Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi everyone! I really need some support and advice. I just started a new teaching job (I’m an intern in the 5 year olds class). There is usually another ‘main’ teacher with me, but she has been sick for the past two weeks. Upon reaching quite an intense level of distress, I revealed my diagnosis to my boss. She seemed willing to continue the discussion on how to support me. It is not the task of teaching so much as the environment itself that overwhelms me. There are only 9 children in the class, but the noise is constant and the demand on me can often be overwhelming. It is clear that my employer doesn’t really understand autism, despite this being a DEIJ school. This is also reflected in the ways they manage their own neurodiverse learners. I have asked her for frequent breaks throughout the day to decompress. Though I get the feeling that if something needs to be done / someone is sick / something hasn’t been properly planned, that I will not be able to take these breaks. Today for example, I had to ask who would be watching the children during lunch, as my mentor teacher is ill. It was clear they hadn’t thought about this. They know I get overwhelmed, but there have been several situations where I have not had a learning assistant helping me in the class when there is usually one as a result of bad planning. It has got to the point where I am questioning my decision to obtain my teaching degree. I love working with children, and I am a good teacher, but my experience here has been overwhelming, and I do feel like I am being tolerated rather than welcomed. I have been told by the long standing teachers that work here that the things I have experienced here are quite common - the staff here, in general, do not seem particularly happy. On paper it is a good job. Top of the range salary with more than enough teachers per child. Are there any teachers out there that can provide some advice? My mental health has deteriorated very quickly in the last month, and I have been struggling with frequent IBS issues, which have worsened since I got here. I have an undergraduate degree in English and psychology. I also have a TEFL certificate. I absolutely love writing, and I miss the parts of teaching that I no longer have access to (teaching reading and writing, conversing with students about important topics etc.). I am so scared that whilst I may be a good teacher, my autism prevents me from managing the environment. Can anyone give me some advice? Has anyone had similar experiences? Is there a way to teach without having to sacrifice your mental health? Part of me wishes I’d qualified to teach older kids, as I love discussing the more complex topics (bullying, sexual health, mental and physical health etc.). But I don’t want to get a whole other degree. Any advice would be so helpful. Thank you.
Any mother could tell you how hard it is to raise a child, but adding more children into the equation, makes it a lot harder, and it's almost impossible to take a break if you're on your own. I mean young children are expected to be loud and energetic, and teachers are either used to that kind of environment, or they're not, and I suppose the same would go for some parents as well. The loud noise comes with the territory of teaching young children. You could split the responsibility of watching the children among other staff there, but they ultimately see it as your responsibility to watch over your class. Hopefully you could work something out with your boss, because communication is important. Is teaching young children on your own something you want to do long-term?