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.

To be fair I do thank people who have done a good job.

I don't go and thank someone randomly who I have had no contact with, or do dealings with, no.

But I am not sure anyone has advocated thanking random teachers they have no dealing with either have they? TBf not read all thread posts so may have missed something.

I do feel that on MN there is a lot of anti teacher posts so think that on here teachers do get defensive.

As I said, I don't think it is like this is rl generally.

Re corporate things - I get all the whole cementing relationships bit, but also no what it is like in reality. I see it every day with DH and some other friends we know. It is a big perk of DH's job though, and he agrees with that thought too.

I guess I'd just like teachers to be considered as professionals much more. I think many people don't compare teachers with other professions where the same level fo qualification and length of training is required.

I may have misread OP's posts but assume it is just a backlash from the other anti teacher thread going on on MN at the moment, and after a fair few of the same ilk of recent weeks.

I feel for them when they have to deal with 'know everything' parents who try to find faults.

But on the other hand i dont see them as saints either. They do a job. I find the attitude that those in caring proffessions are some kinds of saints actually damaging. Sort of removes the professionalism and rises the expectations. I used to find this in nannying too.

I work long hours because I cram most of it into term time . I also teach a literacy based subject and have a pastoral role in school which often prompts unexpected incidents which have to be dealt with there are then. That means much of my marking etc has to be done at home after the school day. I am on duty or running a club of some kind during lunch and most days after school I will have a club, revision session or meeting. I teach just over 300 students in the main school and most of their books need marking once a fortnight and some once a week. I am making up these figures up as there is no such thing as a typical book but at 10 mins a book that is 3000 minutes over a fortnight on marking main school. That is 25 hours a week. I also have two a level classes who will regularly churn out labour intensive marking for me. Even if I only give my a level classes two hours a week each - it is much more than that in reality I am up to about 30 hours of work on top of my core teaching day from 8am until 4:30 pm. I have not included any lesson prep, report writing or exam marking. Of course there is give and take within those hours when other deadlines are looming but but it is shocking how quick those hours build up.

Of course the longer you work the slower you work.

Teachers do get thanks and appreciation. I think if they don't, then there is probably a reason why.

Police Officers have a much worse deal when it comes to that I think.

The one big perk of a teachers job is the holidays, but as far as I can see, that really is the only perk. And it is very much offset by the fact that they cannot take that holiday when they want to. They have to go on holiday when the prices are most expensive, and getting days off for funerals, hospital appointments, their own children's school events, is a huge big deal. In many cases, it just doesn't happen. I wouldn't like to have my holiday time as restriced as that, even if there is more of it.

Hulababy

I got corporate stuff. I know how it works. Companies pay corporate entertainment expenses so they won't pay unless it is beneficial to the business. I used to get wine and treats if I had handled an account well but that is like a tip isn't it.
Dh gets ski trips and rugby matches. There is no such thing as a free lunch. It is because he is potentially useful. The fact that they may like him too is just a bonus

The op says that teachers never get thanked and parents should just say 'thank you for educating my children blah blah blah'
My point, which was lost in the snark, is that people get thanked for services well performed but no one just gets a big 'well thank you for everything you do' without any context. And they don't. Most people don't.

I have a secondary school teacher for over 20 years. I love my job and I also find it challenging, hard work and, at times, stressful.

I never moan about my job to people in other professions or go in for special pleading. All jobs have their stresses and difficulties and nobody wants to hear you complain that your job is more difficult than theirs.

Generalised teacher bashing in the press sometimes upsets me, but as long as my students, their parents and my colleagues think I am doing a good job that is all that really matters to me.

Hulababy

Big yy to the idea they should be viewed as equivalent to other professions. They absolutely should.
But I agree with twinkly, talking to ds and his friends going to uni, none of them would consider teaching. And they really respected and liked their teachers. But some of the comments about teaching have created the idea that it is a thankless shitty job which few of them enjoy.

Agree with Fullbeam. I love it and just get on with it. The only thing I disagree with is any thanks. By the time pupils get their results, they just don't think to say anything. Secondary teachers don't get gifts either and I wouldn't want them. I just ignore the people who whinge about teachers. They are not important to me or how I do the job I enjoy.

Oh thank god for this thread. I'm new to mumsnet and thought it was over run by teacher hating morons.

YANBU.
So far I have only met 2 teachers through DD1 who is in part time school (nursery bit) and both of them are fab.

DD's first teacher always had a smile, kind word to say about DD and was the most gentle lady I had ever met, I was so sad when I found out that they would be moving teachers around after the summer holidays.
I need not have worried though as DD's second teacher is just as kind and considerate, sweet and has the patience of a saint.

I know I could not do the job that teachers do for no amount of money (not that they get paid what they should, no where near in fact) I take my hat off to them (I would have to find one and wear it first though )

We just had parents evening at my DSs (yr 3) new school and his new teacher is fabulous. We told her how much our son loves school and how happy we are to have her as his teacher. She was full of enthusiasm and clearly loves her job.

As someone who appreciates being told I am doing a good job, I like to do the same to others.

I love teaching. I just wish that I didn't have to work so much at home and could do more with my own child.

But I still think that the negative comments are fuelled by people who are out gunning against teachers. The defensive comments from teachers claiming long hours, etc are almost always in response to someone spouting the 9-3, 13 weeks holiday stuff - ime anyway.

In RL nost teachers i know enjoy their job and get a lot of reward from it. But yes, it is a professinal job - so it is long hours, working over and above paid hours, can be very stressful, etc. And those things shouldn't be hidden.

After all, many professions are long ours, etc and people complain about their work loads, etc - but their profession still isn't seen as something not to go into.

I suspect the reason many younger people shun teaching is the pay, when compared to other professoins it is much lower. It is certainly the reason given to me from many younger people when I was teaching and when I was doing advise/guidance work.

As a teacher, I think that in general we are appreciated- certainly I do get a lot of thanks from the parents. The pupils find hundreds of ways of making it clear that they appreceiate my hard work (although I teach primary, I suspect the majority of secondary pupils are a little less grateful).

The only place that I have seen a torrent of resentment towards teachers is on MN. To a certain extent I can understand it- MN is where we all come to have a rant and teachers affect our children's lives in such a huge way.

However, I do wish that posters wouldn't blame teachers for things outside our control (like training days or holiday dates), generalise ('all teachers are moany and whine about their workload') or be so quick to point out the perks of teaching (yes, there are many) while ignoring the drawbacks.

I also think that the teachers on MN generally do a fantastic job on the education pages, advising and reassuring parents with less experience of the current education system. (I'm not talking about myself- names like Fernie, maizieD and mrz spring to mind).

If I was a teacher, a HV, a midwife or god forbid a GP receptionist I would never post on MN!

'They have to go on holiday when the prices are most expensive'

Well so too do working parents now or they actually get fined by the school/LEA

Hulababy i think that those students are influenced by their mothers who belong to the genaration that had to challenge the 'female career options' so they still have that issue in their minds maybe?

Pozzled - I agree with your post.

Although teacher bashing should have an effect on recruitment, ime, the quality of PGCE students is actually rising. They seem to have chosen teaching because they really want to make a difference, are more highly qualified (with Masters and PHDs) and have taken time to do relevant voluntary work. None of them that I have met in the last few years have thought of it as an easy option or an excuse for another year at university. This is purely anecdotal evidence, of course.

I find this teacher bashing really uncomfortable.

All this talk about teachers having time off for training,but there is a large group of parents' who would,without a second thought,take 2/3 weeks out of term time to get a cheaper deal on a holiday,and no thought about "think about the children" then...which they always shout when teachers' are forced by inadequate governments to take industrial acion. Seems like saving a few quid to the Med doesn't count there.

Teachers' often go way beyond their duties on a regular basis for the children they teach. Only the other day I read a report in the press how teachers' are taking over the role of parents' in basic care,often staying with vulnerable students at school until 7pm for extra tuition,and even making sure they get dinner!

And let us not forget the murder of Philip Lawrence,who lost his life by stepping beyond his duties in order to protect one of his students.

I don't agree that we are the most undervalued profession, most people when I tell them what I do are very complimentary and I have had plenty of thanks from children and parents over the years. It's just a small minority who seem to lack perspective and have an axe to grind that post prolifically about the dreadfulness on places like mumsnet. I would say though that we are the most criticised profession in the media (with the possible exception of social workers), and that gets very tiring as so much is untrue. I agree though that social workers and carers get a far worse deal in terms of being valued.

Fullbeam agree about the quality of PGCE students and NQTs, all the ones I know at the moment are brilliant and dedicated. However I do work with one, who although has great potential and is obviously talented, has a pretty mediocre work ethic. I don't think he is going to last very long.

Of course,altinkum,you are right about the professions you speak of,but this is a thread about the undervaluing of teachers'.

I disagree. Some parents undervalue teachers, but some parents and pupils are grateful to teachers and tell them.

imo there are crucial jobs that really are very undervalued in comparison. So police, social workers, care workers, sewer workers, bus drivers. They are a LOT more undervalued than teachers.