Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
CurrySpice · 28/04/2011 20:11

Crikey I've only been a regular poster here a few weeks and this is the second "teachers are whining lazy arses" v "teachers work their fingers to the bone for a pittance" threads Shock

feralgirl · 28/04/2011 20:11

Sorry, not sure where all the random italics came from!

mitochondria · 28/04/2011 20:11

And now I must go and do some marking. Really.

feralgirl · 28/04/2011 20:12

Vixen I am Shock at you working during your lunch break! You know you don't have to do that? Union guidelines I believe...

mitochondria · 28/04/2011 20:12

CurrySpice there is much teacher bashing on Mumsnet. Not quite sure why.

Goblinchild · 28/04/2011 20:14

Stick around CurrySpice, there will be many more. Grin
It's the lack of variety and ideas for how to solve the problems that becomes tedious after a while.
I want what I was promised in the 70s, one teacher with a computer and 50 mini-borgs plugged into their learning units. It hurts to think that I was so mislead.

Honeybee79 · 28/04/2011 20:14

My DH is a teacher and works less than those hours. I don't know how he does it to be honest - either very very organised or has a very light timetable. Who knows. I would prefer that he spend more time at work than fucking around with his worthless car to be honest.

lynehamrose · 28/04/2011 20:14

Who thinks goodbyemrchips failed her Teacher training course? Or didn't get accepted on one in the first place? And has turned into a frustrated gossipy mum who resents other people who can hack a job?

Original poster
goodbyemrschips · 28/04/2011 20:15

My interest is an interest in life.

honeybee .....a car is never worthless that needs some work on...lol

OP posts:
Hulababy · 28/04/2011 20:16

No obstacles being ut in your way here.

If it is so easy and such an easy life, go for it. Go and get qualified and go and teach. Good luck to you.

I am qualified. I have taught. I did so for over 13 years. I am now not teaching.

Honeybee79 · 28/04/2011 20:17

MrsChips - he has worked on it all week at the expense of spending any time with me and DS. It is worth scrap and we need to buy a new one anyway. Frankly, I would prefer him to do some bloody lesson plans.

moonwakjer · 28/04/2011 20:18

Thank you to the teachers who replied - I always wondered what teachers did. I'm glad you both don't have to work your entire holidays! Smile

goodbyemrschips for what it is worth - I have consistently worked on average 8-7pm with 5 weeks holidays plus stats, and had to sometimes work during my precious holidays and yes I found it hard, especially when I worked the odd night to very late in the evening and had to be back at work. I wouldn't wish it on anyone (except perhaps low paid cleaners who sometimes do horrendous horrendous hours).

Are you wanting a medal for working 8-5pm? Lots of people would love a job at the moment, but I'm sure you know that.

echt · 28/04/2011 20:18

LooktoWindward not sure I've ever heard teachers compare themselves to doctors, lawyers and accountants. Indeed I have a problem saying teaching IS a profession like the ones mentioned. Teachers do not have the same levels of autonomy, self-regulation never mind pay or esteem, and those profession are not routinely blamed for society's ills as teaching is.

I have never heard a teacher say they work harder than others, only that they DO work hard; very hard.

As for whinging: you're right; they should all STFU, come out on strike, a real not-going-back-until we-get-what we-want one, to improve their lot, but that will never happen while the many unions vie to show how action should never affect children's education when they are there to represent their members' interests.

Original poster
goodbyemrschips · 28/04/2011 20:19

honey............oh dear .a car widow...Smile

OP posts:
feralgirl · 28/04/2011 20:19

I was just going to invite goodbyemrchips to come and spend a week with me in my school actually, seeing what the job is really like. Working with large groups of teenagers is not a job like "the rest" of the population so the job needs to be structured differently.

Honeybee79 · 28/04/2011 20:21

MrsChips - as I said to DH earlier, it's either going to end in divorce, murder or me torching the damn thing tonight.

alistron1 · 28/04/2011 20:21

Yes lots of teacher bashing/school bashing. It's pretty funny though. Some parents want schools to be all singing, dancing bastions of perfection at all times... but at the same time can't understand that such standards require a lot of work (i.e can't be achieved between 9 and 3 for 39 weeks of the year) and don't understand the contexts within which schools/teachers have to operate.

So we are meant to adapt to little Johnnys little quirks at the same time as meeting the needs of 29 other pupils, spotting SEN, being forgiving of lateness/term time holidays - but god forbid if we point out that 'we' (as in school staff) have to put in a lot of unpaid time to achieve this.

Most parents nowadays (well on reading forums) just see schools as child care and don't really understand what it takes to actually provide a rounded education.

Yes, all school staff are feckless, workshy bastards who can't spell. It's a caveat of any educational qualification.

alicatte · 28/04/2011 20:21

Perhaps I ought to add this link to the government website.

www.education.gov.uk/publications/RSG/AllPublications/Page1/DFE-RR096

The reality of education is partnership. The independent sector achieve well in the main and benefit enormously from committed parents.

diabolo · 28/04/2011 20:24

goodbyemrschips - looks like you are fighting a losing battle.

The NUT is alive and kicking. (and probably on strike soon 'cos the classrooms are too hot) Grin

alicatte · 28/04/2011 20:24

Obstacles

moonwakjer · 28/04/2011 20:25

I meant I always wondered what teachers did with childcare - not what they did full stop.

I assumed teachers with little ones would would have to pay for full time child care throughout the entire year, not just have child care during term time.

Original poster
goodbyemrschips · 28/04/2011 20:27

I do like a losing battle it inspires me.

OP posts:
alicatte · 28/04/2011 20:29

I apologise to lockets - I had not realised she had already made this correction. This was my fault for not reading through the thread.

spanieleyes · 28/04/2011 20:30

Obviously I'm going to have to cancel the school trip I have just finished the Risk Assesment for as it's going to take me outside my 9-5 hours, Oh, and cancel the 4 day residential trip I have booked in for next month as it's not going to be possible for me to be on duty with the children for the 84 hours straight that the trip entails, and whilt I'm at it, cancel the Whole school sleepover we are running this month to raise funds for the swimming pool, and I really shouldn't have run the Easter school revision course for the children as that was in my holiday time.
Hope none of the children mind!

BoneyBackJefferson · 28/04/2011 20:31

diabolo

"my DH teaches maths though is pretty high up in the pastoral side of things as well."

what hours does your DH teach?

If he has a light teaching timetable this will colour his view.

Swipe left for the next trending thread