Not good enough

[Helbelle75]

Does anyone else find that whatever they do and however hard they try, it's never good enough?

[Calsgirl]

Yep! Although I have to say it's not the same at every school so there is hope out there although i fear it is dwindling... (you are talking about teaching i presume?!)

It makes me wonder how the children feel in the 'next step' culture we have created. This is a lovely story, now your next step is to use better adjectives. Well done on solving this maths problem, your next step is to try using bigger numbers etc etc. It's happening to all of us. It's good, but not good enough. Drive, drive, drive.

Please don't start doubting yourself. Went through this last year when i felt that no matter what i did or how many hours i put in, it would never be enough to match the results of my predecessor/ achieve the absurdly unrealistic targets set for my class by management. As a result i made a horrible mistake. Believe that you are doing the best that you can in the time that you have and keep your confidence.

PS primary or secondary?

[Sleeperandthespindle]

Yes, I hate 'next step culture' too. Bloody intolerable as a perfectionist! Well, after 18 years of teaching in no longer a perfectionist but traces are still there.

I try very hard now not to base my self esteem and self worth solely on my work (then beat myself up about being a crap parent too!). It's hard but developing a 'water off a duck's back' attitude really helps. I care very deeply about my students and colleagues (special school) but cannot give my life to making everything I do 'even better next time'.

[Calsgirl]

With you on that, Sleeper! Live by the two Ms - manageable and meaningful!

[Wolfiefan]

This is why I left teaching. You could work 20 hours a day and STILL not do enough. Makes me worry for schools and teachers and kids of the future.

[DesolateWaist]

I hear you.
There is seldom a 'well done' or a 'thank you'. This is why I find the cards from parents so meaningful.

I hate the way we do this to the children too. I worry that we are setting them up to never be happy when they are older. Will they feel that they should always be trying for the bigger house, better job, more expensive car.
Never happy with what they have.

I think that there is a lot in the way that 'satisfactory' is no longer good enough.

[Helbelle75]

I'm secondary. This is my 17th year and it's getting worse.
I wonder when they will realise that constantly dropping new initiatives on us means we are going to drop a ball somewhere. Or simply run out of time. I feel like a worse teacher now than when I was an nqt, yet if I go by the students' reactions and opinions, I am well liked. So hard.

[starsandstripes2016]

I am teflon!

[noblegiraffe]

This talk by Laura McInerney at ResearchEd about Perfectionism and teachers is interesting:

[starsandstripes2016]

Good link. Thanks

[elephantoverthehill]

Thanks Noble , that made for interesting watching.

[xOdessax]

The job is nearly impossible to do now. When I started teaching over 20 years ago, I was able to do so with flair. That is, could do everything I was supposed to, with creativity, and comfortably include something extra. It was regularly noted by whichever SLT I was working for too with private and/or public recognition.

Admittedly, over the years, I climbed the ladder and took on various responsibilities making my role more and more demanding

[xOdessax]

Grrrrrr, I hit 'post' before I was ready to post!
I was going to add...
Now, it's an impossible job. You could work every hour of the day, neglecting every other aspect of your life, and you'd still not succeed in covering the basics.
I reluctantly left the profession (changed career) when it become all consuming. And virtually everyone I personally know linked with education either HAS done the same as me or WANTS TO.

[LockedOutOfMN]

I feel the same, for my colleagues, my students and me. I guess we just have to keep a reality check and remember to congratulate our colleagues, students and selves when we know we've worked hard or achieved something.

[xOdessax]

Definitely. I try to let my kids' teachers know the impact of their efforts on them. If appropriate (& if it doesn't seem to sucky-uppy) I'll mention any positives to a senior member of staff. I massively appreciate all they do. After all, they're doing a job I cannot manage anymore.