To feel a bit cross and upset by this conversation

[lovelyjubilly]

I met a student the other day and was making small talk.

Me: What are you hoping to do once you graduate?
Him: I'm not sure really. If all else fails I can always enter the dead-end job that is teaching.
Me: Right. [Awkward pause]
Him: No offence if you're a teacher.
Me: I am a teacher actually you dipstick

I found it quite funny at the time and especially enjoyed watching him trying to dig himself out of the hole, but it has been bothering me ever since for several reasons.

1. I'm cross with myself for not standing up for the profession. Instead I immediately started to justify myself. Why did I even do that?
2. I'm cross at the arrogant naivety of youth. I woul quite like to bump into him in five years just so I can ask him how his dazzling career is going.
3. I'm upset that this is how some people view me and that I haven't made more of myself. I never wanted to be a teacher. I was on a path to become an Ed Psych when I had my first baby. Ten years and three children later they have changed the requirements so that I would now have to do a phd which we can't afford. I'm very intelligent and very driven, and yet feel like I'm stuck in a 'dead-end job'. And this has now been confirmed to me by some 20 year-old guy with his head up his own arse and I'm annoyed that it's bothered me so much.

Young people are really short sighted.

Last year we had an intern who sworn ^blind' she'd be out of our home town the minute she graduated. She was far too adventurous for the likes of us.

This year? She graduated and applied for a job with us. She's really matured and her snotty attitude has melted away.

It's him. Not you.

Haha, I am not that brave, but from perspective of a parent, I think what you do is amazing. The fact that the teachers who are engaged and like their jobs, inspire my daughter (and others like her) to try really hard to learn subjects that are hard for her, is really something I am thankful for. She comes home and tells me how some teaching staff make time to explain things to her. The bonds that are created each year are really inspiring to see, desipite each teacher having a slightly different tact.

Please don’t let some naive boy downplay what you do. I know there’s a lot of tough stuff that goes with it, and I know not every child or parent views you in the same way as my family does, but we can’t be in the minority... or at least I hope we’re not!

I think teaching looks really hard and I would shit myself if I had to do it. It's
obviously an enormously important job. When I was young and stupid, though, I would have thought it wasn't a fancy enough job for me. I think that's to do with youthful hubris and being so recently out of school- what's familiar seems naff and you fancy yourself as being destined for far horizons. Now, if I thought I could be any good at it I would be extremely proud to teach. He's just a daft young man.

"I didn't go into teaching because I couldn't think what else to do. It was in order to become an Ed Psych. "

Sorry, I misunderstood your first post then.

I thought that you'd drifted into teaching as your studies had been interrupted by having kids.

I do agree with a pp though that if a teacher's heart isn't really in it then it's a shame for the kids.

I wonder if this is where the "those who can't, teach" comes from?

Referring to people who have used it as a fall back rather than it being what they want to do.

Hmmm, reminds me of a conversation I was having about supply teachers with DD. That little gem 'respect has to be earned' was trotted out.

I thought about it for a while, and then said, 'quite right. So what are you doing to earn that person's respect?'

Naturally enough, she looked somewhat taken aback. I had misunderstood her. The SUPPLY TEACHER should be earning the STUDENTS' respect.

I said, 'well, that supply teacher has already gone successfully through high school, they have earned their degree, they are paying their own way in life, and quite often providing for their family as well, they are getting up in front of 30+ arrogant little shites who think they know everything, and TRYING to teach them what they need to successfully get through their high school education. I'd say that there's plenty to respect right there, straight off the bat. Now, I ask again, what are YOU lot bringing to the table that automatically demands respect? Who is it that needs to 'earn' the respect?'

It seemed to give the dear wee treasure food for thought. . .

Do you know what?

I think you're amazing. I think teachers in general are amazing. It's not a dead end job, it's an essential job. I would be proud if either of my children chose to become teachers.

Me: What are you hoping to do once you graduate?
Him: I'm not sure really. If all else fails I can always enter the dead-end job that is teaching.

Isn't this because he thinks same as a large percentage of the population do that teaching is a cushy job. You are just paid to work 5 days 9 - 3 pm and have loads of holidays, right? Also anyone can teach when they have any old a degree and a PGCE can't they?

He will grow up eventually meet other peers who are Teachers and realise how hard it really is. Especially if he does Teach. .

Honestly, what does a kid of, what, 20, know? Feck all. Students can be warm, bright, clever and perceptive, but you also get layers of know-it-all arrogance and pomposity. Time enough for the daft lad to find out that he's as vulnerable to life's random twists as anyone else. He's barely out of school and sees any version of going back as a backward step and the death of ambition. It's not worth giving a second thought, honestly.

The reason you’re annoyed is because that’s what you believe about yourself

This is very possibly true. Subconscious beliefs do have unbelievable effects on many of us.

Hi lovely I am also a teacher and want to be an EP!! I would have to convert my degree from music to psychology, too, and probably move to a city that offers the PhD. It all seems a bit untenable - solidarity!!

PS I love teaching (secondary) but I'd love to do something different after 13 years, plus I never want to be senior leadership!

What a charmer he sounds!

My children have been lucky to have had exceptional teachers throughout their 11 years (so far) of schools.

When I was in school/uni teaching was often what graduates who couldn't think what else to do with their degree did. I know plenty of my peers who became teachers who would have been awful but for whatever reason most of the teachers (not all:their are still some jobsworths) in my two local schools are the type that did it because they enjoyed it and are good at it. So much so that my eldest wants to do teaching inspired by her own wonderful teachers.

Sorry I got distracted mid post. My point is that good teachers are exceptional at their job and absolutely invaluable and I cannot think of a greater compliment than your student saying: I want to be like you when I am working.

Teaching a deadend job! If you think like that, you are in the wrong profession. You are teaching and inspiring the next generation. You are helping those learn the skills they need for life. The skills I learned and know today, would not be present without the skills of the teacher, teaching me. My dd goes to a special school for Autism, the teachers and TAs there are awsome, in came a child who has distressed, anxious, and not learning, now 5 years later, I have an 11 year old, who is happy, settled and achieving at school, thanks to the teachers there.

Oh, and another thing! We have been so impressed with the energy, dedication, and high quality of the teachers our girls have been fortunate enough to enjoy in their first experience of UK schools. And given the way things have worked out, they're at an Academy Comprehensive, rather than independent or Grammar school.

Such are the subject shortages where I live that his attitude is not at all uncommon among newer teachers. They do the minimum and their subject knowledge is poor. They are now applying for promoted posts, and a few have been successful. It's all very depressing.

It doesn't apply to all younger teachers of course, but I am not exaggerating.

As a parent I feel pretty sure that your job is one of the most important and formative types of work out there!

It's a shame that your rude young accquaintance didn't think before he opened his mouth, but I suspect that what he said has more to do with his own insecurity and embarrassment of her lack of direction than to do with the reality of your profession and how valued and respected it is generally :-)

My other half is a teacher. It's only a dead end for some people, but not more or less than myriad other careers. It's drawbacks are relatively low pay, and relatively high tempo/stress. There are so many advantages though. As part of a couple, with young children ourselves, especially in combination with a partner in a higher earning career, the flexibility (it's a certain kind of flexible), holidays and impact it can have on your own children's development value it far more highly than just a salary number.

Students say all kinds of daft stuff - "Oh I could never work in a boring nine to five job" "No way would I ever work in an office" "I'll never be a wage slave" etc etc etc.

Meet most of them ten years on and guess where they're working? And lots of us have also harboured lofty thoughts of being above the normal bog standard world of work, but had to come down to earth when we left the school/University gates and had to join the real world.

I remember saying (age 13ish) to my English teacher once that I could teach as a fallback option and she was at great pains to say it was a vocation and not a fallback option! I cringe when I look back. Hope your student does too one day.

The arrogance of youth.