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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to really not see the problem? (school related)

30 replies

ArseWormsWithoutSatNav · 21/01/2012 08:28

Have namechanged due to my other posts on here making me easily identifiable.

DD in reception at lovely local school. I mean really lovely, due to various volunteering roles I have spent a lot of time there and every time I actually come out with a warm fuzzy feeling because I know my DD is in a fantastic, nurturing place with great teachers.

So her teacher is leaving soon. Very sad about this because she is really lovely, but these things happen! At first they had one teacher lined up, but then sadly another teacher is leaving (from what I gather it is due to something bad though obviously don't know details - but it isn't retiring or pregnancy) so now DD's class is getting two PT teachers instead.

I really don't see the problem! I could understand it being an issue if they were older and had HW etc. They have a set system for phonics so I don't expect inconsistency there. DD is quite blasé about what teacher she's had that day (cover teachers, different phonics group etc) so I don't think she will have a problem with having two teachers.

Other parents have complained about this, some were actually shouting at the head teacher accusing her of not caring about the children, because she won't give them a FT teacher.

I just feel a bit "ok then" about this - I don't understand all the fuss. Two teachers instead of one, is it really that bad? Am I being naïve?

OP posts:

Proudnscary · 21/01/2012 08:31

I'm with you.

My friend's a Yr1 teacher and she job shares. The parents generally seem to be very happy as the kids get two (less exhausted!!) teachers with different personalities and skill sets which is valuable.

I am constantly looking blankly at other parents bleating on about some outrage or other - some people have too much time on their hands and/or love to get their pantaloons in a twist over anything.

Annpan88 · 21/01/2012 08:32

I don't think YABU. Some people just like to complain. IMO 2 good teachers would be better than 1

MarquiseOfMelburnia · 21/01/2012 08:34

I had 2 different teachers during my first year of school and it certainly didn't do me any harm

In fact I thoroughly enjoyed having 2 different teachers and don't recall there being any "inconsistencies" at all - I mean, why would you at such a young age?

My DS is not of school age yet so I may feel differently then, but I doubt it. I don't see it as a problem at all.

kreecherlivesupstairs · 21/01/2012 08:34

Agree with the other posters. Two good teachers are better than one OK teacher.
Some people really do have too much time on their hands.

morecoffeepleaseholdthecake · 21/01/2012 08:37

My Ds had 2 part time teachers and actually it works really well. They are both quite different personality wise. I was unsure at both,but now I realise that there are a lot of advantages.

StewieGriffinsMom · 21/01/2012 08:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

KittyFane · 21/01/2012 08:39

DD had two teachers last year - Mon, Tues, Wed / Thurs, Fri
and it was great for all the reasons you say OP.
I think it should happen more, spending all day, everyday with just one teacher isn't that great IMO- no matter how brilliant he/ she may be.

marriedinwhite · 21/01/2012 08:40

We moved our ds at the end of Y3 because we thought it was important that he should have different teachers. Specialist ones for important subjects.

Also, he had a horrendous teacher in Y3 and that was a catalyst to move at that time. She really was a hag. Now, had there been two teachers the pain would have been diluted.

Can't see why two teachers would be a problem at all. I might get a bit grumpy if there were three teachers in an academic year all with different methods adn standards but providing the two of them liaise and one isn't going to undo the methods of the other then I can't see a problem.

AFAIAC primaries need to start introducing a different system where classes have a base teacher and there is more subject specialism from about Y2 any way.

Original poster

ArseWormsWithoutSatNav · 21/01/2012 08:40

Thanks for the replies :)

TBH the "some people like to complain about anything" is what I thought. Just surprising how much they were laying into the head as normally there's a great atmosphere.

OP posts:

coldethyl · 21/01/2012 08:42

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for personal reasons.

Pozzled · 21/01/2012 08:43

As I'm a PT teacher, I'm very glad you feel that way! I've only shared a class for one year so far, but my colleague and I put an awful lot of work in to ensure consistency and good communication. There are also a lot of benefits- allocating lessons to play to personal strengths, both teachers 'fresher' and less worn out! Nearly all UK classes have two teachers anyway, as someone has to cover the main teacher's ppa time. This way the 'cover' teacher also knows and cares about the class.

HoneyandHaycorns · 21/01/2012 08:50

My dd has two part time teachers at the moment. It's fine. :)

They seem to work closely together, they communicate well and they plan together so the children benefit from two sets of ideas. And I think teachers are as entitled to a work-life balance as the rest of us.

As others have said, some people will always find something to complain about.

Original poster

ArseWormsWithoutSatNav · 21/01/2012 08:55

And I think teachers are as entitled to a work-life balance as the rest of us.

Quite! I think one of the new teachers is back from ML and with a young baby I can't blame her for not wanting to be FT! If primary teachers weren't allowed to do PT, there would be an awful lot of expertise and experience lost if those teachers left altogether.

I actually want to tell the head (always visible/approachable rather than tucked away in the background, yet another reason I like the school) that I don't mind this at all and see it as a positive, so she doesn't think all the parents are annoyed about it. I will seem like a right suck up though wont I

OP posts:

CailinDana · 21/01/2012 08:57

Being a teacher myself, I'd be very happy if a child of mine had two teachers. That's two minds working on every lesson and topic, two people marking and reviewing books, two people giving their input. It means that there's much less potential for a teacher to slack or to be overly strict - you have to moderate your behaviour and present a good face when you know another adult is aware of what you're doing. Plus of course both teachers are fresh and have a good work-life balance which means they're more likely to be enthusiastic and approachable.

If one of the other parents complains about it to you OP it might be worth saying "Oh so you don't agree with part time working for people with children then?" and see what they say.

CailinDana · 21/01/2012 08:58

Definitely tell the headteacher, at the nearest available opportunity!!! You can't imagine how heartening positive feedback can be :)

cwtch4967 · 21/01/2012 09:02

My son is in a special school and has two part time teachers - it is fab. They work well as a team and the children adapt to it really well.
My dd is in mainstream and some of the children don't like this years teacher - having two good teachers can work very well.

Grumpla · 21/01/2012 09:02

I'd rather have two teachers doing the job well than one teacher knackered, overworked and potentially going off sick as a result of not being a superhero not having a good work/life balance, leaving my child's class to be covered by supply teachers or stressed colleagues.

Why not drop the head an email? If you like the school that much and everyone else is being a massive pain in the arse I bet he/she will appreciate the support!

smugmumofboys · 21/01/2012 09:04

DS2 had two teachers in Yr1. It was a brilliant year and both teachers were fab. The change in teacher was absolutely seamless.

Some parents almost certainly have too much time on their hands.

ithaka · 21/01/2012 09:08

What else would really get my goat about this is that is sounds like parents (so, that i cludes mothers) objecting to women being able to work part time/flexibly. How dare they! Can they not apply this to there own lives? I bet they would like the right to work part time after ML, so surely they should be suporting an employer that has made this possible for her staff.

I work pt (not a teacher) and it does not mean I am any less dedicated, efficient, professional and harworking than when I was ft.

NiceViper · 21/01/2012 09:09

I can see a problem with this, because I have had a problem with this.

When DC went into a job share class, I was happy to give it a go. The year started with many assurances about communication etc, it deteriorated significantly, both in terms of day to day issues (irritant) and important messages about a child with short-term medical needs (potentially serious). And this was a lovely school too, with a good track record in attracting and retaining good staff.

So whilst I think it is insane to complain pre-emptively, I think that recognising the pitfalls of this arrangement is a perfectly rational response.

Rangirl · 21/01/2012 09:10

YANBU Lots of parents at primary school seem to love getting very excited about next to nothing Sometimes I can't even understand what the problem is I end up listening to a long story and don't know what to say !!

BandOMothers · 21/01/2012 09:11

I also see no problem. My DD had two pt teachers in year two...private school...and it was brilliant because she benefitted from tw teaching styles and looked forward to different aspects of both teachers.

GoldenGreen · 21/01/2012 09:18

Ds had two teachers last term (yr1). It was fine, they'd worked together before and clearly had it all sorted and all the children seemed very happy with the arrangement. I think it is fine to ask lots of questions about how they will handle potential problems (like NiceViper says) though - sounds like at least one of them has not worked PT before.

ChairOfTheBored · 21/01/2012 09:19

YANBU

Couldn't agree more with the posters in support of teachers' right to a work life balance - can you imagine the hoo ha on here if someone posted about how colleagues and customers in another work place were complaining because (s)he wanted to return PT after ML?

I had job share teachers even at A level - it worked fine, apart from in economics, where one was an arch Thatcherite, and the other somewhat to the left of Tony Benn. Our grades for the National Economy paper were decidedly off, as we got contradictory views from them, so after that they split subjects differently, so they each taught whole elements of the course. This worked really well, and gave us a good balanced view.

LondonMumsie · 21/01/2012 09:21

DD had a change of teachers in reception. The teachers were so good and so professional that the hand-over was seamless. I am sure they could have managed a job share very well.

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