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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

...do teachers really work that hard?

999 replies

User298895613 · 11/02/2019 09:15

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)

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 12/02/2019 22:14

I copied and pasted a swear word. I have never had a detention . My mum'll kill me.

Piggywaspushed · 12/02/2019 22:14

Never set any either. Lazy socialist that I am.

joliejoleen · 12/02/2019 22:15

@yoursarcasmisdripping

Oh, absolutely. Let me start collecting my coppers now...I might be able to treat us to a muddy slap in the face and one hot stone between the two of us... hope that's ok BABES

EffYouSeeKaye · 12/02/2019 22:17

smile Yep! 😂😂

LJdorothy · 12/02/2019 22:18

My colleagues are lovely, every single one of them. You were in the wrong school, txtbreaker, not necessarily in the wrong profession.

SmileEachDay · 12/02/2019 22:18

I just said I like swear words.
I didn’t direct them at anyone.

I think I’m off the hook.

EffYouSeeKaye · 12/02/2019 22:19

Although I really shouldn’t be virtuous about my non-swearing given my username... Blush

Piggywaspushed · 12/02/2019 22:19

I only just worked that out....

winniestone37 · 12/02/2019 22:21

Ahhhh ha ha baha ha. Do you write for the Daily mail? I'm not a teacher- I guarantee they qork much much harder then you do and I don't even know you. You're ridiculous.

cardibach · 12/02/2019 22:21

Leaving aside all the discussion about paperwork and planning and displays and all that which no-teachers question, we all can agree that teachers need to mark, right? And that perhaps 5 mins per child’s book per week would be a minimum to do that properly?
I’m an English teacher which means I teach fewer students than many (we have each class more lessons per week in core). In my last job, I worked out that to spend 5 mins per book per week would take 2 and 1/2 hours per day if you on,y worked Monday to Friday. As a classroom reacher, I got 5 hours per fortnight PPA (aka time to plan and mark). That’s not going very far, is it? My headteacher’s response to that calculation was ‘I know it’s difficult’.
So those who query the time spent working, just think about that. Then remember we also need to plan what to teach. And write reports. What happens, of course, is that you don’t spend 5 mins /book/week then get in trouble with management and parents because of it.
I’ve been teaching 30 years and mostly still like it. I’ve got more efficient and definitely work less than young teachers. But just think about that 2 and 1/2 hours.

Piggywaspushed · 12/02/2019 22:22

What's really nice about threads like this is how protective teachers are of each other and their profession.

YourSarcasmIsDripping · 12/02/2019 22:27

I might be able to treat us to a muddy slap

I'm sure i can get one of those for free at work.Grin

Touchmybum · 12/02/2019 22:28

No harder than any other professional. And I work in education.

SmileEachDay · 12/02/2019 22:30

And I work in education

What job do you do?

Rainuntilseptember · 12/02/2019 22:32

Sex education, going by the username.

StopMakingAFoolOutofMe · 12/02/2019 22:33
Grin
pinkstripeycat · 12/02/2019 22:34

Teachers are amazing. Teaching others (senior school kids) your passion when they are not interested in the subject must be so hard. I tell my kids that their teachers work hard for them so they must do the same for their teacher and themselves of course

LJdorothy · 12/02/2019 22:48

Thank you, cat.

joliejoleen · 12/02/2019 22:54

This was quite a shitty thread... but now I'm actually laughing out loud, reading the most recent comments. It just shows that teachers are amazing, and no matter how much shit (or muddy slaps) is thrown at us, we manage to laugh it all off ❤

queenqueenqueen · 12/02/2019 23:00

Stupid post

manicmij · 12/02/2019 23:04

Why are teachers unpaid for school holidays? Do they not receive payment to cover when schools are off midterm, Spring, summer breaks. Do they not pay Nat Ins for those times for if not they will be short of 12 weeks payments every year for pension purposes. Beyond me why they are only paid for approx 40 weeks each year. And yes, some do work very hard, put up with children/teenagers who have no respect. There are though others just as n other professions who do the minimum.

Misslu · 12/02/2019 23:07

I'm a teacher, have been for 8 years and I am currently considering looking for a new career, mainly because I have no idea how I can do my job to a good enough standard once I have children. I work in an outstanding school, and have done for my whole career so I'm unsure how our expectations weigh up against other schools.

My day today has been:
Wake up 6, get to school for half 7. Prep classroom, change working walls, check resources, support year group colleague with her planning, briefing, playground duty, my assembly, teach all day, management type responsibilities, feedback to rest of SLT, Mark a set of books at school, get home for half 6, mark another 2 sets of books, write end of half term newsletter.

I also have another 3 jobs I wanted to do but my brain has shut down for the night. I get to the end of the half term and I am exhausted, then I work most of it to prepare for next half term in a hope I can reduce the daily work load slightly.

My husband works for a national company, mainly visiting establishments however built into his working week he gets time just to complete his paper work. He may occasionally work long days, but can adapt his working week to accommodate this.

I feel that teaching needs a complete overhaul as I dread to think what it will be like on 10 years time, if the expectations change as rapidly as they have done in the last 8.

Sometimes it feels worth it, if you get a nice comment from a parent like I have done today. One parent told me their child asked them at home if they are special. The parent replied saying of course you are. The child then told their parent 'mum I'm really beginning to think I am, as Mrs... tells me how amazing I am, and I'm actually starting to believe it!' This came from a child who has suffered with low self confidence throughout their whole time at primary. I just wish these moments weren't outweighed by the sheer overwhelming amount of work.

Treble9 · 12/02/2019 23:11

It wasn't until I took on a clinical teaching role in my service that I realised how hard it actually is to teach and educate people and how much behind the scenes work is required. I teach adults who (mostly) want to learn. I would not be a secondary school teacher if you paid me a million quid a month. The crap they have to put up with is atrocious and I say this as someone who's worked 999 frontline NHS for 17 years and had my fair share of crap.

Tw1nsetAndPearls · 12/02/2019 23:15

Teachers and many middle class people who earn a salary whereby you get to own your home or rent in a nice area and not have to worry about the gas and electric running out in the night should never moan. I include myself in that bracket, but we're all guilty of making our middle class jobs sound like the hardest in the world we all need to get a grip! 🙄.

I am not middle class, that has pissed me off more than the accusation that I am shite at my job or lazy . WinkI have to take on a second source of income so I can afford my rent and electricity bills. You are guilty of assuming that working class people are not bright enough to fo to university or get a professional job.

I have also never claimed that my job is the hardest in the world.

AgingGeek · 13/02/2019 00:23

"Do teachers really work that hard?" In short, yes we do! (But that's not to say other professions don't have their stresses too!)

Working in a school as a teacher is a peculiar thing. Time spent in front of the class is mentally draining - one has to be firing on all cylinders at ALL times. Take your eye off the ball and things go downhill quickly. Compare this to an hour in an office environment. One hour of work will consist of bursts of intense energy but these might be broken up with an email or two, a cuppa or even a casual text. When in front of a class there is no downtime - sometimes not even pause for thought or reflection. Some teachers will be doing this for 5-6 hours a day. But this, of course, is only part of their job. There will be lesson planning, carrying out duties, marking, attending performances, talking with tutees, liaising with parents, completing paperwork and such like to boot. The holidays are amazing and certainly attracted me to the job

All in all - I love it! I'm fortunate enough to work in a school with great kids who are well behaved and hard working. I get to spend large chunks of my day enthusing young people about my passion and work in a community of fantastic individuals. (It wasn't always that way and came very close to leaving the profession when in a very different school.)

Do teachers have it easy? I would say "no" (but I would do - I'm one of them). But don't listen to me figures speak for themselves. We are struggling to recruit teachers and many of those who do join leave within the first few years. If anyone feels teachers have an easy life then put your money where your mouth is and join the profession - I'll wager you are not saying the same three years from now!

On a side note teachers (unless working supply) DO get paid during the holidays. The salary is paid monthly regardless of whether it is term time or holiday. The August pay packet is always the sweetest of the year!