To be getting fed up with this hatred of schools and teachers.

[Pipbin]

In another thread (this is not really a thread about a thread) about schools some posters have made it very clear that they hate schools, see teachers as jumped up nazis and feel that everyone is feeling superior and looking down on them.

Am I alone is feeling upset and insulted by this?

I am a teacher and surely we both want the same thing, the best for your child?
We are not the enemy. We are on the same side.

[wheresthelight]

I agree with you!! I gave up teaching some years ago as interference from idiot government officials took away my enjoyment of it.

Parents need to realise that teachers are not the ones harming the education of kids the idiots like Gove are!! If parents supported schools and teachers instead of bitching then the government might think twice about interfering

[NigellasDealer]

"We are not the enemy. We are on the same side"
sorry but i have not seen much evidence of that and am literally counting down the days til my children can leave school, thanks to the attitudes of certain teachers.
yesterday i was made to feel very nervous again when my son's college tutor told him that 'she had concerns' about him sometimes catching a later bus home.
next stop social services really isnt it? because a 15 year old has a bit of a social life.
as soon as these people 'have concerns' parents feel nervous.

[Feminine]

you might be, I'm sure you are a lovely teacher.

I haven't always had lovely experiences with some teachers.

That is probably true for most people.

We need to respect teachers, but not more than any other human we share this planet with. :)

[17leftfeet]

it annoys me and I'm not a teacher

you see it online and hear people criticising the school in the playground which completely undermines the teachers and what they are trying to do

primary schools in particular are very different to most parent's experience of school and I don't think they understand the changes -if that's the case they should put some effort into finding out!

[NigellasDealer]

exactly feminine.
teachers demanding some automatic 'respect' when many of them offer absolutely none to their pupils or their parents, on the grounds that they have some dodgy low grade degree and have scraped through a PGCE is laughable, frankly

[wheretoyougonow]

I think you need to remember that you can get very obscure views via the Internet. Do you feel this in your actual job?

I love both my boys teachers and fully support their decisions. Only very rarely have I seen parents hate the teachers and they have thankfully been the monitory.

I do think people object to 'the system/government dictating what they can do.

Carry on doing a good job and ignore those who shout loudest

[Onesleeptillwembley]

I've encountered some fantastic teachers. Unfortunately I have encountered some just like you describe. And the fact everybody knew yet their jobs were completely safe was disgusting. However I wouldn't assume everybody was like that. Although nor do I subscribe to the teacher worship some people seem to have, and expect others to have on here.

[PhoebeNPenny]

I think part of the problem is a lot of parents think their kids are little angels who could do no wrong so the big bad teachers are liars. I've met a few teachers who seem to hate their job and their attitudes are shocking - but it's rare here. OP I think teachers/nurses/social workers/health visitors all have it bad at the moment.

[streakybacon]

My son was in school for six years before I withdrew him to home educate. In that time he only had one positive experience of supportive and caring teachers, while in Y1. The rest were brutal and that's not something I say lightly.

I have no doubt that the majority of teachers are dedicated and caring professionals who do indeed want the same for children as their parents do, but sadly I've not had that experience with my son. Just as it's wrong for some parents on here to claim that all teachers are crap, it's equally inaccurate to say that they are all good at what they do. My son's experience did horrific damage to his self esteem and his mental health was teetering on the brink when we withdrew him, all due to the awful 'professionals' who failed him. It's not all black and white, and there are some teachers out there who really shouldn't be working with children in any capacity.

[bobot]

There are some lovely, caring teachers who genuinely care about children's education. There are some awful ones. I've seen both. I wouldn't leave my children with someone I didn't trust. I've Home Educated before and wouldn't hesitate to do it again if I felt it was best for my children.

YANBU to ask that we don't tar all teachers with the same brush.

YABU to suggest that all teachers put their pupils' welfare and education first.

[NigellasDealer]

totally agree streakybacon, not to diss the good people in teaching.

[OutrageousFlavourLikeFreesias]

My children's teachers are amazing. Amazing. I am so grateful for the brilliant job they do. I try to tell them this as often as I can without sounding like a weirdo lickass.

I know not all teachers are like this, but, so far, my children's teachers are.

I don't have a point really, I just want to show that not all parents hate all teachers.

[Stopmithering]

Some parents seem to have a massive chip on their shoulders about teachers and presume them all as a consequence to have scraped through a pgcse following a low grade degree.
While I am sure there are some teachers who fit squarely into this category, it is certainly not the norm in my experience.
It's just a bit dull to hear such sweeping generalisations but I know I work like a dog, that my students appreciate what I do so who really cares what some random on t'internet thinks?

[JohnCusacksWife]

I agree, OP. The moaning, bitching and lack of support that I see from parents towards their kids' school/teachers, in real life and on line, is depressing. I'm on the Parent Council at our school so know a little of the pressures and demands that the school staff face. I also know how much hard work goes into fundraising etc from the very few parents willing to get involved. Whatever the school/PC do will never be good enough for some people.

[Stripyhoglets]

I'm not a teacher, but hate this attitude too. As a parent with kids in school I can see how much ridiculous pressure the current system puts on teachers and the children. I don't know how you do it all tbh. But am very glad that you do!

[RiverTam]

I think there are a few reasons why parents are perhaps more involved and more anxious about their children's education - employment (or lack of), competition for uni places, cost of uni, cost of everything... Plus with the advent of Ofsted and all the various bits of data, plus horror stories about children's future being negatively impacted by a crap school and/or crap teaching, parents now know a lot more about the schools than they used to, when everyone just sent their kids to the local school.

Also, don't forget - most people don't come onto internet forums and discuss things that are ticking along nicely, they come on for a moan and, in many cases of course, a justifiable one at that. But it's not a complete picture.

Teachers shouldn't dismiss parents concerns, but parents should underestimate the work that teachers have to do. Better management and higher entry requirements into teaching (along with a better package for teachers to encourage 'the best of the best') would surely help, along with stopping the endless tweaking and fiddling and party politickalling, which are all very tiresome and detract from the very important task at hand - educating the next generation.

[NigellasDealer]

who really cares what some random on t'internet thinks
well you obviously or you wouldn't have quoted me

[Snargaluff]

I have had a complaint made about me this past half term by a dad whose daughter had got Us / Gs in controlled assessments. She is doing badly because I am bullying her and everything I say is a lie.
Parents like this make my job hellish because all I want is what's best for your kids.

The majority of parents I speak to, however, are supportive and take the tales their DC tell with a pinch of salt!

[WeAreDetective]

It's a shame where this attitude exists because a good parent/teacher relationship is key to the education of the child

[PhoebeNPenny]

I wouldn't like to be a teacher - I think it would be very stressful. Pushy mothers, naughty kids, loads of marking, ofsted inspections, pressure to meet deadlines/certain marks etc - no thanks

[RiverTam]

*shouldn't underestimate

[SuburbanRhonda]

nigella, I've read many of your posts on school / teacher threads and always wondered why you don't HE your DCs, as your disdain for them is so obvious I can imagine the teachers themselves can feel it.

I know HE isn't for everyone and sometimes it isn't convenient or even desirable, but with such a low opinion of the alternative, I'm just wondering if you ever even considered it?