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, 1 reply)

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)