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.

I don't think teachers have a cushy life, but I also don't think they work particularly harder than a lot of professions. Most people's working lives are a lot tougher than they used to be.

The problem is that they have come under a lot of scrutiny and criticism and feel they have to defend their every move. That makes some appear to be moaning when all they're doing is defending themselves.

What Tailtwister said.

It's not a cushy well paid job for the most part...

Unfortunately there are some bad teachers. But the majority are great, dedicated, hard-working, caring individuals.

I work on a staff of about 90 teachers in a high school in Australia, sadly there are about 5 teachers here who are dreadful (and I have made it very clear to the heads of department that I won't have my own children in their classes).

This year two dismal teachers have been asked to consider early retirement as they have behaved rather badly (I am not privy to what they may have done, but I do know they were both far too familiar with the students and not very good at teaching). One decided to retire and the other has been placed on leave pending a psychological assessment. So useless teachers are sometimes asked to leave, but it only seems to happen (at least in my experience, in Australia) if they have behaved particularly badly, either abusing other staff members or for inappropriate behaviour with students. I know one teacher who was dismissed because he is an alcoholic who drank at work.

The majority of the teachers I work with (and the majority I have worked with in the past at other schools int he last 23 years) are fantastic.

So yes, some are useless, but I think it would be very difficult to have a cushy life as there many accountability checks these days. Pretty hard to get away with not marking, not preparing programs or writing reports, but I suppose there are shortcuts.

It's not the ardest job in world

Some days it is.

And I say that having done some pretty crap jobs.

But some days it is the best job in the world.

Everything echt said, from a fellow teacher.