Teacher struggles include student behavior and parental complaints

A teacher with over 20 years of experience has shared their concerns about the challenges they face in the classroom. They expressed strong feelings on a forum, saying they dread returning to work after weekends. The teacher highlighted two main issues: poor student behavior and ongoing complaints from parents. Many teachers responded, noting that the behavior of students has worsened, making it harder for them to teach effectively. Some mentioned that while workload remains high, behavior issues have become the top concern. One teacher stated they might leave the profession within a year due to these issues. Parental involvement was also a significant topic. Many teachers feel that parents often blame the school for problems that arise and express frustration over constant complaints. One teacher shared their struggle with an influx of emails from parents, which adds to their stress. Another emphasized that parents often do not hold their children accountable for poor behavior or attendance. A 2019 report from Ofsted supports these concerns, finding that managing classroom behavior is a major cause of low morale among teachers. It also noted that relationships with parents can increase stress and workload for educators. The article suggests ways that parents can support teachers, such as teaching their children basic life skills and not undermining teachers' authority. Parents were encouraged to acknowledge that children may act differently at school compared to home and to collaborate with teachers rather than assuming their child is always in the right.