'It's Triggering': UK Teachers Weigh In On Adolescence’s School Episode

A scene from Adolescence where Adam speaks to his dad about the meaning of certain emojis posted on Jamie's Instagram. There are a few scenes from Adolescence’s second episode which really stuck with me – the school kids crowding around and filming as a fight broke out, Adam explaining incel culture to his detective dad, and that powerful moment where Jade opens up about the loneliness of losing her best friend. The episode – set in a secondary school – was also littered with glimpses of disruptive pupils, brow-beaten teachers and, well, complete and utter chaos. And I’m sure it left many people wondering: is this what UK schools are really like?“I have watched it and feel that it is generally an accurate representation of what is going on in our schools,” Laura Gowers, an experienced secondary school teacher and founder of This is Dyslexia, told HuffPost UK.She’s not alone – teachers recently opened up on Reddit about the show’s portrayal of secondary schools and many agreed it was “shockingly accurate”, to the point where staff said they felt triggered. One teacher on the forum said: “It was the most accurate portrayal I’d seen of an English school on TV. I described it to my husband as ‘triggering’ and one of the reasons I left teaching.”For Gowers, it was the scene where there is a fight and the teenagers cheer and get their phones out which sparked a healthy dose of déjà vu.“There are also scenes where the teenagers are quite disrespectful to adults in the classroom and this is something I’ve witnessed and have seen increase over 23 years of teaching,” she added. The teacher and mum-of-two revealed she left her job at a secondary school towards the end of last year, citing poor behaviour, an increase in workload and parental expectations. Instances of misogyny and a lack of respect toward female staff and students are increasing, largely due to the rise of online platforms where harmful ideas can spread quickly."Charlotte Teagus, assistant headteacherNot everyone agrees that schools are as bad as the TV show made out, however. For Charlotte Teagus, assistant headteacher and safeguarding lead at Overton Grange School, the portrayal of schools in Adolescence wasn’t inaccurate, per se, but wasn’t representative of her own school. “The show highlighted the issues and challenges in secondary schools in a sort of ‘super concentrated’ way,” she added. That said, what stood out for her was how often young people were seen with their phones, “highlighting their complete dependence and addiction to smartphones”.As Adolescence touches on, both teachers have also noticed an increase in misogynistic behaviour among students.Teagus said: “Instances of misogyny and a lack of respect toward female staff and students are increasing, largely due to the rise of online platforms where harmful ideas can spread quickly.”She added “there are concerns” particularly with how some teen boys are influenced by online content.“There’s a growing issue nationally with certain toxic aspects of masculinity, like misogyny and entitlement, which can, on occasion, lead to unacceptable behaviour in school,” she added.The assistant headteacher suggested the pressure to conform to certain ‘masculine’ ideals, combined with the unregulated use of social media, can contribute to these attitudes. I have heard some teachers expressing horror at the way in which some of their profession were portrayed, although none expressing much dissent over the portrayal of pupil behaviour."Julia Hodgetts, teacherThe portrayal of secondary school life has caused “much angst” among teaching staff, according to Julia Hodgetts, a teacher at School Beyond Limitations.“I have heard some teachers expressing horror at the way in which some of their profession were portrayed, although none expressing much dissent over the portrayal of pupil behaviour,” she told HuffPost UK.“Some teachers have expressed relief that school life was shown as disorderly, toxic and difficult to manage, as that is what many experience each day. Equally, others have stated that their schools and teachers are nothing like those shown in the series.”Hodgetts suggested the role of teachers, their effectiveness and commitment varies “hugely” between schools and can be related to a variety of factors like location, funding, social deprivation, fabric of the school and class sizes.“I have worked in traditional school environments in the past which look much like that which appeared on screen, and many other schools where teachers, pupils and parents are all working in accord to create a positive educational experience,” she added.Yet one theme has remained constant in her time as a teacher: “Whatever the environment, the increasing role of the mobile phone, and the access it gives to a parallel universe, has largely been a negative.”Related...'I Don't Need To Listen To You': Female Teachers Are Witnessing A Rise In Classroom MisogynyTeachers Are Revealing The Rudest Things Parents Have Ever Said To ThemI'm A Teacher ― I've Noticed A Worrying Trend In Boys As Young As 11

Comments

Breaking news

First pictures of car exploding near Keir Starmer’s house in ‘arson attack’

Metro

Viral Olympics star announces return to her sport after being thrown out of the athletes' village in Paris for 'inappropriate conduct'

about 3 hours ago

Month of rain falls in just an HOUR before the Met Office predicts sunshine for the week ahead

Dailymail

Comments

Breaking news

First pictures of car exploding near Keir Starmer’s house in ‘arson attack’

Town horrified by mystery of ‘exploding’ birds found dead in their gardens

Vandals accused of 'insulting' war heroes after damaging memorial wreath in Scots town

Dumfries and Galloway councillor wants communities to be given part share in windfarms

Mum's revenge on 'entitled' passenger who refused to sit next to baby on plane

Newmains residents asked for their thoughts on new homes set to built at old school

Scotland's 'best takeaway' near Glasgow that specialises in baked potatoes

'Evil' dad stabbed his entire family to stop his secret from being exposed

'World's biggest treasure' found lying in the North Sea in 'revolutionary' discovery

Hollywood actor Gerard Depardieu guilty of sexually assaulting two women on film set

Fire Brigade Union boss speaks out as West Lothian wildfire continues into fourth day

Scots woman dies from horror head injury after falling from horse

Lorraine Kelly interviews 'Loch Ness Monster milker' ahead of Irn-Bru new flavour tour

Former Scottish Labour MP accuses party of 'losing its soul' after Keir Starmer pledges immigration crack down

West Lothian Council unable to confirm when IT will be restored after cyberattack

King to host French President Emmanuel Macron on first state visit

Andy Murray to stop working as Novak Djokovic's coach - days before French Open

'Kim was screaming with terror in her voice': Kardashian's stylist gives evidence in Paris robbery trial

Actor Gerard Depardieu found guilty of sexually assaulting two women

Rapper Tory Lanez 'stabbed 14 times' while serving sentence for Megan Thee Stallion shooting

Plumber claims vinegar and baking soda can't unblock drains but £3.65 item will

Patient vomiting blood sexually assaulted by 'groaning' nurse who snuck into cubicle

Mum bursts into tears after making 'worst decision of her life' on Ryanair flight

'My autistic daughter’s in a flap about our engaged son’s big day swap'

Gozney slashes up to £200 off its best selling pizza ovens ready for Father’s Day

Brit tourist fighting for his life in Greece after taking dip in hotel pool

Tory MP Robert Jenrick challenged over comments about 'white people' in Sky TV interview

Buckingham Palace issue King Charles update as major state visit announced

Seven-second test all dog owners should do before going for a walk

Man buys lion for back garden – days later he's eaten alive in front of neighbours

Pope Leo XIV's brother reveals why he told future pontiff he was 'weird'

Billy Bragg: ‘An audience can generate a sense of social solidarity’

How AI can help you unleash your productivity, and really work smarter, not harder (all via your mobile)

Marks and Spencer says customer data was stolen in cyber attack

Sycamore Gap pair quizzed over homophobic attack days before tree was felled

What was the Flower Moon and when will the next one be?

NATO alarm as Russian military gather on border of another European country

Brit dad with just 37 followers jailed for ten years over tweet

Fred West's sinister 'camouflage' for awful crimes using Glasgow ice-cream van

New NHS Lanarkshire Chief Executive praises staff after first week in post

Pensioner arrested after cops seize £3.2m worth of drugs from industrial estate

'I’m a broadband expert – this is the best step-by-step guide to cut your bill'

Sporting heroes inducted to North Lanarkshire Hall of Fame

Dad stabbed three kids' windpipes so they 'wouldn't scream' after he hid dark secret

Job vacancies fall - as employers hit with higher costs

M&S says customers' personal data taken by hackers

Jenrick claims UK 'already island of strangers' - and names locations with 'segregated society'

'Entitled stranger parked on my driveway - I can't believe what she said to me'

Two-year-old dies one month after leukaemia diagnosis - four doctors missed symptoms

Mum's heart 'changed colour' after she died for 33 minutes during routine surgery

Builders noticed something odd under stairs - then found woman's body wrapped in plastic

Top female athletes protest 'outdated' uniform mandate at championship match

Major Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 update as UN makes landmark Russia ruling

US Olympic gold medalist Kyle Snyder arrested for 'engaging in prostitution' with undercover officer

Shocked art fans are all saying the same thing after seeing the original 'Great Wave' painting

Viral Olympics star announces return to her sport after being thrown out of the athletes' village in Paris for 'inappropriate conduct'

Month of rain falls in just an HOUR before the Met Office predicts sunshine for the week ahead

Meghan Markle reveals she's 'crafting something special' with her As Ever brand after being quiet for the last two weeks

I'm no longer speaking to my pregnant sister - after she named her baby after a disease

Meghan Markle talks about getting her 'hands dirty' on latest podcast with medical scrubs brand founder Heather Hasson