to think people enjoy being teachers?

[inneedofgoodideas]

Hi,
I am seriously considering taking a PGCE to train as a secondary history teacher. However, I have read so many horror stories from teachers who don't enjoy their jobs....
so if any readers are current/ex teachers, please can you give me an honest review of whether you enjoyed it or not?
I'm in my mid-20s, living in London and currently very dissatisfied in my job. I have a first class degree from a good university, and a Masters degree from another good university, both in history. I love history, and want a job which involves communicating with people and 'making a difference' (cringe) so thought teaching might be a good way to go.
any advice much appreciated :)
thanks all!!

Dolphin - me neither!

sweetening the pot is the fact teachers can live anywhere... nicely transportable profession, a big plus in my eyes.

I’m thinking of doing the same thing. HighwayDragon, you mention a lot of data input. Because of my previous roles I can touch type and data input really fast will that help me with the workload is the teacher?

I’m a bit wary of people saying that there is a heavy workload but if my previous skills will give me a head start then I might go for it.

I'll link you my honest review of the profession in the form of a thread I started a short while ago.

I love my job (secondary English), but will likely be leaving at the end of my fifth year in July, as they have burned me right through and broken me, and left me with a diagnosis of severe depression.

Sorry, probably not the review you wanted to hear, but I honestly wouldn't encourage anybody to enter the teaching profession as it currently stands, unless you are prepared to give over your entire life to the job. I am no longer able to do this.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3186246-To-feel-broken-by-teaching-and-need-to-know-how-to-get-out

I'm Head of Maths in a secondary school and love teaching. I get into school at 8am and home by 5.00 at the very latest. I do marking/lesson prep. etc. at home but for no more than 3 hours a night and that's not every night.
Have worked 3 days of the Easter holidays and have enjoyed the rest of the holidays with my family so I would disagree that teaching isn't family friendly.
I started teaching later in life and compared to my previous career it's a lot less stressful and much more rewarding.

I lasted one year as an English teacher (two if you include my training year as I was on the GTP).

I think Aneurin has hit on something re self esteem. I've actually just had my own little lightbulb moment reading that

I left my teaching post to go on extended maternity leave, and just never went back to teaching. I don't think I necessarily planned to leave at that point, it's just that once I'd had my baby, the thought of those long hours and the pressure just seemed like a parallel universe and I couldn't see how I could possibly manage it. Especially as I was still such a new teacher with so much to learn. My self esteem isn't/wasn't great either so when kids were nasty (which occasionally they inevitably are, no matter who you are), I took it very much to heart.

As for what people went on to do post-teaching, I took a very long time off being a 'housewife', and have now qualified as a fitness instructor so I get to do the nice bits of teaching but with none of the admin and none of the 5am panic wake-ups!

I do my data reasonably quickly and it's only once a term. My kids are adults now, but it fitted in really well with them, and it was great to have the holidays together. I have done extra work as an examiner to bring in more money. It's been fine, 30 years and counting!

I love teaching, came to it late after working in public sectors mostly and I love the interaction with teenagers. They are funny and interesting and curious.
I love showing them something new and having a kid go 'wait, what? Oh now I get it!'
I love that you can inspire them to do great things and the thanks you get from that one child you thought hated you but really was just going through hell does make a lot of it worth it.

I don't love the fact that I get sworn at daily, and that when I tell parents what their child has done it's somehow my fault.
I don't love being made to do things I don't agree with, teach in a different style because it's the latest 'in thing'
I loathe marking. I'm terrible at it and I resent every second spent out of school that I spend on schoolwork but I do it anyway because sometimes it's needed (marking tests etc) and sometimes I have to or I get a bollocking.
I don't enjoy seeing my friends cry after they have been assaulted and injured, and it being played down as the child has 'issues' I don't enjoy crying myself after spending an hour trying to make children who don't want to be there do some independent work as they 'don't see the point.'

But overall, despite the complaining about 10% I wouldn't let the 90% down by not giving my best everyday.

I think the hours that a lot of teachers here post about are quite school specific. Do you have to drive past any secondaries on your way home from work? I live very close to two secondaries, with a third that I pass quite regularly, walking DS to school we see a lot of the teachers are arriving at the 8.20 mark, and it's very rare for there to be many cars in the car park at all after 4pm other than during Parents Evening season. I'm under no illusion that there will be work to be done in the evenings, but that's a lot more family friendly than being chained to a desk away from home until 7pm.

My main concern (I'm applying for the PGDE in 2019 so I'd be starting once DD is full day at school) is more about the availability of jobs for history teaching.

I think in teaching, it all depends on what school you are working at. You may love it in the right school, and it may be the worst experience of your life in a bad. So be aware of that when you are looking at jobs and down burn yourself out at the wrong school.

Sacha, you write so eloquently. I'm sorry teaching didn't work for you, but glad you are able to leave to pursue something that's better for your health. Based purely on anecdotes re the teachers I know, I would say the rates of anxiety and depression in teachers are pretty high.

I teach primary and I'm on the SLT of the school. I honestly love my job.

It's family friendly in terms of holidays but not at all in term times - think first days of school, nativity plays, concerts, sports days etc. Whether or not you will be able to attend those depends on the goodwill of your head. It's also tricky arranging things if you have a sick child, especially for us as DH is a teacher too.

Also I do find it child friendly, I drop them in the morning and DH can usually get them after school, I get home a few hours later with the evenings to spend with them. And the holidays work great apart from inset days which never match up!
It does mean I can't get a cheap holiday ever but eh, so what

Different schools require different levels of work as well. We input data 6 times per year group (9 for Year 11!). I keep trying to explain that weighing the pig doesn't make it any fatter, but no-one seems to agree with me!

Each time data (actual grade, predicted grade, effort, behaviour, homework, barrier to learning) is inputted, we then have to write action plans for every underachieving pupil, which need to be refined and commented upon each week. Inputting the data is really easy (well it is with 2 working hands) but getting that data requires shed loads of marking in History. Then you have to get the kids to respond to that marking. Then respond to their response. In an endless loop of pointlessness.

In my 40+ yrs of teaching I have seen young teachers being effectively burnt out after a few years. They are often blackmailed into taking on responsibilities for very little appreciation or monetary reward. The crap in addition to the classroom teaching is ever increasing. Many leave after a few years. Yes there are good times but if you are tempted to enter this profession tread carefully and as soon as the novelty seems to be fading, find your route out before you get stressed out. Hope it does work out for you.

It's encouraging to see that some here are enjoying it and finding it worthwhile overall. I'm glad we still have people who want to teach and can do it well, without it making them ill. I wasn't one of them but I'm glad there are some about.

My mum was a Primary teacher. She very rarely made it to my school plays and sports days. I was a latchkey kid coming home from school from the age of 10 onwards (with neighbours to call on if needed). By the time I was a teenager, my mum was a deputy head and also had a bit of a commute so was often out of the house from 8-6, but often longer if she had a parents evening etc. My brother and I got ourselves out the house to school and often cooked dinner for ourselves in the evenings. There was no-one home to enforce our homework and revision, which- looking back- I think we could have done with!

So from my point of view as the child of a teacher, no, it wasn't family friendly. I never resented my mum for it- I loved that she was so successful and loved her work. She was very loved by the kids she taught and their parents, and she was loved by her colleagues. She was a truly outstanding teacher and someone who really was born to do it, IMO.

DB and I have turned out fine despite our feral youth, but do I wish my mum (and dad for that matter- commuter) had been around more? Undoubtedly.

On the upside, my mum was the most legendary children's entertainer ever, so we were never bored on weekends as kids; there was always something fun or creative or daft going on.

I did enjoy being a teacher, it was absolutely my vocation. I'm gutted I had to give it up because the workload was making me ill and salaries were being significantly cut so it wasn't worth the hassle. I've applied for other jobs but have been unsuccessful. Employers have said I'm too "teachery" to fit into their office (clothes and style of communication). I've been told my background is too academic and I should go back to teaching. I've been questioned about lack of commitment because I gave up something that's supposed to be a vocation. I've also been told I won't succeed in a commercial environment because teaching isn't focused on making money and they think I'll struggle to get into that mindset. And I've been told I won't be a hard enough worker "because teachers finish at 3.30pm and have 13 weeks holiday".

Basically once you've been a teacher, employers are biased against hiring you for anything else. I'm taking some time out to be with my baby and have no idea what sort of job I'll be able to get when I start working again.

I love my job - most of the time. If you can manage your time and are well organised, it can be family friendly. I work long hours during term time but most holidays have a large proportion not doing any school work. Agree re:self esteem - you have to be tough and ride the peaks and troughs and management changes. If you find a supportive school with colleagues that you get on with, you can have a good time!

I was a primary school teacher for 8 years before leaving to have my second child (I was earning £1,800 a month and nursery for two children is £2,000 a month here)

I enjoyed being with the children, and there were some lovely moments eg Nativity plays, Sports Days etc. I always got lovely comments from parents about how their children enjoyed being in my class, and I did well in my lesson observations. I never experienced bullying like a lot of teachers do.

But it is relentless. I worked every evening except Friday, and most of Sunday, just to keep up with planning, marking and assessments. This is before my commitments as a subject co-ordinator and running an after school club. My own children would never have got a look in.

So to answer your question, I became a SAHM! I plan on going back to work, but it won’t be in teaching. Not sure what yet though.

Teacher for 24 years. Love teaching, planning how to share the story of a theme, the pastoral side. I am leaving though. I made my career fit in with my children. Now ready to commit to a permanent position I don't have the bank of resources that warrant my pay scale consequently I am having to work a 60 hour week even in the best school. I cannot sustain that for the two years required for the teaching cycle hence I HAVE to find another job.

I love the classroom but i'm sick to death of the work i have to do in the evenings/weekends and my sleep and general health is being affected. I've been teaching more than 20 years and its only in the last few years that I've considered leaving.
Its family friendly in that i'm off in the holidays but during term term, my own kids definitely get neglected. I've changed jobs and cut some responsibility in the hope it will help (it hasn't yet this year but i'm getting there.) I wouldn't be a HOD for love nor money at the moment.

Aneurin. You've described current teaching so well!

Thanks everyone for your honest posts. It seems like some of it does come down to the school you're in but the general consensus is that it can easily take over your life! @yorkshirebetty you sound like you've really enjoyed it - what sort of school do you teach at?
For those of you who said you wouldn't do it again if you had another chance - what would you do? I'm currently feeling extremely down about job prospects, despite having two good degrees and two years work experience (one year public sector, one year Higher Education). My current role is sapping the life out of me - I don't have anything to do (despite having brought this up to my manager), office is silent all day, management is quite unfriendly and there is no socialising whatsoever. It's making me feel extremely upset. I'm London-based and moved down thinking there would be endless opportunities here, but have been unable to find anything. I feel like I'm lacking the skills needed for most jobs here (e.g. specific marketing and communications experience).
Can anyone suggest any good sectors for a history graduate to check out?
Sorry for going off on a slight tangent and thanks for all the helpful responses so far!

I'm a head of department and have been teaching for 12 years. I love it and can't imagine I will ever do anything else.
The team I work with are amazing, I love the kids even though they are moody teens, I laugh everyday and never get bored of the randomness of working with children and the days absolutely fly by. Of course there are shit days but the good times by far outweigh the bad. I'm passionate about the young people I work with and feel proud of what they achieve despite the often really challenging circumstance that they experience.
I'm a single parent with 3 children and find it to be family friendly. I don't work most evenings, weekends or holidays although this is due to experience making me better at prioritising and working in a good school that promotes wellbeing.
I l think it's the best job in the world!

I enjoyed it. Retired now, after 34 years in 2 schools, and left when I was on a high and didn’t want to do a Mr Chips.

It’s good to see children flourishing and rewarding to see success. I regularly see ex pupils around. ( Being male I haven’t been offered a smear test by a former pupil when going for smear test as happened to one of my teacher friends)

It can be frustrating both from school/governmental policies as well as children and what they go home to/come from. And there is pressure, sometimes unreasonable, to get results, to turn sows ears into silk purses.

I had far more good days than bad.

You do need to pace and look after yourself. Like having a non-child time at lunch and not working silly hours in the evenings/at night.

Schools are different as are teachers. Not every teacher could work, be happy, flourish and be satisfied in every school.

Look at different methods of entry, times, costs, experiences etc.

Go in with your eyes open and don’t listen too much to the moaners!

All the best.