A word about “the negativity” on here…

So true! And I think one of the problems is morale is so low after last year and the way it was handled-- my school isn't perfect, but it used to be pretty great with happy students and teachers. 3 years ago your colleagues would smile at you, laugh with you. Starting last year and esp. this year with the kids back and acting like animals just let out of a cage after a year (which is pretty much true; I feel bad for them but this is the worst behavior I've ever seen and so many fights, drug violations, etc. already, and the traditional respect just GONE) every teacher looks and sounds miserable and stressed out. And is furious about something. Something valid, but it is EXHAUSTING to be around, and brings me so far down.

Last year I shared my room with this amazing woman with a great sense of humor, no stress, and just able to compartmentalize so she wasn't in a horrible mood all the time. It was great. She changed schools this summer, and I was devastated. Sure enough, they gave me an E.A. who is wonderful and so much help, but she is SO negative. We walked to the office yesterday an hour after school ended and she pointed all the kids still on campus and said they are all selling drugs to each other. I was like "uh, no that's the mock trial team practicing, that's the dance crew, the flag team, and just some innocent kids waiting to be picked up."

It really gets to you, hearing all that negativity. I love my EA and I think she's super negative after spending 2 years working for the worst teacher at our school who really mentally wore her out, but being around her, 150 teachers who are overworked and angry at admin about a variety of things, and also working for a super stressed out and exhausted admin team who stopped smiling last year.... and squirrely kids who forgot how to be students.... it is exhausting. Last year I never left my room and only hung out with my delightful roommate and I was overworked and exhausted, but not nearly as angry.

/r/Teachers Thread Parent