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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

aibu to think teachers should

295 replies

goodbyemrschips · 28/04/2011 08:26

to think teachers should work like the rest of us.

Just have 5-6 weeks of a year and work 8-5 mon to fri.

If this happened then they would get all the time they needed to set up lessons and teacher train etc during the time the kids were on holiday.

[this is inspired by another thread]

OP posts:
SE13Mummy · 28/04/2011 14:01

Oooh, I like this revamp idea... no assessment needed (it would be pointless because we'd sort out lessons a year in advance regardless of who was on the receiving end, prior knowledge, actual understanding etc.), no marking (pointless for the same reasons), the chance to leave work before 6pm, no need to take account of random Government announcements part-way through the year about how we should change what we're doing, the flexibility to have occasional long weekends/book holiday at cheaper times, be paid over-time for everything we do outside of 8-5.

I'm in!

I'm not sure what parents would have to say about their children's work never being marked, the work not being tailored to their needs, the school's assessment data not being collated/analysed/used to improve teaching, the random days off, the same lesson being delivered daily from September to July.

Never mind.

pineapple70 · 28/04/2011 15:09

BORING!!
Heard it all before.
Am on Mat leave, but usually do 7.45 - 6 every day, come in during holidays and spend Sunday afternoon planning.
I did a 9-5 job for a couple of years and was totally happy with 5 wks holiday - didn't feel like I needed more. When teaching, you just get so tired. Students who come in have often heard the same crap that OP came out with - my God do they get a shock.

Having said that, it's the most rewarding job there is...

Don't believe all the teachers on here???

Come and have a go...
...if you think yer hard enough!!!

Original poster
goodbyemrschips · 28/04/2011 18:51

Sorry I have been to the beach all day.

Well it is really no point me saying anything else because you are mostly all singing from the same hymn sheet.

Suffice to say I do know a couple teachers and a headmaster and they seem to have it sussed.

The head and one teacher I know does not leave for work until 8.30 and the drive is about 15 mins and they are home at about 3.45 and then off to play golf four nights a week.

I suppose maybe they come home and work til 3am but I doubt it.

The head told me once '' it is all about organizing, some people do it well some don't'' and I totally agree with him.

Please end the thread cause I am sure you all have essays to mark.

OP posts:
NinkyNonker · 28/04/2011 18:58

No response to any of the points raised about how unworkable it would be then? Like I said, I'd be all up for your idea if you can get round them.

Ps: I organise very well, most do. I just don't work right now. Grin It was vital in my previous life, working for a Big 4 firm and sitting on the Board of another.

diabolo · 28/04/2011 18:59

I work in a school (admin) and have done for many years.

I acknowledge that some of our teachers work 10 or 12 hours a day, most weeks of the year, however, a significant number of them are out of the door the minute that the final bell rings at 3.20pm - every day.

A number of them take 8 days off sick per year, because "that's what everybody else does". (It isn't of course, just the lazy ones)

Some of the teachers spend their non-contact / lesson planning time, on Facebook, or in their e-mails, or doing their on-line shopping.

I don't want to offend the hard-working teachers on MN, but there surely are, in every school, teachers who really do not pull their weight, and little or nothing is ever done about it?

wotnochocs · 28/04/2011 19:01

You know, none of the teachers I know IRL work anything like the amount of time those on MNsclaim to do.

clam · 28/04/2011 19:03

There are shirkers in any profession, mrschips.
I just don't know any.

NinkyNonker · 28/04/2011 19:03

I'm sure there are, as there are in all professions/jobs. But equally, those teachers will still have to plan, mark etc...so it will be happening at some point. It also doesn't answer the OP, nor is it really relevant to the question of how the whole profession works.

But I must say, every school I have worked in has net mails, Facebook etc etc banned, so your school must be very modern!

coccyx · 28/04/2011 19:04

if its such a doddle then best you become a teacher

Original poster
goodbyemrschips · 28/04/2011 19:05

diabolo.....now we are getting somewhere towards the truth..........

OP posts:
Panzee · 28/04/2011 19:05

YANBU. I would love this. I only get paid for 1265 hours a year. I'd like to get paid for 2115. £50k pa for me that would be: kerching!

diabolo · 28/04/2011 19:05

Ninky - Facebook is only banned for students where I work, not in the staff room.

mitochondria · 28/04/2011 19:06

I'd go for it. If you could guarantee me no work after 5, weekends off, five weeks complete holiday with nothing to plan or mark in that time - sounds great!

Diabolo - I leave school as soon as the bell goes. I get home and spend time with my family. I do my marking and planning later on, at home. Just because we're not on the premises doesn't mean we're not working.

LadyClariceCannockMonty · 28/04/2011 19:06

My dad is a teacher and I can't stand this myth that he/all teachers have an easy ride as they 'only work school hours and have long holidays'. He has always worked in the holidays (sometimes at home, sometimes going in to school, sometimes meeting with colleagues elsewhere). He has always started at 8 at the latest, usually earlier, and finished no earlier than 7 and often later, usually bringing work home for the evening. He has regularly worked weekends too.

Not to mention the actual job is difficult, increasingly threatened by ridiculous paperwork and box-ticking bureaucracy, and undervalued.

I appreciate there are some poor teachers out there, but good ones like my dad are worth their weight in gold and should be appreciated and supported much more.

wotnochocs · 28/04/2011 19:07

maybe they are just more effiicient Lady Clarice

diabolo · 28/04/2011 19:07

Ninky - I am really not having a go at ALL teachers, some are inspirational, but it seems to be the final profession that simply cannot stand any criticism.

Stick up for good teachers by all means, but some people really do go into it for the wrong reasons.

Original poster
goodbyemrschips · 28/04/2011 19:07

I am back to the beach now so carry on and don't forget your homework.

OP posts:
LookToWindward · 28/04/2011 19:08

My DH is a teacher and YANBU.

As a "late entrant" to the profession (coming from a very high pressure job in IT and finance) he's of the opinion most teachers don't realise how good they have it. Most wouldn't last five minutes in a professional private sector job.

Certainly some of his colleagues put the hours in as described above. He says they're either not very bright or ""marytrs to the cause".

exoticfruits · 28/04/2011 19:09

I can assure you they do wotnochocs-or I would still be doing it. I would have stayed with hours suggested by OP. Also it would be lovely to be like the rest of the workforce and choose your holiday time.
Some parents would never realise how much teachers do unless they stopped! How do you know that those leaving early aren't doing all the work at home? How do you know what they do in non-contact time?

elphabadefiesgravity · 28/04/2011 19:09

I honestly can not beleive that a headteacher only works the hours described by Mrschips.

It is just not possible. The school must be absolutely appalling.

A friend has just had a promotion to deputy head and whilst she is loving the challenge (its her first week so still rose tinted specs) her hours have zoomed up

exoticfruits · 28/04/2011 19:09

Your DH isn't a primary teacher LookToWindward.

exoticfruits · 28/04/2011 19:10

Primary schools can't get Head teachers-no one wants the hours.

mummytime · 28/04/2011 19:11

When I was doing teacher training, in two large schools, no teacher's came in after 8:15 and left by 4:00. In PPA time they were all preparing work, at leat 80% of the time. Everyone needs some down time and actually you would be amazed how often they included that funny youtube clip into their lessons. Most teachers worked at least 8 to 5:30, and would also come in in the morning having one something during the evening. Most came in at least sometime during the vacations too. As well as getting involved in extra-curricula activites.

As a parent I have been phoned by teachers at any time between 8 to 7/8 in the evening in response to my phone calls.

diabolo · 28/04/2011 19:13

exotic - to answer your question, I know what they do in non-contact / lesson prep time as they are in the staff room - where I work all day. All the PC's are lined up in a row, so it's fairly easy to see what's going on.

exoticfruits · 28/04/2011 19:15

Is this secondary or primary diabolo? Is it a 'good' school?