To think that all parents should spend a day in the life of a teacher

[Ivortheengine8]

in the classroom [alone with a class of little brats sweety pies and see what little angels their children all are at school?
Do you think any parents would be surprised? Overwhelmed? Shocked?
well?

It depends.
When I used to teach, certain parents were a nightmare to have in as helpers. Explaining things incorrectly/ far too much info for a 5 yr old to get/ talking about themselves all the time/ Nosing around the place and acting like Ofsted. (These paintings are a bit messy. (Um, the children draw them - not me!) Interrupting me when I was teaching to ask Q's - this was OK mostly.

But the majority were fab of course. It was unlucky for me and them that more couldn't come in to see what we got up to.

As a teacher (currently on mat leave, not 'gossiping in the staffroom'), I wouldn't expect any parent to have to have experience of my job, or any other job for that matter. I know how hard my colleagues and I work, but I don't assume we work harder than any other profession. We do our best for our students and that can often mean working evenings, weekends and holidays; however it is our choice to be in this job and I don't expect sympathy. What I do expect is parental support. The hardest thing as a teacher is having your work undermined by parents who, for whatever reason, have a bee in their bonnet about teachers. We need to work together.

Great post journey.

mycatoscar so wish you were one of our teachers!

Haven't got any DCs in school yet, though the teachers at my erstwhile foster daughter's school were utterly, utterly fab.

However, if you really want to spend a day in the shoes of someone who works with children and is massively under-appreciated, try your local nursery. I can't believe that the staff at my local nursery are so poorly paid (although above average nationally) when you look at the training they have to go through and what they have to encounter on a daily basis.

I think one of the problems that's coming out on here a bit, is that the school day was created in a different era and the set-up is bound to create conflict between teachers and parents. There simply isn't enough hours in the day for teachers to fulfil the national curriculum demands and to nurture each and every child, no matter how good that teach is. Greater emphasis has been placed on tasks being carried out at home because that's the only way to make up for it and ultimately parents have to bear some responsibility for their children's education. However, now we're in an age where the SAHP is no longer in the majority and both parents working is, sometimes there just isn't the time to do all these tasks. Sometimes I feel the whole system needs a complete overhaul and the school day should be longer, but the only way to do that fairly would be to increase teacher's pay, which means tax rises, and then everyone prefers to do nothing but moan.

YABU. I have 6 teachers in my family and 4 close friends who are teachers. I know it's a togh job. I also spent 13 years in the classroom as a pupil so havee some idea of a teacher's role, unlike all bar one of my teaching friends and famly who have no experience of the commercial working life and its pressures.
if you think the grass is greener, change careers.

Only if the process is reversed as well. If my DS2's teacher spent a day at home looking after him (and him alone) and his needs she may pay a bit more respect to taking on board my knowledge about him and how things could happen more smoothly.

(ex teacher speaking!)

A fair number of home educators are ex teachers. They didnt want to put their kids through school!

My child is better behaved at school thah he is at home.

Guitar, I have already said above I am not a teacher here in the UK (I teach English as a Foreign language usually overseas) So yes I have taught classes of children and teenagers but obviously it's not the same as teaching here in the UK.

I don't want a medal for anything I do, but I would like to see teachers have a bit more power in their hands so children can actually learn in the classroom instead of being attacked or thrown abuse at.

I think maybe some of you are getting the wrong end of the stick.

What I meant by posting this (again I am NOT A TEACHER IN THE UK) was that I feel that a lot of parents seem to think their children are perfect in the eyes of other people and feel insulted when others suggest otherwise. I just meant that maybe it would open the PARENTS eyes a bit.

I am not talking about whether it's a difficult job or not.

Oh and for the sake of it, would I want a job teaching in the UK?
Certainly not!!
I know there are plenty of other professions that have it harder and are under more stress but I wasn't asking about them. Was I?

I think this is a great idea. I sat in on a friends lesson when I was considering doing a part time PCGE.

After seeing how he had to praise the kids for even the smallest contribution (guidelines from above), I gave up on the idea. They seemed to think kids are thick- they know when they are being patronised, and the whole culture think completely devalued any genuine praise.

That and teaching to a curriculum that is drawn up by idiots - no thank you.

I am work in a school and honestly you can understand why some kids are they way they are after speaking to the parents. Some parents don't seem to understand that actually no, your kid is a pain in the god damn arse and if you came and sat in the classroom for a day you might just might see that.

Cheryl, Do most Graduates do that before they star the PGCE?
I totally agree with the praise thing, give it where it is due!

Fimbo, exactly the point of the post.

Ivor - I've no idea. I was lucky enough that my mate just said come along and see what it's like. He's in a senior position so I guess all the red tape just disappeared!

I sat in on a couple of different classes (i.e. other teacher's too) and they were all the same - it completely did my head in!

So, Ivortheengine8, tell us - what are your kids like?

ummm no thats why we get you to look after teach them lol we KNOW what there like little tykes

Burning bridges - my child is 'different' she has been brought up properly and is very well behaved. She has excellent manners and always wins the best behviour prizes at school. She really is a remarkable little sweetheart. You would agree if you met her.

My dd is very well behaved and is complimented on it.

Ds is probably a bit more lazy in class but if the teacher told him to do something he would do it.

Also if a teacher came out and discussed either of their behaviour with me, I would be down on the pair of them like a tonne of bricks. I would not be making up excuses for them or blaming their behaviour on other children. I would work with the school.

You know for a moment there I almost thought you were leading to actually making a point - still, as they say, fool me once ....

You see the way I see it is that you are there to TEACH my children. I do the nutrition, manners, clothing, homework, blah blah blah. I do not want a teachers opinion on my childs personality at all. At the end of the day, I will be responsible for my child and you will hardly remember his name.

A teachers children are hers to worry about in respect of how they are raised, beliefs, manners, personality, etc Mine are mine to decide what I feel is right and wrong (as long as it doesnt impact other children and obviously Im not speaking about bullying, swearing, etc).

...and whats your point BB in asking in the first place?

I have had the day from hell today.

If any teachers want to come and do my job for a week they are more than welcome. At the moment I would kill for a break. Tomorrow will be another day and I will get stuck in again. I love my job, it's damn hard but it's what I choose to do.
If people aren't happy with the terms and conditions of the job they do they need to retrain and do something that makes them happy.