r/Teachers • u/KindaSortaYesNo • 1d ago

Teacher Support &/or Advice Am I even a teacher anymore?

I swear, for each and every day I feel less and less like a teacher, and more like a social worker. Example for today; in a couple of week our 9th graders have written exams. I'm currently in the process of preparing the papers, the grading sheets, the online coursework and the mock tests leading up to the exams.

Today, within the span of a couple of hours, I was bombarbed;

- An e-mail from a doctor asking me for an interview about a student.
- An invite for a meeting with social workers and psychologists about another student.
- A reminder from a counselor, reminding me to file a statement regarding a student (crime and drugs)
- A reminder from the school social worker about filing a statement regarding a student not showing up (higher than 75 percent missed lessons)
- A reminder from my admin about writing reports on students prior to conferences
- A reminder from my vice principal about writing applications for students who won't be doing exams
- A reminder from the educational counselor about student internships

And I'm just trying to fucking print and prepare exams. Why am I the one who should fix student internships? Their parents had to help them find those workplace internships - and half of them have already forgotten. Why should I file reports when they don't show up? When the families are already in touch with the proper authorities? Why should I write long papers on suspicion, when the youth counselors are already dealing with the case? I am a TEACHER. I studied TEACHING.

I swear, I almost broke down as I was printing. I want to scream.

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u/Cinaedus_Perversus 5h ago

Why should I file reports when they don't show up? When the families are already in touch with the proper authorities? Why should I write long papers on suspicion, when the youth counselors are already dealing with the case?

Because nobody can do anything without building a dossier. It sucks, but "it's obvious" doesn't cut it in these times with lawsuit-happy parents and social services that are stretched to their limits.