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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be mildly irritated by most tiring job ever?

755 replies

brasty · 09/12/2016 20:51

A friend who is a teacher has been saying how exhausted she is, and that only other teachers would understand. She is not joking. AIBU to be mildly irritated by this? Yes teachers do a hard job, but there are other jobs that are also exhausting.

OP posts:
pieceofpurplesky · 12/12/2016 22:40

I would really not like to work with you Mrsguy. With an attitude like yours you would not last five minutes where I work.
I really don't think that you can pick and chose what you do as a teacher because tonne a good teacher you need to be involved in all aspects of school life.
As for full time - if you don't have the role of a tutor you must have other responsibilities as I can't see a school on a budget paying you full time for not doing a full job. Unless of course there is a lot you are not telling us about your school and job ....

Oh and I had loads of experience outside of school - coming in at 30 after a really demanding career that took me all over the world working 24/7 - but teaching is both more exhausting and rewarding.

Wishforsnow so marking GCSE coursework that is 40% of a child's exam can be done in front of a TV, or grading assessments that will impact in where a child is placed in a set next year ...and believe you me when thinking on your feet in front of a class of 32 16 years olds it is seldom 'in the box' thinking. Far from it.

pieceofpurplesky · 12/12/2016 22:42

To be not tonne

FontSnob · 12/12/2016 22:42

It's a shame people are using part time as an insult. I'm part time at the moment after having ds, before I was hoy7 and I've taught for about 12 years. I can honestly say that I am currently enjoying work more than I havr in years and am a far better teacher for it. Mainly because I have the time to do it all in my working day. My students get a far better experience from be because of this. I have time to plan, short and mid term, and mark properly. Best of all, I love my job again. My kids enjoy my lessons, being part time doesn't have to be negative. We really could improve teacher retention very simply by cutting teaching hours to give teachers time to do their job. I'm sure there are creative ways to do this, though it would rely on a school havinh the funds to increase their work force. Which won't happen so retention will continue to be awful. Mind you, all the smugness about living my job, I am.skint! :) Also, as an aside, please could everyone remember that new teachers are on a pretty low salary all things considered.

MerylPeril · 12/12/2016 22:45

I work in a small academy - the pastoral care is now taken up by year managers (non teachers) who solely look after the students needs. They are also a contact for parents in the first instance often. Obviously teachers do still get involved but many issues can be solved without them.
This frees up the teachers a lot from what I see now - it also means there is an adult who knows and looks after each student. Their free lessons are precious and not disturbed.
All of SLT have to do some timetabled teaching still (except the Head).
I don't have a lot to compare but the teachers in general are much happier and often are wiling to take on extra.

rollonthesummer · 12/12/2016 22:46

Are you in a state school, Mrs Guy?

FontSnob · 12/12/2016 22:50

I agree that a strong pastoral team is vital and doesn't have to be teaching staff, but that is where schools are making cuts due to budget restrictions.

noblegiraffe · 12/12/2016 22:53

My school also has non-teaching pastoral managers (large academy) but they don't see the kids every day, they're only involved when a problem is raised.

Boundaries · 12/12/2016 22:54

Completely agree font

Original poster
brasty · 12/12/2016 22:56

Surely specialist non pastoral staff are better? Teachers are taught to teach, not deal with possibly complex pastoral needs.

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 12/12/2016 22:58

Teachers are human and sometimes what a child needs is for someone to notice them, and perhaps listen to them.

I certainly don't get involved in any complex pastoral needs, I pass those upwards, but that also takes time.

FontSnob · 12/12/2016 22:59

We need an education minister who will bloody well listen to us and fund schools properly. I also believe that schools need to stop jumping everytime someone finds a new hoop, they could talk to teachers and find creative ways to work timetables to change the hours of the days. There are schools trying out all sorts of solutions and we should be celebrating those not just bowing down to purple, red and black pens!

Boundaries · 12/12/2016 22:59

Yes, beasts, but they are becoming like hen's teeeth. Often the first to go with budget cuts.

Many teachers do have a pastoral background, which means there are still people with the skills to support pastorally. But not the time, often.

FontSnob · 12/12/2016 23:01

Brasty, as a teacher you have to be able to understand children, humans, you need to be able to play a pastoral role and also be aware of your limitations and have the support of a strong pastoral team.

Boundaries · 12/12/2016 23:02

*brasty. Not beasts. Sorry Blush

FontSnob · 12/12/2016 23:03

Boundaries, absolutely, it's all about the time. I'd be writing emails whilst teaching and getting kids to COME see me during lessons as HOY. Not because I wanted to or thought I was being successful at either role but because it was the only time I had! Rubbish situation and not fair on anyone.

pieceofpurplesky · 12/12/2016 23:03

Nobody's being negative about part time - just pointing out if Mrs Guy does not do a full workload she is part time.

FontSnob · 12/12/2016 23:04

Sorry for extra capitals and dodgy typing- shit phone!

pieceofpurplesky · 12/12/2016 23:05

Actually OP teachers are trained in both.

jellyfrizz · 12/12/2016 23:19

And in primary you can't separate pastoral from academic.

Pseudonym99 · 12/12/2016 23:59

If you had to do shifts including weekends, working 13 days in a row you might discover what exhausting means

BoneyBackJefferson · 13/12/2016 06:59

Pseudonym99
If you had to do shifts including weekends, working 13 days in a row you might discover what exhausting means

Been there, done that.
seven 12 hour days, followed by seven 12 hour nights.
I have even done 2s and 3s, and rolling 8 hr continentals where the gap between the shifts (every six months or so) was the 8 hr day shift.

But than I once worked in the "real world".

FontSnob

Not using "part time" as an insult, just a description of what guy seems to do.

Notreallyhappy · 13/12/2016 07:07

Quite agree pseudo . My oh leaves at 5.45am gets in at 7.30pm if he's lucky, then catches up with e-mails. It doesn't take into account he's in the Munich office next week all for a 37 hour/ week contract. he gets a little tiredGrin

Fulltimemummy85 · 13/12/2016 08:17

I would love Guy to go to the school I worked in and start negotiating 😂

MistresssIggi · 13/12/2016 08:42

It's not just the length of time you work though is it it's what you do during those hours.
I imagine 5 hours as an air traffic controller would be more stressful than 5 hours teaching. And 5 hours teaching is more stressful than 5 hours of data entry.

But 5 hours of data entry when you were up all night with a sick child, exhausting.
There will never be an answer to this question. But let's just keep putting each other down and saying we have it worse.

MrsGB2015 · 13/12/2016 08:42

Why is standing up for yourself and being proactive to encourage efficiency save a bad thing?

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