'Recovering' primary school teacher reveals the moment that forced her to QUIT her profession - and what she wants all parents to know
- Gabbie Stroud, from New South Wales, worked for 15 years as a primary teacher
- She quit after she realised a little boy was going to fail a test due to his home life
- Gabbie has since written two books about how the system is failing teachers
- She encourages parents to remember they are 'lifelong teachers' of their kids
A 'recovering' primary school teacher who worked in the profession for 15 years in Australia has revealed the moment that forced her to quit teaching, and how she was worn down by a system where she felt she was pushed to the brink.
Gabbie Stroud, from New South Wales, said she loved teaching and had always enjoyed working with kids, but felt she had to quit one day when she issued a standardised test to a 'little one' who she knew was going to fail the exam.
'I knew he was going to fail because the way he had been parented and his home life meant that he came to school probably 12 months behind where most of the other students were presenting at,' Gabbie told The Morning Show.
A 'recovering' primary school teacher who worked in the profession for 15 years in Australia has revealed the moment that forced her to quit teaching (Gabbie Stroud pictured)
'At the end of the testing regime, the little one was looking at me like "Who are you? Where is my teacher? Why aren't you supporting me?"
'And that was a terrible moment for me as a teacher. It created a whole heap of anxiety and heartbreak.'
Gabbie said she went to see her doctor after the event, and had a 'good long chat'.
'I knew that it was time for me to leave the profession,' Gabbie said.
At the end of 2014, she handed in her notice and turned her back on the job she once loved.
Gabbie Stroud (pictured) said she loved teaching, but felt she had to quit one day when she issued a standardised test to a 'little one' who she knew was going to fail the exam
Five years after she left teaching, Gabbie is the author of several books on the subject - including her latest Dear Parents, which offers messages to parents and advice on what they should know.
'My biggest message to parents would be: Parents, I need you to do the work of a parent at home so that I can do the work of a teacher at school,' Gabbie said.
Gabbie said parents need to work with teachers at 'nutting out' a 'working partnership'.
'Time is a teacher's biggest commodity,' Gabbie explained.
'Teachers are professionals, so engage with them as you would another professional.
'Seek a time and a place to meet them, be really clear about what you want and don't have general chats about how your child is going.'
Gabbie also said the word 'thank you' can go a long way, if you feel a teacher has helped your child.
Gabbie's (pictured) biggest message to parents is that at home they need to 'do the work of a parent' so she can do the 'work of a teacher at school'
Gabbie advised against adding your child's teacher on Facebook and messaging them incessantly for guidance and feedback.
Gabbie is the author of several books (pictured) on the state of the education system
'Too often, teachers are expected to do things that parents are shying away from,' she told The Morning Show.
'Teachers are not afraid to say no to kids. I think that parents these days are a little too afraid to say no to kids. You need to say no to your child.'
She said that while teachers will come and go, parents are the 'lifelong teachers' of their children and so should act appropriately.
Gabbie taught in schools both in Australia, the UK and Canada between the years 1999 and 2014.
Since then, she has published several books on teaching, including one called 'Teacher' and her latest 'Dear Parents'.
Both discuss the fact that the current system is letting down children and parents, and breaking dedicated would-be teachers.
Dear Parents attempts to show how you as a parent can help your child to progress in school.
For more information about Gabbie Stroud, please visit her website here.
