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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To have deceided after 20+ years in the private sector and 18 mths in a school..

79 replies

hmmmmmmmmm · 18/03/2012 21:04

that teachers really do have a pretty easy life.

I know it's controversial and for years I believed my teaching friends and relatives who said that teachers needed all those holidays because it's such a tough job. It's true there are some teachers who really shouldn't be teaching and for them it's an impossible job no matter how hard they work, but that's true in any profession, if you're not suited to it it's incredibly hard.

For the rest, compared to the the jobs I've done in the private sector, they have loads of breaks and PPA time (most of which is spent taking things pretty easy IMO) and all (my?) school staff seem to spend huge amounts of time chatting - that was really rare in most of my other jobs. Even when in front of a class, provided they have control (again, if they're up to the job) they spend a lot of time sitting quietly while the class get on with stuff/watch TV

I've seen people working under pressure and none of the teachers I work with are under anything like the pressure I've seen and experienced in the past. I've never had it so easy, although I'm not teaching, really very little is expected from me for the money compared to my experiences in a "proper" job.

I do have huge respect for those who are good at it and it definitely wouldn't be for me, but for those who are in the right job it really isn't hard work, certainly not harder than jobs others have to do 48/46 weeks per year.

OP posts:

Itsjustafleshwound · 18/03/2012 21:07

Here goes ....

BoneyBackJefferson · 18/03/2012 21:07

"they have loads of breaks and PPA time (most of which is spent taking things pretty easy IMO) and all (my?) school staff seem to spend huge amounts of time chatting - that was really rare in most of my other jobs. "

lololololololololololololol

have a

Pilchardnpoppy · 18/03/2012 21:08

Are you a teacher then?

Nanny0gg · 18/03/2012 21:09

One from me too.
Enjoy.

Starwisher · 18/03/2012 21:10

Whats your job? Unless a teacher how would you really know?

Lexie1970 · 18/03/2012 21:10

As you can't spell, perhaps you are not in the right profession either?

PastGrace · 18/03/2012 21:10

I'm about to start teacher training, and whilst I see what you are trying to say I don't agree. Quite apart from anything the actual teaching side involves/doesn't involve, the thing that scares me the most is being responsible for a class of children. What if there is a problem at home and I don't notice it? It is often teachers who first realise there is something that require social services and if they don't spot it, it could easily go un-noticed. No amount of holiday/drinking tea/chatting/working from 9-3:30* will take that pressure off - it's just different to the pressure you get in an office.

*disclaimer - I do not believe teachers have any of these easily

UnderwaterBasketWeaving · 18/03/2012 21:10

Yeah, it's all a total doss.

Sign yourself up for training and stop being so jealous. It's very unattractive, dear.

FourEyesGood · 18/03/2012 21:13

they spend a lot of time sitting quietly while the class get on with stuff/watch TV
I didn't get away with that kind of "teaching" even back when I was shit. Now that I'm mostly Good and occasionally Satisfactory (using the new OfStEd criteria) I work extremely hard; no doubt if I spent less time with my children and worked four hours each evening instead of two and half, I could make it to Outstanding.

tethersend · 18/03/2012 21:14

That's nothing.

You should see how easy teachers have it in the private sector.

Hang on.

ImperialBlether · 18/03/2012 21:14

Are you a teaching assistant, posing as an OFSTED inspector?

If so, maybe you should be doing your own job rather than staring at others doing theirs.

Tranquilidade · 18/03/2012 21:14

I wouldn't like to do the job personally and know I would be crap.

OTOH I have a friend who did a PGCE some years back and defined it as one term learning general teaching, one term learning subject specific teaching and one term learning how to whinge! She is now an experienced, successful and popular teacher in a large senior school. Her opinion is exactly as you've said OP

UnderwaterBasketWeaving · 18/03/2012 21:14

Oh, sorry, I see you've already said that despite it being so easy, you still couldn't do it.

So shut the fuck up and worry about your own job. (Which you'll notice I haven't belittled or moaned about)

Pilchardnpoppy · 18/03/2012 21:15

I'm tempted to write a really long post detailing how much teachers do at home/how much pressure they are under from ofsted/lesson observations/pupils progress meetings/ parents evenings etc etc but I really can't be bothered as I think your post is deliberately inflammatory.

I will say though that teachers are like ducks, they look calm, but under the surface they are paddling away...

MargaretOfFanjo · 18/03/2012 21:16

Of course it is entirely possible that teaching is easier than your private sector job. I don't think teaching is the toughest job in the world and to be honest I don't want to do the toughest job either.

However every single break and lunch time I am working , either running a club, a detention, revision session or on duty. I start work at school at 7:15 and do not stop until 6pm. Most evenings I work a further few hours and at the weekend as well. Again I am not saying those are the longest hours in the world, they are manageable but to be honest I do need my holidays .

I do not just watch my classes watch tv or write in their books although yes there are lessons in which I do that . As a skilled professional I plan days where I have some lessons that expect a lot from me and others where I simply facilitate .

Teaching is not the easiest job in the world but not the hardest either. To be honest most days being paid feels like a bonus. I am well paid for what I do and the holidays are a welcome bonus . However I wil admit that right now, in the lead up to exams I am knackered and feeling a tad weary at the thought of the marking I still have to do tonight.

funchum8am · 18/03/2012 21:17

You're in one school which is obviously coasting, or bizarrely overstaffed so teachers don't have a full contact ratio, or both. You need to get to a representative range of schools before you can comment.

ImperialBlether · 18/03/2012 21:17

By the way, I'm a teacher. I started work at 1 pm today and finished at 8.30 pm. Tomorrow I'll be at work as usual at just gone 7.30 am - 1.5 hours before I have to be. How many people do that, do you think? I'll finish at around 6.00 pm tomorrow, though for two nights a week at this time of year (that is January to May) I stay at work until 8 or 9 pm to give students individual help with their coursework. Another night I stay until 7.30 pm - can't stay longer as the college shuts then.

clopper · 18/03/2012 21:18

What age to do teach? how many SEN pupils in your class? I never sit around while the class get on quietly, even on the rare occasions they can get on with an activity, I use the opportunity to listen to readers. I work through most of my dinner and run lunchtime and after school clubs. My ppa time is 1 1/2 hours per week and I mark most evenings at home for about an hour and a half. Start at 8 and go home at 5. I try not to do too much at weekends. I have also spent most of my career in retail. The hours were more awkward, but I also felt I left my work 'at work' at the end of each day. I don't think my job is harder or easier than any other job, but I don't get any free time in my day. I am in a primary school with a high percentage of special needs, in an area of high economic deprivation. There is a lot of pressure to show progress in our school and many different interventions are run by teachers and teaching assistants. I do feel that there is a lot of pressure in my school.

Eyeshadowjunkie · 18/03/2012 21:19

What does deceided mean

FamiliesShareGerms · 18/03/2012 21:19

I don't know from first hand experience, as not a teacher myself. But both DH and I have lots of teachers in our immediate families and as friends, so I know they do work extremely hard and have to deal with loads of crap most of us would give our right arm to avoid.

But I also know that DH and I work just as hard (maybe harder??), with far less holiday time (yes, I know "holiday" isn't the same as "not required to be in school but still have work to do"). One of us works in the private sector, one in the public sector. So I don't think that teachers have the monopoly on working hard.

I really wouldn't say teachers have it easy, though.

picnicbasketcase · 18/03/2012 21:21

Oh good, another thread that perpetuates the idea that teachers sit around from 9 til 3 on weekdays, do fuck all over the weekend and just wait for the lovely long holidays to come round so they can do more relaxing.

I'm not a teacher, BTW, but have a lot of respect for the job they do.

BoneyBackJefferson · 18/03/2012 21:27

OP what did you do before going into a school and what exactly do you do now?

coppertop · 18/03/2012 21:28

I'm not a teacher but even I can see that the teachers at our local state school work their backsides off. I certainly couldn't do what they do.

joanofarchitrave · 18/03/2012 21:30

'although I'm not teaching'

So........

Voidka · 18/03/2012 21:36

The teachers at my DS's school work very hard - he makes sure they do :o

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