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.

Teachers may be leaving 'in droves' (not at any of the schools my DC attend ) but access to teaching courses is still hugely over subscribed; competition for these places is incredibly high.

Good luck rockpink - what made you choose to go into teaching?

It's a job for newbies and part-timers, or those without families.
Huzzah for the next crop of hardy annuals.

Teachers may be leaving 'in droves' (not at any of the schools my DC attend grin) but access to teaching courses is still hugely over subscribed; competition for these places is incredibly high.

But half of them leave within 5 years, citing workload as the biggest factor.

Super - I know lots of people who work long hours, do all the household stuff, and work evenings and weekends - it may be rare in your circle but I can assure you that it is not unusual. My DH works very long hours, and was at work from 7am - 10am this morning and earns considerably less than a teacher. No overtime or time in lieu. My paid hours are 7 a day but I always turn up an hour early and leave at least 30 mins later than 'official' time and regularly work (for nothing) from home. All for £7 an hour.

I am not complaining, just stating facts. .

Well, Super is fine, as are all the members of her school. All jobshares and able to cope on half a salary.

kim - maybe I am but I love my work (for a charity), it is interesting, fulfilling, I have a fair amount of autonomy, & I don't have a boss breathing down my neck - which is worth a lot . No one insists that I turn up an hour early, I do it for pride and satisfaction in my work.

I know lots of teachers who work as TAs. They don't earn much but they work with children and they have a life too.

That is fair enough, if for a charity, Ragwort. If it wasn't a charity it would be exploitation.

That's a swap that a few have made, Delphinium.
I've got a few more years left before I retire, so I might as well enjoy them.

Yes, I do too Delphin, I can see the appeal.

What's that supposed to mean Goblin??? I started working part time when I was a single parent and my Dd was a baby. I would rather have worked part time and be quite broke than never see her. Now I have a wife and she works too so, yes I am better off but even if I hadn't met her I would rather have alot less money and have energy to see her.

I agree Rag, we hear from students that visit our school that PCGE courses are very over subscribed but that's not much good if people are leaving within 5 years is it?

Well there lies your answer Ragwort - in your job you are valued and can enjoy what you do.

I've been saying that for a work life balance, teaching is becoming a job for part time or those without children Super, that's all. Your head seems to recognise that too. I wasn't having a go, or being sarky.

I got that part, it was this part

Well, Super is fine, as are all the members of her school. All jobshares and able to cope on half a salary.

It's actually been a very difficult decision for several of my colleagues, kids at Uni, sole wage earner in the house, health problems, DH close to retirement etc but they felt concerned that they basically had no life and were feeling exhausted and fit for nothing. They don't all work half time. One works 4 days a week, the rest of us work 3.

Having taught in Ireland,Scotland and England.I can truly say teaching is almost a different job in England due the huge pressure teachers are under they are under constant scrutiny and in my experience aren't treated as competent profession as.
Teaching in Ireland and Scotland although very hard work you are allowed some independence and allowed to get on with the job.
However I do have to say that as teachers we do not have a monopoly on stressful,report filling ,long hours jobs.Prior to teaching I was a social worker,I found that incomparably more stressful.

I work far less than most other teachers. During term time I work about 15 hours a day and then a few hours at the weekend. I suspect between 75 and 80 hours a week. If anyone is working more hours than that and earning less, they are being severely exploited.

Ragwort I'm employed by two different charities: one for the past few years and one just recently. It is an environment where you want to go the extra mile even if the pay's poor.

Reading this thread is a very good way of understanding what is going wrong in teaching.

Lots of people seem to want to do it (including some contributors to this discussion). They are eager and enthusiastic. Yet, statistically 3 out of 5 will leave teaching within 5 years. Why?

Experienced teachers have told us about the intense pressure and overwhelming work load. They love working with children and helping them learn but feel that they cannot do the job in the way that the government demands. Put that together with the workload survey which gives an average of 60 hours a week and it seems that a full time teaching job is extremely difficult to do.

Another contributor has explained that they work very hard for little money working for a charity because: 'it is interesting, fulfilling, I have a fair amount of autonomy, & I don't have a boss breathing down my neck - which is worth a lot '.

My best friend is a teacher. She is exactly the kind of person you want teaching your (Primary) children. She works 60+ hours a week, spends her holidays planning and finding resources, and thinking (and boring me to death) about how best to deal with this childs behaviour, and that childs low maths understanding. She does insane amounts of pastoral care, and is getting really burnt out, despite the fact that teaching is what everyone she knows expected her to do. It was a no brainer that she was cut out to do this.
She never switches off. She genuinely cares aboout her kids. Not data and targets, but whether they are genuinely understanding lessons, and progressing for themselves.
She, and ALL of the other teachers in her school have no children. She said that basically, it would be almost impossible, in most schools, to teach full time, and have children.
Oh, and she left a 30k a year job, where she worked 35 hours, to a teachers starting salary of, what? 27k? In London. Which, for what she does, is a pathetic salary.
I wonder how long it will be before she gives up.

I admire teachers I really do... but when some of them moan about not being paid for holidays and the hours they do they immediately lose my support.

I think it's more bemoaning the fact that the whole world and his dog have little or no understanding about the fact that teachers are indeed paid only for 1265 hours per year (plus unspecified hours to fulfil other duties) and that these 1265 hours are divided over three terms...meaning holidays are not paid, but the pay is salaried, i.e. divided by 12 months for ease.

Hopefully threads like this go along way to educate folks.

We have to set ourselves a Work/Life Balance target in appraisal now. Which is rather ironic when you think that the time spent thinking one up could be used to actually have a life. Mine was to do no work on a Saturday (I'd broken it by the second week of term). One of my team set hers to stop work by 11 pm on weeknights. The disturbing thing is that achieving these targets would stop us doing our jobs fully.