Message #2565

[AndyHB]

never known a teacher get vibration white finger, pneumonocosis etc

But I have known teachers get nervous breakdowns and other stress-related health problems.  I've known several (myself included) who have been attacked physically by pupils (it was the only time I've ever intentionally hit a pupil - right-hand jab to the stomach, IIRC - to stop his attack on me: the rest of the class told the deputy head when called that I was acting in self-defence).  The various things that happen to teachers may not be 'physical' in the same sense as getting drenched - though even this does happen sometimes when one is on break- or dinner-duty and the skies open unexpectedly - but they often have physical outworkings.