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I couldn’t have got through my teaching years without alcohol I couldn’t have got through my teaching years without alcohol
(5 months later)
As I turn sharp left, the tyre rubber chafes the tarmac and a screech is emitted by my rusty little Nova. It’s 2001, and I’m in my first year of teaching. But I’m not rushing to ensure I get to work on time; nor am I rushing to an emergency. I’m turning into the pub car park on a Friday afternoon.As I turn sharp left, the tyre rubber chafes the tarmac and a screech is emitted by my rusty little Nova. It’s 2001, and I’m in my first year of teaching. But I’m not rushing to ensure I get to work on time; nor am I rushing to an emergency. I’m turning into the pub car park on a Friday afternoon.
Related: Secret Teacher: when does a relaxing glass of wine become a problem?
In fact, despite a regrettable incident involving a traffic cone in my late teens and a few nights out that made me grateful that the camera phone hadn’t been invented during my time at university, I’ve never drunk as much as I did in my eight years as a secondary English teacher. So I wasn’t surprised to read that a survey by a teaching union has found that 22% of teachers are drinking more alcohol as way to cope with pressure.In fact, despite a regrettable incident involving a traffic cone in my late teens and a few nights out that made me grateful that the camera phone hadn’t been invented during my time at university, I’ve never drunk as much as I did in my eight years as a secondary English teacher. So I wasn’t surprised to read that a survey by a teaching union has found that 22% of teachers are drinking more alcohol as way to cope with pressure.
During my time in the profession, a group of us would frequent the local pub after school every Friday, with some of us even starting a “Sunday night club” to ward off the Monday morning dread. Most of us would have our lips to a glass by half four – only an hour after the bell signalled the end of a school week.During my time in the profession, a group of us would frequent the local pub after school every Friday, with some of us even starting a “Sunday night club” to ward off the Monday morning dread. Most of us would have our lips to a glass by half four – only an hour after the bell signalled the end of a school week.
Week nights weren’t much different. Like many of my colleagues, I usually had a bottle in the fridge and, while I didn’t get drunk, I probably averaged around three glasses a night. Although I always got my “homework” done before reaching for the red, I know several teachers who have accidentally spilt wine or left a telltale glass print on a pile of papers when working into the wee hours.Week nights weren’t much different. Like many of my colleagues, I usually had a bottle in the fridge and, while I didn’t get drunk, I probably averaged around three glasses a night. Although I always got my “homework” done before reaching for the red, I know several teachers who have accidentally spilt wine or left a telltale glass print on a pile of papers when working into the wee hours.
Before you imagine a collection of caricatures from the bottom of the staff-room heap – stressed out as a result of poor classroom control and rife with body odour – I’d like to point out that our little group consisted of (mostly fragrant) heads of department and newly qualified teachers alike; with even a deputy head or two thrown in for good measure. We were Ofsted-rated “good” teachers, swapping war stories and attempting to unwind after, or prepare for, a hard week.Before you imagine a collection of caricatures from the bottom of the staff-room heap – stressed out as a result of poor classroom control and rife with body odour – I’d like to point out that our little group consisted of (mostly fragrant) heads of department and newly qualified teachers alike; with even a deputy head or two thrown in for good measure. We were Ofsted-rated “good” teachers, swapping war stories and attempting to unwind after, or prepare for, a hard week.
People often imagine that teaching is easy. Not so. I’ve worked many different roles, from legal PA in a top London law firm to Saturday night server in a local pub, and believe me there are few professions as mentally, physically and thanklessly exhausting as teaching. Don’t underestimate the physical challenge of the classroom. Even for teachers who don’t struggle to manage unruly tots, tweens or teens, being on your feet, using your teacher voice, and having eyes on the back of your head five days a week takes its toll.People often imagine that teaching is easy. Not so. I’ve worked many different roles, from legal PA in a top London law firm to Saturday night server in a local pub, and believe me there are few professions as mentally, physically and thanklessly exhausting as teaching. Don’t underestimate the physical challenge of the classroom. Even for teachers who don’t struggle to manage unruly tots, tweens or teens, being on your feet, using your teacher voice, and having eyes on the back of your head five days a week takes its toll.
The adrenaline pumping through your body after performing for longer than a West End actor each day (often to an unappreciative audience) is hard to suppress: no wonder teachers reach for the bottle to calm themselves in readiness for the hours of preparation and marking required at the end of each exhausting day.The adrenaline pumping through your body after performing for longer than a West End actor each day (often to an unappreciative audience) is hard to suppress: no wonder teachers reach for the bottle to calm themselves in readiness for the hours of preparation and marking required at the end of each exhausting day.
Related: Tips on reducing teacher stress from the ‘happiest school on earth’
To make things worse, rather than being applauded for the time spent trying to change the fortunes of the next generation, teachers are criticised by parents, pupils, governors and even colleagues. Now, with even the education secretary Nicky Morgan rolling up her sleeves for a potential fight, is it any wonder that teachers are turning to drink, drugs and that 2% have even resorted to self-harm? It’s just so depressing. Believe it or not, teachers actually want to do a good job, and if they have concerns it might be worth listening to them.To make things worse, rather than being applauded for the time spent trying to change the fortunes of the next generation, teachers are criticised by parents, pupils, governors and even colleagues. Now, with even the education secretary Nicky Morgan rolling up her sleeves for a potential fight, is it any wonder that teachers are turning to drink, drugs and that 2% have even resorted to self-harm? It’s just so depressing. Believe it or not, teachers actually want to do a good job, and if they have concerns it might be worth listening to them.
For me, it was the sight of our recycling box one evening that brought home to me the amount my teacher husband and I were consuming to anaesthetise ourselves against the pressure. A few years later, in 2009, we sold up and moved abroad to start a new life – and while I sometimes miss the interaction of the classroom, I’m happy to have left the politics and paperwork behind; and I rarely touch a drop of booze these days.For me, it was the sight of our recycling box one evening that brought home to me the amount my teacher husband and I were consuming to anaesthetise ourselves against the pressure. A few years later, in 2009, we sold up and moved abroad to start a new life – and while I sometimes miss the interaction of the classroom, I’m happy to have left the politics and paperwork behind; and I rarely touch a drop of booze these days.
If a significant proportion of the teaching profession have developed unhealthy habits in order to survive, surely it’s a sign that something needs to change? In order to give our children the best education on offer, we need our teachers to be as happy and healthy as possible. Isn’t it time we made this a priority?If a significant proportion of the teaching profession have developed unhealthy habits in order to survive, surely it’s a sign that something needs to change? In order to give our children the best education on offer, we need our teachers to be as happy and healthy as possible. Isn’t it time we made this a priority?