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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...to think it's rude of teachers at end of term declaring that they've earned their holiday/deserve a large glass of wine etc.....?

586 replies

Semisonic · 29/06/2018 23:46

Does it not imply that they think everyone's kids are little horrors and that it's such a hard job and we're not worthy?
Maybe all the kids are little horrors, maybe it is a hard job but they're getting paid for it. It was their choice! My job's hard too but I won't bang on about It.
I think it's quite insulting to the parents of the children. No? [hmmm]

OP posts:
Pengggwn · 30/06/2018 10:42

I know exactly why some people don't like teachers. It's a combination of being envious of the holidays (but not honest enough to admit they wouldn't teach themselves, even with that benefit) and of disliking the idea of anyone being in authority over their child who isn't them.

Maelstrop · 30/06/2018 10:42

At my sons' school they bloody have earned it. They've earned a nightly vat. Some of them work so hard in quite grim conditions now. Senior management do not deserve a drop in that place though. Senior management deserve to be on boot camp for the whole summer.

Hear hear! I totally agree!

The OP’s dc are clearly in a delightful tiny school with incredibly supportive parents. I’m going to postulate that the majority of teachers aren’t fortunate enough to work somewhere like that. When I’m trying to persuade management that 31 kids don’t fit into my classroom, or that I don’t really want to phone Mrs Arseymysoncandonowrong (even though he just told me to fuck off), I’ll smile and remind myself that I don’t deserve the vat of vodka at home.

Dumb thread, OP, thoughtless, too.

I’ve refused promotions to management because I don’t want to lose the constant contact with the kids, I think I’m in the job for the right reasons.

TheletterZ · 30/06/2018 10:42

Have you ever worked towards a really big deadline? Everyone on the team will be saying the same, glad when this is over and can have a break and a drink. That is exactly the same as the end of term.

There is a huge amount to get done before school ends, reports, data entry, finishing projects/art work to get sent home, tiding the classroom (more for primary - the amount of stuff some children accumulate!), sorting out lost property, dealing with tired children who want to be out in the sunshine, end of year tests/exams.

It doesn't matter home many children are in the class it is still a race to the finish line.

I wonder if you are seeing this as an insult to your precious children, rather than looking at the bigger picture of what the teacher is doing towards the end of the term.

hamzilla · 30/06/2018 10:44

Have you not thought that maybe they are enjoying the wine because they need a break from either other teachers, or overbearing parents?

UnicornMummy27 · 30/06/2018 10:46

I think teachers work very hard now more than ever with classrooms full to the brim with mostly just one TA assigned per class. That’s 25-30 kids average between 2 adults in primary schools. Many days they don’t go home once kids had been picked up, but have to clean up and prepare the classroom for the next day. Which I’m sure does not incur overtime salaries. Often they spend their spare time at home marking paperwork or researching on new topics or projects the class is studying etc. So in my opinion they more then deserve the breaks they get. Teachers don’t get the respect or kudos they deserve. Teachers who love their jobs are working hard to enrich and help mould the next generation. For this I know as a parent i am forever grateful for. My DC classes are full to the brim yet they are doing so well and love going to school. If there is an issue I have spoken to the teachers and almost always get feedback at the end of the day or a phone call in their lunch break to update me. That for me is someone who is going above and beyond. Yes it’s their job but a job bloody well done well!!

PamsterWheel · 30/06/2018 10:47

No. I would say it mainly refers to the all the FUCKING paperwork they have to do on top of teaching our kids.

It's not a job I would want to do. Hats off to them and cheers!

mmgirish · 30/06/2018 10:47

I think you're rude judging other people's lives.

I'm a teacher. I needed (and deserved) a big drink when I finished last week. Not because of the kids I teach but mostly the parents I've been dealing with all year.

I have two kids. I bought their teachers whiskey and bubbles as an end of year gift too. I'm sure they deserved a big drink too.

SideOrderofSprouts · 30/06/2018 10:50

I’m on a technician and I’m looking forward to my six
Weeks off.

I am lucky to work in a close knit science department and see how damn hard our teachers work and I do whatever I can to lighten the load for them. But they don’t just stop at 3 when your kids go home. Then it’s training, meetings, marking, planning.

They damn well deserve their wine!

BingTheButterflySlayer · 30/06/2018 10:56

The teachers at my kids' school have bloody well earnt it! They've had to deal with my eldest, who can be the most infuriating child known to man (she takes after me basically) and have done so calmly, with good humour, with understanding (I think one of her teachers has her personality sussed out better than I do to be honest and genuinely really likes her)... and haven't lost the plot!

blueberrypi27 · 30/06/2018 10:57

I’m only a special needs TA but come and do my job for a day and you’ll see why we look forward to the holidays Grin love what I do but it’s very tiring especially when you have kids of your own and this time of year is a slog!

SequinsOnEverything · 30/06/2018 10:59

In fairness, fair play to the teacher who can teach 25 5 year olds to read. Give them all the wine.

This!

I sometimes say at the end of the work week that I've earned a glass of wine tonight, don't we all say things like that sometimes when we've worked hard?

Also, having taught previously, I know they really do deserve it! Even if you have a lovely well behaved class, teaching is still a very demanding job.

Trampire · 30/06/2018 11:02

I went into my ds's school this week to paint a backdrop for the end of school play and make props.

Half the class were on a transition week to the local comp. Even with half the class in it was hard work even for me who was simply trying to oversee children painting etc.

On the Tues, Weds and Thurs the LSA (who told me she is contracted and paid to work until 3.30pm) was at school until 5pm organising an ice-lolly sale to fundraise for a Year 6 leavers book. She'd brought many of the lollies from her own money.
She then quickly changed to go off the the Scout hut to run her Beavers group until 7.30.

Bloody hell, I'd need several drinks.

PurpleDaisies · 30/06/2018 11:03

I’m only a special needs TA

There is no only there. It’s such a hard job. Don’t do yourself down. I couldn’t do my job without my wonderful TAs.

SoddingUnicorns · 30/06/2018 11:03

I’m only a special needs TA

I don’t think “only” applies, it’s a very valuable and appreciated job that you do!

Bowlofbabelfish · 30/06/2018 11:05

I’m only a special needs TA but

Only?? That’s a hard job and a valuable one!

tinytemper66 · 30/06/2018 11:08

All jobs these days are demanding not matter what the type of job. My husband works in heavy industry - not many of those left in the UK. He counts down the days and hours too. So it is not just the teachers who shout yippee and hurrah!
We all need what ever makes us happy to relax regardless of our roles/jobs etc.

NeverTwerkNaked · 30/06/2018 11:09

After one day helping with a school trip I was ready to hit the wine! It’s not that your children are horrors (well, they might be Wink) it’s the intensity of constantly supervising small people who need help with everything and have 8million questions that they all ask at once.

GarciaFlynn · 30/06/2018 11:09

You may think teachers get 13 weeks holiday but in reality it's no more than 5 weeks the same as most other people.
Half terms are used for catching up and planning. Christmas and Easter are mostly the same. The last week or so of the summer holiday is used for planning which leaves the first 4/5 weeks of the summer as the only true break. This on top of a working week which can easily add up to 60 hours.

cantkeepawayforever · 30/06/2018 11:10

OP, do you never want to celebrate a big transition moment in your year / life in any way? For a primary teacher, each end of year is the end of an era - the end of teaching, living with, dreaming about, waking up in the night worrying about a specific group of children.

It's that transition moment, as much as anything else, that triggers the end of year comments. And because it is a mass moment - the same moment in time for a whole small or large community of teachers and pupils - it seems much larger (and also more emotionally charged) than an individual office worker saying 'I'm looking forward to a drink tonight, I'm off on holiday tomorrow'.

Lottie2017 · 30/06/2018 11:10

StillMedusa- I am a mainstream secondary school teacher but I just want to take a moment to take my hat off to you. Just reading through your week shows how truly amazing and special you are. I feel that I work in challenging conditions, but nothing like this. I wish you and others like you were more appreciated. I wish we all were really. It's been a tough year in education and looks like it is only going to get worse with the cuts. I truly worry for children with special needs/conditions like the ones you describe.

user1497787065 · 30/06/2018 11:11

I'm always irritated by the reference to NHS workers as 'heroes'. They have trained and are paid to do the work they are 'applauded' for. They are not volunteers.

tinytemper66 · 30/06/2018 11:15

I am a teacher I should add and I recognise that there is life outside the school gates and that people work just as hard as teachers. Too many people think because they spent 11-15 years in school it is a breeze. These people should trial it. [If it is that easy to do]
I started training to be a nurse over 34 years ago. I couldnt do it and hold my hat off to anyone who can. I dont slag off Health professionals and am always aghast as to why Joe Public have a negative attitude to those in the teaching profession. There are good and bad teachers are everywhere.
To all my fellow teachers Happy Summer! To parents...enjoy the summer with your children as you only get 18 summers with them!

user789653241 · 30/06/2018 11:17

Everyone complains about work sometimes, and celebrate end of work.
I think you should look at the thread on Secondary ed, graph of teacher numbers, before you do the teacher bashing.

feltcarrot · 30/06/2018 11:17

I’m a TA in reception where we have 70 children over 3 classes. I absolutely love my job and feel very lucky, but, it’s exhausting and relentless. We have a 30 minute break at lunch time and we hardly ever get to leave “ on time”.
Can’t wait for the holidays so I can catch up on house work and slob about watching “This Morning” in my Jim jams😁

anotherpersona · 30/06/2018 11:18

YABU
Don't you or your colleagues ever get to Friday and say I've earned a glass of wine or thank goodness it's the weekend? Why shouldn't teachers?

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