Warning: teachers and striking. AIBU to think that some of you may want to watch this?

[Iffy2014]

Apologies, as teaching and striking are continually done to death on here, and this may have already been posted. I've just been sent this video of slam poetry and thought some folks here may appreciate it.

I reckon this is a pretty clear explanation of how a lot of secondary teachers are feeling at the moment, and why there is copious moaning and striking.

Ballinacup, unless you're talking about social workers or nurses, I'd hasard a guess they won't be earning that for the rest of their careers.

But thinking about it, I suppose it seems so little because of what we are prepared to pay for for professional services (which is more what's in my head) £40 an hour for physio, counsellor, architect, £80 for speech therapist etc.

Seeing it broken down to hourly rate, makes me understand why teachers I know are leaving to be private tutors

I imagine sipping cocktails on the beach :)

No serious marking, planning, making sure they are up to date with training and possibly trying to have a life.

You can have a right to an opinion on schools and be uninformed and ignorant, y'know.

Ragwort - because I like teaching & I'm good at it. I'm not particularly disgruntled with the t&c; I think we've certainly taken a disproportionate hit there, which is going to make it increasingly difficult to attract & retain talented new teachers, but it's definitely not my main concern.

It's the endless buggering about & interference which undermines my ability to do my job, & negatively affects the education of my own children & others - that's the bit I moan about!

So you haven't bothered to research any current or recent initiatives. That says it all really.

So what do you think teachers need to take their fair share of blame for?

Wow goblin child that is a lot.

would teachers be happy to do away with half term hols?

it's a total pain for most parents, just wondered if teachers felt same way in terms of disruption it must cause?

What a dreadful idea! Luckily not one that will be taken up, children need a holiday by then and so do teachers, the most likely is 4 terms instead of 3. As a parent I can't see getting rid of half terms is any help at all because of getting holidays into the school holidays. As a parent I like the half term dates better then they main holiday dates.
I thought Jess Green was good-I posted the link on here yesterday-on the why are so many teachers leaving thread-summed up by the end of her poem.

Teaching to the test is a major problem, as is lack of discipline in schools and the whole "no child left behind" ethos (yes I know it's an American thing but it applies here to)

And how much of that do you think is within teachers' control?

Two fifths of new teachers leave the profession within five years. That worries me, as a parent. I don't want my child to be taught be exhausted teachers.

I know!
But it's what many are doing. Not me any longer, and the freedom is incredible. You know that feeling, the day after you have a baby when suddenly you are about 2 stone lighter? Feels like that.
Only downside is that my income is now erratic, but I was never in it for the pay, so that's a minor issue. Got enough to pay the quarterlies and buy beans and bread. That's fine by me.

"And how much of that do you think is within teachers' control?"

All of it! They do it! Don't make me pull a Godwin here.

They don't have a choice!!

Goblinchild

Out of interest, why did you decide to leave? What was the final straw?
It makes me sad and angry that enthusiastic and talented teachers are leaving in their droves. I want them there to teach my child in the future!

I've been teaching for 10 years. In that time KS3 has been completely overhauled twice, GCSE 3 times and A Level twice. GCSE and A Level are changing again. I have watched SEAL and the Competency Curriculum come and go, involving massive amounts of planning that was thrown out after a year. Currently we are in thrall to Kagan, but give it another couple of years and it will be something else.

I teach History, but god forbid we actually allow the children to weigh up the evidence and make judgements. They just need to be able to recite a list of Gove-approved 'facts'.

I think that with talk of doing away with half terms people lose sight of the fact that education is for the child, the school day that suits the child and the holidays that suit the child and it is NOT about free childcare!
I can't see how anyone is benefitted by exhausted children and teachers.

It's not in our control to not teach to the test Fae, we are guided by our SLTs and OFSTED judgements. If Y6 don't jump through specific hoops, then that is the school's value trashed by the criteria used to judge effective learning.
So we can't freestyle. Likewise with the discipline, there are limits and often you are challenged by parents if you sanction a child fairly. Then it's a question of whether the HT will back you.

The fact is that teachers are leaving in droves, and the sad thing is that they love the classroom part with the children. Now they all have degrees they don't have to stay.

BenevolentVole, why would I stay in such a climate?
I like teaching children, motivating them, enthusing them and enabling them to learn something they didn't know before. I can do that joyfully as a supply teacher. One day at a time.

All of it! They do it! Don't make me pull a Godwin here

Good grief. You're even more lacking in any knowledge or awareness than I thought.

I am paid for 1265 hours of directed time. By my working out, my 60 hour weeks that I do regularly mean I only need to work 21.08 weeks in a year.

May as well have the rest of the academic year off then seeing as I have already worked well above my hours. {smile}

All of it! They do it! Don't make me pull a Godwin here

Excuse me, but did you honestly just say that? Surely you are joking?

I can't think of any other profession that is so ruthlessly supervised, so minutely controlled, or so criticised by the Government than teaching. We are literally told exactly what to teach and exactly how to teach it. I'm not talking about being accountable, but complete and utter interference and total lack of faith in our professionalism. Nobody tells a doctor, a nurse, a fireman, a paramedic exactly what to do and how to do it. But teachers are fair game.

The worrying thing is Iffy I don't think she is. And there are many more like her out there.