...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)

I've only just seen this thread. Typical goady OP, but a great debate. Pity the OP hasn't come back to defend her position.

I don't know why some people still insist on believing the myth that teachers finish work at 3:30 and have wonderfully long summer holidays. I know that's not been the case for the friends I've had who have been teachers and my DH was brought up by two teachers, though his mum was mostly a supply teacher. His dad was a secondary school teacher who he says he virtually never saw during term time and used to work half the holidays. When they finally got away on holiday as a family, he used to want to go to places like the Outer Hebrides, as far away from children as he could get.

But then I'm sure there are lots of jobs that are stressful, and I think it's sad that there has to be a competition to prove who has it the hardest.

But then I'm sure there are lots of jobs that are stressful, and I think it's sad that there has to be a competition to prove who has it the hardest

The only competition exist in the minds if those who like to rank occupations. but amazingly only ever pick on teachers as somehow not working hard. Ever seen a thread like this binning off nurses/doctors/etc.? No, and you won't, and not because these professions are full of hard workers or quintessentially harder. It's because teachers are the easy target of the hard of thinking.

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.

No one said teachers are not paid during the holidays. But they are not paid for them.

Not in a million years would I be a teacher. My mum was one, and a single parent, and she would be up until all hours! Also spent time in her holidays at school sorting her classroom etc

In my experience teachers work very hard, all the shit they have to put up with as well. The job and 30 little not so easy minds to mould.... although I think maybe high school teachers I feel sorry for more, the kids of today are worse than I’ve seen in along time and I tell you if I was a teacher don’t think I could manage them smart mouthing or abusing me without retaliation of some kind.

Bloody hell is this still going. Out of interest I am currently marking my year 5s homework.

We are 800 threads in and nobody has mentioned that lazy teachers should do their Inset days during their holidays. I just thought I’d get that covered so it doesn’t get forgotten!

Teaching assistants are being used as cheap teachers too. Worst job ever.

I think a lot of posters should re-read the original op before they post.

Feenie

No one said teachers are not paid during the holidays.But they are not paid for them

Teachers' employment rights summary: independent sector

www.atl.org.uk/advice-and-resources/rights-and-conditions/teachers-employment-rights-summary-independent-sector

It is standard practice for teachers to be entitled to take all school holidays as paid annual leave, although your employer may reserve the right to require you to attend for one or two days in the holiday.The entitlement should be the same if you are a part-time teacher, although your pay will be no more than your weekly pay during term time.

Benefits of teaching in Scotland:
teachinscotland.scot/being-a-teacher/benefits-of-teaching/

A teacher’s full working year is 195 days–which includes 5 days of in-service training.Every year, you’ll get 40 days’ holiday at full pay.

I handed my notice in yesterday and doubt I will be a full time class teacher again. I am not afraid of hard work and would be prepared to work 70 hour weeks if I was sufficiently remunerated OR if I felt I was able to use that time to get everything finished and do a good job.

Instead I feel I could work every minute of the day, never sleep and would still not finish everything that needs to be done. It's soul destroying.

My new job is still education related but all I will be doing is teaching, planning and assessing. Can't wait to start. ☺

A teacher’s full working year is 195 days–which includes 5 days of in-service training.Every year, you’ll get 40 days’ holiday at full pay.**

Exactly. But not 13 weeks pay.

smart arse

I knew I could rely on you Feenie

I haven't RTFT but as a teacher myself, actual teaching is the easiest part. What's killing is marking. Three classes of 30 students per week. I come home and spend all evening marking. Weekends too at exam time and at the end of term. Plus prep. It's vastly underpaid but it's what I know and what I trained to be.

40 days is 5.7 weeks.

So basically Xmas and Easter, with one and a bit half terms paid.

Slightly more than granted to other people due to the fact that teachers can't choose when to take their holidays.

I see Clav is back with her extensive copy and paste skills and her chip on her shoulder about teaching.

BorisBogtrotter
I would count 40 days paid leave as 8 weeks pay.

I see Clav is back with her extensive copy and paste skills and her chip on her shoulder about teaching

You'll notice that Feenie keeps providing the bait though.

Yes. I know lots of them, and they really really do. I admire them greatly, I work damn hard in my job - but what they do is really something.

" would count 40 days paid leave as 8 weeks pay."

Except it isn't.

40 days is 5.7 weeks.

“You get 6 weeks paid holidays and 7 weeks unpaid” said no one to a teacher, ever. The assumption is always that 13 weeks are paid.
6 weeks is not an unusual amount among my friends to have off work each year. Are they unusual for professionals?

BorisBogtrotter

I've been following this thread on and off since it started and posted a few times. The current shift to holiday pay was not started by me - I could have linked to holiday pay long before now (plenty of other posters have mentioned the lack of it), but I didn't. I don't get your problem with a legitimate link.

If you want to nitpick the Teach in Scotland link, you'll need to read this as well;
Teachers work a 35 hour week with a maximum of 22.5 hours devoted to class contact time. New teachers tend to work longer hours in the beginning

teachinscotland.scot/being-a-teacher/benefits-of-teaching/

www.gov.uk/holiday-entitlement-rights

Working 5 days a week
Most workers who work a 5-day week must receive at least 28 days’ paid annual leave per year.This is the equivalent of 5.6 weeks of holiday

Blimey clavinova you’re like a dog with a bone! You must be bored shitless in whatever job you do (or don’t do!)

Blimey clavinova you’re like a dog with a bone! You must be bored shitless in whatever job you do (or don’t do!)

I agree, several posters don't like my copy and paste skills - took me 10 seconds to find a link to 28 days/5.6 weeks.

Rule of thumb guide, over a very long career, was that those who complained regularly of overwork mostly didn't shift as much work as those that didn't complain, but simply got on with doing it.
As for being a teacher, policeman, a GP/Nurse etc or any of the professions that deal on a daily basis with the general public, I wouldn't want the job. Nothing to do with workload, but simply the average man/woman/child in the street/classroom are not all that pleasant. They have too much interest in I/ME/MINE and would do almost anything to get MORE for I/ME/MINE.