Teacher attitude

[grumpyteacher1]

Have name changed for this as potentially a bit goady.

Read a few comments today about teachers wanting an 'easy' ride at work so looking at supply, for example. Also saw a comment about going back to teaching a couple of days for 'pin money' basically.

AIBU to think that this isn't the attitude you'd want in a teacher either as a colleague or as a parent?

I get that it's a hard and demanding job but is it one you could or should do half heartedly? Does hoping to go on supply imply a half hearted effort or is it just a defence mechanism.

Should note btw that I'm in Scotland and we don't appear jut now to have the same level of bullshit that our English colleagues have at the moment.

It's the 'easy' option and they basically want a bit of a skive.

How on earth is it a skive?! It's a job. They do the job, they get paid for the work they do. Are you suggesting that nobody should be a supply teacher because it's a sive rather than a proper job? Schools need supply teachers.

I'm really struggling to understand what it is that you think should be happening.

I am delighted though that so many teachers are still so skilled in the art of sarcasm, biting comments and deliberate obtuseness

Insulting posters is so much easier than engaging with the substance of their arguments.

Give over.

Do you have the same disdain for locum doctors and nurses?

OP you're in Scotland. Supply teaching is not supplied by an agency. You don't have Ofsted. You've no idea what it's like teaching in England (Hell).
But somehow I know exactly what you're talking about.

Well done. And you can do your job well with those responsibilities too? *

Well I try my best which is all anybody can do.

My post was really aimed at those who admit from the very off they are not trying their best and instead seek to find an easier way. This has been interpreted as teacher bashing, however. I suppose I am teacher bashing but a very small minority of teachers who can't be arsed. I think if we were being honest we all know one or two who fit neatly into that descriptor.

Teachers are sacred though. Can't question anything

You don't talk like a teacher. It's weird.

"I get that it's hard"

"Teachers are scared though"

Weird

sacred not scared

Do you have the same disdain for locum doctors and nurses?

I would if they freely admitted they were doing it because they couldn't really be bothered.

Haha here we go again: I am not attacking part time or supply staff. I am moaning about those who can't be arsed with what is a demanding job and are supply or part time as a way of avoiding responsibility, work, etc

Not those who try their best.
Not those who need flexible working.
Not those who are struggling with any other thing in the world and need some more time.

Those specifically who can't be arsed.

DH did supply for a long time and the work life balance was so much better.
Why shouldn’t teachers have a life at home too?

Now he is permenant SLT and is out of the house 5am-6:30pm most day, often works weekends and evenings and has had to basically sacrifice his own family for his job in order to keep moaning parents and more senior management off his back.

I'm reading that I wrote sacred... did I make a mistake on another post?

I would if they freely admitted they were doing it because they couldn't really be bothered.

Couldn’t really be bothered in what sense though? They show up, they do they job. Why does it matter if they’re going all out or not? It’s a job that needs doing. They have done it. Nobody (including outstanding teachers) gives their all every minute of every day.

But surely educating young people is more important than just showing up and getting t done 🤷🏻‍♀️

are supply or part time as a way of avoiding responsibility, work, etc
But that's exactly why I was a supply teacher. I didn't want to fill in endless tracking forms etc. That didn't mean I was rubbish in the classroom. England and Scotland are completely different systems.

I teach one day per week and for that one day I pour my heart and soul into that job for those kids.

Sorry if you think I'm a slacker.

You haven’t said in what respect they “can’t be arsed”.

I'm sure you weren't rubbish in the classroom but surely tracking is an important part of the job. As are meetings where best practice is shared etc.

The actual standing in front of the class bit is only one part of teaching. The rest is important too.

*I teach one day per week and for that one day I pour my heart and soul into that job for those kids.

Sorry if you think I'm a slacker*

Yep. Don't think you're a slacker. I think teachers who admit they can't be arsed and therefore are on supply or at part time are slackers.

I agree that teaching isn’t something that you should do half heartedly and I agree that people who want an easy ride should pick a different career. Your posts however show a complete lack of understanding of what the situation is in England.

I work in an outstanding school in England, which takes some of the pressure off in terms of Ofsted and data. Our HT is reasonable and workload just about manageable for those of us without young families. Those with small children (especially women) and other commitments are still really struggling and most go part time, supply or leave the profession altogether. And I’m in a lovely school!

I know of at least three ex-colleagues who are amazing, go-above-and-beyond type teachers who left the school to relocate or for promotion and had breakdowns and after working in their new schools for less than a year. That’s what it’s like in lots of schools. One is now supply, one has taken a non-classroom based management role and one left the profession entirely. One of them was one of the most committed teachers I have ever met. These aren’t shirkers. They are often people who are hard-working perfectionists who find it immensely stressful to be spread so thinly that they can’t teach as well as they know they ought to and who are ground down by poor management and excessive workload. In a sensible school all three of those teacher were outstanding.

I think you have really misunderstood the situation here.

The actual standing in front of the class bit is only one part of teaching. The rest is important too.

Actually, no it's not. A lot of it is pointless and a waste of time and effort. And it takes away The energy from the most important part: the students.

Insulting posters is so much easier than engaging with the substance of their arguments. 

Would be delighted to engage! Was the point of my thread! What specifically do you want me to address?

The actual standing in front of the class bit is only one part of teaching. The rest is important too.

Not if you’re a supply teacher (except marking).

Of course it can be done half hearted. Anything can be done half hearted. Such a shame that teaching is so utterly crap at the moment so may teachers are leaving or demoralised

Actually, no it's not. A lot of it is pointless and a waste of time and effort. And it takes away The energy from the most important part: the students.

What specifically is a waste and why?