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?

A lot of the stress comes from working with children facing situations and experiences that break your heart though. Where you want to go and sort out their problems outside school and you can't.
But if you aren't emotionally involved, don't care much, it will be easier.

I never understand why people insist that teachers don't live in the 'real world'. What makes teaching so different from every other single job that means it's not 'real'?

SlackSally, it's because people see teachers as having loads of holidays (Christmas, Easter, summer, half-term etc) a shorter working day, being reasonably well paid, good pensions, and security of tenure - and yet teachers moan about their lot being so hard. Many workers in other jobs have far far worse working conditions and don't moan about it. It's also to do with the fact that many teachers have no experience outside of school/ college. For example my teacher has never worked in anything except teaching and yet teaches business and careers. What actually does she know about business, or other careers? Not slating her - but this is where the 'lack of real world' comes into it...

I used to think like this before I taught.

As a parent of a child in independent school where I have done a lot of voluntary work and spent a lot of time with the teachers int he past, and as a teacher and now TA in primary schools I can honestly say that there is very little difference between the teachers in both sectors.

Some parents who use the independent sector would like there to be - some like to "see what they are paying for" and will invent such differences ime. But reality is there is no difference in that aspect of the two systems ime. And I do talk as a parent who is extremely happy about their choice too, with axes to grind or reasons to boost up what they get. TBH it's rather niave to think there is!

But anyway cakeoclock - considering your DH is a teacher and you have lots of teacher friends you do seem rather unclear as to what the role of teacher would actually mean and how it would be impossible to do the job well without interacting fully with colleagues.

Loads of people in other jobs moan about their working conditions! It isn't just teachers. Also if all these other people think teaching is an easy job where you can knock off at half past three and have 12 weeks paid holiday doing no work then they always have the opportunity to become teachers themselves.

Holidays are unpaid

yeah but try telling that to non-teachers!

How are holidays unpaid?

I get an annual salary which is paid in 12 monthly installments.

If I were to leave my job in July, I would continue to get paid to the end of the summer holidays.

You are paid for the 39 weeks which you work, Mindthegapp. That's then divided by twelve, which is how you receive a monthly salary. You are not paid for the weeks you are on holiday.

You are paid for working the directed hours over the 195 days you are paid to work. Obviously there is also the extra work such as marking and preparation that you are expected to do in your own time. You get paid a certain amount per year for doing your job over those 195 days.
To make your life easier in August, that amount is divided by 12. I imagine, legally, the salary has to account for 5 weeks of paid holiday though.
It's like some people only get paid term time only (TAs perhaps?) but their salary is spread out so they don't have to budget for a no payday month in August.

However, although teachers are not techically paid to work in the school holidays, if you can find me a good teacher who can take the entire 12 weeks off with no marking, no going in to sort out class room equipment, no planning for the next half term etc etc then I will be amazed. (it does have to be a good teacher, not a lazy one)

Cross post!

You could use that argument for any job.

My husband gets about 6 weeks holiday, so he could say that he only gets paid for 46 weeks a year. But he doesn't. No idea why teachers think they should be different.

I get 19 weeks holiday per year, and consider that I am paid for them. I am still an employee of the school, even when I am not physically there.

It wasn't used in an argument.

I was just correcting an inaccuracy in a post.

You are not paid for your holidays, Mindthegappp. It's a fact.

facepalm

I sometimes despair for my profession.

So do I when I see posters who cannot follow the thread of a discussion - this is the second thread I've seen you divert with irrelevance this morning, mindthegappp.

It doesn't sound like you would be an asset to any school with your attitude. It's not that easy to just "become a teacher" either, a dreadful insult to the many teachers I know who have studied and trained hard. Maybe I should "become a doctor"!

BTW not a teacher - just a fan as had some great ones.

mindthegap

I don't understand why you would 'despair'?

I thought, like other posters here, that I was just responding to an earlier post.

Who put you in charge of the thread police, Feenie?

But Mindthegapp, it's a fact. If you are a teacher you must be aware of the directed hours and know these are all directed in term time only. We are not paid for the holidays, it's simple.

I don't really concern myself with directed hours, tbh.

My hubby has just had a chuckle when I told him he only gets paid for 46 weeks a year.

You dont need to be concerned but I would have thought you'd have an awareness of your contract.