To think not being very good at your job is not a reason to be plastered across the national press

[callherwillow]

teacher struck off

Ok. I get some teachers are rubbish. I understand many people are poor at what they do, and that should be dealt with by earnings, disciplinaries, even dismissals.

But does it really need to be plastered across the press?

[Headofthehive55]

So results could be excellent, or above expected but because you taught differently you are struck off. It seems how you get there is more important than whether you get there at all!

[VestalVirgin]

I have observed that many parents seem to think that teaching children basic human decency is the teacher's job.

In my opinion, pupils at secondary school should already know how to behave themselves.

One of my teachers was unable to stop teenagers from bullying her. It was rather sad. The school had hired her because she was very highly qualified in the subject she taught. She just wasn't good with enforcing rules and stuff.
Eventually she couldn't bear it any longer and left the school.

This kind of thing makes me angry. There's a lack of teachers; schools cannot guarantee that all lessons actually take place because of this, and yet, perfectly okay teachers have to leave because some kids just never learnt how to behave themselves at home.

And I am convinced that the teaching quality is poorer because of this. If a teacher has to waste half of her time teaching children how to be decent human beings, then of course, she won't get around to teaching much English, or whatever her subject is.
If teachers have to be hired for their ability to enforce authority over bullying teenagers instead of their knowledge on and ability to teach a specific subject, then that's wrong priorities.

[woodvillain]

The blog is interesting reading and for someone like me (realising that I have completed 25 years in teaching, gulp) I know how trends in teaching come and go, but the absolute core of our work remains the same. At the same time however you have to keep an open mind as new approaches come into the spot light and use what is right for your pupils in your classes. I guess its a critical view on developments.. I don't teach in the same way I did 25 years ago for a whole host of reasons and I don't think I am the complete article yet because you never stop learning in this job and that's why I love it!
If your work in and out of class demonstrates a lack of critical reflection, and a mind that is closed to alternative approaches then you are on a dangerous path...my personal opinion! And probably moving away from the original post too

[callherwillow]

Judy, neither do I: that was the whole point of my thread. It wasn't "about teachers" but about the press using someone not being great at their job as a reason to ruin a life.

[Headofthehive55]

vestal I was lost to science teaching too. I miss the creative aspect of it!

Fortunately I've been able to tutor my own children to give them a good leg up.

[DampSqid]

I think this is an interesting case and don't have a problem with it being brought to the attention of the public. It sounds like it wasn't just a case of being a bad teacher but of being a bad teacher and refusing to do anything about it. I think it's interesting that she has 'been struck off'.
It doesn't discredit the teaching profession at all, in fact it does the opposite. I was under the impression that it was extremely difficult to get a teacher struck off.
One of my DCs had a truly terrible A level teacher who missed loads of lessons, often refused to mark work, couldn't spell key words, was unaware of proper marking schemes and did the 'let's watch a video' thing. She actually showed the same irrelevant video to the class twice despite the DCs complaining. I saw her marking and it was a disgrace. My DC ended up self teaching along with several of her friends. I didn't see any point in complaining as I had assumed nothing would get done.