To be getting fed up with this hatred of schools and teachers.

[Pipbin]

In another thread (this is not really a thread about a thread) about schools some posters have made it very clear that they hate schools, see teachers as jumped up nazis and feel that everyone is feeling superior and looking down on them.

Am I alone is feeling upset and insulted by this?

I am a teacher and surely we both want the same thing, the best for your child?
We are not the enemy. We are on the same side.

It is a mistake to think that teachers and parents want the same thing. As a parent I want what is best for my child. A teacher I would hope, wants what is best for all the children in their class or in their school and also what is best for themselves (a good work/life balance, or professional satisfaction for example). They are not necessarily the same things. We are not automatically on the same side.

That said, I am sure that most of the time we do want the same thing or something close to that but it is the other times, when our needs and desires don't coincide that the problems occur.

I don't know anybody who hates schools and teachers though - a very sweeping statement surely? I do know people who aren't happy with some teachers and some schools though but that isn't surprising. Nobody is perfect and as I say, we all want and need different things from schools, including teachers.

...sorry pressed send too soon....
if i told you our long and sorry tale about school and my son, you would see my point.
he is in FE college now it is much better.

Thanks for that, nigella. So you HE'd all your DCs?

Good for you - at least you did something about it, rather than coming on MN and constantly moaning but doing nothing.

Did you find HE all your DCs difficult or easier than you thought? Again just curious.

And just for the sake of balance, to a large extent my schoolteachers are the people to whom I'm most grateful for decent mental health. Left school 25 years ago, and there isn't a day that goes by when I don't think of one or more of them gratefully and with huge affection. They went above and beyond their remit - and I see that in my sons' state schools as well. There are poor teachers, but they are in the minority. The vast majority are incredibly committed, caring and skilled. We should be on our knees thanking them for the way they invest in our children, despite what they have to put up with from the government.

Thank you. I don't feel this in my job, in fact I have a couple of parents who make a point of saying 'thank you' each week. What worries me is the 'teachers think they are superior' and likening teachers to nazis just goes on on the playground.

Btw, I have a 3rd class degree. However I spent 15 years working outside education before doing my teacher training.
I personally would rather have a teacher who has spent time working outside education than someone who has just been in education their entire life.
I know teachers who have never had a job outside education.

I'm not wrong though. Never read a thread yet here where a teacher posts something and then isn't backed by every other teacher to the hilt. Gets nasty but they just never accept another view. I get fed up of the threads. I'm supposed to just support teachers blindly because your teachers and therefore fabulous selfless humans far superior to all others. Except nurses/GPs.

Your not all great and some make bloody stupid decisions. Your just normal fallible people. Deal with it.

What people forget is children have to go to school

Most people can afford private, and HE and moving schools aren't always feasible either.

Therefore, feelings run high because people feel trapped and worse they feel they are failing their DCs.

If a shop keeper or a doctor was as patronising as DD1's Y2 teacher or as useless as DD2's German teacher, I'd simply go elsewhere, with school you can't.

I'd love to see you moaning parents stand in front of a class of rampaging teens and try to teach them.

Yes, that includes you, Michael Gove!

Actually there was one thread. Teacher asked for help dealing with a scenario. 4 pages of blind "you were right!!!" And one poster disagreed and offered a better way . She got shouted at for two pages before OP agreed with her.

Best thread ever. And I really respected that teacher.

'I know teachers who have never had a job outside education.'

Like me?
Your prejudice is showing there. I have taught all over the country, in vastly different schools. That experience is very useful. I also have a 2:1.
Am I a better or worse teacher than you, or just different?

sonlypuppyfat Thu 10-Apr-14 17:40:46
I can't put into words how much schools piss me off.

Just for those who say that they've not seen anyone who says they hate schools.

no there is one that I HE'd on and off, one that is in year 10 at the local school.
I do not 'constantly moan' thank you - I have zero support in real life and am a working single parent. So i might come here with my problems. I thought that was what mumsnet was for? no?
I found HE my son v difficult so that is why he does FE now.
and what is with this 'all your DCs'? I have two.
I just happen to know that teachers are not some kind of demigod as often portrayed on here, but normal people who have been priveleged enough to go to uni. That is because I am from a family of teachers

Fedup I have done. Taught riding. Didn't mean I knew everything about the sport or thought parents all loons. Like most her treat parents/other views.

That is one person Pipbin. Most people aren't so silly as to make sweeping generalisations but you have to acknowledge that people don't get opinions like that out of thin air. Somewhere something has gone very wrong for people to get that opinion.

minnie:

"I'm not wrong though."

"they just never accept another view"

Maybe if you accepted that everyone is fallible, including you, you might get on better with teachers and have a bit more empathy for the difficult job they do.

I think it is human nature to complain when things go wrong, but not to praise when things go right.

My DC have been lucky to have had some brilliant teachers. No reason there for me to post for advice.

However, I have had some experiences with one or two awful people who happen to be teachers and therefore in a position or trust and authority over my DC and those are the ones I would post on here to seek advice about.

Teaching is one of those professions where everyone feels free to have an opinion. The truth is that teachers are trained to do their job, and have ongoing training to keep their skills alive.

Despite this, a lot of people feel that they can comment on what a teacher should or shouldn't do, despite not being trained teachers themselves.

Would these same people comment on what a doctor should do? Or a dentist? Probably not, no.

I am a teacher, but not in the UK. I am highly educated and have won several awards for my teaching. However I would not be a teacher in the UK because of the treatment that they get.

exactly littlefrogs - we still talk affectionately about certain teachers - sadly I have not made any posts about them.

nigella, I didn't accuse you of constantly moaning.

Hence the words "rather than" in my post .

I have no issue with teachers,but i do with the school system.

Most of our family are teachers and we see the difficulties they face,most of them hate their job.

We home educate our children,luckily,so we dont have all the bother that comes with sending them to school,but yes in general i think most teachers just want the best for the kids.

I reserve my right to loath the school system and refuse to have any part in it. I do find it odd when parents who see the school system damage their children, revile it, and choose to leave their children in it regardless.

I don't hate teachers, but I'd wish they just shut up and get on with the job sometimes.

No government change ever seems to be supported (this or last govt), pay is never enough, performance related pay is not accepted and it just seems to go on and on and on.

Maybe it's the media, but I'll tell you this - I am pig sick of teachers striking. We've all got it hard these days. Deal

Round Christmas time there are usually loads of threads about what to get for teachers, so I guess there must be an equal number of people who do like their child's teacher but just don't post about it much throughout the year.

After all, what are they going to say? AIBU to be pleased with the school setting and the staff who educate my child each day?

I also find it really sad when people say the best days of your life are at school,when people say that i just think their life must be really awful or boring.

And a lot of parents just see what they want to see,i know a mum who is adamant her daughter loves school but when we were then she was screaming every morning because she didnt want to go in!

Most kids wouldnt go to school if they had the chance,depending on the kind of life they had at home obviously.