To think that teaching is one of the most undervalued jobs in our society?

[toptramp]

I know you will all tell me off for starting a thread about a thread but tough.

Most people have something negative to say about teachers; the holidays are too long and paid and then we have training days but honestly; most people when I tell them that I am a teacher say; "Oh I couldn't do that with all those teenagers" . Well stop bloody moaning then!

And also I have never once heard anyone say "thank you so much for educating and looking after our kids and providing them with a future." Rant over. Lack of parental support is one reason why the education system in this country needs help.

Oh yeah and the pay aint all that either. i love my job but if we had to work through the holidays there's be no bloody teachers left!

I sorry.

'And also I have never once heard anyone say "thank you so much for educating and looking after our kids and providing them with a future."

Over the years, I've heard that a lot IRL and I get updates on how ex-pupils are doing from them and parents.
There are a lot of lovely people out there, as there are fantastic marriages and relationships. But on MN, you only hear the negative bits, people post to rant and froth. I think teachers and male partners come in for many of the same sorts of complaints.

Could that not have all been posted on the other thread?

There are some great teachers out there, there are some shit teachers out there. Some make a massive difference (most of them!) but some make less of a difference.

I think that people should just be bloody grateful that someone cares enough to try to educate their little darlings. Where would you all be without teachers? If we went on a massive strike for a month there would be carnage. Most teachers have been through a rigorous training programme and if they are shite they don't pass.

Well why do people begrudge them holidays then? What are we supposed to do if there are no kids in a classroom? Or mabe parents don't want their kids to have holidays. They do tend to find them tough which tells me taht if most people can't bear having their own kids around 24/7 then imagine what it's like looking after 30 of them! Not that I'm moaning as I love my job, my sucject, the kids and I do love my holidays!

No I don't think its under valued either. Street sweepers, bin men, hospital cleaners, office cleaners, sewer men they are under valued

Why not just read the other thread on the matter? People have explained there views once already so I doubt most will repeat it on another thread when one is still going strong.

And reading that thread would show on the whole your barking up the wrong tree as most are defending teachers

Having taught in a few countries this is the only one I have come across where school staff are belittled and and slated constantly by people who don't know them and only have a general (and often misguided) opinion of what their job involves. Overseas the role is respected and valued but here it is something to be criticised even though it is perhaps one of the most influential jobs there is. Very, very sad.

Well why do people begrudge them holidays then?

I suppose some people are just jeaous.

I suppose some others don't so much begrudge them as think that the holidays offset the extra work required outside normal hours so the teachers shouldn't complain about their workload.

I think that some non-teachers thing that teaching is a cushy number, when it's clearly not.

I think that some teachers think that non-teachers jobs are cushy, when a lot clearly aren't.

Personally, I couldn't be a teacher regardless of how many holidays or how much pay they do (or don't) get as I know I couldn't handle a classroom full of kids. Good luck to those who can.

Oh god. Is there another thread?

No. I don't agree.
I don't know any profession where people spontaneously get thanked for doing their job. I also don't know another job where your 'customers' bring you in gifts at Easter and Christmas and three times a year (end of term)

I think teachers are bloody fantastic. I think they do a great job. I think they should get more money and more support.

I hate that arses post nasty stuff and make them defend thensekves because it becomes a vicious circle.

And every time I hear a teacher telling me that the holidays are shit, they should get a medal for putting up with my perfectly nice children, they are at their desks until midnight and we should thank them all the time, it makes me sigh.

The battering and defending just means there is no sensible conversation to have but then this is true across the board. All jobs have their downsides, all jobs have their perks. Pretending that teachers have it easy is bizarre. But asking parents to feel sorry for teachers places a peculiar layer of victimhood on the profession which does it no favours.

I think good teachers are under respected.

I think that teaching in todays classrooms with the lack of discipline,ambition and general desire to learn that seems so 'acceptable in todays society must be very disheartening.

I have unfortunately met a couple of very bad teachers who were a discredit to their profession.

Ds1 is actually friends with his old deputy head who thankfully takes over as head soon, he is a constant source of encouragement and advice for ds1 as he goes through uni as well as being quite a comedian ......and they keep in touch regularly.

'I don't know any profession where people spontaneously get thanked for doing their job.'

Really? I do it on a regular basis to the people I meet that have made my life better by doing their jobs properly. Especially if they've gone a bit further than the job basics.

No teacher wants a parent to 'feel sorry' for them; if somebody is criticised they will defend themselves; if something is perceived wrongly they will try to correct it but that is not the same thing so if people want teachers to stop talking about their pay/conditions/lifestyle they need to stop going on about it themselves. I have never come across a teacher that wants sympathy, nor have I ever come across a profession where the person is put under so much pressure to constantly defend themselves.

Would be quite nice to get gifts 5 times a year though.....

A great teacher is worth their weight in gold. Saying that there are plenty of not so great ones too. If you're doing a good job, be secure in that knowledge and get on with it, why should you be praised for it? It's your chosen career, if it makes you happy and you're doing a good job surely that's enough.

By the way, I CONSTANTLY praised my DS's teacher and TA last year because they were, in all honesty, exceptional.

No lack of respect for teachers in my house but you know, it's good to give credit where its due.

As a teacher I do not feel under valued at all,there is the odd barmcake on here but either their children have awful teachers or they are just bitter - nothing to do with me.

I do get spontaneously thanked. I often get letters and cards saying thank you from both students and teachers. When I go to my local a parent will often offer to buy me a drink or will come over to say thanks. On top of that I am better paid than most and have great holidays to spend with my dd.

The job is not perfect, in fact I am thinking of leaving the career but that has nothing to do with being undervalued. I feel very valued .

If you're good at your job you'll feel valued.

Downbytheriverside

I am hoping you miss my point. Otherwise you lead a bizarre life.

Of course I thank people if they go beyond the basic function of their job or profession. I also thank people at the conclusion of our contact. So I thank the plumber as he leaves, I thank the sales assistant when she hands me my bag.
That is not what the op was suggesting. She was complainng that no one has ever said words to the effect 'thank you for educating our kids and securing their future..' which is the equivalent to walking into my local police station and saying 'thank you for keeping the community safe' or my local estate agents and saying ' thank you for helping to keep the housing market moving'.

I don't know any teachers who don't get cards and gifts at the end of the year thanking them. So op does not mean that. We are supposed to just stop a teacher and thank them randomly.
Which is odd don't you think?

I don't know any profession where people spontaneously get thanked for doing their job. I also don't know another job where your 'customers' bring you in gifts at Easter and Christmas and three times a year (end of term)

Exactly, Pagwatch.

I went to the family assembly at my children's school yesterday and it was so lovely, the Headteacher was fantastic, I wanted to stay and pretend to be 5 again.

The only gripe I have with the Teacher's at my son's school? Why should inset days be tagged onto the end of already very long holidays. As a working parent it makes life hard as there are not normally childcare providers/holiday available for some random day.

I do think teachers should think about what it's like for other non-public sector workers as well, when you only get 20/25 days holiday a year it's bloody tough. Not everyone is paid more than teachers either.

Empathy works both ways.

'I don't know any teachers who don't get cards and gifts at the end of the year thanking them.'

Again, your experience seems to be limited to the right sort of schools in the right sort of areas with nice children and civilised parents. Which is lovely for you. There are thousands of teachers that don't get anything and are grateful that their cars are still there at the end of the day and that their own children don't live the lives that are had by most of the children they teach.
I don't expect individuals to be thanked for making a difference to our future society, but it would be pleasant to read a few more comments in the general media pointing out that teachers usually do a good job, rather than endless ideas for improvements and no recognition of what has been achieved so far.

It all comes from defensiveness though doesn't it.
If teachers didn't feel attacked all the time they wouldn't focus in discussions about how hard it is which then leads to hyperbole and muddies the issue.

All the teachers I know are like twinkly, love their job,work really hard,recognize that most of their parents think they are absolutely bloody marvellous, endure the arses and privately enjoy the holidays. Everything else -shit management, inadequate wages, over long hours are true for many.

I couldn't agree with you more downbytheriverside.