Don't do it. That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it!
Whereas some, like Mrz, are happy, I do believe far more are not. It is an intense and stressful job and as my head teacher said a few weeks ago, it isn't a job, it's a vocation - a lifestyle. It is far from 'family friendly' too.
I have been in the profession 13 years and the work I am doing now, mirrors the workload I did in college - taking up lots of hours in the evening. It feels like I should put my husband and son in a cupboard for 6/7 weeks as I raely spend the quality time with them that I would do if I worked in other professions.
As a professinal, you are open to constant criticism, abuse and bullying from government, OFSTED, LEA, school leaders, children and parents.
Teachers I know are in school at 8am (some at 7:30am) ready for a 8:45am start. We don't get a break - setting up for the next session whilst the children have a 15 minute break. Lunch is rushed as the first/last half hour of the hour break is setting up afternoon work and/or marking the morning session work. Our school finishes at 3:15pm at which time a whole host of meetings, assessments, planning, resource finding etc, etc takes place. Staff meetings go on for up to an hour, after school clubs we are 'expected' to run are also about an hour, then their is the marking and assessment from the days learning, amending plans for the next day, gathering resources, displays, individual meetings with teachers, parents, administrative stuff that can't be done during the day because TAs are now expected to be supporting learning every minute of the school day and are frowned upon if caught laminating, setting up a display or filing work away in folders belonging to 4/5 year olds! Obviously all of that cannot be done during the afternoon after-hours of school and are then continued at home.
I get home at 6pm, have one hour with my toddler before he goes to bed, half an hour for my tea which my husband cooks and then 'settle' down to school work. I stop at 10pm regardless. oh, and then there is the 'claim' that we hang up our teaching overalls at 3:15pm and NEVER pick up a teaching resource, planning file etc, etc during the 'school holidays'.
Don't get me wrong, EVERY job brings its problems and stress but teaching is a constant stress maker - there really never is an ending to your jobs and you have to be super organised and planned to ensure nothing is missed or done to the last minute. You cannot have a quick cuppa when you're feeling tired at your desk or grab a biscuit when you want or venture off to the toiet either (unless you have a willing TA to cover!)
I would give ANYTHING to be able to hang up my 'teaching overalls' at 5pm and go home to my family without worrying if the next days lessons are planned, fully resourced and children's work marked ready for them to respond to. Teaching would be a lot less stressful if it followed the same work pattern as lots of other jobs - open 51 weeks of the year, teachers working 8am to 5pm - no work to take home - and the opportunity for the same holiday entitlement as most people and the opportunity to take it as you please.
