Should I quit my teaching job?

[Emptytreeswhisper]

Ten years teaching. I have been battling with this for at least 5 years. I absolutely love the classroom and the children. I'm part time so my planning workload is actually fine. Most of my colleagues are lovely.

But. I hate my boss. I have had to get the union involved over various things. I am autistic and she cannot understand why I might find some things (like talking in person) more difficult than others do.
Other things:
My job share teacher is quite bossy and sometimes i feel like a supply teacher in my own classroom!
I hate subject leadership.
I hate leading assemblies.
I hate organising and leading trips.
I hate the paperwork for SEN and the interventions we are under pressure to do.
I hate the negativity and nitpicking.

Basically my job is two sides of a coin - one I hate and one I love. So i find it very hard to pull the trigger and leave. What would you do?

I’d leave. The list of things you hate is quite substantial.

Run for the hills and never look back!

Try a different school. I nearly left teaching for good, then tried one more school and enjoy it again. SLT can make or break it!

I’d suggest a different school or another job working with children but not necessarily teaching (but it won’t pay as much). You could consider an alternative provision such as a Forest School but not many jobs will come up in niche settings.

It sounds as if you would be better suited to a TA job, in a different school. Most teachers dislike the paperwork, and consider things like trips and Assemblies part of the fun side of the job, while the SEN stuff is vital for many pupils
There is an awful lot of stress in a teaching job, so if you don't enjoy the job leave.

I must admit I can't understand what made you think that teaching would be a good career for someone who doesn't like talking to people.

Talking to people is the absolute core skill of the job.

Consider working in FE, the pay is worse but the marking and stress is less too

You could try a different school where the SM team may be more accepting of your autistic traits. I used to work at a school where you could trade an assembly for a few lunch duties if you could find someone else who didn't mind doing it. I used to love doing assembly and often traded a whole week of lunch duties to do an extra one.

Try tutoring. I've left teaching to do private tuition. Get to teach my subject and work with kids still but without SLT, no meetings, no assemblies, be your own boss and run it how you like.

BUT the kids and the classroom are SO good and enjoyable!

But I do enjoy what I consider the main part of the job - the 5 hours I spend in the classroom each day. It's fantastic. And the planning/marking is all good.

It's just all the extras.

Maybe it’s the 10 year itch?.. I’m feeling the same, I’m 9 years in, part time as have young kids. The dread to go back this week is awful. I realise what a different person I am when I’m not constantly thinking of things I need to do, deadlines, lessons etc…

Teaching is not for you…the list of things you hate, are just standard parts of the job and you can’t not do them!

If it was just that she hated her boss, or her partner teacher, I’d agree with you. But she hates practically every aspect of teaching! A new school won’t make those things disappear 🤷‍♀️

You should leave. Children deserve good competent teachers not those who hate being there.

We all have parts of our job we don’t enjoy I’m afraid- it just depends which way the overall balance tips for you.

If you did quit, you’d likely end up in another job where you had to either do some element of paperwork and/or talk to people.

How about supply teaching?
The parts of the job you dislike are key to the role of an employed teacher.

I agree that supply teaching could be a good option for you. Maybe give it a go?

That’s a disgusting comment. She has been very clear she enjoys the children and spending time teaching. At the end of the day, that’s the part the children will remember.

The tasks you describe as "extras" are intrinsic to the job. You could move schools to change heads but the job will be the same. Look for something else.

I retired about nine years ago. Early retirement as I had enough. I contemplated doing something else but I loved the classroom. I signed up to be a supply teacher and I love it. I have been fortunate to have guaranteed days some years and not the next. I only teach KS1 and I never get early morning calls as I prefer to know in advance.
if you can afford to do supply then I suggest you go for it. You might be able to find maternity cover or long term sick where you do not have to take on planning etc.
Supply gives you a great insight into different schools and you may well find one that you like that likes you and hey presto a new opportunity.
Good luck with whatever you decide.

Hear hear! Bring on those excellent, dedicated teachers who love negativity and nitpicking!

Have you tried another school? I'm a neurodivergent teacher and I now research autistic teachers - a common theme that comes up in participant interviews is that specialist provision schools seem to be more understanding of autistic staff.

Teachers who love the classroom and the children after 10 years are meant to teach.

I would also suggest supply teaching in order to get a good look around other schools. If you find a few that you feel would suit you better, then lean into getting a permanent job in one.

Yes you clearly aren’t meant to be a teacher.