Mum shares harrowing photo and says son had anxiety attack over teacher strikes

02 February 2023 , 11:48

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Becky’s eldest son had been triggered back to the mental toll of lockdown through the school strikes (Image: Jam Press)

A mum has shared a harrowing photo of her 12-year-old son having an anxiety attack over the teacher strikes.

The mum-of-three has now slammed the "government-inflicted" school strikes, which started yesterday for England and Wales, claiming her son had "anxiety attacks" over schools closing.

Becky Bohan, 43, has revealed that her eldest son was triggered back to the mental toll of lockdown during the strike.

Unions and teachers across the UK announced a nationwide strike, which took place on February 1.

The mum-of-three said she adjusted her working day after her kids, aged 12, 10, and 7 were notified of their school closing a few days prior.

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Mum shares harrowing photo and says son had anxiety attack over teacher strikes

Becky's eldest daughter at her desk, computer and all the other technology so she can continue learning (Jam Press)

The mum says she was affected as she had to 'completely adjust my working day, even rearranging meetings with clients' (Jam Press)

The 43-year-old, from Hertfordshire, said: "My daughter has my desk, my computer and all the other technology I need for work, so she can continue learning.

When she initially heard about the strikes, the mum said she believed teachers were well within their rights to do so - admitting that even she was planning on joining them and striking in solidarity.

Becky’s eldest son had been triggered back to the mental toll of lockdown through the school strikes (Jam Press)

Speaking about the issue, Becky said: "I think the main problem here is that there's no conversation.

"I agree the funding and teaching conditions need to be increased as if they're not in a good place, then neither are my kids.

"My younger children have been left confused as half of their school is in and others aren't."

She said that if all the pupils were at home that would have been "fine", but as she had two in school and one at home, it got "very confusing - especially as the unions don't all strike on the same day".

Becky says the strikes are going to have 'a knock-on effect with all industries soon' (Jam Press)

Speaking about how it has affected her 12-year-old son, she said: "It's also really upsetting to my eldest son, as he didn't cope well at all throughout lockdown and his mental health still isn't great due to this.

"He's been feeling sick all morning about the uncertainty and has been hysterically in tears, which is causing anxiety attacks.

"All of this trauma is resurfacing due to the lack of routine."

Becky has urged the Government to act quickly to ensure that no further disruption is caused to any pupils.

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But she also thinks that the teachers should use this situation as a way to teach kids about morals, adding: "This could've been a real opportunity for the schools to teach about morals and standing up for what you believe in.

"But, it's all been lost on my kids and they are upset about all the confusion.

"I think the government need to support and allow teachers to put their focus on the kids' needs, rather than their financial issues. As far as I'm concerned, the education system needs a complete overhaul and if I could, I would take them out of school entirely.

"It's not healthy for them and the way they're asking to learn isn't right - it's no longer on track and isn't supporting our children's needs at all."