...do teachers really work that hard?

[User298895613]

I know the general idea on AIBU is that teachers work load is ridiculous, that they work extra hard and that they never never stop to the point that they r all seemingly leaving the profession.

But, AIBU to wonder if they are any different to anyone else? and actually might have it a bit easier? I mean, I also work myself into the ground, am exhausted, never stop etc... But I don't have summer holidays off to look after my kids, and I often work well into the small hours at night.

I'm not saying teachers don't work hard, but sometimes on munsnet I just feel like some teachers kind of spend a lot of time complaining about the workload, when maybe it's just the same as everyone elses, but with a nice long summer holiday?

(Sorry, I appreciate this will really inflame some posters, but it just had been annoying me lately)

Most professional people I know do a full day at work

A lovely day getting on with work in a peaceful office where you’re not being screamed at or attacked or abused or having to micromanage 30 people and force them to work, is in no way comparable to teaching. I bet they get to have a coffee while they work, or maybe even listen to music, they probably sit down most of the time, and they can go for a wee whenever they want, and have an actual lunch break and a conversation with another adult.

Teaching is more like doing crowd control and self defence while being on stage performing. After a 3 hour lesson you’re exhausted.

The number of people in teacher training in Scotland has gone up for the third year running, according to new figures

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-46501068

Student primary teacher intake (Scotland) rose to 2,082 and exceeded targets for 2018

Today's teacher census figures provide further confirmation of the growing teacher recruitment and retention crisis. The Scottish Government lauds the fact that teacher numbers are now at their highest level since 2007, but we also have a large increase in the number of pupils in our schools which means that pupil-teacher ratios remain at an absolute standstill compared to last year."

Would we call 0.6% a crisis?

When that translates as 1400 in teacher numbers, and when 8000 more are needed by 2024 just to match rising pupil numbers, yes.

Christ, when even the Dfe admit there's a crisis,you have to know that you are clutching at straws there.

When that translates as 1400 in teacher numbers, and when 8000 more are needed by 2024 just to match rising pupil numbers, yes

Lower birth rate to ease England's school place race
Pupil numbers in nurseries and primaries to peak in 2019 with secondaries rising until 2025

www.theguardian.com/education/2018/jul/12/england-school-places-lower-birth-rate-pupil-numbers-peak-primary-secondary-rising

Teaching is more like doing crowd control and self defence while being on stage performing. After a 3 hour lesson you’re exhausted.

Every day?
You are taking extreme examples to try to exaggerate a point.

Incidentally, the Aldi example was for an Area manager, so again not really a fair comparison.
There are plenty of graduates who start on a lower salary than teaching.

I’d say every day Cath yes! (Hint is to bold posts when you’re quoting someone, hard to understand otherwise.
The Aldi job is a straight-out-of-uni one, so a good comparison to someone choosing to go into teaching following their degree. Obviously other jobs at Aldi are available

The problem with comparing grad schemes is that either the teachers didn’t apply for grad schemes like Aldi or, if they did, they didn’t get on them. Teaching isn’t particularly competitive to get into. For some subjects you just walk into training. Aldi and other higher payers will be far more difficult to get into. Teachers can earn decent money if they get promoted. It’s not a race to the bottom of salaries either. Many career teachers want more money than the basic and put the effort in to get it.

The huge problem in teaching is that it needs the successful Aldi grads to become SLT in education. There is insufficient management training undertaken by teachers in schools for SLT roles. They wing it. Therefore in many schools leadership is poor. You get up the pole by wanting it, putting in the graft or being good at your subject. Managing people in any meaningful way isn’t on the job description - ever!

The Aldi grad pay is very high. Typical grad engineers starting pay after 4 years MEng might be £27-32,000. Many of those might have also applied for banking and management grad schemes where they would have started on substantially more. Lots of grad schemes pay lower than the top grad schemes. Pay doesn’t always reflect qualifications. It might reflect what you really want to do though!

I used to teach secondary. It was in a bad area with some very challenging students. This was a discussion which came up a lot and you had a massive variety of opinions among the staff. Some agreed with the majority on here that it was very hard with VERY long hours but others said that it wasn't quite so much. I think I fall into that second camp- it was definitely challenging and I think it should have been paid better (to answer your original OP, YES WE DO WORK HARD) but that's not unique to teaching. With regards to marking, we weren't expected to do much unless it was something very important which they needed feedback on ( I find this now with my older DC in years 11 and 8, work is rarely marked) so I rarely worked excessive hours. You have to organise your time well (this was when I was younger and I started without DC, so less to do outside of work) but it was manageable and I really loved my job.

Yes they bloody do and get little rewards. I teach yr 5. Today I have taught all day, done break time duty and marking during lunchtime. A girl called me a ginger bitch so that's the thanks we get.

If indeed teachers don't work that hard, try it yourself! All those holidays alone are an incentive, surely? What about the mere 6 hours a day they work?

It's hilarious how these threads are always started by people without the experience or evidence to back up their declaration. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

I see that OP has been incredibly active in thus discussion.

Yeah she’s busy looking after her bridge.

Only teachers can leave at 3.10pm.
Only teachers can have 6 weeks of continuous vacation in the summer.
Only teachers have a week (at least) off every six weeks.

I get it, you guys work hard. But admit that there are perks to the job! You're teaching kids, not saving the world! Please stop going on about how hard you have it!

Two out of those points are factually inaccurate.
Was someone mean to you at school, halfwit?

@halfwit

You ever taught 29 10 year olds then ?

You're teaching kids, not saving the world
Well, without an education system this country would go to shit, so...

There are perks to the job, undoubtedly, but teachers can go on about their jobs as much as they want. If your job and work ethic were constantly being questioned, you'd step in to defend it as well.

Which 2, rain?

Khteach : yes.

You ever taught 29 10 year olds then ?

I know this was not aimed at me, but I but this is such a silly retort, and I often trotted out on threads like this one.

I don't suppose the OP has tried to teach 29 10-year-olds, but then I don't suppose she has done lots of things.
Just because you have not done something does not mean you can't have an opinion on it - otherwise no one would be allowed to comment on the Royal family or the Government

Well, obviously the third one since half term can exceed six weeks and usually does!

Actually on review none of them are correct - there are term time only jobs that aren’t teaching, I can’t leave at 3.10 as classes go on to 3.45 (and then I can’t leave anyway cause, well, work) and my next term is 8 weeks long. None of these are bad things but just replying to your comments.

The problem with comparing grad schemes is that either the teachers didn’t apply for grad schemes like Aldi or, if they did, they didn’t get on them.

The huge problem in teaching is that it needs the successful Aldi grads to become SLT in education

Errr, some people would rather teach than work for Aldi because they, for example, believe in the value of good education. I can assure you that that the many issues in education will not be solved by parachuting in Aldi managers 😂

My friend got his arm broken by a stroppy 6 foot teenager who threw a chair at him. He's now retired on medical grounds.
This happen a lot to managers at Aldi you reckon?
Op is a troll and clueless. HTH.

There should be a law that half terms can’t exceed 6 weeks.