To dream about a future career as a secondart school teacher

[chocolatesun]

I have wanted to be a secondary school English teacher for many years. However I was put off for various reasons and pursued a much more lucrative professional career. I’m now 38 and settled in my job. I still dream about teaching English literature to teenagers. I think I’d like to change careers in the next 5-10 years, not because I don’t like my job but because I don’t want to look back and regret not doing it. Whenever I mention this pipe dream to others I’m immediately met with a barrage of negativity.

Mumsnet teachers, am I mad? Is teaching as bad as people say? Why are so many teachers unhappy (or are the unhappy ones just a vocal minority)? I would be taking a massive pay cut to do it but money isn’t everything in life!

As long as you go in eyes wide open, you’ll be fine. We need more teachers like you so go for it!

I agree OP (i teach secondary Maths) your first step should be to contact a local school and ask to observe. We once had someone who came every friday for a month (presumably used annual leave.)

Dont just shadow one teacher ask to see a range of teachers and a range of groups. Chat with the teachers in the staff room and get their take on it.

If the local school is outstanding don't go there. In fact I would aim to go to two schools one that is quite good and one that is really struggling

I hate it. I've been doing this job for 13 years. Three of those years were in a small private school, where the students were perfectly behaved. You could always deliver the lesson you had planned. I had to leave due to relocation. I am now back to massive class sizes, unreasonable demands and blatant rudeness. I am going on maternity leave at Christmas, all being well, and I have no intention of returning. Life's too short to constantly give your all, only to have it thrown back in your face.

I agree observations in a school would be the the best bet, maybe a ten minute activity that you teach so you can see how it feels.

It really is a rollercoaster, some days I hate it. Others it ok.

I hate the apathy of the kids, the need to comment to each other constant chat. Sometimes-you are battling to be heard and it's exhausting.

I worked five years in a RI school on a council estate, the behaviour was atrocious.

Now at a leafy suburb ' good school' kids have a better work ethic but are still as rude. They drop littler, papers, glue sticks on the floor and don't pick them up. Rip displays off the wall. Not all kids but enough to be annoying.
The parents moan over ridiculous things and have no understanding. I honestly would not mind a valid complaint but they are often not.

Somedays it can be enjoyable though and its nice helping those few kids with the good work ethic that want to learn.

Don't do it.

Do it!

ExH secondary English... I'd say yes yabu! Bonkers pressure and workload and he's in a nice leafy outstanding comp.

I have been teaching for 7 years. I both love and hate it.

I'm in the Scottish system, so different from England. Our curriculum for certificate classes does allow more creativity and the lower years are spared over assessment.

Your experience will hugely depend on your school, your line manager and head teacher. Your school does not need to be the "leafy suburb" so sought after on here. I've had many wonderful experiences, and a few really really tough ones. I have always worked in "tough " schools, as that is where my passion lies. Lots of lovely pupils, a few tough cookies you feel like you never get through to.

The paper work is shit, the expectations are shit, the pay is just ok. The holidays are my greatest joy.

Definitely shadow in s couple of schools you might want to work in, see the differences and type of staff they have. Kids are always kids but the staff really make the difference in whether you will be happy.

Good luck, I mostly love it!