The power of NO!

According to the BBC today:
Stressed teachers being 'reduced to tears'

Is that any news to those of us who have worked in education?

No, not really.
Your child's teacher probably works 60+ hours a week, planning creative lessons, marking books with developmental marking comments, creating resources, taking after-school clubs....the list is endless. Your child's TA will also work way more than their contracted hours.

Why? Well the job needs doing. The DofE, Ofsted, League tables and other external pressures, all add to the workload. Some of these are useful, many are not.  Some of the useful activities can be used in a way that is unhelpful. The story of the teacher told off for crying in the staff room touched a chord. Teachers are human beings. They have lives. Mostly that's good. Sometime's it's grim - I  well remember the  parents' evening 2 days after my mum died.

When life goes wrong there is no option for the teacher but to carry on. they go to work and paint smiles on their faces for the children, they chat with parents, they mark and plan as usual. Our teacher's need recognition for what they do come sunshine or rain. They need co-operation from parents and they need the support of their management.

And sometimes they just need someone to say "No."
No you can't do more.
No you aren't expected to run yet another club/ take on another responsibility
No you need to go home and rest/get yourself well/spend time with the kids,
No you aren't expected to be jolly and smiley in the staff room because we are here to support you.
No, Ofsted isn't the be all and end all, we are here to meet our children's needs.