Page 5 | AIBU to think that not being allowed to sit down whilst teaching is insane!

Purpleturtle46 · 12/10/2024 07:14

Supermummy88 · 11/10/2024 21:31

Good evening all,

I’m a head of department in a secondary school where the work load has become horrendous. We have a new senior assistant head and he has made some awful changes and has increased work load by about 50%. Last week he made a complaint that he saw a number of teachers sitting down during lessons and that it’s not acceptable and that we should not be sitting down at all during any stage of the lesson apart from doing the register. I physically can’t stand for hours, but he doesn’t seem to care and thinks that teachers are not doing their job properly unless they are consistently circulating the classroom. I’m very close to giving up teaching completely and finding another career and I feel this has given me more of a reason to just leave.

What do you all think about this?

Wonder how that will pan out when we are all being forced to work info late 60s!

sashh · 12/10/2024 07:00

I got this comment on my PGE. I'm disabled by arthritis.

Another student got the same comment, he is a wheelchair user.

rainfallpurevividcat · 12/10/2024 06:59

Ridiculous. Get your union onto it, OP.

Diomi · 12/10/2024 06:48

I do both but I ignore stuff like this because it is so obviously stupid. I have worked with loads of teachers and some sit down all the time, some move around a lot and others do a bit of both. It isn’t what makes a good or bad teacher and anyone who has been to school knows that.

MuffinDadoCappuccino · 12/10/2024 06:25

My mother in law taught early years for 25 years and was so passionate about education. One of the reasons she retired early was because she wasn’t allowed a chair. She was forced to sit on the floor at almost 60. She reached a point where she just couldn’t do it anymore. It’s ridiculous.

Itabsolutelyispossible · 12/10/2024 05:57

Ridiculous. Disability discrimination.

I am in awe of teachers. I work in the NHS which has its challenges but I could not do your job!

Hateam · 12/10/2024 05:55

The nation doesn't deserve good teachers.

peterrabbitontvagain · 12/10/2024 05:49

I'm in Scotland. There was a phase a few years ago when kids of teachers got rid of their desks. It was insane! I did not follow suit. They all have them back again now. I definitely sit when children are all busy and on task. Always available for help though. Walking around when you're not needed puts kids off and makes them think they should ask a pointless question just because you're there!

SageBlossomBunny · 12/10/2024 05:41

Yup the gulf between flexible hybrid jobs and the ultra controlling schools is growing bigger and bigger...

Its almost like senior staff need to justify their job so they nitpick at controlling teachers but it ultimately doesn't make for happy staff or happy students. So much is wrong about education currently.

I want out.

Bunnycat101 · 12/10/2024 04:49

I would hate that. I find it so odd that most workplaces are becoming more and more flexible and schools more and more draconian As a parent, I really have no objections to teachers being able to sit down. Surely your SLT is potentially going to get themselves into trouble re discrimination at some point either on grounds of disability or pregnancy.

Ambienteamber · 12/10/2024 00:51

Yeah that's absolutely nuts.
I had some great teachers and they just sat at the front of the class mostly. Sometimes got up to write on the board or look at someone's work.
Wtf has wandering about the classroom got to do with good teaching?

cherish123 · 12/10/2024 00:47

YANBU
I am a teacher and often sit down. Are you part of a union?

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 12/10/2024 00:28

I thought teachers stood up to get a better trajectory when throwing a board rubber.

Strawberrycheesecake7 · 12/10/2024 00:27

This was also the rule when I was teaching. I wasn’t even allowed to sit to do the register. I agree it’s ridiculous. A lot of the standards around teaching were in my opinion. It honestly felt like they were looking for things to criticise teachers for and came up with the most random things if they couldn’t think of anything important.

clopper · 12/10/2024 00:26

ABirdsEyeView · 11/10/2024 21:58

I think you have the right to teach as you see fit - every teacher has their own style, which they adapt according to the specific class. This is massively infantilising, the implication being that you don't know how best to do your job without them directing you at a detailed level!

This is one for the union imo - it's seriously overstepping and questioning your professionalism.

This . This micromanaging is driving good people out of teaching.

fridaynight1 · 12/10/2024 00:23

The only teacher that had my attention was the one who sat on their desk.

DifficultBloodyWoman · 12/10/2024 00:21

ABirdsEyeView · 11/10/2024 21:58

I think you have the right to teach as you see fit - every teacher has their own style, which they adapt according to the specific class. This is massively infantilising, the implication being that you don't know how best to do your job without them directing you at a detailed level!

This is one for the union imo - it's seriously overstepping and questioning your professionalism.

Please, please, please become part of the senior leadership team!

Every school needs more people with your attitude. Let teachers teach!

Sherrystrull · 12/10/2024 00:17

I wonder how much the senior assistant head stands up to teach during the day and how tone they spend sitting on a decent sized chair at a desk.

Copperoliverbear · 12/10/2024 00:13

The senior assistant is a prick.

Stradlater · 11/10/2024 23:26

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 11/10/2024 23:19

He's an absolute fucking idiot. I have a bad back atm. I can't even stand for a whole lesson, never mind all morning or all day. Astonishingly this has not suddenly made me into a worse teacher after 30 years in the classroom. What a wanker. We have an unpopular new Head, but even he wouldn't do that.

15-20 minutes is my limit. It’s why I’m getting out.

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 11/10/2024 23:19

He's an absolute fucking idiot. I have a bad back atm. I can't even stand for a whole lesson, never mind all morning or all day. Astonishingly this has not suddenly made me into a worse teacher after 30 years in the classroom. What a wanker. We have an unpopular new Head, but even he wouldn't do that.

noblegiraffe · 11/10/2024 23:19

Y9 bottom set - no way am I sitting down
Y13 further maths - they don't need me hovering over them the whole time

Your Ass Head is a twat.

BerryCakewell · 11/10/2024 23:14

SunnyHedgehog · 11/10/2024 21:55

It's the same at my secondary school, staff are told to be constantly circulating

Yep, the same for me in a couple of schools I’ve worked in. And if we did stop, we were supposed to stand (not sit) at the back of the class behind them as it’s “unnerving” and will help keep them on task because you can see them but they can’t see you.

Superhansrantowindsor · 11/10/2024 23:09

No way could I do a day like today on my feet all day. It’s ridiculous op. I’d ignore it. They won’t sack you for it.

Choochoo21 · 11/10/2024 22:37

I don’t understand how any teacher can sit for a length of time.

When I was teaching I was constantly moving around and didn’t have a chance to sit down, even if I wanted to.

One of the best teachers I know sits down the entire time though.

I’ve never seen her teach an entire lesson and have no idea how she manages it.
I guess it just comes with experience and confidence.

As a PP said, teachers all have different teaching styles and they should teach how they see fit.
The results speak for themselves.

The head seems more interested in people appearing busy, rather than actually being a good teacher.