Australian teachers are speaking openly about their burnout and frustration with parents in a viral trend some fears are putting young people off the profession.
TikTok has been flooded with videos from thousands of ex-teachers talking about why they left the job in their 20s, using the hashtag #TeacherQuitTok.
Similar hashtags, such as #TeacherBurnout, highlight issues young teachers face in the classroom, including parents contacting them 24 hours a day, the dangers of the career and the ‘lack of respect’ both within the school and at large audience..
Young Aussies who walked out after just a few years in the classroom spoke of the ‘never-ending’ juggle of dealing with the needs of their 30-something peers, some of whom have behavioral problems.
Australian teachers speak openly about their burnout and frustration with parents in viral trend some fears are putting young people off the profession
Many teachers said the worst part of the job is the mothers and fathers who desperately want their child to be the ‘smartest’ and ‘get the most attention’, adding to the pressure.
“Being a teacher is very emotionally draining,” said one former teacher.
“You’re constantly juggling and being responsible for all these different personalities and different situations, and it’s relentless, never ending,” said another.
’24/7 access to you [from parents]…sometimes it’s a lot,” said one.
Some teachers from Britain and America even film themselves crying in class and collapsing in the staff room.
Associate Professor Rachel Buchanan from the University of Newcastle said The Daily Telegraph she had been researching the popularity of ‘QuitTok’ and was concerned about the impact of these videos on social media users.
Professor Buchanan said that while social media can be an important tool in giving teachers a voice when they “feel powerless and unheard”, she is concerned that these videos are giving the false impression that “everyone is quitting”.
TikTok has been flooded with videos of thousands of ex-teachers sharing why they left their jobs in their 20s, using the hashtag #TeacherQuitTok (stock image)
“On TikTok it feels inescapable that everyone is quitting and everyone is burned out… and it can distort your perception of what’s actually happening,” Prof. Buchanan said.
‘#TeacherQuitTok also strengthens and validates the decision to leave the profession – hearing others’ stories and participating feels like participating in a movement or a moment.’
The echo chamber can also have consequences for teaching students. Teneal Broccardo, 29, says the “disheartening” viral content made her question her decision to become an elementary school teacher.
“I saw all these people working themselves into the ground and I thought, ‘Do I want to do this to myself?'” she said.
A 2022 Monash University survey found that only three in 10 teachers surveyed plan to stay in the profession long-term, something state governments are trying to address.
NSW Education Minister Prue Car said the state is trying to retain teachers by focusing on pay increases, more permanent contracts and a ban on mobile phones in the classroom.