In Defence Of Teachers
Firstly, yes, I am a teacher.

At first glance, yes the working hours are lovely and the holidays are great. Hell, even the pay is good if you like the idea of educating the masses.

However you could probably split teachers into two groups based on these 'facts'.

The first group are those who have been slagged off on these very pages. They're only in it for the good holidays, 8.45-3.10 hours and the reality that despite being rather shite at their job they'll probably never be sacked unless they hit or touch up a child. They'll get frustrated when they realise that teaching these days basically means being as much a parent more than anything to most kids (including those with serious disorders who can't cope in mainstream school but are forced to be there because of goverment policy on 'inclusion'). They'll start to show signs of rage when asked to meet particular targets or give extra support to classes who aren't meeting expected standards in terms of grades. They'll scream at a kid who's forgotten a pencil. They'll ignore parental requests. Their classrooms will be grey and dull. They'll do the classic 'chalk and talk' routine to kids who these days need a little more stimulus than a textbook. They'll be the ones who'll have a lovely retirement because they've coasted through the job and got a decent pension out of it.

Then there's the rest of us. Who work a 8-6 most days because they're working hard planning lessons to incorporate every child they're responsible for when teaching. They'll phone parents after school to talk through Little Jimmy's problems. They'll put effort into writing reports beyond 'must try harder'. They'll spend their holidays writing schemes of work, running extra-curricular classes or trips abroad so that kids really do get a well rounded education. They won't snap when a kid is being a little shit because of crappy parenting (rather, they'll show the kind of manners they expect from the student in the vain hope they'll remember that for next time). Most of their evenings will be spent a) marking b) processing data c) creating posters and resources to stimulate and motivate d) planning lessons e) finishing off reports from observations of trainee teachers... They'll know their kids inside out, especially the ones who are on the ever growing Special Educational Needs register. And they'll be the ones who conform to the statistic that on average* that teachers croak it 2 years after retirement.

Guess which group moans the most about being a teacher?

Guess which group has to put up with the shit caused by said moaners?

Exactly.

Yes, some teachers are twats, but don't tar us all with the same brush. At least we're not Estate Agents (basically committing fraud by getting paid for a job they don't do), Parking Attendants or Tele-marketers. Some of us really do work our arse off.

* - Yes, it's true apparently. 2 years life expectancy after retirement for teachers. Mind, that's on average, so for every teacher ploughing on for 10-15 years afterwards, there's a teacher who carks it after walking out of the school door. Such is life.
(scentless_apprentice takes two bottles into the shower!, Sat 29 May 2010, 18:13, 11 replies)

When I was in high school a significant number of the teachers left because they couldn't deal with it...
...the ones who put in the extra hours, and who worked the hardest, were also the ones that some of the parents decided were most available to be (literally) yelled at about their kids' crappy work attitude. The ones who did the bare minimum and obviously didn't give a shit faded into the background.

Kudos to you for being one of the greats, sorry you have to put up with the dross. :(
(Sivvus trolley collision in the fruit aisle led to a jam, Sat 29 May 2010, 18:23, closed)

Sixty years ago, there was a third option.
When faced with an arsey class of 15 year olds in her first week unsupervised, my Mum decided to cut the bullshit. Her chief tormentor used broad Yorkshire once too often, and was given a left jab which put him on the floor. After that, no trouble of any kind.

It was illegal then, just as it now. But it was accepted.

Also, what teenager's going to admit a nine stone girl only 5 years older can deck him?
(all my scars face forward possesses 2.5% of a hyperalloy combat chassis, Sat 29 May 2010, 18:43, closed)

The first group
are usually the ones who get the most shit off students.
They can come across as unapproachable.
If you're struggling then you're not exactly going to feel comfortable asking for help from someone who looks like its the last thing they want to do.
(FootOfTim, Sat 29 May 2010, 19:31, closed)

Fair enough
I work with a lot of teachers, and my wife is also one. A lot of your points ring true.

I think the public perception of teachers is largely driven by the gobby, lazy bastards who you so aptly described in your first group. Which is a real shame, because I firmly believe that the majority of teachers - certainly the younger ones, do actually want to be there and do want to make a difference.

What pisses me off the most is the assumption from the loudest gobby, lazy bastards, that no-one else does a job as stressful, works as long hours or for shit pay. I enjoy telling those gobshites that teachers are fucking lucky; a national pay-scale whereby you're guaranteed a payrise at least for the first 6 years just for pitching up (fuck performance related pay!) and a tidy final salary pension where you only pay 6.4% of your salary for the privilege of membership. The taxpayer makes up for the shortfall so you don't have to pay more - heaven forbid - or rather, your unions will forbid it!

FWIW, I couldn't and wouldn't do the job. I do think it's pretty well paid, or at least remunerated, when you consider the pension, and we all have stress in our jobs, but I think you're on a losing battle when it comes to trying to educate the spawn of Britain's council estates.

By the way, your comment about teachers' life expectancy is bollocks. Life expectancy for teachers is actually longer than the UK average. For teachers retiring at 60, male teachers' life expectancy is a further 26 years, and for females it's 28, compared with 20 and 23 years respectively for non-teachers. Stats. courtesy of the Gov. Actuaries Dept.
(Tighthead, Sat 29 May 2010, 19:41, closed)

My brother is one of the second group and I have a lot of respect for him for it.
He had a nervous breakdown caused by the evil shits in his class room a few years ago. He was offered a substantial pay off which would have meant he could have retired early or gone into a new career smiling, but he chose to stick at it and stay teaching.

He does bitch and moan that his holidays aren't long enough, but gets short shrift from the rest of us when we remind him that the most we get is 4-6 weeks, paltry in comparison to the 10-11 weeks he gets, plus the rest of us frequently work 12 hour days in high stress jobs too.

I could never do that job and have no inclination to do so, so I'm glad that people out there are trying.
( fuck shit up the best you never had, Sun 30 May 2010, 0:07, closed)

probably pointless, but for what it's worth...
I'm a teacher who tries really hard to be in your second group, and most days, most classes, I think I might still be. For me, the reason for my breakdown a couple of years ago and the reason why some days and for some classes I'm aware that I'm in group one is the understanding that sometimes my hands are tied. There are some classes containing children with too many problems (in many cases, they've just never been taught or expected to behave positively), and I have no realistic options for stopping their behaviour from ruining their educations.

The school that I work within likes to blame all and any negative behaviour in the classroom firmly on the teachers. Much as I'd like to get out of the toxic sinkhole, there are very few jobs in my area at the moment, and a combination of a niggling disability with loss of confidence from my breakdown, it's a long term rather than short term aim.

I do try hard, but I'm not god, and the system I work within would rather sweep the problems under the carpet. I was just wanting to say that your post moved me to remember why I keep trying.
(magenta may, Sun 30 May 2010, 12:39, closed)

Suddenly it feels like...
Im reading the TES Forums over the wife's shoulder....

;-)
(Phooey I COOK MUD, Mon 31 May 2010, 23:42, closed)

so you work 8-6 and still think you have a real job? GTFO and enjoy your 100+ days holiday and before you give me that "we are working during the holidays" BS you all seem to shout out.... no you dont... Maybe a few days here and there but you don't...

I work with you teachers and most (not all) are in it for the early fuck offs and holidays...

But saying that I wouldnt mind being one myself. If people get off about complaing about the "easy lifestyle" then why not do it?

I now feel the urge to self implode as I want to be the thing i hate.
(snarf81, Tue 1 Jun 2010, 11:19, closed)

New respect for teachers
I was volunteered by The Amish Wife to be a parent governor at the local school (that the Amish Children attend) and that's been a serious eye-opener for me.

Kudos to teachers in general for the amazing amount of general crap that they have to put up with.

As for it being a cushy job, the Head is there from 8am to usually 7pm, often 10pm if there's an event on (and there's some kind of event every week - band concert, Governors' meeting, safety assessment, etc, etc, etc, etc.)
( Amish Information Systems hates misplaced, commas, Tue 1 Jun 2010, 11:28, closed)

Not disputing the long hours or how hard the job is, but...
you're referring only to Headteachers. A lot of teachers don't work those sort of hours, and certainly don't work every day of their holidays as they'd have you believe.

Most of the gobby bastards (teachers, heads, deputies etc) whine on about how hard, stressful and difficult their job is, and simply can't believe that anyone else can possibly do a job as hard, stressful and difficult.

I've certainly not suggested that teaching in any way is a cushy job. It is a difficult, stressful job, but so are plenty of other jobs! Teachers pay and conditions are protected, preserved and promoted by their unions; not many of us have that luxury.

BTW, Head teachers payscales range from £41,500 to £103,000, plus pension. I'd work 8am-7pm for that sort of money. Oh hang, on, I do already, but without the pay. Fuck.
(Tighthead, Tue 1 Jun 2010, 12:31, closed)

Teachers
You all make fair points. Most of my staff DO work 8 -6 and beyond. I'd like them not to, but they like to do a good job. Yes, I work long hours. Yes, the pay and conditions are good, yes, other people work equally hard. Some get good pay, some don't.

We all make choices in our lives. We just need to accept our lot, and stop looking at the grass on the other side of the fence. It's still green.

But an envious green.
( The Lone Groover has mal des nuts., Tue 1 Jun 2010, 20:42, closed)