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Original poster

Why are teachers so rude?

187 replies

Van34 · 10/10/2024 07:14

I will preface this by saying I do not have kids and therefore my last interaction with teachers was when I was at school. I'm not going to let my teenage years cloud my judgement.

I have recently taken on a job that involves visiting schools (think cleaning supervisor, but not) I spend a couple of hours walking round with the team, talking about challenges, reviewing paperwork and doing a general checks. I don't have to interact with the teaching staff at all (thank god). But I find them so rude. They think nothing of just butting in mid conversation, no "sorry, I can see your talking, could I just ask X a question" they just start talking. They stare with a frown constantly and consistently. They don't thank you or the children for holding doors open for them. And they never smile back if you smile at them...

It takes me back to being at school all those years ago and now I wonder if it wasn't just me hating the place. I wonder if the teachers were all like that too.

This isn't an isolated incident. I travel to many schools and they are all the same...

OP posts:
IlooklikeNigella · 10/10/2024 19:58

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Pippatpip · 10/10/2024 19:48

Are you one of the people who tell us not to stand on chairs? I am sure you are lovely and I am sure that there are teachers who are rude - I've come across them. However, in our defence, as an example, I am broken today as not only can I never go for a wee and have yet another UTI but I have found out I am on a duty at the same time but in two separate places. Likewise I had two periods double booked today on cover. That was a system glitch but nevertheless quite stressful when one is at breaking point. Small things...
I'd love an amble. Can I come and do your job? The teaching part is easy and my students are fabulous but the endless emails and just daily 'stuff' is just too much.

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 10/10/2024 19:08

Member869894 · 10/10/2024 13:38

Interesting. My experience of teachers is that they often act as they are the only people.who have stressful jobs.

My experience is that teachers never do that. For some reason, lots of people interpret 'My job is stressful' as 'No other jobs are stressful apart from mine'. I can only assume they have poor comprehension skills. Probably because they didn't listen to their teachers.

IntoTheOcean · 10/10/2024 19:06

stravagante · 10/10/2024 07:16

I was once told, by a very wise mentor that if I was regularly finding everyone around me to be an arsehole then the problem wasn't them, it was me.

I've worked in loads of schools and they've had their fair share of idiots but most folk are nice. Like in the rest of life.

This ⬆️

Makingchocolatecake · 10/10/2024 19:01

I haven't found people to be like this and I've been teaching 10 years in lots of different schools.

user2848502016 · 10/10/2024 18:59

The teachers (and all staff actually) at both my DDs schools are lovely.
I know a few teachers personally too- they are actually just humans!

NeverDropYourMooncup · 10/10/2024 18:37

FlyHalf · 10/10/2024 08:01

I wish posters would just say what they do, instead of this vague, 'Think cleaning supervisor but not' business. I don't work in a school, I have no idea what range of possible roles non-teachers might have.

The people that come in with clipboards and make shitloads from promising a decent meal in exchange for £2.53 a day, get the contract and then cost the school thousands in insisting upon extensive building and upgrade works, whack the cost of the FSM meal up to £2.80 and promptly replace the decent meal with 0.5 oz of indeterminate 'meat', all of the allergens and about 4 chewy chips for 15-18 year olds. Whilst the staff actually trying to make something edible with the poor quality stuff brought in get NMW.

Sherrystrull · 10/10/2024 18:35

What job do you do op?

Strawberrycheesecake7 · 10/10/2024 18:30

I do see what you mean. I used to teach and have definitely come across rude teachers. I think some people teach because it gives them a sense of control and superiority over others. It’s not all of them by any means. But I’ve worked with teachers who talk to everyone like they’re not good enough, myself, the children, parents, other members of staff. It’s one of the reasons I left teaching after having my son and don’t currently have any plans to go back.

cansu · 10/10/2024 18:28

I have no idea what kind of job involves visiting school as some kind of supervisor of non teaching staff whilst not being on staff. I also can't imagine how you are able to observe and make a judgement that teachers are rude. Sounds so ludicrous that it must be utter nonsense.

Autumn38 · 10/10/2024 18:23

BlackToes · 10/10/2024 08:12

There are many nice teachers and also arsehole teachers. However schools are regularly a dog eat dog type of place and dynamics can reflect this. A lot of what goes on would not be tolerated in adult work places, the shouting, the violence, intimidation,

You are quite right, and this is just the students…

CurlyhairedAssassin · 10/10/2024 17:52

SmileEachDay · 10/10/2024 07:43

And it's unfair to tar everyone with the same brush

And yet that’s what you decided to do.

Sometimes, when people who don’t work in schools come in, they don’t see that everything needs doing at lightening speed. If you were “deep in conversation”, perhaps you hadn’t noticed someone waiting for a pause so they could get something done.

Oh this, for sure!

Schools are so pressured these days, the school day has to fit so much in that it feelsl ike quite a pressured environment for staff sometimes. I see visitors coming into school all the time who don't seem to understand this and will want to stand and chat and go into great detail about things unnecessarily and don't seem to hear your phone ringing or the other staff who keep reappearing nearby and hovering checking if you've finished with the visitor yet.

Other teachers or school staff understand usually.

BoundaryGirl3939 · 10/10/2024 17:37

If someone is taking care of 20-30 children, with a million and 1 things to do, they probably don't have to time to relax and talk. If you met them in a social, relaxed setting, they would probably appear different.

Malaguena123 · 10/10/2024 17:30

flumposie · 10/10/2024 17:26

So far I've read that ALL teachers are rude, bossy and patronising. Absolutely ridiculous to lump everyone together. I wouldn't dream of saying similar about one profession.🙄

Agreed. I worked in restaurants as a student. All the chefs were absolute arses. So that means every chef, everywhere is an arse, right? Because of my own personal experience 😂😂

Malaguena123 · 10/10/2024 17:27

Member869894 · 10/10/2024 13:38

Interesting. My experience of teachers is that they often act as they are the only people.who have stressful jobs.

I certainly don't think I'm in the only stressful profession - at least it's not life or death (generally!) - that would stress me out more. But the figures do speak for themselves - over a third of new entrants leave within 5 years and last year more than half of all teachers considered quitting. It's not because they're all snowflakes- it's bloody tough.

flumposie · 10/10/2024 17:26

So far I've read that ALL teachers are rude, bossy and patronising. Absolutely ridiculous to lump everyone together. I wouldn't dream of saying similar about one profession.🙄

BeatrizBoniface · 10/10/2024 17:24

Gogogo12345 · 10/10/2024 17:23

Wow you have a bee in your bonnet don't you? A teacher perhaps or married/related to one

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😂😂😂

Gogogo12345 · 10/10/2024 17:23

BeatrizBoniface · 10/10/2024 17:21

So more than one. Out of....500k?
Hardly convincing 😆

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Wow you have a bee in your bonnet don't you? A teacher perhaps or married/related to one

BeatrizBoniface · 10/10/2024 17:21

Gogogo12345 · 10/10/2024 17:19

Seeing as it was the first word in the post it's clear enough. A few other posters have said similar also so unless they all know the same person then it's more than one

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So more than one. Out of....500k?
Hardly convincing 😆

Gogogo12345 · 10/10/2024 17:19

BeatrizBoniface · 10/10/2024 17:17

I am fully aware that we're not in a court house. However, one example of a "bossy" woman becoming a teacher isn't exactly convincing. So perhaps the "maybe" ought to have been capitalised from the outset.

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Seeing as it was the first word in the post it's clear enough. A few other posters have said similar also so unless they all know the same person then it's more than one

BeatrizBoniface · 10/10/2024 17:17

Gogogo12345 · 10/10/2024 17:14

We aren't in a courthouse lol. I said MAYBE

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I am fully aware that we're not in a court house. However, one example of a "bossy" woman becoming a teacher isn't exactly convincing. So perhaps the "maybe" ought to have been capitalised from the outset.

Gogogo12345 · 10/10/2024 17:14

BeatrizBoniface · 10/10/2024 16:16

So. One example constitutes evidence? Ok.

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We aren't in a courthouse lol. I said MAYBE

BeatrizBoniface · 10/10/2024 16:16

Gogogo12345 · 10/10/2024 08:13

Maybe it's that bossy arrogant people like to become teachers. A girl who was at school with my eldest DD was very like this. Also involved in the church youth clubs and used to like to pick on my younger DD ( because officially was 6 weeks young for the group) and this girl rule obsessed.

When she grew up she became a teacher. First in a private school then in China. Still bossy and arrogant to this day

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So. One example constitutes evidence? Ok.

BeatrizBoniface · 10/10/2024 16:14

Member869894 · 10/10/2024 13:38

Interesting. My experience of teachers is that they often act as they are the only people.who have stressful jobs.

That's not my experience. My experience is that they're undervalued public sector workers and an easy target for bashing on here.

howshouldibehave · 10/10/2024 14:02

but I don't think that they say please and thank you when talking to the kids!

Is that based on lesson observations you’ve done of staff?

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