The
stress that schools put on their students is enough to make anyone break into a
million pieces. Add to that a chronic illness and all hell will break loose.
I
understand that schools/sixth forms/colleges are under a lot of pressure; they
need their students to do well in exams as their funding kinda depends on it.
But
that doesn't mean that they should put all of that pressure onto their
students!
We
are already under so much pressure, whether that’s from your family (them
pushing you to do your best, but pushing you that little bit too much), or
yourself (you want to do the best you can possibly do).
You
don’t need you teachers making you do tests every week and them threatening to
kick you out of school if you fail!
I
was diagnosed with ME/CFS in year 8 (I was 12). During my secondary school
years there were various problems with the school, mainly regarding my
attendance.
Honestly,
I don't think they ever really grasped the fact that I was really ill!
Most
of the people my parents had to deal had never even met me to see the bags
under my eyes, to see how pale I was, to even ask how I was feeling!
I
took 5 GCSE’s, maths, double science, English language and ICT and RS combined
to make the fifth.
This
was recommended by the ME/CFS clinic, and my attendance at year 11 was around
25%.
I
had to teach myself a lot of the information from the textbooks at home as I
would be so far behind the other students in my class that i wouldn't be
learning the same information as them.
This
meant that when I was well enough to actually go into school and attend classes
I was forever playing catch-up. I had no idea what was going on in the lesson,
had no idea what the teacher was talking about. This made everything very hard.
I am
a very positive person, (I think most people with chronic illnesses have to be)
and quite easy going and that situation make me stressed!
My grades:
Maths- A
Double
science- B
English
Language- C
And
ICT/RS – D
Extremely
pleased with myself!!!
This was a couple of years ago now, but the other stressful school things that have happened after this would have made this a very long post so i will be doing a school stress #2 at some point.
please comment with your experiences with education, would love to know what other people have or are experiencing
- Jess
I'm sorry you had to go through this. I had a similar experience in school where my teachers didn't full understand my experience. I think it is mostly down to the fact that M.E. is not very well understood by the general public and that teachers are given very little advice! I bet were both glad to have it all behind us now!
ReplyDeleteJenny www.jennyhelenmyspoonielife.blogspot.com
It must have been so tough to miss out on so much school, emotionally, socially and academically! Although I was ill during high school I kept up and luckily I didn't miss out on any of the fun things school offers. I really feel for any young person of school age with a chronic illness when the teachers don't understand the severity of it, and put more stress onto the student. You did so well to get those results! Well done Jess!
ReplyDeleteHayley-Eszti
www.hayleyeszti.blogspot.com
Totally agree with you that all schools care about are your attendance! I was at a grammar school at the time so it was extra pressure to do well. Congrats on your results! You should be super proud of yourself
ReplyDeletehttp://www.chloe-meandme.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1