AIBU to not want to teach because it would mean working with other teachers?

[cakeoclock]

Ok, my hard hat is on and I'm ready for the onslaught, but here goes! I had a great career before my DCs came along, I loved working and was good at my job. I worked in a great environment, had really good people working with me and we all got on in and out of work. Fast forward 4 years I have been and will be for the forseeable future a SAHM, I love it and will stay home until my lo goes to school at least. Afterwards I could stay home if I want to but lately I have been thinking about future careers. I wouldn't want to go back to my old role as I would never see my kids! So here's my problem, lots of people have suggested teaching and I would love to make a difference to kids, I think I have a lot to give and I am willing to put in the hard work, but there is one big problem, other teachers! First I should say my DH is a Deputy Head and I have lots of good friends who are teachers and when I tell them my worries they tend to agree! My oh worked abroad so we were in close quarters with the school and I have done voluntary work in a few schools and I have never come across such moaning, b&tchy people in any other setting. On their own all lovely people, get two together it's a nightmare. Seriously teachers talk about work on nights out, at people's parties, in the park, probably bed if they are married. My OH wouldn't but knows not to on pain of death! I know teachers take the p out of kids, parents and anyone else they feel like. Most have never worked out of a school setting so have no idea what the rest of the world are up to. So AIBU to not want to teach because I don't like teachers or should I bite the bullet and hide in the loos at lunchtime?

No, definitely not thread police.

Willfully misunderstand things and make an eejit of yourself all morning if you like.

There is a difference between getting paid, in my case, to be in school for 33 weeks a year, and holiday pay. Obviously, I am not expected to deliver my teaching role when the school is closed, and conversely I am expected to be there when it is open and functioning and cannot take holidays except when the school is closed.

I don't understand your last post.

Teachers have been moaning about how excessively hard their jobs are since as long as I can remember. Why would anyone choose to go into a profession when they know they will spend a lifetime complaining about it and feeling hard done by?

Migsy - it's because of the long paid holidays

Not all teachers are moaning about how hard done by they are. Some are very happy with their job, despite the hard aspects of it.
All jobs have positive and negative aspects. Teaching is no exception to that rule. Most people complain about negative aspects of their job from time to time. That includes teachers, and pretty much anyone else who has had a bad day at work and feels like slagging off their boss.
The OP clearly doesn't want to be a teacher and so she shouldn't, as she has started complaining about it in advance.

I agree that teachers tend to moan about their long hours and the hardship of their lives when other professions just get on with it.

I think the reason teachers mention their long hours at all is in response to so many people thinking we work 9-4 for thirty weeks of the year. If you call someone a skiver/part timer because they are a teacher and the teacher retaliates with the truth, they are accused of being tetchy and moaning about their long hours! People in other professions don't generally get this accusation in the first place.

Completely agree Appuskidu. I never mention my hours other than in defense of being told I work 9-3.

I don't feel hard done by in the slightest by my actual job, I get pissed off with the judgmental attitudes of people of have completely the wrong facts about my job. Thats what makes me comment upon it.

The thing is, everyone secretly thinks teaching must be Frightfully Easy And Any Problems Their Children Have Must Be The Fault Of The Teachers. (Well, most people think this. I don't, as it happens, but a lot of people do.)

Which must be quite galling for teachers.

(They think the same about journalists, obviously. We're also to blame for eating disorders and any ruck that breaks out on MN.)

soverylucky - I couldn't have said it better.

I'm a teacher, I don't mind the hours of preparation outside my working day (I see the holidays as recompense for that). I think I am well paid for the job that I do and appreciate the benefits that come with doing a rewarding job, e.g. pension. I only get mildly annoyed when people bang on about the '9-3' think and the long holidays (my usual response is to smile sweetly and enquire as to when they are going to be embarking on their PGCE - the response is usually something along the lines of 'Oh no, I could never do it myself').

However, OP I think it is quite sad really that you make your DH feel that he cannot talk about his work at all, how do you think that makes him feel? Although my DP might rib me in August for staying in bed whilst he has to get up at 5am, I would be really if my partner made me feel that way about my job rather than always telling people what I do in a proud way. How would you feel if your DH went around saying 'Oh, she's only a SAHM, I don't know what she does all day', rather than 'She's a super mum, I don't know how she does it'.

*thing

I don't think you would make a very good teacher- I didn't read beyond the first page but tbh I don't think you have the right qualities to be one.

I don't think anyone has actually said on here that teachers are lazy and work short hours.

YABU but you must know that.

Unless you happen to be teaching alongside my MIL in which case YADNBU and I would run for the hills. She's hell in disgustingly unflattering shoes Birkenstocks.

No Migsy, they haven't exactly said that although the OP did state that it might be a more family friendly career choice, which isn't usually how it really tends to work out.

Soverylucky, in fairness to almost all the other posters on the thread, those comments were made by the op in the first post. From what I've read, most other posters recognise that you get all sorts in all professions.

Everyone hates journalists even more, I have to point out. 'Are you a journalist' is frequently asked, in the tone of 'Are you a recidivist paedophile?'

And I am guessing you'd get maybe two of those questions a day, against about 20 anti-teacher threads.

Well, it's asked on quite a lot of threads . But yes, I take your point. We are quite loathed, though.

I think journalists get a tough time as well, but I would guess that fewer people think that they know exactly what being a journalist involves.

Could well be wrong, though.