Do any teachers still enjoy teaching?

[Gooseybby]

I come from a family of teachers and know many more in my social circle - they are uniformly negative about it/always off with stress.

I always avoided it like the plague, but now thinking of retraining.....is this stupid? Or is there anyone out there finding it enjoyable/a decent career?

I've been doing it for 37 years and counting. I hated the closure and couldn't wait to get back into the classroom again! I teach the best subject (History) which is so interesting. Working with young people is brilliant, they are funny, engaging, curious - yes, also stroppy and difficult but hey. I loathe doing data and can't believe some people spend their working day in front of a screen. Shudder. Each to their own, though!

Me!

I love it. I work hard during term time but enjoy the holidays off with my 2
young dcs, which is a massive draw for me, although I do have a bit work work to do around then time of both summer results days and just before going back.

I am a HoD of a core department in large secondary school and also have other whole school responsibilities.

I am disciplined with workload and find it manageable, but the first few years when you are planning everything from scratch is hard going, or when a specification changes.

Finding a supportive school is key. You do hear some horror stories.

Teaching tends to attract perfectionists and martyrs tho, hence the moaning.

20 years in, I love it! Secondary English teacher - working with teenagers is wonderful, I couldn't think of anything I'd rather do all day even when they're being stroppy or fighting I'd hate primary though (shudder)

I am in my 22nd year in the classroom and, mostly, still live it. The teaching bit, the bit in the classroom is still great and I live the children I teach. Yes, the curriculum is not really fit for purpose anymore and we have a lot of hoops to jump through, but there are still ways of making it fun, interesting and relevant.
I think it does matter on the leadership within the school. Mine try hard to constantly be aware of work/life balance, allow staff time to enjoy those important moments with own families (assemblies, graduations etc) as they are aware of how much we give to the children we teach.
Yes it can be stressful, but many jobs are. I didn’t start until I was 26 so have tried other jobs but have taught around the world and wherever I have lived, a bad day in the classroom still beats an okay day in the office.
And there are a lot more good days than bad days!
Yes, there’s crazy amounts of stuff to be done outside the classroom but, with good management and a good team, it can be manageable.
It also requires a fabulously supportive partner at home (mine is the son of a teacher and the brother of a teacher) and a recognition that you find time in ‘all those holidays’ to really give to your own children!
I joke about doing something else ‘when I grow up’ but really can’t imagine doing anything else that would bring such satisfaction and joy (a lot of the time!)

The actual teaching is the best part... it’s all the other bits people don’t like

I love it, but I'm in Special Needs which is infinitely better than mainstream to work in (imo).

Love it. Started in 1996.

Helps to have a thick skin and the right school.

I love it. 22 years secondary English.
It's hard and it can absolutely be the worst job in the world, but it's also the best.
Teachers change lives every day. It's a huge privilege.

Yes, when the focus is on Teaching and Learning - there's no better job (IMO!)
God knows how long away that is :(

I love it most of the time. The time with the kids is the best bit by far. My subject has really changed because of COVID so it's a big change at the moment-I miss the side of my subject I cannot do at the moment as it's the best bit and the bit the kids love the most. Since I started teaching the fun bit has got squeezed with new initiatives and pseudopedagogy which bores the life out of me as does data collection and analysis- my subject does not sit well with it. Still, I try to ignore all the dull stuff.

Ordinarily yes. At the moment I’m not enjoying it, for obvious reasons. Ironically, I have got brilliant classes this year, so it would have been an amazing year teaching them if things were normal. I also have a great staff that I manage. Love my form. I just want to be back in my classroom, to be organised, to be a department in our rooms with all our things where they should be. To mix in the staffroom again. I’m in a great school, with good SLT, nice kids and friends as colleagues. It really does depend where you work too!

@reefedsail what makes it better in your experience? I'm contemplating a career change and your post reminded me of a friend who said the same when we discussed teaching.

I love teaching. Absolutely love going into work...... The shit that comes alongside it which feels like you're working two jobs, not so much

37 years in, I still love it.
Yes, there are really, REALLY annoying and infuriating aspects of the job.
Yes, the proportion of really annoying and infuriating aspects has grown over the years.
Yes, there are - and always have been - bad days and bad weeks.
Yes, some children can be very challenging, as can some parents. And some colleagues.
But I laugh every day.
I am surprised every day.
I get completely absorbed every day.
I use every part of me - brain, creativity, empathy, emotional intelligence etc evey day.
The kids are enthusiastic, funny, original, predictable, contrary, exasperating, curious, exciting and excitable and often a joy to spend time with.
And I actually see the difference I make, and/or the differnce I support the kids to make for themselves.
I still love it.

I love it too, fifteen years in. Like a pp I had other jobs and careers so have something to compare it to. I love being around the kids-they make me laugh every day. And I know I’ve had a hugely positive impact on some of them (actually, lots of them) because they tell me. It was really really hard when dc were pre school
And I had a shite manager. Leadership is everything.
I have a fabulous head and brilliant dept head now.

Not really. My job used to be about teaching people new skills, but now it’s all about meeting targets and maintaining good stats regardless of what it takes. I can’t wait to get away from this profession. It makes me sad to see what it has become.

I love it now that I'm in the right school.

Not enjoying it at the moment though

Absolutely love it. Love the kids. Love work

I love it. I couldn't imagine doing anything else...

I enjoy it, but I am very part time, teach MFL to one adult class and to a bunch of primary school classes across several schools, which is very nice. I go in, teach, then leave. No further responsibilities! I am always on the lookout for a ft secondary school job for financial reasons, but I really don't want to do it.

Re people saying it's now all about targets/data/assessment etc....I'm confused by this.

I started teaching in 2007 and it was a nightmare with all of the above.....flights land, APP grids, NC levels and sub levels, triple marking bollocks, alongside faddy stuff like VAK, "facilitating", prescribed amount of teacher talk etc.

This has largely gone. No prescribed marking methods, whole class feedback, simpler, more direct instructions. I am also a fan of what the much maligned Gove reforms did for my subject.....ducks

Yep. Still love it. Even now.

I am not a teacher but I know a few primary and secondary. The secondary ones are happier.
I know several people who have started primary teaching and have moved onto other careers after a short few years.

Its a hard job. Maybe secondary is more enjoyable as you get to teach a specific subject which I would assume you have an interest in. Like a PP mentions history

I am also a fan of what the much maligned Gove reforms did for my subject.....ducks

Christ - hope you've got a tin hat at the ready!