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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:
Neverender · 13/02/2019 20:22

FYI if 90% of people in a job are saying it's fucking hard work for not much...it probably is...

YourSarcasmIsDripping · 13/02/2019 20:24

I'm confused about the shoe lace

That's because you're not a teacher.Grin

YourSarcasmIsDripping · 13/02/2019 20:27

@spanieleyes in some areas working for a state school qualifies as working for the council so they will have schemes for discounts for gyms that are also ran by the council.

That sentence took ages to write and still sounds crap. Sorry.

Original poster
User298895613 · 13/02/2019 20:27

I work in healthcare (and also in higher education). I regularly work til midnight or 1am and well over the hours I'm paid for. I don't get paid more than most teachers, and less than the senior ones. I dont think I get under-paid. My nursing and psychology colleagues get comparable wages. They also work over their hours. Others we work with (social workers, police, prison officers, occupational therapist) work long hours (the prison officers tend not to work unpaid hours like the rest of us, but do have a hell of a job).

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 13/02/2019 20:30

Ah, yet another public sector worker who wants to put the boot in to teachers. Wtf is that all about??

Next time I ma in hospital/ at the GPs I must rememebr all nurses think we are a bunch of whiners.

Of course, to think this would be a sweeping generalisation and grossly unfair.

Original poster
User298895613 · 13/02/2019 20:33

Well you asked what my job was piggy.. so I just thought I'd answer your question!

And for the millionth time (well, maybe 3rd or 4th!) I have consistently said teachers work hard - just not sure what's wrong with the salary or that they work any harder than anyone else ...

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 13/02/2019 20:34

Perhaps stop asking a million times then.

Original poster
User298895613 · 13/02/2019 20:34

asking what?

OP posts:
YourSarcasmIsDripping · 13/02/2019 20:37

that they work any harder than anyone else ...

You're the only one that keeps saying this.

Piggywaspushed · 13/02/2019 20:37

Really ?? You don't know what you keep saying??

not sure what's wrong with the salary or that they work any harder than anyone else .

Original poster
User298895613 · 13/02/2019 20:40

Ah I see! I will shut up :)

OP posts:
Original poster
User298895613 · 13/02/2019 20:41

(On the plus side from your perspective perhaps - I have been fairly quiet for much of the thread Smile)

OP posts:
Serin · 13/02/2019 20:46

DH switched to teaching after 20 years in the NHS.
He found the first couple if years very hard but relaxed a little as his experience grew. He works until 11pm several nights a week and stays late at work at least 3 x week for sports fixtures/open days etc.
He is great at his job and gets fantastic results in terms of both exam results and behaviour of his students.
He loves teaching, (loves the optimism of the kids that he teaches) and says that it is easier than his NHS role.

Clavinova · 13/02/2019 20:49

Do you have to keep mentioning my name? I haven't posted since 11am this morning.

The trouble with teaching of course, is that parents get to read Ofsted reports. Every time they read a report that says teaching requires improvement or teaching is inadequate, they can't help thinking that actually, some teachers just aren't very good at their jobs.

Accountants and lawyers etc. are sued all the time, which is why they pay a fortune for professional indemnity insurance (everyone makes mistakes) - but I guess you only get to read about a very small percentage of complaints in the press.

Piggywaspushed · 13/02/2019 20:51

There are a very very small number of Ofsted reports where you will find those phrases to be fair clavinova.

EffYouSeeKaye · 13/02/2019 20:51

Is £27K the national average salary or the national average postgraduate salary? Anyone know? I know the median national graduate starting salary is £30K (22K mean).

2019Dancerz · 13/02/2019 20:52

I’m not getting the earning above national average bit - that’s not the average for graduates is it? So why on earth would people who weren’t earning for four years and were instead incurring debt not expect to earn more than national average?

Piggywaspushed · 13/02/2019 20:52

... and, also, that so called 'inadequacy' may not necessarily relate to how hard, or otherwise. a teacher works.

Original poster
User298895613 · 13/02/2019 21:00

Not saying they shouldn't expect to earn more - and they do earn more! So all good there! In terms of graduate earnings, they are about bang on and if they want to progress up the leadership ladder can earn the big bucks it seems. Nothing wrong with that, it's great actually! I just didn't realise :) thought they were earning rubbish wages!

OP posts:
cricketballs3 · 13/02/2019 21:04

In terms of pay where I live it is a good wage but I wish that the pay scales would be read with realism (the ASA actually upheld complaints against adverts that suggested high salary levels).

In primary subject leads don't get TLR payments realistically, especially in single form entry only the DHT and HT will be on leadership scale (at a very low level as well)

In secondary, again the vast majority will not have TLRs so no extra money.

I'm UPS3 and do receive a TLR for a whole school responsibility and I'm not on 40K

Clavinova · 13/02/2019 21:05

I know the median national graduate starting salary is £30K

www.graduate-jobs.com/gco/Booklet/graduate-salary-salaries.jsp

According to the latest High Fliers report, The Graduate Market in 2016, the median starting salary for UK graduates in 2016 is £30,000 However, graduate-jobs.com estimates the average starting salary for graduates is £19,000 - £22,000

The problem with the majority of research conducted on graduate starting salaries is the concentration on prestigious employers who can afford to pay big money and compete for the best graduate talent.

The High Fliers report focuses on the top 100 graduate employers and therefore should not be seen as a true reflection of the market

Inaccurate figures can lead to unrealistic salary expectations among graduates. £30,000 starting salaries are not be available for everyone and it only applies to a minority of top-of-the-class graduates in the UK

Holidayshopping · 13/02/2019 21:06

(the ASA actually upheld complaints against adverts that suggested high salary levels).

Was that the ‘Great teachers earn £65k!’ advert?!

jarhead123 · 13/02/2019 21:08

They don't work any harder than anyone else, they just like to talk about it Wink

nugget900 · 13/02/2019 21:09

Teachers are supposed to be in control of an entire class of students. If you struggle with a few kids or just one imagine what a teacher has to do four days of the week. Then on top of that they had to grade piles upon piles of homework regularly. Yes, it's hard.