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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

To privately not have much respect for a lot of teachers

287 replies

parsnipandmushroom · 18/03/2015 18:52

Obviously I would never communicate this to a child, but when the "teacher knows best" lines emerge on here I often think 'no, they don't.'

I've known so many teachers make numerous basic errors with resources, and give children the wrong information. This wouldn't actually bother me much but coupled with the complaints about pay, working hours and stress, I do often think 'stop whining.'

So I am not accused of being a troll - I only mean some teachers, and so I'm not accused of drip feeding information, I am a teacher.

AIBU?

OP posts:
Original poster
parsnipandmushroom · 18/03/2015 19:57

Derxa, why does it make you sad?

I'm not sure I agree that the desire to be a teacher is what makes the difference. I didn't, and I like to consider myself pretty competent.

Whatthe - this can happen, although as a head of English I have known many English teachers with English degrees quake at the thought of teaching anything other than Of Mice and Men to GCSE students, which is a pity.

OP posts:
sparing · 18/03/2015 19:57

Politicians.... Smile

MeganBacon · 18/03/2015 19:57

In my two years or so on mums net I have noticed that there are two types of thread only started by the foolhardy: those that seek sympathy for an OW, and those that dare to criticise teachers. I work in a field of banking where I have to receive lots of criticism about my colleagues' behaviour past and present, but wouldn't dream of getting aggressive in response to it.
And for what it's worth, I've met some spectacular teachers and some who shouldn't be in the job. Same as in banking and probably any other field you'd care to mention.

sparing · 18/03/2015 19:58

Oh yes, how could I forget bankers!

meerschweinchen · 18/03/2015 20:00

Just out of interest, are you talking primary, secondary or both?
I think there are good and bad teachers, just like there are good and bad performers in any job.

I can't relate to this lack of subject knowledge in quite the same way though. Most teachers I know do know their subject area really well, which makes me wonder if you are a primary teacher.

Alisvolatpropiis · 18/03/2015 20:01

Career politicians put themselves in the public eye in much the same way D list celebrities do.

I don't think a great many bankers are heading for their 8th of pay freezes. Fairly sure the salaries more than make up for the criticism.

Charlie97 · 18/03/2015 20:01

Some financial adviser are the same

Some retail assistants are the same

Some health care workers are the same

Some local authority workers are the same

Think your whinge covers every possible employment sector countrywide,

Alisvolatpropiis · 18/03/2015 20:01

*8th year

CitySnicker · 18/03/2015 20:03

OP...you seem to pride yourself on being good at your job as you 'know your stuff' and don't whine. How is your social intelligence?

ConstanceMoan · 18/03/2015 20:04

They must be the whingiest profession in the country.
They are stressed because they have to do planning and marking and paperwork. That's because it's part of your job!
They are stressed because they have to show 'progression' - too bloody right you do; if my DD is going to spend 6 hours a day being bored rigid by you working hard then she deserves to progress!

They spend every evening, weekend, holiday planning, marking blah blah - if that's the case you have poor time management skills.

The inspiring, competent teachers manage their time and classrooms well; the whingers ... don't.

Original poster
parsnipandmushroom · 18/03/2015 20:05

Well, I've never taken an exam in it, or been observed, but I seem to get on well with most people!

You know there is a difference between a groan/release of tension on here and announcing my views to all and sundry Grin I don't imagine the poster who gets annoyed at people taking ages with their purses at the supermarket informs them of the fact either!

I am secondary.

OP posts:
sparing · 18/03/2015 20:06

Alis feel free to ignore the fact that I mentioned social workers, care workers and nurses Smile

MrsItsNoworNotatAll · 18/03/2015 20:08

I was a shite retail assistant.

Actually no I wasn't. My only flaw was I couldn't tolerate rude, ignorant cuntstomers and their shite attitudes. I was quite good at the rest of it.

Original poster
parsnipandmushroom · 18/03/2015 20:08

Oh dear, Constance - you did make me laugh Grin

I am probably guilty of boring a fair few children. Luckily most of mine are nice and feign interest!

OP posts:
liveloveluggage · 18/03/2015 20:09

Admitting you are a teacher in the very last line of your post is almost a dripfeed Grin. Of course as a teacher yourself you are going to know a lot about it and see the variation in quality of teaching more easily than someone else.

StarlightMcKenzee · 18/03/2015 20:10

'teachers are often not afforded the luxury of seeing disruptive children excluded'

Good grief! I sincerely hope you are not a teacher!

echt · 18/03/2015 20:11

Echt, you say it "isn't their fault" - I would respectfully suggest it is, though I absolutely concede ofsted criteria is constantly changing which is confusing, this doesn't explain or justify not knowing your subject - a major bugbear of mine - or in particular lacking basic skills.

I did not refer to lack of subject knowledge in my post about OFSTED, the whole point was in response to your contempt for those who use post-it notes, mini whiteboards.

In reply to those who said it's the teacher's fault if they're sub-literate, on one level it is, but then they wouldn't get to be teachers if HE was more discerning, but they're not.

BoneyBackJefferson · 18/03/2015 20:13

"They must be the whingiest profession in the country.
They are stressed because they have to do planning and marking and paperwork. That's because it's part of your job!
They are stressed because they have to show 'progression' - too bloody right you do; if my DD is going to spend 6 hours a day being bored rigid by you working hard then she deserves to progress!
They spend every evening, weekend, holiday planning, marking blah blah - if that's the case you have poor time management skills.

The inspiring, competent teachers manage their time and classrooms well; the whingers ... don't."

And the bullshit continues.

Alisvolatpropiis · 18/03/2015 20:13

I did actually miss that, sparing, rather than deliberately ignore it.

Feel awfully sorry for social workers, I know a few, it does truly seem a thankless job, the attitudes of the people you try to help, the attitudes of the general public, the attitudes of the media. A vocation rather than a "career" I think. I couldn't do it.

I'm not a teacher either mind. Thought for a long time I would be one but in all honesty, I do not have the infinite patience necessary and never will have.

WorraLiberty · 18/03/2015 20:13

With regards to the 'whingefest'

In anyone's career/working life there will be years that are much more difficult than others.

For example, if they have a young family to care for, or an elderly relative, there will be times that make it harder for them than others.

Like anyone else, they'll get through it but with a moan and a whinge along the way.

Such is life.

TheLastMan · 18/03/2015 20:14

As a parent, in all the primary years I have met three good teachers over 15 of them.
So somehow I would agree about the fact some teachers are mediocre at best, some were so bad, we changed school!

As an adult, having met a few teachers, I have rarely met a teacher that isn't feeling overwhelmed and under pressure. When people are under such stress, they moan and winge.
What would be interesting is to understand why some are feeling overwhelmed and not others. Not sure what the reason is. As far as I can say, the area where the school (ie anise MC area or rough) isn't what makes the difference.

sparing · 18/03/2015 20:16

Actually I entirely agree with Constance Smile

Rightokthen · 18/03/2015 20:16

I love it when people say how easy it must be being a teacher.

Why don't you become a teacher yourself then and show us all how it's done.

As an aside, I don't like my gp but I'm not starting a thread about how they are all crap! And my postman sometimes gives me the wrong letters. Postmen are rubbish aren't they?

WayfaringStranger · 18/03/2015 20:16

The trouble is, some teachers on MN come on here and think they are beyond reproach. There are good and bad in every profession, unless you a teacher on MN and then, you are automatically a saint. Grin

sparing · 18/03/2015 20:17

No one said it was easy.

They just said some of them are crap.