...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)

18 weeks? You're having a laugh!

Other professions work just as hard, I agree but the highs and lows of teaching are probably unique. As with every other profession most just buckle down and get on with it. It's the vocal few who bang on and on about their struggles but don't actually do anything about managing their own careers.
When your child has a teacher who inspires them, supports them and is on their side, the difference it can make to their futures is astonishing. There are usually one or two in every school.

I think it depends. I was an infant teacher 1992-2006 and it wasn’t that hard. Marking was done during lessons or at lunch, because they were little they didn’t produce much so I never had to mark at home. Planning was a couple of hours at the weekend and once PPA time was introduced I could do that then during my allocated time during the week. I arrived at 8 and left between 4 and 6pm depending on what needed doing. Parents evening took up 4 evenings a year. Report writing was time consuming and took several weeks working 2-3 hours each evening but that was just once a year. I did do a lot of planning in the summer for the year ahead which meant I didn’t have much to do at half terms, Easter or Xmas.

However once you get to top juniors or secondary the marking is going to increase rapidly and I believe other things (targets etc) have been implemented since I left which have definitely increased workload.
I certainly enjoyed being a teacher and at the time would have recommended it especially if you were a well organised person. Not sure I’d back now tho...

Nicol90 I stopped reading at 'private school'...

I must agree you always hear teachers work so hard and have never ending work. It more than likely is a very stressful, pressure filled job but that doesn't mean that other jobs aren't. I feel that teachers like to exaggerate a bit about it. They do have it easier as they have the summer holidays, half terms and weekends! Not saying they don't have work to do in that time but for those of us that aren't teachers we don't get 10+ weeks off a year! So our jobs will be equally as stressful if not more as we don't have those weekends/extra long holidays to wind down and recharge.

It's such a cushy job that I'm having to go part time just so that I can see my own children...

Also worked at many state schools, they were lovely.

Hi OP
I'm a secondary school teacher. I work around 50 hours per week, this increases to about 55-60 from April-early June and drops to about 20 during school holidays. I work weekends during term time but take weekends off during school holidays. I also take about 5 days off over Xmas and 5 full glorious weeks off over summer.
I love my job -otherwise I wouldn't do it! Sounds like you like the idea of it too? Join us! There is a huge shortage in the profession at the moment - retention is really low (I think because the job is too easy/teachers get bored with all the free time/ something like that).
It only takes 5 years to gain the education and training required (funded by you I'm afraid) but you can then earn a starting salary of a whopping £21k!

Can't wait to have you on board X

Do you leave the house at 6.30am, get home at 7.30pm (on a good day, not including parents evenings/meetings), have half an hour to yourself and then do 3 more hours of work? Every night?

Well, actually, I do. I work longer hours than this plus commute internationally weekly.
As do other people in non-teaching professions work incredibly long hours.
But I don't for one second doubt teachers work incredibly hard in an incredibly important and pressured role nor would I undermine how hard they work.

I just think it's important to remember other people work equally hard in other jobs too.

It's not really a fair comparison unless you can walk in the other persons shoes.

Teachers do work hard (as do many public sector) but you have to ask if they are carrying the same levels of responsibility that other public service workers are making involving literally life and death everyday? NHS, Police, Fire all arguably carry greater immediate responsibility and this is reflected somewhat in their it and conditions. I also personally believe that Teachers don't help themselves by enabling schools to exploit and take advantage of their working conditions.

I also work public service and if something needs doing outside my hours, you are damn sure I am claiming overtime at the appropriate overtime rate. No pay and it's not getting done. That is the culture of 'my' organisation.
Teachers have allowed themselves to get into a situation whereby organisationally they believe/are told it's the children that suffer if things don't get done and so do it in their own time. I don't believe this to be true as it's a falsehood perpetrated by their organisations. If teachers truly 'worked to rule', schools would have to soon change their policies/practices.

I think as with all jobs, it has its perks (summer holidays). It also has a lot of stress, report writing the day in day out wear and tear of having to multitask lesson planning, classroom management and endless paperwork. I think my point was really that if you are prepared to do all that stuff + be organised. I think the pay off is wonderful. Both because it’s great to be around kids (they’re hilarious) and because it’s nice to spend time with your own kids in the summer holidays. I would hate to think kids don’t think about a career in teaching because they don’t think it’s any good / got it’s perks. It definitely does and it really is a lovely job to have I think.

I think if you landed any of these ridiculously paid CEOs or hedge fund managers in a class of 30 5 year old for a week they’d have given up before 11am on the first day. And be crying out for more money, much more.

Mol5

You might well do those hours. I very much doubt that you earn £23k for the privilege though.

But occasionally , we don't have overtime and so we can't claim it at any rate, let alone the appropriate rate.

Lots of children I teach do actually want to become teachers, as it goes. It is still a popular career choice. The trouble is they are lured somewhere else, or they begin and drop out when they discover they aren't treated like professionals,and that their years of academic learning and post graduate training have us viewed as 'lower order' public servants.

@lou12124
What fucking weekends?! Seriously?! I spend all weekends planning and marking! I deserve a 6 week holiday when I've given all my weekends up!

That is great some of them want to be teachers. A lot of mine say they don’t want to because “it’s not a very good job” or “not as good as being a .....”. It’s a real shame, lots of them would make fantastic teachers! It is very true, teachers are very often treated like crap / not respected. The kids see it and think “hmmm don’t really want that for myself”.

@Nicol90

Because you work in a PRIVATE school.
Numpty.
Yeah, kids are hilarious. Especially when they put a plastic bag over someone's head or throw a chair at you or call you a dumb bitch.
Fucking HILARIOUS.

“
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?”

Quite a few errors in that paragraph. I can see you didn’t respect and pay enough attention to your teacher 🤪

i haven't RTFT but this is a subject which we are all involved in in some way as most of us have or have had kids at school.
I personally do not know how my DS 7yr old teacher copes, she is amazing and I will tell her so one day, the pressure and complexity is incredible.
She has the responsibility of the lives of these children, a mistake can effect them forever.
I have nothing but admiration for teachers
yes they work hard, too hard and are incredible IMO

😂 if your time wasn't spent on mumsnet debating how hard you work and actually were working the late hours you supposedly work then you may have your weekends back 🤷‍♀️ just a thought...

I have worked exclusively in state schools. It was only in the last year I moved. I have had many of the experiences of kids kicking in doors and coming into school with knives and am not a complete sheltered idiot. I still very much enjoyed working in state schools and will most probably go back. The kids were some of the best I have ever taught. Teaching is bloody great, whatever school you are in!

I taught for 30 years and I think people who think it’s a cushy job with long holidays should try it for 2 weeks and then comment.

noblegiraffe
If that’s your example of a stressful day, you just nicely solidified ‘my woe is me’ attitude.

Very little on this thread has covered what a rewarding and enjoyable job it is. I think maybe teachers aren’t moany but maybe ungreatful for what the incredible position they are in. To shape the future and make a difference.

Just wondering why teachers? I never see any threads questioning whether doctors, lawyers, builders work hard! Why is it always the teaching profession that is picked on! No one really knows how ‘hard’ anyone works compared to others. Btw I’m not a teacher, just find these threads pointless and unnecessary!

😂 if your time wasn't spent on mumsnet debating how hard you work and actually were working the late hours you supposedly work then you may have your weekends back 🤷‍♀️ just a thought

This is very funny 😂