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IvyTheTerrible

rebel girl 15 wrote: »

I need some advice,,just so frustrated at the moment.

I'm enjoying my job less and less. The classroom stuff is okay and the team I'm working with is still fantastic with two new additions. But the school is going downhill so fast. We had an open night tonight and there was NO advertising about it, nothing in any papers or even on the school website. It's not hard to do something like that. There was no tea or coffee for staff after school, where we had department meetins until 4.15 anyway which meant for most staff it was impossible to go home and come back again for 5.30 while getting some bit of a break. There are so many little things adding uo that are really frustrating me and I'm not sure I can handle it because I know I could make a definite difference in thats area and the school know I could. I don't feel I can go up to the head and say these things as she is an odd kettle of fish, but to have no advertising for our school open night is insane!!

The morale in the place is in the pits, staff are unhappy and 26 left last year, very few leaving for promotions. I've spoken to a few others in my team and their advice is basically just do your job to the best of your ability and don't get frustrated about things you can't control, which I get but in the back of my mind I know I could do a much better job at certain things than what is happening now. I'm enjoying my job less and less and tbh I'm looking at leaving - but because of a loyalty to my year 11 tutor group and the class I teach I feel that I have to stay. I'm a big picture person, our department come to me because I hear about and find out about things going on with other staff members. I don't share anything confidential with others,but I hear a hell of a lot of stuff, and recently everything has been negative rather than positive. There are number of staff being targeted to get rid of, and it's obvious to the man in the moon it's constructive dismissal!

I'm not sure what to do next, or should I just leave these frustrations go over my head in future and just do my job? Am I right in feeling this way? Need to go to bed coz I was in the place 13 hours today.

/rant over

Do you still enjoy teaching? Could you move to another school? Or would it just be the same thing over again?

iwantmydinner

I don't know if this is helpful or not rebel girl, but if I had written that post, it'd be my cue to leave the job. Without a shadow of a doubt. I don't think there's a job in the world worth the hassle and emotional fückery this one is causing you.

SillyBeans

Hi rebel girl. I feel very similar to you about my current job. It's very difficult to explain the feeling to people not in the environment. It's not often specific things that you can pin point that cause bother, it's the vibe of the place (for me anyway most of the time). A lot is expected of me and my colleagues with very little support. If there's a mistake made due to a crazy workload, we're hung out the dry. The management team are verging on useless and I think I'd do their job a lot better than they do! It's gotten to the stage where I'm dreading Monday mornings and despite it being good money and probably good for my career as a whole, working here has completely turned me off this line of work (not that I ever loved it in the first place). So I've decided the job hunt is on and I have numerous interviews coming up. The prospective freedom has completely changed my mood.

My advice to you would be to try and get a teaching job in another school, maybe a school you know someone at so they can tell you if it's a nice place to work. If you still hate it, maybe a career change is in order. You never know though, being in a different school could make you love the job all over again because it sounds like it's the non-teaching aspects that you're hating.

Good luck and remember no job is worth that level of frustration

rebel girl 15

Stheno wrote: »

If this is starting to take over your life and leaving you dreading going into work, then it's time to consider leaving I'm afraid

To be honest this is a job that does take over your life - endless marking and paperwork. Not like at home where you do what you need without being constantly scrutinised.

IvyTheTerrible wrote: »

Do you still enjoy teaching? Could you move to another school? Or would it just be the same thing over again?

I enjoy certain parts of it and certain classes - had my year 11s first thing this morning, and I've worked so hard with them and we have such a fun lesson, where they are doing loads. If I move school, I don't think I'd get a team as good as the one we have here - we really mind each other and are good friends outside of work

iwantmydinner wrote: »

I don't know if this is helpful or not rebel girl, but if I had written that post, it'd be my cue to leave the job. Without a shadow of a doubt. I don't think there's a job in the world worth the hassle and emotional fückery this one is causing you.

I've been thinking about leaving for a few months now, as I can see a big change in the leadership and management of the school. I think what I'm going to have to focus on is my year 11s, and how much enjoyment I get from them and from my other classes. There is a running joke with one of my tutor group, who I also teach about my "husband" Mr Brendan, where on the last day of term last year she and a few others in my form decided to plan my wedding. One of the girls joked about me leaving with them and the girl in my form was are you actually?

The thing is that within my department I've been told by my line manager that I'm one of the most patient teachers and that I work so well with the low ability students. Had a big rant with a few teachers this morning and got things off my chest

Thanks for all advice ladies - I think I need to stop letting the non-teaching things frustrate me, including non teaching things that impact slightly on my job and look at an other career. I really really do want to see my year 11's out to when they finish, so I think if I can focus on that, and see how we go. I think I might look at doing something online course wise part time, not hugely expensive, but towards where I want to go. My line manager this year is brand new, so that could end up being fun when it comes to putting targets in place when I know in the back of my mind I'm intending on leaving! My options then are go back teaching PE if I can find a job in it, or career change, which is kinda daunting, given that I have a straight up teaching and coaching degree. Will start looking now though. Only 33 weeks to summer (not including holidays!)

iwantmydinner

I'm being tongue in cheek here and a bit flippant... It sounds like you're trying to talk yourself out of breaking up with a dud fella!

On a serious note, your reasons for not jacking it in are fairly compelling. All I know about teaching in England from watching Educating Essex and even from that the job seems like a completely different ballgame than it is here.

But still, mind yourself.

pampootie

I don't really post here anymore but this caught my eye. Resign now, rebel girl. I was in a very similar position in a job a couple of years ago and I couldn't see the wood from the trees. I was utterly miserable, had no work life balance and kept making up excuses for why I had to stay on for a few months more when really it was just my self esteem was in ribbons from working in such a toxic environment and I couldn't get myself together enough to job hunt. I regret every single hour that I worked there. I hope this doesn't sound rude but every post I've read from you about your job reads as though you're full of frustration and anxiety about it and long term that will damage your health. It's commendable you have such dedication to your class groups but you have to put yourself first, no job is worth what you are describing. Run for the hills.

Links234

Hey everyone

I've not popped my head in here in ages I've been brewing mead lately, been very excited about that. Hoping to have my first batch ready for Christmas.

The Black Oil

reg, from previous posts it comes across that your life is somewhat consumed by your job. It's self-evident how hard you work (genuinely) and I'm not knocking that.

Between volunteering and my job, I've had a few sleepless nights, unhappily so. If I was working on a written project it would be swimming around in my head after 5pm, research references I'd need to check tomorrow, and so on. My boss can be fairly disorganised, which doesn't help matters. There's often little you can do about internal structural problems or lines of communication, unfortunately. I had a habit of checking email late and then first thing before I had even brushed my teeth. I've cut back a lot on this. Don't underestimate the importance of getting sleep and potentially teetering on burn out.

Protect your sanity, first and foremost.

Mars Bar

I injured my toe 3 and a half years ago and it was still a bother. I waited a year and a half for a consultation with an orthopaedic specialist. Got to see him today and I've been walking on fragmented bone for all of that time.

I drove in and then sprinted in to the hospital from the rain. Left the hospital in a cast and crutches!! Not what I had expected. Had to do all sorts of organising to get my car to a safe area.

sullivlo

Mars Bar wrote: »

I injured my toe 3 and a half years ago and it was still a bother. I waited a year and a half for a consultation with an orthopaedic specialist. Got to see him today and I've been walking on fragmented bone for all of that time.

I drove in and then sprinted in to the hospital from the rain. Left the hospital in a cast and crutches!! Not what I had expected. Had to do all sorts of organising to get my car to a safe area.

Oh no! That sounds painful! How long will you be on crutches for?

Mars Bar

sullivlo wrote: »

Oh no! That sounds painful! How long will you be on crutches for?

It was only painful with pressure applied or excess exercise. I've been playing football all of that time like! What annoys me is that I had an X-Ray done in Tallaght a few months after it happened and was told there was nothing there. ****. :mad:

4 weeks so that's not too bad. Not as bad as the kid who left in a wheelchair and both legs in a cast!

Mars Bar

Mars Bar wrote: »

It was only painful with pressure applied or excess exercise. I've been playing football all of that time like! What annoys me is that I had an X-Ray done in Tallaght a few months after it happened and was told there was nothing there. ****. :mad:

4 weeks so that's not too bad. Not as bad as the kid who left in a wheelchair and both legs in a cast!

don't come running to us with two broken legs!

PhysiologyRocks

I'm exhausted today! Have just had a lovely nap.

Also very full, which may or may not be due to that entire box of chocolate I ate...

PhysiologyRocks

Mars Bar wrote: »

4 weeks so that's not too bad. Not as bad as the kid who left in a wheelchair and both legs in a cast!

I'm not so sure about that.

The kid with two casts will probably get more attention.

Mars Bar

PhysiologyRocks wrote: »

I'm not so sure about that.

The kid with two casts will probably get more attention.

He's welcome to it!

sullivlo

Mars Bar wrote: »

It was only painful with pressure applied or excess exercise. I've been playing football all of that time like! What annoys me is that I had an X-Ray done in Tallaght a few months after it happened and was told there was nothing there. ****. :mad:

4 weeks so that's not too bad. Not as bad as the kid who left in a wheelchair and both legs in a cast!

Tallaght :rolleyes: not the first I've heard of things going wrong there.

Ah 4 weeks on crutches is do-able. I was on them 3 weeks last summer. Just pad the handles as much as possible.

Also can I sign your cast?

sullivlo

PhysiologyRocks wrote: »

I'm exhausted today! Have just had a lovely nap.

Also very full, which may or may not be due to that entire box of chocolate I ate...

I'm taking painkillers for my shoulder and they are making me very hungry. Very hungry indeed. I'm eating all the food.

Tomorrow shall be torture. Fasting for tests. Tests not until 2pm. So I've to deal with that hunger until then and not cave in. 8 hours fasting so setting my alarm for 6 to have brekkie.

sammyjo90

at least you know they will be around the 2 o clock mark and can have brekkie!
nothing worse than having to fast overnight and go in at 8.30 to a procedure for it not to happen until after lunch!

sullivlo

sammyjo90 wrote: »

at least you know they will be around the 2 o clock mark and can have brekkie!
nothing worse than having to fast overnight and go in at 8.30 to a procedure for it not to happen until after lunch!

True, just hope I'm high on the list. Could be 4 before I'm done! Then I'd be super hungry and grumpy and then I'd also have to drive home in traffic.

sammyjo90

yes being super hungry and grumpy is a bad thing!
got food poisoning in july and was stuck fasting for three whole days! wasn't even allowed tea for some of that. now that was torturous!

Links234

It's starting to get cold

Mars Bar

sullivlo wrote: »

Tallaght :rolleyes: not the first I've heard of things going wrong there.

Ah 4 weeks on crutches is do-able. I was on them 3 weeks last summer. Just pad the handles as much as possible.

Also can I sign your cast?

I actually think I'd manage without the crutches. They feel a bit excessive. The cast is about the shape of an ankle sock so it's chaffing at the front. I think I'll ask them to cut it a bit of Monday when we're in with my granny.

Of course you can! It's a very pretty purple colour!

Links234 wrote: »

It's starting to get cold

That it is! We've had the heating on this evening.

iwantmydinner

God the thought of winter makes me sad in the soul.

WesternNight

iwantmydinner wrote: »

God the thought of winter makes me sad in the soul.

On the plus side, Christmas!

100 days (and 48 minutes)

angeldelight

I love winter! All the snuggles

Links234

Mars Bar wrote: »

That it is! We've had the heating on this evening.

Ah, I'm nowhere near having the heat on yet, I've still the window cracked.

I do love the winter, there's just something amazing about the feeling of getting warm and cosy, it's all sorts of wonderful. Speaking of, my mead is spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, it's gonna be a wonderful winter kinda drink

rebel girl 15

Mars Bar wrote: »

I injured my toe 3 and a half years ago and it was still a bother. I waited a year and a half for a consultation with an orthopaedic specialist. Got to see him today and I've been walking on fragmented bone for all of that time.

I drove in and then sprinted in to the hospital from the rain. Left the hospital in a cast and crutches!! Not what I had expected. Had to do all sorts of organising to get my car to a safe area.

Sounds like the doctor I had a few years ago who diagnosed me with a badly sprained ankle, when in fact I had a fracture after tearing the ligament of the bone with severe tendon damage, to this day has not healed properly! Had it reviewed a week later in CUH, exact same X-ray, and the other doctor could easily see the fracture, I could even!

Have fun hop a long! Get a normal bath sponge and some tennis racket grips to cover the handles of the crutches - and lower them down slightly lower than they should be, makes it easier to drop your body and swing rather than having to lift your body up to swing.

Mars Bar

rebel girl 15 wrote: »

Sounds like the doctor I had a few years ago who diagnosed me with a badly sprained ankle, when in fact I had a fracture after tearing the ligament of the bone with severe tendon damage, to this day has not healed properly! Had it reviewed a week later in CUH, exact same X-ray, and the other doctor could easily see the fracture, I could even!

Have fun hop a long! Get a normal bath sponge and some tennis racket grips to cover the handles of the crutches - and lower them down slightly lower than they should be, makes it easier to drop your body and swing rather than having to lift your body up to swing.

How hard is it for them to read an X-Ray?! I think I'll have ongoing bother with this for ever to be honest. He said yesterday that my sesamoids on my other foot are also not in great shape. I thought my right was just having sympathy pains with my left!

This picture sums it up perfectly for me!



Thanks for the tip with the crutches. I think I'll drop them down one like you said. I have a boot on over the cast too so my left is a good bit higher than my right. I look like Bambi on ice at the moment.

Dolbert

WesternNight wrote: »

On the plus side, Christmas!

100 days (and 48 minutes)

It's Gingerbread's birthday in December. I'm basically using his party as an excuse to eat Christmas food a few weeks early :pac:

rainbow kirby

^ As good a reason as any

In the meantime, I'd really love a mince pie :pac:

Lyaiera

I dropped off my first roll of film for school. First assignment and I have to wait hours to see what my photos are like. I hope I don't embarrass myself. Supposedly last year there were people who shot 36 shots on the roll, but literally nothing came out.

rebel girl 15

Up until 1 last night marking, but felt pretty good getting everything done - thought easy lessons for the afternoon as I'm running exams, didn't bank on the 3pm slump hitting me in the middle. So trying to mark another set, but had to give up for a bit as my eyes just wouldn't stay open

SarahBeep!

rebel girl 15 wrote: »

Up until 1 last night marking, but felt pretty good getting everything done - thought easy lessons for the afternoon as I'm running exams, didn't bank on the 3pm slump hitting me in the middle. So trying to mark another set, but had to give up for a bit as my eyes just wouldn't stay open

How frequently are you supposed to mark your books?

Links234

Bottled my mead today, and got 9 bottles from the batch! Delighted!

Stheno

Mars Bar wrote: »

Thanks for the tip with the crutches. I think I'll drop them down one like you said. I have a boot on over the cast too so my left is a good bit higher than my right. I look like Bambi on ice at the moment.

DO NOT EVEN CONTEMPLATE testing to see if your foot is better by doing something without crutches.

I wrecked my knee a couple of years ago and decided after a couple of weeks of physio to "test" how much better I was by climbing the stairs without crutches after I discovered I could hobble around rooms like a toddler learning to crawl.

I'm fairly certain 999 were inundated with calls about an impending murder, and to this day, anytime my knee seizes up at the thoughts of climbing those stairs, the screams ring in my ears.

You must also be vigilant around small children in public spaces who are not controlled by their parents. They have an innate sense of "fun" and will enjoy colliding with you and your crutches, reducing you to a snivelling ball of snot, fully upright, but potentially crippled as if you have been frozen in time.

As for the handles on the crutches, I got that soft foam bandage stuff, then bandage wrapping, and used that (I was on crutches for 4.5 months :eek:)

Heat was my salvation, long baths in warm water with epsom salts were a lifesaver.

:eek:

Onto current times, said knee is killing me, I was doing regular exercise, but had to stop due to work/college load. I'm now finishing a days work and spending an hour just getting over the pain in my knee.

Need to go back to my physio and possibly surgeon, it was one of those injuries that was severe, but not so severe that they knew surgery would fix it, there was an equal chance it would make it worse.

However, I'm now at the point where I can't wear any size heels for more than four hours without needing painkillers, and I spend over 70 percent of my time in work on my feet. Even in flats, the pain is around an eight out of ten on a daily basis.

Must go to physio

SillyBeans

I had an interview yesterday and I think it went really well... having the interviewers laughing their heads off is a good sign...right!?!??!

Mars Bar

Stheno wrote: »

DO NOT EVEN CONTEMPLATE testing to see if your foot is better by doing something without crutches.

I can't test anything anyway coz I have a cast and a boot. The crutches seem unnecessary to me although I have been practicing and getting better.

rebel girl 15

Was at the official RFU launch ceremony for the World Cup last night, managed to get some decent pictures, including one with Prince Harry in it. Checked out some of the news articles last night, and the Daily Mail has a video of the event, with me walking through the shot! In my defense, I had no idea he was filming, or that would even made the edit!

Stheno

The RWC is here !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In other news I'd to drive to Cork and back today for a one hour meeting

iwantmydinner

I'll never forget the night I drove back from a meeting in West Cork back to Carlow at 1.30am. That was a long night.

Stheno

iwantmydinner wrote: »

I'll never forget the night I drove back from a meeting in West Cork back to Carlow at 1.30am. That was a long night.

West Cork is a right bitch to get to.

The worst I ever had was working one night after starting at 9am, we finished a tender response at 3:30.

I'd a 50 mile drive home, and I remember nearly falling asleep at the wheel.

iwantmydinner

I love West Cork. But bygod it's far away from everything.

IvyTheTerrible

I dream about having enough money not to worry about doing anything, and having a cottage out in West Cork by the sea that I can go to whenever I want.

rainbow kirby

RUGBY TIME

Only game I'm not at in the group stage...

sunshine and showers

Here we gooooo.

(Study breaks for patriotism are ok.)

ShazGV

This match is making me ridiculously excited for next weekend.

rebel girl 15

ShazGV wrote: »

This match is making me ridiculously excited for next weekend.

Making me so excited for Thursday when I'm shift for NZ v Namibia and next weekend as well!!!

SarahBeep!

Just home from Cardiff. Bloody chaos at the train station but feic it I'm home!

Stheno

SarahBeep! wrote: »

Just home from Cardiff. Bloody chaos at the train station but feic it I'm home!

Did you do sail and rail or what?

OH is really getting into rugby, so am trying to see if we could possibly finagle tickets to the Italy game

iwantmydinner

Engagements..... Engagements everywhere! Bestest friend was caught completely by surprise by her (now!) fiancé today. Beaut ring. Such happy! Much weddings! Wow.