Primary school teachers of the world, unite

[MightyAphrodite]

I teach English in a primary school in Greece. Conditions aren't great, but having never taught in the English state system I don't know how justified I am in complaining. For starters, how does this compare.....
24 teaching hours a week (1 teaching hour = 40-45 mins)
Have to go to 3 different schools
Have to teach 2 year groups together in smaller schools
Course books imposed from above
Massive range of ability in most classes
World weary pupils
A scarily negative attitude to teachers in some quarters

I still love teaching but sometimes feel I'm giving a lot, with little return, not to mention the fact I seem to spend more time worrying about other people's children than I do about my own.

Can anyone cheer me up?

[mrz]

In England we don't usually have specialist subject teachers in primary schools and most teachers work in one school teaching ALL subjects.
25 and a half (varies slightly) teaching hours (1 teaching hour = 60 mins)
Huge range of abilities in most (all) classes
Have to teach more than 1 year group in smaller schools)
negative attitudes to teachers

[Hullygully]

It's 20 degrees where you are and we're under six foot of snow. Have a glass of krasi and feel superior!

[pointydig]

24 teching hours sounds good - here it is 22.5 and they are full hours
go to 3 different schools - I had a peripatetic job and went to three schools. Consideration should be given to time spent travelling and extra cost to you for all the travel
2 year groups together - not unusual for smaller schools to have composite classes. Stage more important than age.
course books imposed - what a pain. You could try negotiatiing but you might not be able to change this unfortunately.
Ability range - as you move up to 11 year olds, the range of abilities will stretch out. Differentation necessary.
world weary pupils - most children are able to be enthusiastic for at least 50% of the time. DOn't you have any enjoyable classes? You must have some enthusiastic individuals?

[pointydig]

You could improve things by being a bit more creative with the text book that has been imposed on you. Use the text book as a framework only and instead of doing the text book exercises, choose a more interesting activity or game to practise what has been learned. There are so many easy ways to make the learning of mfl in primary schools enjoyable as well as educational.

[MightyAphrodite]

OK, HullyGully I do feel a weeny bit superior because we went swimming on Boxing Day ...The truth is, I am enthusiastic about my classes, and I supplement the imposed text book with songs, games, Roald Dahl, you name it. I think I was just feeling a bit unappreciated when I started this thread. But what do you do with a couple of 11 year olds who just don't want to learn and sabotage your best laid lesson plans?!

[Hullygully]

You tell their mothers and watch them hit them and shout at them as only Greek mothers can. Or just threaten to tell - that should do it.

[MightyAphrodite]

How come you know so much about Greek mothers?

English language teaching here is big business and most children start private lessons before they begin English in school. The prevailing attitude is, if I'm not paying for it, it's not worth much. Try fighting that!

I teach in a couple of schools with 'underprivileged' children, i.e. immigrants and roma (gypsies) who are a joy just because they're happy to be in school at all ...

[Hullygully]

I married to a Grik man. I spend much time steen Ellatha.

[MightyAphrodite]

Ho hum so you have a pethera too?

[Hullygully]

Wassat? I only speak six words..

Six more than dh, though.

[MightyAphrodite]

Sorry! It's the Greek for mother-in-law. Make that 7 words more than dh now!

I could apply to teach in a Greek school in England. Any opinions?

[Hullygully]

That's a hard one. I love Greece, but part of what I love about it is how insane everyone is - something that doesn't help you in your job. I think on balance I'd live in Greece...

[MightyAphrodite]

Living in Greece is great - I'm grateful for all the good stuff, like the weather, the fact that my kids get to live an outdoors sort of life in a fairly safe environment and all that. But....I'm really concerned about their secondary education. It's just an endless round of private tutoring in addition to a 7 hour school day for the dubious benefit of getting in to a greek university. It's got to be better in England, surely?

[Hullygully]

People say remarkably similar things about English education.

But what I do think is different is the stuff outside of education - there is so much more for kids to do in England (and northern Europe) than southern. I had a v good friend who lived in Athens with three young dc and started brownies in desperation...didn't work.

And I do think Greek kids are treated v oddly (partic boys, obviously)...

[MightyAphrodite]

Food for thought. My 4 dc have a fairly active out-of-school life (which includes cubs and brownies on a Saturday) and I can let them bike and skate round the neighbourhood without the fear of someone knocking them over or running off with them....they have the sort of computer, TV and play station-free childhood that I had. I don't feel the pressure to 'keep up' that my bro and sis do in England. But I know what you mean. Thanks for the thoughts!

By the way, do non-teachers in England resent teachers' long summer holiday as much as they do here??

[LeightonCourtDiscoQueen]

YES!

But ours isn't as long as yours, is it?

[MightyAphrodite]

You all know a lot about Greece! The summer term finishes between 10 - 15 June, though teachers stay on in school about 10 days longer, and then we have to be back on Sept 1, for a 10/11 Sept start. But we don't get half-term hols. When Easter isn't till late April, it's hard to keep going without a break from Jan 8! I'd say long hols is just about the only material perk of the job.

[Hullygully]

Stay there. Sounds much better.