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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU - Teachers

191 replies

LouBlue1507 · 14/12/2016 15:44

Hi everyone!

I am so fed up of reading all the teacher bashing threads lately! Most people have no idea the amount of word they have to do and the stress they are under! Angry

So please share positive stories/experiences of teachers!

Show the appreciation! Grin

OP posts:
derxa · 14/12/2016 15:53

Good luck with this OP.

SummerHouse · 14/12/2016 15:56

My ds' teacher turns chaos into calm at every corner of the classroom and then does more than we will ever see at home in marking and prep. She is amazing.

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 14/12/2016 16:00

Oh I love my DS' teachers. One of the TAs in particular we've had this year and last has been amazing. My son has some sensory issues and has some triggers which can cause a meltdown. They manage to really help him and he is happy at school.
That they manage thirty one four and five years every day with such calm blows me away especially this half term when lurgy has been prevalent.

CockacidalManiac · 14/12/2016 16:02

It's a long time since my kids were at school.
I wouldn't want to be a teacher in the current climate, where everyone knows their rights but not so much their responsibilities.

amispartacus · 14/12/2016 16:04

DS seems to love most of his teachers at secondary. It's great to hear him talking about the lessons and activities with such enthusiasm.

Teachers probably don't get to hear that or see that - but I'm glad DS is enjoying his learning.

FellOutOfBed2wice · 14/12/2016 16:17

My DH works 12 hour days most of the time, getting into school at six in the morning. He often brings work home too, so will get in at 6.30, bathe our kids and help with bed time and eat his dinner, before sitting down between 10 and midnight to do more work. He also spends four hours on a Sunday night marking and doing work.

So when people moan about all of the holidays he gets, I quote this Maths at them: 39 x 5 day weeks working 14 hours a day + 39 x 4 hours on a Sunday divided by 365 days a year means that he works on average 7.9 hours a day. And that's not taking into account the full weekends he loses to field trips theee times a year, attending things like prize giving and attending sporting fixtures for his form and year group. This also means that on his (admittedly decent London wage) of £50k a year before tax, he's working for about £19 an hour. That's actually pretty decent but considering we all know younger, less experienced teachers working similar hours on £25k it looks less attractive to be working for £9 an hour with 14 hour work days involved.

Basically anyone complaining about teachers should come and do the job for a term. I reckon they'd soon stop moaning.

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 14/12/2016 16:19

He'll work through the holidays too. Your dH has my full respect.

SomewhatIdiosyncratic · 14/12/2016 16:22

DS is always telling me about things he's telling his teacher, and full of enthusiasm for school.

The two teachers he's had so far have a lovely aura of calm about them, and it's lovely watching DS blossoming since he started at school.

pklme · 14/12/2016 16:39

Something people don't realise is how hard it is to take time off, for obvious reasons. Where some people would take a few days off to move house, teachers can ask for one. In most jobs you could book some annual leave to support extended family with health crisis etc, not in teaching. Trying to get married? Plan well!

Original poster
LouBlue1507 · 14/12/2016 17:05

FellOutOfBed2wice

My DP is similar, Leaves the house 6:30am in school 07:15-05:30 then home at 6:30pm, Food and shower then another 2 hours work at home minimum.. This is 5 days a week plus 4 hours work on a Sunday.

Last half term he spent 60+ hours working on his laptop so no holiday there like so many believe!

OP posts:
SVJAA · 14/12/2016 17:09

DS1s former primary head teacher was absolutely amazing. She was supportive, inspiring, fiercely protective of the kids and changed everything for DS and for me (ASD diagnosis and we were both struggling). We miss her very much, but are still in touch. She literally changed our lives and for the first time DS had somewhere outside the home that he was accepted and belonged. Mrs Ferguson, if you're reading this. It's you!

MsJamieFraser · 14/12/2016 17:10

Most jobs are stressful, if a teacher has lacked in their responsibility then parents have a right to moan or feel right to get differing opinions in their situation.

Just because a teacher is a teacher does not make them the holy grain, who cannot be spoken about, so it seems with some MNeters.

CockacidalManiac · 14/12/2016 17:11

But what happened about your yellow bed Fellout?

Boundaries · 14/12/2016 17:13

I'm a teacher.

I love my job. I especially loved my low ability, high AEN, boy heavy yr11 group today who were all writing in complete silence about the Victorian context when the Head walked into my classroom.
She had a look at their books, had a short conversation with me and walked out. Without missing a beat, or looking up, one of my boys said "we made you look good there Miss, didn't we" 😂 LOVE THEM!!

HaveNoSocks · 14/12/2016 17:18

I love my DS's teacher so much. I was a bit nervous because she's very young and comes across as quite nervous when she's dealing with parents but she's amazing with the kids. She had the measure of DS straight away, she knows what he can manage and the right level of challenge and how much he needs to support he needs. I wish he could have her every year!

PlayOnWurtz · 14/12/2016 17:20

Yabvvvvvvu

Teachers are no different to anyone else and the crap ones will get moaned about

HaveNoSocks · 14/12/2016 17:21

MsjamieFraser I don't think anyone thinks teachers are beyond reproach its probably just demotivating if you're a teacher and all you ever see is people complaining so OP wanted to make a thread that redressed the balance a bit :)

Boundaries · 14/12/2016 17:22

There aren't any very many other professions which do regularly get absolutely ripped to shreds on here though Play. And it tends to be "teachers" rather than specific members of staff. There's a thread running at the mo which demonstrates my point nicely.

HaveNoSocks · 14/12/2016 17:23

MsjamieFraser I don't think anyone thinks teachers are beyond reproach its probably just demotivating if you're a teacher and all you ever see is people complaining so OP wanted to make a thread that redressed the balance a bit :)

Crunchymum · 14/12/2016 17:23

I don't get all the teacher hate and it worries me as if this is the parents attitude then they are feeding this ethos to their kids???

Igottastartthinkingbee · 14/12/2016 17:29

Boundaries your post about your year 11 class made me well up! How lovely! And I bet they're not a breeze to teach. might be feeling a tad weepy with DS just about to finish his first ever school term and we've been making presents for his teacher/TAs just now as I'm so grateful for how they've looked after him so far

Middleoftheroad · 14/12/2016 17:31

Teachers at my DT's school amazing.
Headteacher is the best leader. He's really helping us at the moment with sthg.
They care. That's the big thing. They really want the best for the children.
stop bashing them pls!

Kel1234 · 14/12/2016 17:38

I don't have a school age child. But I did voluntary work in a primary school reception class for 15 months. I know first hand exactly how hard teachers work, even long before and after the bells ring - setting up and tidying up. Plus all the lesson plans and marking they do in their own time.
Such a difficult job.

Boundaries · 14/12/2016 17:39

They have their moments, Igot, they have their moments...

FearandLoathinginLasVegas · 14/12/2016 17:42

Good thread OP. I respect them for managing a class of 30 with a TA some of the time and pretty crap resources. I certainly couldn't do it without totally 'loosing my shit' ..