AIBU to think some teachers are useless and only in the job for a cushy life....

[DefinitelyPeppa]

....and that many many more are doing the best they can in a difficult job and that some are absolute gems who should be paid at least double their salary and given some sort of medal?

Fed up with hearing teacher bashing for no good reason other than "they get lots of holidays so why are they on strike?" - and I say that having met too many shocking teachers so can see reason for criticism at times, but when it's really deserved.

But had parent's evening tonight, first one after dd was HE'd for 1.5 years as teaching at her last school was frankly crap, and dd's teacher seriously ought to get some sort of commendation or at least a bonus. He's always cheerful, always seems to have time for dd and is amazing at focusing on what's she doing right, not what she's doing wrong. Told us dd is doing brilliantly and even though it's not been 3 months there yet can't help thinking much of that is down to him - dd's last report (from old school) was full of how she wasn't doing very well at all and needed to improve just about everything. Am almost in tears at what a difference he's making for her and can't help thinking for every teacher worth complaining about there must be one of him going unmentioned too.

At least 5, I'd say.

Hope so Newt

I do know people who tried to get into teaching because they just couldn't think of anything else to do with their degree.

There are good and bad in every profession, teaching won't be any different.

I think you can also be a teacher, because you want an " easier" life and be a jolly good teacher .

I think anyone who goes into teaching because they didn't know what else to do with their degree wouldn't last 5 minutes unless they realise pretty early on in the training that they really enjoy many aspects of it and that it will be bloody hard work.

I must admit, I did my PGCE because I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do as a profession. But just that year would have sorted out whether I was actually suited to it or not. Now, nearly twenty years later, I can't imagine what else I'd enjoy doing quite so much!

First rule of teaching:
Focus on the positive.

At. All.Times.

You can go into teaching because you don't know what else to do with I
Your degree and then discover that you are great at it.

I went into teaching because I wanted time with the children over the holidays and I and two Humanities degrees that I could not think of many others things to do with. Thought about law but decided it would be too much work. Didn't want to do a financial job .

Can understand going into teaching without being sure it's what you want to do but being a good teacher anyway, but seen more than I want to of teachers who seem like they can't be bothered about the kids as long as the results are ok, which is why I'm so over the moon and touched by dd's current teacher, who I hold responsible for her current results because he's so understanding.

I also think you can start teaching filled with passion and then that wanes but you might struggle to find a job that pays similar with a great pension.

In an ideal world I would do something else now, but I am the wrong side of 40, I want to earn in the region of 50k, have time with the children and pay into a healthy pension pot. My options are limited.

Score is even here today, one teacher has sent me really helpful and print reply to an email.

And the usual offender has made DD miss her careers interview, because, as usual (she gets the Senco to use her home email) he can not pass on a simple message.

I went into teaching because I couldn't think of anything else to do at the time. Turns out I was good at it anyway.

MrsLouis - in dd's last report from old school I actually counted the negative vs positive comments because I was so shocked - there were 2 positives and 23 negatives, and that was signed off by the head with 1 more positive and 2 more negatives .

Of course schools should try to be positive however,unless there are SENs, I would be asking my child why they are not behaving and creating more positive things to be reported.

OP - Although I can't comment on whether they taught well or not, but agree that everyone feels motivated if teachers focus on what is being done well.
I can find positive things to say about most children or find a positive way of discussing not so great news.
There are a TINY minority of pupils who make this very difficult but they usually have a good reason for being unbelievably difficult and unfortunately, not very likeable.

Philoslothy - in dd's case there were SEN's, the school did nothing but brush my concerns off and so it only got investigated while I was HE'ing - fairly mild SEN's granted, but enough to spiral down into a lot of bullying and dd losing so much confidence in class that she just stopped trying and nothing we did at home could counteract the total lack of support in school. None of the negatives were about disruptive behaviour or anything, all about not having enough social skills, being no good at PE, not improving enough (in handwriting, maths etc) and so on. Miraculously that all seems different at this school and while I might be given some of the credit for that for the HE'ing time I put an awful lot down to this new school & teacher, even though it's been such a short time. Difficult to explain fully but they've been SO good that dd has just flourished.

A really committed teacher is goldust.

My lad really struggled with his early years at school. He has attention deficit and also a mild physical handicap which makes him poorly co-ordinated. His first year at primary school he had a lovely teacher and all went well, though he needed extra support in some areas. Second year, dreadful disinterested teacher, no classroom discipline and a bunch of petty bullies who made his life miserable. He went backwards rapidly and lost all interest in school.

Third year, an extraordinarily dedicated teacher who very quickly identified DS's problems and suggested some extra one-on-one sessions before school. He explained to us that this was not so much for the pure academic help, but chiefly so that the two of them would have a chance to develop a good relationship. The boy blossomed. Then in the Spring, the whole class was supposed to be doing a long bike ride excursion. Bike riding was a thing all the family had been attempting to teach DS for years, but he just couldn't get beyond a very wobbly straight line on the flat, and the whole thing was making him so frustrated we had decided to drop it. We explained this to teacher and he promptly swapped the morning sessions to coaching sessions. Within a month, DS was riding confidently and he successfully completed the 26km ride. The knock-on effect to his general confidence and happiness was astonishing.

That teacher gave us back our cheeky, smiling boy and I shall be forever grateful

Look no professional group is above discussion,derision,or praise inc teachers
It's not the ardest job in world,the t&c are favourable and it's a rewarding vocation
All professional jobs are hard,with highs and lows.just teachers moan a lot (ESP On mn)

whilst I fully support teachers, and did so during the recent strike, there is one aspect of the all-powerful teaching unions that I think is absolutely reprehensible, and that is how they make it so hard to get rid of bad teachers. A bad doctor would get struck off, but a bad teacher can carry on and on and on, damaging children's prospects left and right, and nothing gets done.

I would want to be able to show your DD's report to someone in her old school and get some bloody answers as to how they could have failed her so appallingly. Of course, there would be no point. But 23 negatives and 2 positives??? That teacher needs hauling over the coals. And the new one deserves every penny of his salary and his pension, and every hour of his holidays.

Define a bad teacher. I have said before that it varies so much with every class and every child. Someone's great teacher will be someone else's bad teacher.

MrsOakenshield, the unions do not make it difficult for bad teachers to get the push; they merely ensure due process. The rules for capability have changed since September, and it is now far easier to get rid, though I fear the older, more expensive, less compliant-to-every-gormless-inititaive teachers will feature significantly in the ranks of the sacked.

Scottishmummy in 30+ years of teaching, I've yet to see a teacher moan in print about their job, or claim it is harder than anyones else's. What they DO do is respond to accusations of cushy jobs, fab, pensions, yadda, yadda.

Initiative!!

I know of a teacher locally who is absolutely useless and has been for the past 20 years but nobody seems to do a damned thing about her.

She is a liability whichever stage she teaches and has ruined the education of many kids over the years.

If it is suggested she goes on courses to improve her attitude is that she has more experience than the person running the course/

How can you get rid of people like her?