Any other teachers/education professionals here?

[whiskeyblanket]

Just curious.

My job definitely makes me more suicidal, but I know if I were to ctb, I could potentially traumatize dozens of children. Is this why the suicide rate for teachers is relatively low? I'm in a very small school (100 kids kindergarten-12th grade) in rural US, teaching 4th-8th grade math.

I know a lot of people (myself included) had terrible experiences as students that led to suicidality. I also know that most of us are doing the best we know how to do. I'm just wondering if there are others here in the profession who feel like it's never enough, or that their suicidality persists even as they're "making a difference" or whatever with the next generation.

Happy weekend to you all!

 

[Torturedsoul.]

I would have been pretty sad if one of my teachers died, if i liked them ofcourse

 

[the box is empty]

I don't think the suicide rate is any lower for educators. I assume it's just underreported to shield children.

 

[whiskeyblanket]

I don't think the suicide rate is any lower for educators. I assume it's just underreported to shield children.

I just found this article that goes into some of the reasons, but I also have a hunch that you're right about it being underreported.

 

[Custos]

I have the feeling that one's person suffering being alive is less than the trauma inflicted on all the children. But then again that's generally the case for the people around you. Like my subtitle says, martyr.

 

[the box is empty]

A lot of it also has to do with school boards trying to save face. I've read so many stories where someone's favourite teacher suddenly stopped teaching or moved away etc.. and then you find out years later that he married a student as soon as she turned 18 and the school board moved him to a new district.

 

[neurotoxic]

I work in special ed, and I absolutely get you. I love that I get to do something that matters, but boy, judging by the way administrators and parents treat us, you'd think they want us to die. Sometimes I worry that my suicide will effect the kids, but with how many education workers are quitting lately I don't think they'd assume the worst unless they were told what happened.

 

[whiskeyblanket]

I work in special ed, and I absolutely get you. I love that I get to do something that matters, but boy, judging by the way administrators and parents treat us, you'd think they want us to die. Sometimes I worry that my suicide will effect the kids, but with how many education workers are quitting lately I don't think they'd assume the worst unless they were told what happened.

I was teaching special ed when the pandemic happened in March 2020, and I have so much respect for what you do. It is literally the hardest job in the school district.

I always feel like I'm not doing enough, or like the work I'm doing is somehow causing more harm than good. The forces we're working against that are beyond our control almost negate any good we do. Our admin here is great, and even the parents in my district are mostly decent. I've worked in some nightmare scenarios where I was literally targeted by admin and school board though, so my heart goes out to those in less fortunate situations. Even here, parents often don't prioritize school. When there's no accountability at home, or when kids only come to school once every other week, it's hard to make any impact.

You raise a good point that the kids won't assume the worst with so many people quitting. Maybe I could quit first, move away (I'm in an extremely small town), and then ctb without anyone even knowing. Thanks for the response!