Do you enjoy your job (in school)?

[roisin]

I'm one of four cover supervisors in our secondary school. On Monday we were asked in a meeting whether we enjoyed our job.
I tend to be fairly blunt and honest and said "of course not", and everyone else said yes
I expected to love working in education, but I don't at all, and my role is one of many frustrations and (IMO) limited possible rewards.
But I am constantly told that I do a very good job.
But really I do it because it's ideal hours and location for me and great (paid) holidays.
So do you think that's really dreadful and I'm in the wrong place?
(Btw next year I'm hoping to do 6 hrs regular literacy booster classes, which should be more satisfying than constant cover. But it hasn't been agreed yet.)

[Yorkiegirl]

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[madrose]

some days I love it (bar the politics and paperwork) otherdays I just think FFS get me out of here - 12 days to go

[Rowlers]

Depends
Some days I enjoy it, others I resent it
Do you just cover lessons for absent staff?
I can't imagine anyone really enjoying that truthfully
Some people are yes people and think it gives the right impression
I wish more people were honest instead of saying yes and meaning no

[popsycal]

i hate the staff politics/bitching.gossip.two facedness

but the kids are fab

[Blandmum]

I love teaching. i hate the fat arsing round, paperwork, wanky meetings and behaviour management issues (non sn). I had to do after school DT today. Two of the silly buggers ended up being put in another ASDT!

[Blandmum]

I would hate to do cover all day. I think that is much harder than teaching your own lessons. the buzz comes from delivering your stuff, in your way and seeing the 'lightbulb' go off.

Kids come into a cover lesson expecting to arse around ime. It is much easier to work well with a class that you teach regularly.

I'd bet my boots that you would enjoy being your own planner etc

[Blandmum]

go on ffs!

[roisin]

Rowlers - that's what I think. Are we actually supposed to like it?! How could anyone like it?

Yes, I cover for absent staff 15-20 classes per week (out of possible 25); planned cover is better than emergencies obviously. Plus do some admin stuff for my departments.

Maybe it will be better next year. I've only been doing it for 13 months, and it's a big school (c.1000 kids - and I 'teach' them all) so it's been a steep learning curve just getting to know everyone/everything. Next year there will only be 200 new ones for me.

Maybe it's just end of term blues. I effectively finish on Friday, as I'm going on a school trip for a week (hope I enjoy that), then come back to three days of bits and bobs.

[Rowlers]

Think your self lucky you lot - guess whose school has come up with the brilliant idea of starting the new term THIS WEEK so we don't waste the last three weeks of term?
A week long trip and few days bits and bobbing sounds bloody marvellous
sorry -being flippant
I do think that all teaching work, be it teaching your own classes or covering lessons, gets much easier the more established you are.
Hopefully you'll find the next academic year more rewarding? Hope so.

[Blandmum]

At the risk of sounding horrible, roisin, and this is not my feeling at all, but might you be having a hard time because the kids do see you as a 'real' teacher? I know that some kids play merry hell with some of our cover supervisors.

They also play me up more in cover lessons than when I am their 'real' teacher.

I found a huge difference when I went into lessons as NQT. The kids treated me with more respect....they are very conservative, are kids!

I would also hate to have to present someone else's lesson plan. I'd be crap at it.

and you don't get the longer term pay offs of kids acchiving a longer term goal, do you?

[roisin]

Sorry - I think I was in a bit of a grumpy mood yesterday! Thanks for all your comments.

I had a much better day today, with a couple of good lessons - one I even enjoyed

MB the kids view us in the same way as a supply teacher, but certainly not the same as a "proper teacher", and yes they are always going to play us up - or attempt to - more than they would their regular teachers. Fortunately we do get good back up on any discipline issues.

[schnapps]

I love teaching, it's the people that sometimes make it difficult! The boss is a twunt and the SMT are so up themselves it's unbelievable. Lots of bitchiness and backstabbing!

[nikkie]

I like my job but it can be very draining (interpreting) as most off to get their odd jobs done at snack time etc but I am still needed.
I have to do mine when the kids go home.I do like my class but this will be changing massivly in September when we get 3 'new' kids SLD/ASD and 4 extra staff.

[nothercules]

love it. cant believe i get paid

[Whizzz]

While I have a fine collection of school-y type people on this thread....would I be mad to consider applying for a TA job in a secondary school, when what I really want is a TA job in my sons primary (just next door)??

[roisin]

Whizz - nope not mad at all. Are you qualified/experienced? If not, then a job at secondary will be easier to get; you can train and get experienced and then be well-placed to apply for jobs at primary at a later stage.

[Whizzz]

I'be helping out at the primary one day a week for the last few months. There is a job coming up there but its a HLTA thats leaving & I don't think they will offer me anything. I have almost completed a BTEC TA course.
Its the second time they have advertised for the secondary school posts (which makes me worry why no one seems to want the jobs!) - 4 part time posts for Sept.

[nikkie]

I am a TA (and 1:1 interpreter)SlD- 16-19 this year (and for 2 more) we have a big group going too (biggest for ages) and next year will be totally different.

[bloss]

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