Crazy about work

This 24-page report was written in February 2007 by John Illingworth in Nottingham, England, for the National Union of Teachers. The research was generated because of a growing number of teachers accessing a local ‘Teacher Support Line,’ and because mental health practitioners were reporting an increased number of teachers as patients.

Some key findings included:

• More than 70% of respondents felt their work hours were excessive.
• Over 80% reported that increased monitoring and observation of their classes added significantly to work-related stress.
• 60% reported sleep problems, waking up thinking about work and unable to get back to sleep.
• About a third of respondents struggled with students’ behaviour, felt they had no control over their job, and considered paperwork excessive.
• About a quarter felt afraid of violence from parents or students, with the same number reporting harassment or bullying at work.
• About 7% took prescribed medication to help them cope.

The Labour government refuses to discuss the report with the National Union of Teachers because the union is opted out of the social contract between government and teacher unions.

The report indicates high stress levels. One area of interest to B. C. teachers may be the stress associated by many Nottingham teachers with observation and monitoring of their classes. This may be of relevance because of the BCELC (British Columbia Education Leadership Council)-sponsored focus on supervision and monitoring in training for B. C. administrators which are outlined in the BCPVPA Standards Committee Report of March 2007.

Access the NUT report at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/eastmidlands/series11/docs/work.pdf

Submitted by Charlie Naylor, cnaylor@bctf.ca
September 24, 2007

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