Teachers : what's the worst thing about the job now?

What is this imaginary world in which I live and work??

Then why open the thread knowing what the title was? Other than to be a GF?

Those are rookie numbers 😁 In myy last class of 33, 19 had EHCPs and another 5 had parents that were pushing for them. I had five TAs, four were 1-2-1s due to one disability and 3 severe behavioural issues. In that class were a couple of runners, a child who would harm themselves with anything they could get hold of if you took your eyes off them for more than a split second, one that would do the same but to other people, one whose speciality was spitting directly into the faces of staff, and one who enjoyed hurling chairs and tables at the windows and other children.

They were 7-8 year olds.

That was a fun year.

And you can report the post, I don’t care, you can still fuck off

People who make comments like this are generally the people who would be rocking back and forth in a corner by lunchtime should they decide to try teaching for a day 🤣

When Bob was in y8, mummy said I picked on him because I kept putting him in detention for not doing homework, which is the policy. I have it in writing that he's not to get detentions.

Okay, mum and head of year, as you wish.

Bob starts his GCSEs soon, Mum is now very worried. I have resisted pointing out that the chickens are coming home to roost.

If Bob bothers to do his work, I mark it. If he asks for help, I give it. I offer help. I am totally professional.

But he will pass or fail as a consequence of his choices.

Are you leaving teaching completely or just your school?

Workload, behaviour, lack of parental support. I gave a child a detention for drinking in the science lab after being asked not to. It’s basic safety. Parent got in touch wanting my side of the story. Child told them he didn’t have a drink… apparently a few sips doesn’t count. Another child, drinking in science lab after having been allowed out to have a drink 10 minutes earlier. Given a detention. Parent gets in touch and I am told that the child will not be coming to the detention… as we only had books out and not chemicals the parents view was that it was not an issue. As the teacher I am ultimately responsible for the safety of all the children in the lab. Happy to say I’m not out of teaching.

As per usual teachers moning about their workload, some of my family are teachers, straight out of Uni into teaching no idea how the real world works.

Don't forget that come September once the results are in (not quite fully cos the SLT haven't had time to fiddle with them yet for the website),
You will have to write a report on what you did for Bob and his mates that fucked up their grades and tried to fuck up others grades, to prove that you actually did what you said that you did so that you don't get put on an improvement plan.

Screens, or more to the point the impact of screens on behaviour, focus and concentration.

Complete lack of resilience from both pupils and parents.

The parents, without a doubt. From whom stems the behavioural issues.

What breaks me the most is the ones who want to be in school, they want to learn, they enjoy learning and are desparate for more, but they can't learn because of the ridiculously high levels of SEN and behaviour issues.

Teaching now is 80% crowd control, 19% dealing with parents and 1% actually teaching.

24 years in. Secondary ebac subject.
I agree behaviour.
And I’m lucky. In an inner city school with high deprivation, but an excellent SLT, lots of support, not a blame culture etc. So the behaviour is more a sad thing, because it’s not getting any better and there not a lot we can do, rather than ‘I’m getting blamed for the behaviour’ like some shit shows I’ve worked in.

Love teaching but hate ‘edutwitter’ culture, many MATs (scandals waiting to happen) and having to listen to self styled gurus (usually idiots) who are being paid for by said MATs

What’s your overall experience teaching in such an area?

Bob is very welcome to do one... but no one wants Bob.

I have a reputation for being a Bob whisperer. My strategy is to absolutely unequivocally communicate that I can and will let them fail. Or they can work with me.

I'm absolutely appalled by this thread. My youngest child left school 12 years ago but I'm now caring for my 4 year old reception class granddaughter so back in the education system and have noticed the difference in just 12 years.

Direct email access to teachers was the first thing and then the teacher trying to get kids into school but prevented from doing so by neurotic attention seeking parents all needing a word at 8.20 in the morning.

Don't get me started on the parents bloody WhatsApp group. That's just a frenzy of fretting and worrying about issues that are minor (in my 60 year old eyes). It's micro management of children, their feelings, picking their friends etc. All things a 4/5 year old should be navigating for themselves because it's how they learn and grow and develop their own resilience.

Most shocking was learning that in a Class of 25 children there is one teacher and four TAs because 3 children are non verbal and one is SEN.

I'm full of admiration for teachers. I'm still in awe of how a child is taught to read and write. Her little hand writing her own name and sounding out phonics. It's miraculous and we have only done one full term.

Keep going if you can, we need you.

If anyone is this stressed / overwhelmed / discouraged by their work, then their annual leave entitlements are irrelevant…🫤

I've been teaching a core subject for 15 years and still love it.

I do think the training for new teachers seems inadequate and a small minority of my colleagues only want to teach the high achieving and compliant ones.

I think better training and more SEN training would help all teachers.

This absolute fuckwittery.

Bob is going to fail his GCSEs because he's choosing to communicate that he's an absolute asshat in numerous ways. I have been communicating this up the line since the start of year ten.

No I will not give up my breaks and lunchtimes to "support him". He can try paying attention and doing the work.

No I can't "give him some revision materials". He has been given a gazillion and done fuck all with them.

My behaviour should now be communicating that failing his GCSEs is his choice.