To say that I think the majority of teachers are fab?

[VivaLeBeaver]

Dd goes to a bog standard comp, nothing fancy.

I'm so impressed with all the staff there. They seem really committed to the job. Dd is most of the time inspired and enjoys lessons. Comes home talking about what she's learned, keen to do her homework as the teachers seem to make it fun.

Teachers have arranged stuff like a mass sleep over at school in the past to raise money for comic relief. Being in charge at a sleep over is hell on earth when its your own kids never mind having a couple of hundred of someone else's kids! Then there's all the parents evenings, residential trips, etc.

It all looks like hard work but dd appreciates it and so do I.

I'm sure dd's school isn't unique and there's plenty of other great teachers.

I feel sorry for you when I read threads about all the shit like Gove, observations, paperwork, etc.

Yanbu. So do I. Well, dd is only reception, but so far, perfect. I couldn't have paid for a better education than she's got so far.

Well, I am pretty brilliant, I have to say... Ha ha... Thank you, though. Not said often enough!

My dd's teacher is fantastic. Tries so hard, is so creative and the kids love her. So happy with our state education so far. All of our teachers have been impressive so far.

YANBU. DS has been in two state primaries, because we moved towns between Y2 and Y3, and he's now in Y5. All but one of his teachers has been absolutely excellent in their own different ways, and he's also had great classroom assistants, as well as being looked after very well by other staff like lunchtime supervisors. Even the single teacher who wasn't great (his reception teacher) was perfectly fine, just not up to the amazing standards set by the others - fortunately she was supported by an outstandingly good classroom assistant.

Pretty much everyone I've come into contact with at DS's schools has been conscientious and caring to a fault. I have every admiration for them, particularly at the moment with all the Govey nonsense being thrown at the profession.

YANBU, I've known some fantastic teachers over the years who have been a real inspiration to the children.

YANBU,ive 2 in senior and one in primary

there is no way i would want that job,i have sat in in a couple of senior school classes and was at some pupils behaviour

one of mine was a bit of a sod at the beginning and worked closely with the school,i made it very clear to my son and the school that the while he was in school i would back the teachers 100% and my son was to do what he was told

the sad thing was the teachers thanked me and said they appreciated the support as so many parents would argue blind their child was incapable of bad behaviour and generally fought the teacher at most turns

thanks to the school my son has improved loads and i dont get the dreaded phone calls now or being called in.

occasionally you get a thread on here which beggars belief but thats life i suppose

teachers have imo one of the toughest jobs in society

I think like a lot of professions, you'll always get a rogue one or someone who has perhaps bitten off more than they can chew. Those kind of horror stories really are probably more rare than are portrayed in the media.

I left school a long time ago and don't have children, but one of the reasons I was able to stay at school and gain some purpose to education at a very difficult period in my life was due, entirely, to the teachers. They went far beyond what I would consider good practice and virtually ensured I didn't leave with nothing. Our school by many comparisons was considered a very good state secondary (regularly achieving highest grades in the region) but for whatever reason, the teachers had their work cut out with my year - they said themselves that in particular our form were the most disruptive and aggressive set of children but by the end of our time there, everyone had mellowed and bar one, only pupil ever fell in trouble with the law. I really could have been far worse.

My form tutor in particular was a godsend and could see how difficult I found school life. Very sadly, he died much much too soon of pancreatic cancer, but taught right until the very end; teaching was his passion.

I couldn't do it - I don't have the confidence to be able to pass off insults or difficult situations of many pupils - I can deal with one on one or very small groups, but I'd be a soft touch!

YANBU. I don't see it as the toughest job or close tbh, but it is still a hard and, of course, an incredibly important one. I think teachers are like most people- the majority are nice, lovely people who do a great job- and some are amazing and inspiring (I've been lucky to have a few of them growing up and my DC too!) and a few bad apples. My DD's current teacher is absolutely wonderful- sfter last year's one (who was pretty crap) he has made her love school and learning more than I thought possible. He puts so much in with the clubs, his lessons are exciting and creative. She's also recently done a mass sleepover, as well as a camp out, and I know her HoY who is in charge with the school plays they put on each year, puts so much work and is so encouraging to everyone- DD is shy but now she's so much more confident, because of her.

Yes all the plays and concerts, etc. so much of their spare time put into stuff like that.

When dd was at primary school I also couldn't have paid for a better education. Small village school with an average of six in a year. So she was in a mixed year class of 12. She had a great NQ teacher there who she loved. She went from being a year behind of expected attainment due to dyslexia to passing her 11plus due to the teaching there.

YANBU! Vast majority are committed and fab.

Yanbu. The teachers at dd's school are bloody fantastic!

Fun, creative, talented and hugely, massively committed to what they do. I actually think most parents do appreciate what teachers do, but perhaps they don't shout about it loudly enough and the moaners get more airtime.

YANBU and respect :) I was never a teacher in a UK state school and I have so much time for those who do that thankless task.

Thank you for looking after my DNs and thank you for teaching me!

YANBU, my teachers and my DCs teachers have mostly been brilliant.

Yanbu. I certainly couldn't stand in a room of 30 children all day without the help of wine, Valium or both. For a start the parents would protest.

I agree. I'm hugely impressed by teachers at my ds secondary. Getting teenagers passionate about anything is not easy and I can't imagine how they are not driven insane surrounded by hundreds of teenagers! My ds is enthused by school, lessons are interesting , teachers organise extra curricular stuff. Fab.

I did some volunteering at ds primary and even controlling a class of pretty well behaved 7 year olds and keeping them on task was a Herculean job. I'm amazed any teachers have the strength to do or day after day. With a smile!