If you found out your child’s teacher was bipolar

[Anonymous]

I would be a little worried. I've had experience working with someone with bipolar disorder for years. The unpredictability of the highs and lows, coupled with the expectations during those high and lows, is really hard on the people around them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you know the teacher’s personal medical information? Before you knew this information were you concerned about the teacher?

She has a blog.

She mostly posts about mundane things like classroom organization, baby products (this is her second child), and her “business” (Rodman and Fields) but she’s recently wrote a blog post about being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and going through her second pregnancy.

I don’t have any major issues with her. She’s a bit immature and attention seeking but friendly enough. DD has mentioned she’s cried in class ever all times. Worried about an explosive episode or her disorder causing issues in the classroom or with grading.

Crying in class ... that’s not good. I’m a teacher and all the crying happens in the Lounge.

[Anonymous]

Bipolar itself, no. I have a loved one whose bipolar is very well-controlled with medication- she's worked as a nurse practitioner for 15 years and has had no issue. That said, crying in the classroom is a major red flag.

[Anonymous]

If you have valid concerns, you go to the Principal, not a public message board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Could be a danger to the children.

I agree. An unmedicated person with bipolar (esp type1) has no ability to look after someone. They can become irrational, delusional, and impulsive.

[Anonymous]

I would address it with the principal. I know someone with unmedicated bipolar and she’s unpredictable and makes unhealthy social decisions. The principal may not know, or may not know that she’s unmedicated. You’ve said a number of things here that seem like yellow lights warning you to be cautious. I would not say anything that puts the principal in an awkward position from an ADA/EEO perspective. So rather than send an email and ask, I would send an email with a comment and indicate that you’re not seeking a response at this time and that you recognize the sensitivity of discussing an employee’s health information with third parties. Something like, “Hi principal Larla, I am writing about a concern I have about Ms X’s recent behavior in the classroom. She has been crying in class. I also read in her public blog that she has unmedicated bipolar disorder. I’m not seeking a response from you regarding her health status. However, I do want to put these issues on your radar in case the crying and other concerning behavior does not improve. Thank you.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How would you feel?

She’s also currently pregnant meaning she’s not medicated.

Many people with bipolar take medication during pregnancy. Are you assuming that pregnancy means that she's not medicated, or do you have evidence?

+1. MYOB OP unless there are concrete things to be concerned about. Being bipolar is not a character flaw.

[Anonymous]

Bipolar disorder is a serious medical condition, but can be controlled with interventions. My sister is a teacher and is bipolar.

I don’t really know what to say except no, I wouldn’t be concerned. And you shouldn’t be gossiping about someone else’s medical background. It’s none of your business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bipolar disorder is a serious medical condition, but can be controlled with interventions. My sister is a teacher and is bipolar.

I don’t really know what to say except no, I wouldn’t be concerned. And you shouldn’t be gossiping about someone else’s medical background. It’s none of your business.

But here’s the thing: OP isn’t gossiping. The teacher made it public by posting all this on a blog. She put it out there. Frankly I’m concerned that she has a blog where she is sharing such intimate details. In my mind, I’m more concerned about the lack of filter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bipolar disorder is a serious medical condition, but can be controlled with interventions. My sister is a teacher and is bipolar.

I don’t really know what to say except no, I wouldn’t be concerned. And you shouldn’t be gossiping about someone else’s medical background. It’s none of your business.

But here’s the thing: OP isn’t gossiping. The teacher made it public by posting all this on a blog. She put it out there. Frankly I’m concerned that she has a blog where she is sharing such intimate details. In my mind, I’m more concerned about the lack of filter.

Op is gossiping. She doesn’t know the whole story. And we know even less! For all we know this is a very private blog that was not shared with the class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bipolar disorder is a serious medical condition, but can be controlled with interventions. My sister is a teacher and is bipolar.

I don’t really know what to say except no, I wouldn’t be concerned. And you shouldn’t be gossiping about someone else’s medical background. It’s none of your business.

But here’s the thing: OP isn’t gossiping. The teacher made it public by posting all this on a blog. She put it out there. Frankly I’m concerned that she has a blog where she is sharing such intimate details. In my mind, I’m more concerned about the lack of filter.

Op is gossiping. She doesn’t know the whole story. And we know even less! For all we know this is a very private blog that was not shared with the class.

It’s NOT. She’s posting how she sells Rodan & Fields. She wants as many people to see that so she can sell that overpriced nonsense. AND she’s posting intimate details about her health. That’s not a private journal. Sounds like OP just needed to do a simple search of the teacher’s name and voila, there’s the very public blog with all the details of her life.

[Anonymous]

Teachers crying is not uncommon. It's a highly stressful job and we don't have a lot of time to just hole up in an office and deal with it. I just walked in on a third year teacher crying after getting yelled at for low middle of year benchmark reading scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teachers crying is not uncommon. It's a highly stressful job and we don't have a lot of time to just hole up in an office and deal with it. I just walked in on a third year teacher crying after getting yelled at for low middle of year benchmark reading scores.

I’ve cried in the classroom from happiness over the progress a student has made. That moment when they are able to do something they thought they couldn’t do. Not full on crying but eyes full of tears and the student has asked me why I’m crying. Maybe they’ve gone home and reported that I cried in the classroom, who knows.

I’ve also cried before students arrive in the morning after a particularly demoralizing meeting held before school and I’m sure kids could tell. I can remember crying one other time when my 3 year old was scheduled to have cardiac surgery on a Monday and I got a call on the Friday before that his lab work wasn’t in yet and the surgery would have to be postponed. Luckily I had my phone with me to take the call (a nod to the other thread). Context matters.

These examples are over a span of 15 years. I don’t have any mental health issues. Working with people day in and day out with whom you form strong relationships with can be emotional. It can’t really be compared with most office jobs.

And who says she’s unmedicated because she’s pregnant. OP is way overstepping boundaries.

[Anonymous]

I think you really need to focus on her actual actions in class. Crying once, no big deal and I really wouldn't think much more about it. (A little disconcerting to kids, I'm sure, but teachers are human and life happens.)

Crying frequently? I'd be bringing that specific issue to the principal. And *since the teacher posted on a public blog* I would also mention the bipolar to the teacher in conjunction with the frequent crying.

Any other extreme behaviors - again, bring those specific behaviors to the principal

[Anonymous]

I know a couple teachers who are bipolar, and they have been fine. Their personal lives are a mess, but they have won teaching awards. They are now are medication...remember there are different types of bipolar.