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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To already be fed up with teachers/eduaction workers posting about their long holiday!

815 replies

Freshlysqueezed · 17/07/2015 19:26

Facebook is swarming with people saying how much they deserve it and other people patting them on the back. It seems like the world and his wife are in education or SAHM's with 6 glorious weeks ahead of them. Apart from a one week holiday I have a juggling timetable of various childcare arrangements to run to and fro from.

OP posts:
Wideopenspace · 19/07/2015 16:00

Jade many, many teachers on this thread have said that the holiday is a lovely perk. Lots of teachers have pointed out that yes, actually, it is quite stressful sometimes, being a teacher - but only in response to comments that have been pretty horrible.

That's not bleating.

There are bleaters and whingers in all professions. Can we at least agree on that? Grin

Pipbin · 19/07/2015 16:05

But the constant bleat of stressful job/underpaid/taking work home grates.

The only time people ever mention it is in response to people posting things about teachers knocking off at 3.30 or not thinking that your special snowflake is quite as special as you. It is generally mentioned in self defence only.
I can't say I've ever seen a thread titled 'no one understands the she amount of work it is being a teacher'. Usually comments like that are as the result of someone teacher bashing.

ilovesooty · 19/07/2015 16:08

Oh it grates does it Jade?

Your comment really is unpleasant, particularly your term constant bleating

If teachers weren't so routinely attacked they wouldn't feel under do much pressure to defend their work.

ilovesooty · 19/07/2015 16:10

Exactly Pipbin

Where are all these examples of spontaneous bleating Jade?

FlatWhiteToGo · 19/07/2015 16:15

Thanks Jade.

It's not that we don't understand teachers moaning. Everybody moans about their job from time to time. It's the fact that (on the basis of things my friends who are teachers post and the friends of many MNetters) it is so constant. Every time a teacher friend of mine posts on Facebook about how stressed they are, which is very often, I think "yes, I feel that exact same way too but I don't choose to publicise it". Additionally, the way things are often phrased, it comes across as though teachers believe they are struggling more than most. Most of my friends are teachers, lawyers, doctors, nurses or in the army. As I lawyer I won't re-hash my own stress as I am obviously biased, but of those other professions I never hear the doctors, nurses or soldiers complain. They suck it up and get on with it in horrendous circumstances. They will also be very open and grateful about the perks they have.

The biggest perk I have, by far, is private medical insurance. I know how lucky I am and I am extremely grateful. I wouldn't put up vulgar posts about it or make comments to somebody working their backside off saying "Wahoo missed the NHS waiting list, but I don't feel grateful because I deserve this because I worked so hard"; I would just be gracious and say that I'm very fortunate to be in this position when others who are just as deserving don't have this luxury.

Wideopenspace · 19/07/2015 16:20

BUt flat that isn't about teachers and non teachers. That is about your friends being moaning minnies who live their every stress on fb. Block them. In the same way I have blocked those of my friends who post baby based idiocy statuses, along the lines of 'little Jimmy at a fishfinger, I almost died it was so cute'. I shit you not...

The fact that you do not moan, or shout about your job on fb is not because you are not a teacher, it's because you aren't an EEJIT.

FlatWhiteToGo · 19/07/2015 16:46

He he Wide! I can be an eejit about many things, but at least I'm not an eejit on Facebook.

Those friends sound very annoying. How irritating! I've got a few like that too. I think it's time I start blocking a few people from my news feed Grin!

longtimelurker101 · 19/07/2015 16:58

I'm a teacher, I don't finish till Tues. I think this causes an issue cause most people in education are off at once. On my FB timeline there are always pics of people on holiday, talking about hard days on the job. I guess most people are likely to know a fair few people in education, there are about 1.3 million teachers and teaching assistants in the UK ( according to a quick google search) after all.

Lots of people posting at once could get annoying obviously. But lots of people in other jobs do it, just not all at once cause their holidays are more staggered.

Teachers only really talk about the extra hours they do in response to Daily Mail style ad hom attacks about starting at 9 and finishing at 3.30, gold plated public sector pensions, long holidays and everything being their fault.
If you hadn't noticed teachers have been under a serious attack in terms of politicians being critical about how they do their jobs, changing terms and conditions, changing curricula at a whim etc.

I'm tired of listening to all that crap, I'm certainly tired of listening to the whinging about long holidays and parents having to juggle child care.

For a job that contains the level of qualification that is needed to enter the role, the stress that goes with it, the heavy term time work load, the holidays and a fairly reasonable pension are the only perks.

My other half works in accounts in a large media firm, last week they had friday afternoon off and the business provided wine and a very generous catered picnic whilst they had "sports day" in Regents Park. Then there are the discounts for this and that, the private health care, the expense lunches etc. Many of my friends work in private industry and get all sorts of perks.

Finally, everyone in the UK if they work full time is entitled to 28 days paid holiday including bank holidays, thats 4 weeks. Most folk I know who teach spend good amounts of October, feb and Easter half terms working at least some of the days. Add on the fact that most of us end up spending a good few hours every Sunday working and you could probably work out that , really teachers get the same holidays as everyone else. Just we have to take it all at once.

rollonthesummer · 19/07/2015 17:11

Sorry - just seen Flat's post - agree - other professions don't tens to say how hard they work all the time.

Did you see many posts on Mumsnet when you were working as a letting agent saying how lazy letting agents were and how they didn't deserve to be pleased about being on holiday or partaking in any training opportunities?

clam · 19/07/2015 17:23

Or how it was your fault that they were struggling for childcare?

Nettymaniaa · 19/07/2015 17:35

In about five years time when there is a serious teacher recruitment and retention crisis. The subject of head teachers conferences you'll need to worry about something completely different. Worry about what's coming not petty things like each other's terms and conditions. Can't seriously if it sounds too good to be true (being a teacher) come and join the profession. If you got you Maths, English and Science GCSE and a decent degree there is nothing stopping you. You can retire at 67. On a pension that is clearly defined.

MrsDeVere · 19/07/2015 17:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

larant · 19/07/2015 18:11

I get fed up of teachers comparing their jobs to private sector jobs. Many private sector jobs at a certain level do come with perks. Compare it to other public sector jobs, that is a far more accurate comparison.

noblegiraffe · 19/07/2015 18:21

Like MPs? Let's compare pay rises!

Wideopenspace · 19/07/2015 18:33

I don't imagine that would count noble.

Until each and every teacher on the thread says 'My job is a piece of piss, I am overpaid and the holidays are frankly outrageous and undeserved' I don't think some posters will be happy.

spanieleyes · 19/07/2015 18:35

How about the flexi time I had in my previous public sector job which meant I could work an extra hour a day and have a long weekend twice a month. Perhaps teachers could work flexi time too!

JadeJaderson · 19/07/2015 18:36

Add on the fact that most of us end up spending a good few hours every Sunday working and you could probably work out that , really teachers get the same holidays as everyone else. Just we have to take it all at once

Really? Really?

That's kind of my point proven.

Lots of teachers do a wonderful job, no doubt. The 12 weeks a year holiday is an amazing perk, one that can't really be touched by other professions.

Enjoy it. Embrace it. Don't try making out that a few extra Sunday's wipes out the benefit of your extra SEVEN weeks of annual leave...because that's quite frankly bollocks. And yes, it's comments like that that grate .

32percentcharged · 19/07/2015 18:37

Oh yawn a teacher bashing thread. Lots of disgruntled/ envious people out there..

Wideopenspace · 19/07/2015 18:37

Jade - if it grates so much, hide the thread. No one is forcing you to read it..

JadeJaderson · 19/07/2015 18:39

I'm responding to a previous comment wide open. I see no need to hide the thread Hmm

Wideopenspace · 19/07/2015 18:41

I'm just not sure why you would continue to engage in something that grates on you so much, is all.

JadeJaderson · 19/07/2015 18:42

Oh Give it a rest. You don't have to respond to me if you don't want.

Wideopenspace · 19/07/2015 18:44

I know I don't Jade. I'm just interested in your motivation, I guess.

spanieleyes · 19/07/2015 18:44

I work for six hours EVERY Sunday for 39 weeks a year, which rather evens the holidays out!!

barbecue · 19/07/2015 18:44

4 In 10 New Teachers Quit Within A Year