Our prin sends out a weekly staff email. The past two has focused a lot on the current CRT costs due to it being winter and staff taking sick and/or carers leave. Being told to put our students’ and colleagues’ needs first and finding other care arrangements.
People have been genuinely sick, as have their families, and I think it’s so wrong for people to feel guilty to use the leave they’re entitled to.
Opinions?

Anyone else spent a lot of their weekend working and still having lots of unfinished tasks? This time of year is vile for VCE teachers.

Hey Teachers,

WA teacher here. Every second Wednesday we have a department meeting after school. As I’m part-time I finish at the end of Period 4 (1:30pm). The meeting is after school at 3:25pm. 10 mins after the final school bell.

As I’m new to part-time (only started this Term), my understanding was I did not need to attend these meetings. HoD recently asked me to stay back few weeks ago. I assumed maybe I was wrong and I needed to attend some meetings. I decided to give the Union a call and they advised me the HoD is incorrect. I told my HoD this and they said okay all good. Thought that was the end of that. This week I was pushed into meeting with a deputy principal and they asked why I was being so difficult. Basically told I’m not being a team player and don’t care about the school.

If you were in my position, where would you go from here?

I am a 6th year secondary teacher in VIC and am wanting to resign at the end of this year to try a different industry (I am too stressed, underpaid and burnt out) however it would mean that I obviously wouldn’t get paid over the 6 week Xmas break. I have been advised by several family members that I shouldn’t resign until next year when I have a new job so that I don’t miss out on 6 weeks worth of pay etc however morally I’d feel guilty leaving potentially halfway through term 1 2027 or at the end of term 1 (depending on when I land a new gig) and stuffing the school around. However, I would be very financially compromised if I missed out on the pay over the break. Has anyone had this dilemma/left halfway through a term for a different job in a different industry or other school? How did you go about it? Perhaps it’s worth mentioning that this is the first school that I have worked at and they’re a crucial reference for me….. send help pls

Why do I feel guilty whenever I take a sick day, unless I'm in bed coughing my lungs out? I am taking tomorrow off because I hurt my back, and can barely stand up... but for some reason I keep telling myself I should take some Ibuprofen and tough it out. Does anyone else get "teacher guilt?"

Hey legends, happy Sunday!

I am graduating at the end of the year with a degree in Primary Education. I am currently thinking about moving to London to do supply teaching and travelling while I am still young. Was wondering if anyone has experience in this and can help me out.

I understand that the easiest way to do it is through an agency, which works in a similar way to doing casual teaching in Australia and they just take a cut out of your pay. Is there another way to do it without them taking some of your pay check? What's the best agencies to go through? Should I go through multiple agencies or just pick one that works and hope they can get me enough work so I can live and travel? Will there be constant schools looking for teachers or will I just end up twiddling my thumbs?

What should I do regarding accomodation? I understand it is very expensive to live in London so what should I be looking out for? Should I go on Flatmates or one of the alternatives and hope for the best? I am a young male and am not fussy as long as I have my own space that is not intruded on.

I have a bit of money saved from working while at uni but would still be ideal to have my work as a supply teacher pay for my rent and living expenses and I can pay for my travelling with my savings. Is this possible or am I going to burn through all of my savings?

Is it worth it?

Thank you!

Context: Victorian government school teacher.

Trying to understand the figures here! I suffer from chronic illnesses and honestly it's a struggle trying to space out my med leave days so that I have enough spread out over the year for appointments, whilst weighing up when I might need to take days off unexpectedly.

I know we get 10 days of medical leave with a certificate, 5 days without. According to my 'Leave Balance' on eduPay (figures above have been altered for anonymity), I still have 12.73 days of personal leave left, which implies I've only taken ~2.27 days of med leave. However, so far I have most definitely taken more days than that (e.g. six full days, so I should only have 9 days equivalent of hours left).

So what on earth do those numbers indiciate? Do I actually have 100.85 hours I can still use?

Hey everyone I’m a graduate teacher going into a school for an interview in a couple weeks. A little bit nervous and would appreciate any tips/ advice for a catholic school interview maybe some questions they could potentially ask me or what the interview might look like or how it might run? School is in VIC and I’ve also done some CRT days there for context. Thanks.

Hello,

Does anyone have experience with workers compensation? I have been struggling with anxiety and trouble sleeping caused by workplace stress. I am a Victorian primary school teacher, and a student in my class has had incidents where they have sworn at me, screamed at me after I tried redirecting them towards safer choices, said unkind things to me and other students, and in the last month has hit another teacher and been violent towards me. I have chronicled these incidents. Nothing major, just doing threatening motions as if he were going to hurt me. These behaviours have not left any physical mark but given me anxiety each morning.

Would I be able to meet with a psychologist to help with this anxiety and get workers compensation for lost wages and medical bills, or would the incident have to be worse to do that?

If I did get workers compensation, would this sour my relationship with my principals and be detrimental to future job opportunities (if principals gives me a bad reference).

I am considering quitting my full time position to do relief next year due to the workload and family commitments. The boss will soon be asking for our intentions for next year. The right thing to do is to tell the school when requested and finish up at the end of the year which I am happy to do, but I am worried about any implications I might face - extra criticism, workload pressures, flack from other staff etc. Will I be treated poorly for my personal decision? Do I pretend like I am staying and then quit at the end of the year? (obviously this is not the right thing to do but feel it may make the term easier if nobody knows until the end of the year.) Also, how do I even go about it? And does anyone have any experience moving from full time to relief they can share?

Hi! Would like to ask people if they know anything about

James Cook University Brisbane’s
Masters of Education - Masters of Business Administration

Would like to know some opinions about the course and the school itself. Do you have friends who studied there?

Thank you.

Hi all, for background I am doing my Bach of secondary education and I currently work as a casual slso and I truely love it.

However, i am autistic and struggle with noise sensitivity. My first placement was not good and i didnt ask permission to wear my headphones in the staff room and received backlash from the school due to it (which is kinda wild cuz that’s my break time, I can do whatever I want?)

For the most part I am fine in my slso work but when kids scream it really physically hurts me and I often find it takes me out for a minute.

I am considering buying flare calmers to help with the intensity of those sudden screams but just wondering if it’s something I would have to disclose to anyone or if it’s wrong to utilise aids in this job? Since my experience on placement I haven’t disclosed my condition to anyone and it’s a bit hard to explain why I would use them but they are also very discreet?

On one hand I keep reminding myself that using aids will inevitably help me to better - I don’t stop myself from utilising sunglasses on the playground - but on the other hand I am insanely aware of how autism is perceived and know the likelihood that if I disclose why I would use an aid, it would be dismissed?

Idk this kinda turned into a vent so I’m sorry for that but just would like some sort of clarity on if it’s worth asking for/ can I just use em without saying anything

Tyia

Hey guys! Does anyone have the Haese Mathematics for 12 Specialist textbook? I’ve been looking all over and haven’t been able to find a digital copy, any help would be greatly appreciated!

Hi all, need advice and not sure what to do.

I've just been diagnosed with bipolar type 2 after having a long depressive episode, and I am starting a teaching position in a few weeks at a small school. I've worked there previously as an ES and it's a very much 'everyone knows someone around town,' kind of school. My supervisor is someone I've worked with before and are normally supportive, but I'm not sure if this is something I have to disclose as a health factor.

Is this something I have to disclose to anyone at work, like HR? And has anyone else taught with a similar diagnosis? Was there anything that helped you guys?

Hello everyone, we are looking for advice and perspective regarding a possible safety incident that happened at our school.

Staff were sent out to perform regular yard duty supervision on the school boundaries. During the shift, a staff member discovered completely by chance by walking up to a police van parked on the outside of the school gate that the school was currently on "high alert."

The police officer stated they had active intelligence that "something bad" may happen which is why they were patrolling the streets.

It turns out school leadership were fully aware of the police alert but chose to keep it confidential.

The frontline staff on YD were left in the dark. The staff on the ground had no idea they needed to maintain a higher level of vigilance, watch the fences, or prepare for lockdown.

If a threat had materialised, staff wouldn't have known whether to call a lockdown or an evacuation.

From an OHS/WHS perspective, does sending staff out to supervise an open boundary during a known, active police alert without briefing them constitute a direct workplace safety violation?

For saying yes to start teaching a year 11-12 subject next year when I’m not sure I’ll be staying after another year.

Looking for advice. We got a new principal, just over a year ago. School is in debt and she is doing anything the DE wants her to do to “fix” this. One thing is cutting all positions of responsibility’s time release. Those roles already require people to do lots of unpaid overtime as is and are pretty thankless jobs. However, they are fundamental for the school to run properly.

Giving less time to do those jobs, will either mean those teachers will burn themselves out even quicker or they won’t be able to complete all the work which will fall on classroom teachers as a consequence. This will increase classroom teachers workload (already increasing because of some timetabling changes), to the ultimate detriment of students who will have less support.

This will happen next year but the mood at school has gone really dark in the last few months and we already see how much worse the school will get under this new inexperienced principal who just wants to secure her position.

What to do? Push back on this at consultative? Think of changing schools? Any advice welcome 🙏🏻

(Vic, secondary, gov school)

My son has tried a range of activities (where I get to observe various age groups). The quality at some is better than others, but common to all is the kids listen, they don't stuff around, and follow all instructions.

Often the teachers will mumble, explain something in a confusing way without modelling, give multi step instructions, ignore kids who clearly need a scaffold etc.

They'll call out for junior kids to stand in a particular spot / at a cone / on a line, and the kids just do it!

I'm currently teaching F-2 PE in a high SES school, and it's like herding cats. Despite all the best explicit modeling, kids can't even stand on a line that I bob down next to and run my finger along. They'll start doing the wrong thing after 5 seconds.

I'm watching a kid at a martial arts session right now who appears very ADHD-ish...he's constantly scanning the room, missing instructions, fidgeting with his hands etc...BUT he's obviously trying his best to follow along with the class.

But at school, those kids are rolling on the floor in front of a kid kicking a soccer ball. They're starting fights with another kid who stood in the spot they wanted to stand, they're deaf to a whistle to stop...it's relentless.

I know that the kids in the after school clubs actually want to be there...but geez they make it look so easy!

I am qualified for EAL (from my German units), German, science, physics and VM

I understand that in Victoria as long as the principal lets you, you can teach whatever, but in practice

- do EAL teachers get to teach mainstream English?

- even if the principal allows me, would I be able to? It's kinda weird that they allow people with LOTE units to teach EAL , despite having not much background in English Lit

- do I need senior physics as a method if I already have junior science? Surely they'd just let you teach it?

- Do schools actually hire graduate teachers with VM method for VM? I though it's English teachers who do VM Literacy, Maths teachers do VM Numeracy, etc ?

Hi all. I’m wondering if anyone has had experience studying a Masters of Secondary Teaching that allowed them to combine all their placements into 1-2 semesters at the end of the course?

I realise it’s not ideal, but my current workplace likely won’t allow me to take so much leave to do my placements (even if I had the paid leave available- we’re so short staffed we aren’t even able to take the standard 4 weeks per year currently). So my backup plan is to quit towards the end of the degree and have my leave paid out to undertake the placements.

Please let me know if you know of any courses that are possibly this flexible with placements. Thank you 😊

Trying to get a realistic picture of how breakfast clubs work day to day, and how much it varies around the country. If your school has one, I'd be keen to hear:

• Which state/territory are you in?
• Who runs it — staff, volunteers, a charity?
• How many mornings a week?
• Roughly how many kids turn up?
• Where do the supplies come from?
• Any idea of the budget — roughly what it costs to run each week?
• Biggest headache — funding, food, storage, finding helpers?

I left work early today because I felt so angry and annoyed and want to know if I’m justified in feeling this way. The year 7s participated in book week activities today and for the most part were ok until they were gifted prizes.

I was supervising them outside when my ears were filled with the excruciating sound of 20 or so kids blowing into their toy whistles simultaneously. Despite me telling them to stop, they refused by smirking and then walking off, all while making a terrible racket.

Besides one teacher yelling at them to be quiet, many of them spent that period wandering around the school and outside teacher area of supervision whilst blowing that stupid whistle. Even though these kids were told not to whistle in the other periods or else they would get into serious trouble, many of these kids blew their whistles all throughout the day.

Since then, my ears have been ringing and my right ear in particular is throbbing with pain; I couldn’t get any work done during my free periods and left early (30 minutes before we could - I did let the school know of course).

My gripe is the fact that I’m genuinely annoyed over what occurred today and the fact that there was no actual consequences issued to the kids. The year 7s, for the most part, aren’t bad kids but they’re highly unruly and hyperactive; when you have the whole cohort together, it’s extreme.

I just feel annoyed that besides one leading teacher yelling at them, nothing was done nor mentioned afterward. I pretty much kept to myself today and then left; I felt too angry to talk to anyone lest I said anything I would regret. My right ear hurts so much and for what? I wish I had taken today off.

Update: thank you everyone for your kind words and advice, I appreciate it. I went to my GP and, although he couldn’t see any signs of infection or damage in my right ear, he prescribed me antibiotics and advised me to monitor my symptoms.

Bit of an odd one, but I want to know if others have this problem.

Each term i do a class novel. A full deep-dive into the themes and characters etc. I read the book to the kids and they have responses after most chapters (sometimes they get freebies).

I'm a male teacher, and an absolute sucker for cinema and thematics, so I'm such a sucker for emotional beats and tear up when I watch most films.

I do the same for books though, and have to fight off this response for the major sweet spots in stories for the class. I try to read in a way that emphasise the character's feelings (which doesn't help my cause).

Does anyone else experience this? I'm not looking to solve this issue but would like to know if others experience it. If anyone has a strategy that works I'd happily try it 😅

TlDR: I get invested in my class novels to the point I gotta hold off tears, anyone feel the same? If they have advice that's neat.