyladyvet Wow. That is horrible!!!!
Parents discipline your children! It isn't the teachers job to do this and children who are brought up without any respect for others are growing up without boundaries and are unmanageable and nothing is my fault self entitled brats!
I recently resigned in January from my teaching position. Our stories are incredibly similar. I'm glad that you put yourself and your family first. I gave ample notice, stocked my classroom full of supplies and snacks, and left two weeks' worth of lesson plans and copies... I was still labeled the bad guy for leaving mid-year. But I have zero regrets for leaving. It was what was best for me.
I retired 3 years ago in the middle of the school year. I had some health issues along with the stress of classes like the one she described. I understood and agreed with every word she said.
Q
Good for you!!
Sister you should have left earlier, but your one of those many good dedicated teachers out there who fight and support your children; your administrators don't really care about teachers or children and should not be in the positions they now hold. They're mean incentive and ignorant. Thank God for saving your life to take care of yourself and your child. You could haved died under that pressure but we all have an appointed time and God saved your life so you can live and share your story Love. These people treat animals so well but the human race they really don't care about which is very sad. God bless you, someone as honest and dedicated as you're God has a special plan for you, you commit your life to Him and stay faithful. It shall be well🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
The fact that they are trying to blame YOU for leaving instead of making teaching easier and better for teachers says the martyr culture that the teaching profession has cultivated.
I’m a new teacher this year, hired on as a long-term sub, though I’m expected to act and meet all of the expectations of a licensed teacher. Just graduated with my business degree and have no teaching experience, though I have a heart and passion to teach and have a huge heart for little ones. I got placed in the most challenging class (behaviorally) in my Title 1 school, whom as a whole, is severely falling behind academically and is a behaviorally challenged school. And I just want to scream from the top of my lungs, THANK YOU for “making some noise” and being a voice for all of us. I’m only 8 weeks into this profession, and am so fired up to advocate on behalf of all teachers for how screwed up the system is.
Not only am I learning everything about teaching from complete scratch, but also while actively managing a class full of major behavioral challenges (to the point where I’m practically just babysitting a group of kids and not teaching a class) and then outside of those 7&1/2 hours of teaching, spending every waking second trying to meet all of the other demands small to big. From a software that I have to set up to paperwork that I have to fill out. From parent contacts I have to make to training I need to complete. And I’m averaging 4-5ish hours of sleep a night and sacrificing so many meals. And I still need about 8 hours extra in a day to get all done that is “mandatory” for me to complete.
Mark my words, the teaching exodus will continue to happen and increase significantly, and will be the next thing to the Pandemic to wreak havoc on our country. Because if there’s not teachers to teach, then kids are going to be at home. Which either means parents have to quit their jobs to teach or kids just won’t get taught at all.
SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE!!!!
Same here. First year- first grade teacher, 20 kids. No training no education degree. I have a business degree. I have the passion and I am loving what I’m doing, but unfortunately I’m already thinking this is not a sustainable career path for me 😔 my car had trouble the other day and I’m gonna need a new one soon… on this teacher pay I won’t be able to get myself a new car. The pay is a big factor for me, I will not be able to afford the life I want to build for my family. If it paid more I would be hooked.
ABSOLUTLEY! But I’m on year 26, and I have little faith things are going to change. It’s a bad/sad attitude, but true.
That's the problem the system is free childcare now or just ways of parents getting rid of their kids even in their 20s into college, my own parents did it my entire life and still tried to push me into going back to college after extremely abusive behavior that got worse and worse as i went up from high school through each year and then the 5 and a half years i tried college.
Moved back to england after living in scotland for nearly 9 years from age 10 and my local college is horrendous it totally put me over the edge where they put me down SO hard and controlled things SO much, while only caring about money and using people that i couldn't care less what happens to any school or college anymore. Its broken and no steps are going towards fixing it, just earn money despite who it hurts.
For a start 12 years and over in high school they shouldn't have to be there all day anymore, it needs to start turning into lecture based classes where they start to teach students how to be responsible with their own learning and work. Teachers need to start taking a step back because for a long time now it's like it's been primary school and you never leave, you're constantly treated like you're still a child and infantilized when teenagers and adults need a different environment and to start having control over their own things.
It would also stop parents pushing off all responsibility to schools and colleges and allowing bad people to start teaching and taking advantage of the fact the students are there all day. I've been through it all and even older folk who decide to go to college get completely infantilized and babysat ughh... this is not what we all need. Kids need supervision but teenagers and adults not so much anymore... apart from those with disabilities but even they need to be allowed to grow not kept in primary 2.0 and 3.0. It's time the system stopped to think about what does and doesn't really help people grow as humans and just relax a lot more.
I’m a teacher! I hear you. I think only teachers truly know the extreme stress we go through. I’m sorry you experienced all of this.
Honest question what motivated you to become a teacher in the first place.
I was a secretary at an elementary school, and I do know what teachers deal with. I quit after one year as secretary. I barely made it to the end of my contract! I’ve seen what goes on. God bless all of you teachers!
Our society has this messed-up idea that if you're a good teacher, you can work miracles. They don't let us be human. They make you feel like your refusal to tolerate abuse is somehow a character flaw or a lack of skill. You're totally right that if you had stayed and had a stroke, the school would have replaced you without any guilt or sense of responsibility. I can tell you're an incredible teacher from the videos you post, and your school has lost BIG TIME. Sadly, admin will probably never realize that because I bet they're totally out of touch with the needs of their students. All you needed was a good faith gesture, to know you're being heard and valued on a very basic level, and when they couldn't do that, you were 100% right to get yourself out of that situation.
Couldn't agree more.
Absolutely agree! You’re supposed to do 100% everything for them as if you are superhuman. We have to buy the supplies for the students, practically raise them because they’re coming in with absolutely no respect, stagger our groups to meet all of the academic needs in the class, create lessons, grade work, provide snacks because the children are always hungry meanwhile the school only provides an evening snack twice a week. All to still go home to our OWN children that we actually have 100% responsibility for and be completely burnt out. . . Just absolutely insane
💯 It’s as if admin forgets what it’s like to be a classroom teacher. Sadly, most of my fellow teacher colleagues are on anxiety or anti-depressant meds
I quit in my first year. I was UTTERLY disillusioned. and I was in a KINDERGARTEN classroom. Despicable. Now I'm a mom who would NEVER send my children to public school. Home education for the win❤️
I’d NEVER enroll my kids in the district I work for. It’s so sad to say but so spot on true.
I always planned to homeschool (and do) because I wanted the individualized curriculum and attention and I didn't like certain things (academic and non-academic) in the public curriculums.
But even if I thought classrooms of 30 were fine and the curriculum was top-notch, at this point I would still homeschool because the discipline structure and behaviour problems in the schools are SO BAD.
I remember when good teachers ran good classrooms, and bad teachers had insane classrooms - now, it's all nuts...the job itself is becoming impossible.
I'm not a teacher, but simply opting out of the public school system is not an option for the vast majority of families. That's not the solution to this problem. What we need is for everyone in society to push for better funding, staffing and overall conditions in our public schools. I know you advocated for home schooling (not charter/private schooling), but diverting funding from already struggling public school teachers is a huge part of the problem. Everyone pulling out will only make things worse for them. As a society, we all need to make a renewed commitment to improving the teaching conditions in our public schools, which will be better for students as well. That means more funding for pay increases, supplies, etc as well as additional staffing and other resources to lighten the load. Fixing public schools must become a priority for everyone in society.
Wow, I wanted to teach ever since I was a little girl. I loved school and absolutely loved all of my elementary school teachers! But reality really hit me during my undergrad year after shadowing teachers in my school district. Discipline issues took up a lot of instruction time and regional test scores were below standard. But that was over a decade ago. Now everything has gotten worse in regards to discipline issues and now it's couples with serious mental health issues too. Our superintendent in our district is actually capitalizing on those problems by introducing curriculum like "gender and sexuality identity" which further confuses kids and creates more problems than helps.
Our education system is on life support. And the prognosis is horrible. I pray it gets better but I would suggest any concerned parent to do a lot of research before sending their child to a public schools. Homeschool and Classical private schools are by far superior.
Kindergarten is very stressful! It’s not for everyone!
A job is not worth having a stroke over! So glad you chose your health and safety. I’m a para and one one of the science classes I was in had 31 kids, which is fairly uncommon in my district, but not unheard of in that school since the city keeps expanding housing developments in that area. Luckily, there no major behaviors. My kids were awesome students and so were there gen ed peers. The science teacher and I were fortunate!!! That so disheartening to hear you did not have the support you needed and asked professionally for. I don’t see how difficult it would have been to switch some of your kids to different blocks to reduce the load on that block. Shameful.
@mac__attack
True. My job is important but my health comes first! Always.
I went thru so much like this in my 35 years as a teacher. I want you to know this.Let me be very very clear: this is a SPIRITUAL BATTLE. !!!! Teachers across America are dealing with this too. God bless you.
Cultural rot and spiritual deception. We have reaped what we have sown.
This breaks my heart that this happened to you. (And those students to be honest because they clearly need more.) The public school system and lack of support (emotionally, physically, and def financially) is one of America’s biggest problems. It’s not right and it’s not fair. Teachers are one of the most important jobs we have yet one of the most under appreciated.
Thank you for trying. I pray God will lead you to the place you are called to be. God bless you 🙏🏼💙
And private schools aren't any better trust me !
OMG. Christina! What are you doing here? Haha. Hi. I follow your channel. Good day girl!
You're right . But even if they doubled your pay the problems that are making the job impossible would not go away with a bigger paycheck. You give that job your all. Time not with your own family, your health, a big chunk of your income buying what your students need, trying to satisfy the unsatisfiable administration.
This is true. The better you are at handling challenging students, the more they load you up.
So true!
And to have so many special needs students in one class is not fair to the kids either.
PREACH. It’s not fair
Being good as a teacher almost leads to being punished, the better you deal with stuff the more they dump on your plate.
This is so true. My mom was an elementary school teacher for 30 years. She started out teaching 1st grade and as she got older, moved up through the grades. In those 30 years, they would give her all of the behavior problems because "You can handle them better than anyone else." They also gave her all of the kids in that particular grade who had IEPs. She had kids in and out of her classroom all day long. They gave her split classes (4th/5th grade) multiple times, so she had to do TWO sets of lesson plans. 😣 All of this was done without even a classroom aide. And this was 30 years ago. I cannot imagine how difficult it is now. Miss, you did the right thing. You have to take care of yourself so you are around for your little girl.
I taught for a while and then went to more corporate type work, it was like going to heaven...actual lunch time, bonuses, respect, appreciation and oh yeah great pay! You are obviously very intelligent and talented. Glad you decided to care for YOU! Love watching you talk.
Okay, that last part about hugging your child hit me and now im crying irl- always let them know u love'em and hug'em// so important
I totally GET THIS!!!! Teaching has changed dramatically the past 10 years. God bless you!!! I retired from my teaching job Jan. 1. DONE DONE DONE!
Like a freight locomotive!
Yes Yes Yes, 2more yrs. For me and I'm Done Done Done. Watch out don't get in my way, coming through
Congrats to you! What do you do for work now? Im trying to grapple my mind around what jobs can a teacher who is trying to transition outside of the school environment.
Yess
I am doing my Ph.D. on why teachers leave the classroom and I would love for you to complete my survey if you have time. A survey can be found on the about me page section of CZcams.
“why are teachers who are good with behaviors punished.” 100% ONE HUNDRED PERCENT- you did the right thing.
I’m a special education teacher , and believe me, I know what you are talking about! You did the right thing, we love our students, but the system is failing them and us ! Not wonder why so many great teachers are leaving! I have been there!
I agree. I love the students but hate the current system. It’s clearly not working. Eventually more and more teachers will quit forcing parents to homeschool their kids at home forever.
“ your not about to have a stroke up in here for no one” is my new life motto! You are amazing and as a fellow SPED Teacher I totally get it ;you are amazing and your videos make me smile. Thank you so much
Don’t feel bad about not giving a two weeks notice. Why extend to them that courtesy when they couldn’t even respond to an email? You’re never doing anything wrong when you’re doing what feels right in your heart.
Thank you so much sweet friend! ❤
I gave 24 hours and never looked back... I never felt bad. I felt relief, freedom and praised Jesus the whole way home.
I have seen a coworker have a high blood pressure and us and stroke at work, all that was sent was one email and we never saw her or heard from her again she ended up having to go to a long-term care facility! The School Board does not care about anybody.
Yeah fam. I would’ve just quit
I feel you 100%. Don't try to rationalize this. You did the right thing.
I agree completely!!!!!
@ Rachel S.
Yes! It’s quite sad for society as a whole. Admin and school boards don’t even prioritize learning and education anymore.
Teachers support staff are forced to take on so many different issues except the one job they’re meant to do…..which is to teach.
You were on my sons schedule to be his teacher last year which would have been his 7th grade year. Ironically the same class period that you’re referring to in this video. We walked to the room that was listed on the schedule and found out real quick it wasn’t you. She was mad at me when I asked about you and got offended Was very disappointed with the replacement we had. . Hopefully with the new head principal, change will happen but time will tell. Still a lot of the same of the other administrators and counselors. It’s not a good school or environment to be in. You’re 💯 correct on the principle you’re referring too and the board of education is not too far off from it. I referred to him as “ole spiky head boy.” 😂🤷🏻♀️. Couldn’t stand him. No professionalism. I hate it got to the point it did but know that it all happened for a reason. I’m proud of you for protecting yourself! Keep up the amazing work with your current career. You’re absolutely amazing! ❤❤
I am a teacher of 20 working with disabled students for my entire career. It is sad that the support wasn't there for you. Because the truth is that the kiddos lost an amazing teacher that career but you had to prioritize you. If you are not well you can't help anyone. Our administration keeps forgetting that. We need to be supported in order to do our job well. Hope you are doing better and I am sending you good thoughts your way.😊
Girl, no mom has 30 kids of the same age. It's not natural to have that many kids, especially alone. I believe you that the kids weren't awful. Just busy kids are a handful! I'm sorry you had to experience a body crash to see how hard it all was! Hugs and prayers! 💕
Thirty is too many without an aid. Full stop. That she ONLY got stressed out during lunch says she must have had some next level classroom management.
That’s it exactly. Kids have challenges, and it’s the responsibility of the school to group kids in a way that allows everyone to receive the attention and care they need. If you have a dozen kids with challenges, you spread them out so the teacher can have the time and attention for each kid, so that their behavior doesn’t negatively impact their classmates, and so that the teacher doesn’t have more than can be handled at one time.
Thirty is just too many, even if they’re all “angels” with no particular challenges.
An aid is not enough. A daycare has to have a person per six kids I believe so why is a school different. Not good for the kids, not good for the teachers.
Amen!
I remember having 78 kids in class in Chicago. Major teacher shortage!
As a school nurse who only sees a part of what teachers experience... I'm surprised this doesn't happen to more teachers. Prayers for you. It's like hidden trauma that no one will validate.
It does they’re just taking prescription meds. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
It does but we don’t talk about it. We get a lot of hate for real talk as if summer vacation is some kind of cure for the anxiety and stress we experience for 9 months of physical and mental abuse we experience- especially in special Ed.
It’s SHAMEFUL what has been done to Teachers and the Public School System. Everyone loses. Everyone!
I went to the doctor with the same experience. I couldn't believe him when he said it was anxiety/panic attacks. But lo and behold, that's exactly what it was. Long story, short: after 25 years in the classroom, I retired at the age of 50.
Had a friend under age 40, stroke out and die from job stress. SO GRATEFUL, you didn't let them ppl kill you too ✌🏾👍🏾
That’s horrible. In those cases, they will easily replace you within seconds. No job is worth the risking your health over.
Your body was telling you what your mouth was not allowing you to say. You cannot love teaching or the kids more than you love yourself. Putting yourself first is one of the hardest things you have to do in life. I’m glad you’re making yourself and your family a priority.
I started crying when you mentioned blood pressure. My BP went crazy last year. I'm on so many meds, including BP now. I'm so sorry you had to go through this. No one cares about us teachers. I wish you well.
@Sharon Bugenhagen
Sad truth is no ever learns from history’s past. During the pandemic when schools were forced to close, kids were forced into online learning. B/c of this households were worried about child care while parents worked, daily meals for kids, social development, etc.
You’d think that after such a tragedy that society would have more compassion and respect not just for teachers, but retail workers, after-school program workers, cafeteria workers, etc. but sadly, that hasn’t happened. It only got worse.
Retired teacher here after almost 35 years ( middle school and high school English ). One year, I took a job at a school, which was questionable, in order to make a lateral move to a different field so that I could meet some of my lifelong goals as a teacher. I had to take the job in November when the position came open. ( The previous teacher had a nervous breakdown and left before Thanksgiving Break, never to return, but I did not know this until later in the year. The administration did not tell me this when they hired me. They only told me that it would be difficult “coming in” in the middle of the school year, and they would support me every step of the way, yada yada. ) It was one of the most horrible years of my life. My marriage was breaking down, and there was emotional abuse at home; my car broke down ( I was driving 50 miles total to work and back ), and I had no money that year for expensive repairs. A relative was driving my way and back to work, and she offered to drive me, to drop me off and pick me up after she got off from work at 5:30 in the evenings. She had to leave early for work, so she would pick me up at 6:30 AM at my home. I spent a few hours after school, making the most of my time alone by grading papers and preparing lessons each day, while waiting for her to pick me up to take me home. The janitor was worried about me because the neighborhood and students were dangerous, and I was often alone or it was just me and the janitor in the building ( this was in the late 1980’s way before schools were always on lockdown). The administration was somewhat supportive, as they promised they would be, but the other teachers were horrible to me, and I could never figure out why…still don’t know to this day. One particularly rough day, I could not breathe and found my pulse racing. I thought I was dying, maybe having a heart attack or something. I ran to the bathroom and held on to the inside of the stall until I could stop shaking and crying and until I could regulate my breathing. It was scary as He//. It hit me out of the blue. Later, I talked to my doctor, and she said it was a classic panic attack and recommended I talk with a counselor for few months. I’m tough, so I went back to work immediately after the attack, but I did talk to a counselor. And I have no shame about that. I mean I had no refuge that year…my work life was bad, my finances were bad, my home life was bad. I literally was surrounded by “BAD”. I stayed and completed my contract for that year. (Surprisingly, the students were the only bright spot in my life that year.) Later, I moved to a different school and district with a different set of teachers. Stayed in that same school 25 years. Sometimes it’s best to fold up and leave…close one door and open a door to a better place.
It’s so heartbreaking that so many teachers are being pushed out of teaching. Sorry to hear about your experience
People who’ve never been teachers before think that we are overpaid and don’t do anything! They have no idea as to the level of stress we face on a daily basis! Thank you so much for sharing your experience…your bravery is immeasurable!
My dear friend was a teacher for 30 years, high school.
She went through threats from the administration, football coach threatened her when she wouldn’t change a player’s grade, and a student blabbed about HIGHLY confidential information on another student. Many more examples.
I was a substitute for two years and some the teachers treated me like dirt. Kids were undisciplined towards a sub. Vice Principal yelled at me for stopping a child running in the road during a fire drill.
Last day for me.
I've never been a teacher before but even I know yall have always been underpaid
@@alyssahamlett while true. Teachers are amazingly well paid compared to most essential workers. Which essentially just means they actually make enough to live off of (even if frugally)
2 miscarriages, poor health, and unruly administration
I can't believe people would think that. My teacher (who has now retired after teaching for 42 years) has taught me many lessons about life. She even taught and helped our class with math issues we where having. Teachers teach us everything. I don't know why people regard teachers as lazy. If doesn't make any sense.
Girl, the number of panic attacks I've had while teaching. 😭 Preach! You did the right thing! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
Honestly this is my 8th year of teaching and I am seriously considering quitting teaching. It just keeps getting progressively worse. The demands are higher and higher, the support is less and less. Parents are crazier, kids are crazier, admin has no backbone. I just hate the idea of quitting a job I've literally wanted to do since grade 1. I spent 6.5 year getting my teaching degree and masters of education. I feel like it would be such a waste, and I don't even know what I would do, teaching is all I ever wanted to do. But walking in to school everyday is a chore, as soon as the bell goes I get an instant tension and stress knowing how bad it's going to get for the next 6 hours. I totally understand that feeling like you are failing the kids. Like you can't help everyone or give them what they need. It's just so disheartening.
I haven't gotten that sick yet but just a constant feeling of being rundown. Every Saturday I am in bed until 2pm recuperating from the week. I actually made the same request of my class, splitting up the toxic behaviours. I had 26 the other class had 21 (because of people moving) and I was told I can't just shuffle kids off on other people. I even said I would be willing to swap kids and keep my numbers, it isn't the numbers it's the personalities, and I was told no. Now I'm getting daily emails from parents complaining about the class and how violent and verbally abusive they are, and yet my principal just keeps falsely telling parents we have all the support we need, while also not enforcing any of our behavioural policies to help address the behaviour. It's just exhausting.
Just know that I FELT EVERY WORD and there are 1million teachers nodding their heads in agreement and saying YASSSS as you tell your story. I also reach 7th grade SpEd, and NOTHING you said was a bit dramatized. I say ON THE DAILY we get punished for being good at our jobs. Leaving the way you did was the only option. You would’ve been GAS LIGHTED and guilted back into that classroom if you did it any other way.
They literally gas light us so hard.
Facts
Exactly
I feel it exactly! It can’t be explained and she explains it so well. It still can’t be understood unless you’re in it. It’s so much stress.
I was nodding the whole time & saying “yes!”. I felt every word & I teach 2nd grade. This is across the entire nation, so it’s definitely not a “me” problem like they gaslight us to think; it’s systemic.
THIRTY Special Ed students!?!?!?!? I'm surprised that you lasted as long as you did! God bless you. YOU didn't fail the kids at all; they school system failed them. I pray that one day, administration figures out that treating teachers right is what will give them the outcomes they want. I almost cried just listening to you. As a retired state social worker, I kind of know how you feel. If I hadn't been able to get to the administrative level, I would have quit. And when I got to administration, I NEVER forgot to consider the well-being of the line staff.
Not 30 sped skids, 30 kids with some being special Ed, some being back from alt school etc! Even still though it's hard
Thats my thing, 31 students is wayyyyy too much for any one person to handle alone and especially with the different behaviors. Wow! But not surprised. It’s so sad the great Educators get treated so unfairly.
🤣🤣🤣Chile that’s alot
I am so glad you left and took care of you. I ended up tracing at a small private religious school for advance learners. I was shocked to find supportive, wonderful, admin, and every teacher looking out for each other. Classes capped at 24. I actually taught all day and didn’t have to deal with never-ending discipline issues. It sounds like you are an amazing, excellent teacher. I hope you won’t give up on teaching, but find a better environment in which to teach. You are amazing and talented. I hope you find a place that will care about you.
When I worked at an alternative school, we had a big procedure about introducing new students. A new student changes the whole dynamic of the calm and structured environment we worked hard to create. I almost got punched in the face when a new good ball jokester provoked a gang member who was finally working hard to get his diploma. He was becoming a good student and finally trusted us because we gave him the space he needed. Then this kid comes in and throws off the whole dynamic. I’m Illinois your only supposed to have 7 sped/IEP kids in a class and then you need another teacher or Para. 30 students by yourself!!!! So glad you are taking care of yourself!! My sister had a stroke and they still didn’t care. I have another story but still working on that. THANK YOU FOR SHARING!! 🙏🙏🙏🙏
Dear Lord please bless this former teacher good measure, pressed down, and overflowing with financial stability and peace beyond understanding.
You have a host of understanding teachers and former teachers who understand and empathize with what you are saying AND who are praying for and with you! 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Amen
Amen
🙏🏽
Amen
Amen
It's like looking in a mirror.....this is the EXACT reason I quit. Unacceptable, dangerous classroom environment that admin purposely ignored. They were so unhelpful, unapproachable and unkind it truly blew my mind. I ended up getting injured on the job, needing workers comp. & physical therapy from the lack of care I got. Unanswered emails, unanswered texts, lies & laughs. I was not able to let one classroom & shitty admin drive me back to psychiatry and an early grave. I'm with you 100% and I'm so sorry that good teachers get treated like shit and run out of the profession.
It takes a whole village. Teachers cannot provide the best service for kids without everyone doing their job.
Admin have to support teachers, respect their work, and take things into consideration.
And parents need to do the most important job they committed too….which is to properly raise the kids they brought into the world.
🙏🙏🙏thank you for your time teaching
We're you also a phenomenal bigot or were you a decent person?
What do you do now? I quit the Human Services field and never looked back..
This breaks my heart. So many of us have gone into teaching well prepared, excited about possibilities, and full of hope for educating young minds. It breaks my heart every time another teacher leaves the profession. If you have children in school, I hope you can find it in yourself to be kind to your child's teacher. Your encouragement matters.
I know how u feel. I quit my job at the school to. I was just fed up and needed a change. Teachers are getting burnt out and the school districts don’t understand or don’t care☹️. I agree when your good at your job it seems like you are punished. ☹️
I used to get physically ill every time my 3rd period came to class. My stomach and chest would hurt, headache etc. it got to where I couldn’t stand seeing the kids walk in the room. No person is supposed to feel like this at any job! Glad I got out of teaching.
You absolutely nailed it when you identified being gaslighted. When someone else minimizes your pain or doesn’t own their responsibility in the problems, they are trying to undermine your experience of your reality. You’re right: they don’t care. I’m impressed with your self-awareness and willingness to step away.
My aunt was a teacher for over 30 years, retired in the early 1970’s and her best piece of advice was ‘never stress over a job that will have your position posted before your obituary’. I have seen it first hand with a local district while working for an attorney.
I don’t know what caused the shift so quickly but it has a domino effect and we are losing over 20 teachers in my area next month.
That was great advice from your Aunt.
Wow! I love that!
Whoa! That hit hard. But, sadly she was right.
They mentioned this in one of their podcasts! It's so true
I cannot stand how people are used and abused in their jobs. And it's becoming normalized. So sorry this happened to you. I don't know you personally but I know you deserve better. As dedicated and committed as you have been to your job, you absolutely deserve to be heard and respected. It's disgusting how dismissive people can be and then treat you like you have no right to be upset about it. I would like to help if you have an account set up for that.
Love and hugs from Delaware 🖤
Todays generation in general just has no respect. It’s not just educators who deal with this. But employees who work in retail etc. and with the school system failing to fully prepare kids for adulthood, there’s sadly going to be more and more entitled Karens harassing employees who work in retail and department stores.
Soooo proud of you! You did the only thing you could do. I've been in a similar place. People have no idea how toxic teaching can be when the admin refuse to listen to the ones on the front lines. So happy that you've found a place you can be happy and celebrated in.
What a sad day for education to lose another great teacher because they (the administrators/education structure) has set up such a toxic and stressful working environment. Praying for you to find your peace in a work that truly validates you and sees your worth to their company/organization!
I am a teacher 30 kids there should be an assistant to help out. Teachers need to be taken care of and if they are not you need to stop and take care of you.
This is the problem with the States, and probably other places. The only ones getting paid are the ones who work in the districts. They put all these kids in one classroom comes to show you they don't care about these students.
As a fellow teacher.. I'm so sorry to hear this. People have no idea what really goes on in schools and what teachers deal with on a daily basis. Put your health 1st!! 😘
I understand why Japan puts so much emphasis on order and discipline in the classroom for the first 3-4 years of school. Yes you can goof around on the break in designated area. You can have different opinions during classroom debate. But always you need to have proper manners and be decent.
Amen
Everyone knows republicans are constantly attacking teachers while they send their kids to private schools or home school. Wake up people
It WAS a slap in the face, almost certainly deliberate. I've seen similar tactics in other workplaces. If it was "just" negligence on the part of admin, that's still a huge problem. I've loved your sense of humor in the dozens of videos I've watched, and your pain and vulnerability here are quite moving. I wish you the best as you move forward. (I can't help but hope you'll write a novel or memoir, join the writing staff of "Abbott Elementary," or do something else with your experiences that will both help audiences and provide some financial reward for you.)
I'm in Australia and have just graduated from university to be a teacher. I love how respectful you are of your children and their disabilities and learning needs. Of course, it isn't their fault. This is totally the school system's fault and the lack of respect for teachers. Classes like that should not be so full, and that is out of respect for the teachers but also the respect of the students! Their physical and learning need issues are far more exacerbated by a room so full.
How is teaching in Australia?
I'm a retired therapist. I heard these stories all the time from my teacher clients. It breaks my heart that teachers are forced to cope with situations like this. 🙏 for you.
The talk therapy is so necessary. Spouses and those that don't live this- don't get it.
I wonder how many teachers see a psychiatrist in order to medicate to get through the day..
When more and more teachers quit and the teacher shortage becomes outta hand, school boards will go out of business and parents will have to homeschool their own kids.
Maybe then they’ll wake up
This is why we have a teacher shortage!! I use to teach an now I work at a children’s museum and I LOVE it! I feel like I am a person and have a work life balance not just a teacher only, with no social life but my teacher friends!
This sounds intriguing! How’s the pay compared to teaching?
I'm really happy you love your job. I applied for a job at a children's museum after I retired from teaching. They asked me a lot of interview questions about how I would handle situations with complaining, overbearing mothers--moms who want their child to have a toy someone else is playing with or want to interrupt the class field trip constantly, etc. I left the interview feeling so much anxiety, had nightmares, got sick. When they offered me the job I couldn't take it. Teaching had destroyed me emotionally.
As far as the work life balance, I saw a video of a teacher explaining some stats about tests and how they don't do anything (except make teachers have to grade papers for free in their own personal time) and that homework is unnecessary. We could take some of this work load away from teachers when we see that they aren't working. Creating personal plans/curriculum to the individual child is labor intensive at first, but gives children a better understanding and control over their education than test. Some kids get so stressed out that even when they know the answers they get it wrong. Many forget 96 % of the information in 3 days from constant cramming for different tests and their brains can only absorb and store so much information. Taking breaks once an hour for 15 minutes helps retain information. We could do much better to help teachers and students have better classroom experiences.
You did what you needed to do. I pulled my kids out of public school to home school them something I have always been against. All they are worried about is numbers. God's got you. I'm praying for you.
Wow! I didn't realize how much my 4th period class contributed to my forced retirement!!! Thank you for sharing your story. I hope we can make the changes needed to modify a 100 yr old system to be effective for this and upcoming generations!
When an admin and counselling team are not willing to move schedules it PROVES that they don't actually care about kids. We ask for schedule changes because it is best for kids. When admin don't take care of their teachers they are failing the kids. Period. Full stop. No argument. Caring for teachers is caring for kids.
Proud of you. Find a place that wants what is best for teachers and kids.
This is the issue I’m having now. Not telling us stuff, lying to us, and believing the kids over us is ridiculous.
hell no i aint stayin more weeks!
Yes!
My husband got offered a new teaching job yesterday and will likely take it, largely in part to this very thing…as well as admin not doing their jobs and bowing to helicopter parents/parents who threaten.
I'm convinced that schools that want the best for teachers and students are unicorns.
It breaks my heart watching this video. Everything you said, I mean everything you said is 100% true. I’m a teacher and I’m quitting in two days. Looking back on my years as a teacher, I’ve been bullied, threatened, belittled, and even physically attacked. As a teacher you’re expected to just deal with it or have better classroom management. Teachers are responsible for everything and parents are barely held accountable for nothing.
Years of teaching, a master’s degree, and thousands in student loans and I’m walking out! I choose me. I choose my health. I choose life. I see so many young teachers with high blood pressure, stomach ulcers, depression. This is the most stressful job I know of.
Give a two weeks notice? You might not have survived for two more weeks 🤷🏽♀️ Who’s to say you wouldn’t have had a stroke or heart attack within those two weeks.
Every job has some amount of stress to it, but teaching has enormous stress on a daily basis throughout the day. Your body will eventually give out. I’m happy you chose you before it was too late. Teaching is horrible and I hope one day the system changes to benefit the kids because the public school system is doing a great injustice to our society.
I am doing my Ph.D. on why teachers leave the classroom and I would love for you to complete my survey if you have time. A survey can be found on the about me page section of CZcams.
I am a teacher and have also experienced all of the same things that you listed. I’m leaving after my contract comes to an end in 52 days
I have a similar experience where a teacher turned on me. Made me miserable and then got me in trouble with the principal. Principal believed the teacher and I was released 2 months before the end of the year. After that I decided I no longer had the passion for being a teacher. It’s quite the story. It’s awful when school systems are toxic and run off good people.
I'm SO sorry you went through all this and no one was there to support you. All the love and respect for you, love. 💕 Your story is almost EXACTLY my story. 😢 When you said, "Our head principal is so unbelievably unapproachable" is EXACTLY how my principal and both APs were. It was why I resigned too. On top of that, one of the APs consistently harassed me for 4 years and they still blamed me. Teachers need support and respect. Period.
This made me tear up. People have no idea the amount of stress that we try to cope with on a daily business. You did the right thing.
Yeah. And honestly its not so much the teaching and kids that educators gets stressed about. It’s the toxic environment is some schools and lack of discipline with some kids.
Nursing student here. The fact that your BP was 217/133 is extremely alarming! I can only imagine the amount of stress you and all other teachers go through on a daily basis. God bless you and all other teachers. This country desperately needs more teachers to help make class numbers smaller.
She's also overweight...look at her.
Smaller class sizes aren't the problem, it's parents who don't parent or discipline their kids or take any interest in their lives. The parents are the problem. The kids are a projection of their home environment.
@HoneyNut Cocaine every job is stressful, why is it only women in predominantly female fields complaining?
@HoneyNut Cocaine that's only in your head. Stop playing the race card and claiming you're a victim. It's nonsense.
@HoneyNut Cocaine I didn't work hard for my degrees?
@HoneyNut Cocaine that's more of a you and your "community" problem than a white problem.
Look up education, wedlock, incarceration gang and poverty rates by demographics. Then look in the mirror.
I just subscribed and saw this video. I’ve been a RN since 1982. I FEEL your pain. After 33 years of nursing and 25+ years of psychiatric care( yeah!) , i took the only safe course of care for my patients by walking out( and into a 14 day stay in psychiatric hospital) . I had the same panic attack response as you described and spent two stints of hospitalization for high blood pressure. I have so much empathy for you. ❤
I quit teaching in the UK, I didn’t realise the effect the stress had on my health until I left it behind and my illnesses disappeared. You seem like you were a great teacher with so much good energy, such a loss to the profession. Teachers and schools are bearing the brunt of a broken society and it’s breaking us. Best wishes and good health to you.
I actually had a mild stroke in my classroom 2 weeks ago. Then get a letter saying I may not be rehired due to professionalism and attendance. I have more professionalism then administration. Especially when you confide in your principal and they run and tell the person that I said something about them, so I get bullied by that person. So I completely feel your pain. It really is horrible that administration makes us feel this way.
You need a lawyer
Sue.
Wow! Sorry 😞
Oh no that’s terrible! That’s also a breach of your confidence and creating a hostile work environment.
My goodness sending healing thoughts and prayers🧡
It's the "never got a response to the email" for me. Just hearing that gave me like...PTSD. The lack of response by admin when teachers are at their most vulnerable is one of the reasons I walked away too. Sometimes they are not interested in responding, sometimes they don't feel the situation warrants a response and sometimes there is an inability to respond to teachers because their hands are tied due to outside circumstances. Either way, it makes for an emotionally unsupportive and unhealthy working environment for teachers. Good for you for seeking the best solution for yourself. You've got so many bright things ahead of you!
This is going to sound counterintuitive, and I know teachers feel threatened by this proposition because it is such a departure from the status quo and also associated with conservative, Republican politics, but in other white collar professions the issue of a poorly run workplace & bad management is handled by employees who simply change to a different employer but in the same industry. Businesses that can't retain good employees shrink and then go out of business.
I realize that model might not actually work, I'm not saying for a fact that it does, but what I see with teachers is that they change jobs less. This puts less pressure on the school to try and retain employees. Additionally, public institutions are less agile and less adaptable, and they can be hamstrung by other regulations that sound good on paper but make everyone's lives worse at the workplace (at the school).
I wish a state, say texas or georgia or something, experimented with going full voucher, and stayed that way for 2 decades. We need experiments to be run, not just in a single charter school, but over an entire geographical region. That's my (unpopular and never-gonna-happen) 2 cents.
I also felt PTSD when I heard about your admin's lack of support. I had a similar situation: I asked my principal to move an extremely disruptive, disrespectful student from my class to a colleague's (after discussing it first with my colleague, who was fully on board). I told her this move would be better for the student - and for the rest of the students in his class. My principal also said, "We'll see," then did nothing. After experiencing physical symptoms of anxiety (angina and arrhythmia), I went to my district's director of human resources. I told him I would not return to work until the student was moved out of my class (and got a note from my doctor to back up my need for a medical leave). After two days out of the classroom in our sub-starved district, they moved the student. So, a happier ending for me - but one that has left a very bitter taste in my mouth, as I realized how little my principal actually cares about the teachers. If I died at work, they'd replace me and move on. I realized I need to prioritize my health and my family, because no one else will. Good luck in the next chapter of your life! You deserve to be appreciated and treasured.
I find it hillarious that I am required, by my district, to respond to parent communications within 24 hours but our principal rarely responds to teachers' emails!
@@alisonwaterman7743 I would bet money your colleague didn't want that kid but said, "Yes" to your face and told principal, "Please, not in my class "
@@paulhamrick3943 Conservatives always do a far better job of running schools than Liberals.
I completely know what you experienced. I hope you have time to heal. ❤ I have panic attacks, which are different from anxiety attacks, and this is exactly what happens. I have even lost vision temporarily. You are not a failure. Super big hugs from Canada.
This is so sad. Students are allowed to be disruptive, disrespectful and excuses are made for their behaviors. Teachers deserve the same amount of empathy and understanding. We tolerate so much mistreatment and criticism from parents, students, administrators and people who have NEVER even spent time in a classroom. More accountability should be directed toward parents and students and less toward teachers who are simply trying to do their jobs. You did nothing wrong! Unfortunately, due to a lack of support, the profession has lost another great educator.