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?

'As you are so determined to find out I worked in corporate policy for a multinational. Happy?'

So not in a caring profession, or something that required exceptional people skills and an ability to adapt, compromise and negotiate with vulnerable individuals?
Or build close relationships on an individual basis?

Corporate policy for a multinational.
Yes, that is enough of an answer for me.
Thank you.

Riverside, whereever you are, there is always sense...

Oh Cupof typical teacher and bully aren't you. Those who can't take it shouldn't give it - first rule of the playground darling!

I don't think yabu for not wanting to work with other teachers (I'm one!). I think YABVVVVVU to consider taking up teaching as a profession just because it fits in with your lifestyle. It really pisses me off when people reach a certain age and think, "Hmm, what shall I do? I know, I'll teach! How hard can it be?"

Actually totally wrong sorry my role was very much based on equalities and making sure positive impact was made on communities. Which meant working with, wait for it, communities, community groups, kids, religious orgs and many more. Judge on a title much?

Hopefully in prviate schools teachers do not use the same kinds of words. I have noticed a big difference. I have talked to a few teachers including a headmaster in the state system and the tyhpe of words he used, swear words and poor grammar, never mind the awful accent, made me very glad I pay school fees to avoid that.

However in general we want good teachers and at the moment there is a glut and that is great. There is a huge problem of sacking those who are useless however. It is much less common to sack a teacher than a useless worker in industry. We never seem able to resolve that.

Some teachers get on a bity of a power kick and you can see it in the personalities of many . Low paid, fairly low entry requirement and feel they are a God because they are in charge of the class etc. It has always either attracted that type or made them so but that's fine. You want them to be in charge of the class, not settinig out their deficiencies to the children. We are lucky to have them.

I never swear by the way in or out of school. My mother (a teacher) said it was a sign of a limited vocabulary and I think she's right.

I never said teaching was easy!

MIW, I'm sitting in my garden wearing an ancient pair of shorts and a slogan T shirt. I also have a rather large glass of alcohol to hand.
I'm not setting an example or moulding the young adults of tomorrow, it's my day off.
So to assume that someone who swears online will do the same at work is a little strange.
I don't wear these clothes or drink booze when working.

Have you considered getting into local politics instead OP?
You could make an impact on your local community or spread your talents further afield. You seem to have the skills required to make it as a politician.

So you're a careers advisor now? Thanks but no thanks

One does what one can with the material available.

?

Low entry requirement?? It is hard to get on a pgce without a 2:1 these days, especially for primary teaching and especially in a good university. I did mine ten years ago and even then the course I was on (not primary, it was a secondary shortage subject) would not accept anyone with a third and the majority of students had a 2:1 or above.

LOL! I love this post Cakeoclock. You are not alone in your opinions. I think your potential future colleagues would drive you crazy. Can you work as a TA for a while and see how you find it?

@Xenia
however in general we want good teachers and at the moment there is a glut and that is great. There is a huge problem of sacking those who are useless however. It is much less common to sack a teacher than a useless worker in industry. We never seem able to resolve that

I'm in my 21st year in teaching and run a core Faculty in a large Secondary ... your words are so true.

I tutored two excellent PGCE students last year, and employed one of them, who is now doing well in his NQT year, aged 36, having worked in the City. There is indeed a glut of trainees with excellent potential and I would love to see increased ability by SLT/CCs to weed out the dead wood / underperformers to allow us to recruit more career changers.

@ the OP, if you're for real, we're doing fine without you thanks, check the TES Unemployed/Supply boards for lack of work, I'm sure your 'talents and experience' will be in high demand in a more suitable environment !

I would add, to all those of you who seem to think that private schools have the 'best teachers', this is really not the case, most of my State colleagues knock spots off the private dinosaurs !

Someone has suggested teaching because n your old job you'd never see your kids? So teachers do

Haaahahahahahahahahahhaahahaha!

Yeah, right.

Good one.

OP, a very provocative post. You must have realised you'd get flamed, right?

However, I do actually agree with you on some points. Teachers do 'talk shop' more than any other profession I know - and some teacher friends of mine seem to think I'm interested in hearing them constantly talking about their work outside of work (I'm not - it's dull. And I'm a teacher).

Secondly, 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 know many teachers who have never 'lived in the real world' - i.e. have gone from school to college straight back into school - and thus have little notion of what other jobs are like. One teacher had the nerve to tell my DH that teaching was 'the most stressful job there is'. Not realising the stresses he is under in a completely different metier. Of course, not all teachers are that naive - but it is a mindset.

From everything you've said, I'm not sure it's the job for you tbh.

Ha! Please don't train to teach - I'd hate to work alongside someone like you. It's also a very collegiate profession so I think you'd struggle, tbh.

Mamamary, I would say the endless "talking shop" is a symptom of the kind of stress teachers are under - living their job, feeling it is never done, not being able to detach etc.
What the most stressful job is is hardly objective is it, who's ever going to agree about that?

I agree it is a stressful job but I can assure you small business owners looking for work in this climate with other people relying on them to provide a wage each month are under immense stress as are many other professions.

Iggi, perhaps you're right. But does endless talking about work actually help them? I personally find it pretty boring - I'm interested in life beyond school and would rather talk about that when I get a chance.

The comment about it being the most stressful job was unfortunate I agree. It has its stresses certainly, but many jobs are more stressful and far less secure.

But I don't sense any real enthusiasm for teaching from cakeoclock, as others have said.

Ah the black humor in our staff room is ace. Listening to us you'd think we all wanted to eat the kids. However, that's the staff room, when we are with the kids is when you see the reason why we actually do our jobs. You'd also see the situations that cause the need for the black humor.

I think the reason we become so defensive about our profession is because there is so much vitriol towards us, it is also a political topic that demands discussion on many an occassion. There aren't a huge amount of other jobs that are so prominent in everyones lives, if you have children, you will be involved with teachers. Everyone has an opinion based on their own experience and people tend to generalise massively about the profession.

OP, if you don't want to work with teachers, then don't teach because they are the people that will be your support network. You will, beyond doubt, need that support on many, many occasions.

Oh, and I have worked in the 'real world' too.