...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)

echt

I've seen threads on Staffroom about workload, but never on AIBU

Of course there is!
(random thread starters on AIBU that came up on google)

Mon 24-Dec-18

Teaching full-time 'unendurably hard', says Lucy Kellaway (31 Posts)

Tue 06-Mar-18
To feel broken by teaching, and need to know how to get out? (253 Posts)

Sat 30-Jul-16 Teacher rage (193 Posts)
AIBU to think that as a teacher I should be allowed a holiday and not be sat here, on a sunny Saturday working while my children have fun with Daddy in the park? Or that I shouldn't have had to stay up until midnight every night last week working? Yes, I get 6 weeks off but I want to actually have them off, not spend half the time working and planning for next year. I love the kids I work with but the volume of work I do at home is draining me

What about this?
To think a lot of people are jealous of teachers' holidays but...
too bitter about it to admit that they wouldn't be teachers themselves? (754 posts) Mon 23-Jul-18

Yeah, and look how many people replied on AIBU (31) when the OP didn't suit their narrative.

Somoen starts a 'teaching is a peice of piss really' AIBU and the thread is full.

Apologies - the first one is on staffroom.

Which is why there were only 31 replies.

Thank you, Calvinova.

I'll read them and get back.

This?

Aibu to think most people have no idea what it's like being a secondary teacher (257 Posts) Thu 06-Dec-18

I believe that most people have no idea how bad behaviour is and how most schools have feral children and no real means of control
I'm fed up. the shouting, the filthy language, the name calling, the drugs, the absolute lack of slt support

Warning!

Unless you are here to agree that teachers have it really hard and the original post is just disgraceful, I would just walk away now.

Thank goodness for that - I'm going out for the day!

I have been reading, I just haven’t posted, that is because it appears anyone who has been brave enough to voice an opinion, seams to have abuse hurled at them. Which you did immediately. So thanks for proving my point.

So if I give you my opinion you will respond to my comments and we will have a discussion? no name calling?. I just didn’t think that was a thing on this feed?. If it is, I’m happy to share what I think about the feed.

So if I give you my opinion you will respond to my comments and we will have a discussion? no name calling?. I just didn’t think that was a thing on this feed?. If it is, I’m happy to share what I think about the feed

Er, yeah. Have you RTFT?

Not really time for a discussion.

But, I'd like to point out that all the deleted posts were by non teachers (apart from one which repeated back the abuse dealt to her).

No one has hurled abuse at Clavinova, for example.

I did think that first one would be on staffroom clavinova as it is a very recognisable noble post. So, yes, when we have a chat moan amongst oursleves, things are brief and (usually) civilised. There is dissent on staffroom (often when , admittedly, a layperson enters the fray to tell us what we should think). It all kicks off on AIBU when teachers, understandably, defend themselves. At least you look for facts to formulate debates; very few do.

What Piggywaspushed said.

Do teachers work hard?

Er yeah! Of course they do. It’s a very difficult job and that is undeniable. An excess amount of red tape, not enough hours in the day, heavy work load and the job also takes a special sort of person to be able to do it in the first place. Long hours, minimal breaks, difficult situations. That shouldn’t even be up for debate.

Do teaches work harder than anyone else?(seams to be a common theme).

Er no! Of course not. It’s relative. Loads of professions work hard, go the extra mile, pay for extras out of their own pockets, stay late, not get paid overtime. Do the teachers on here agree with that or do you think you do work harder than other smililar waged professions?

Are teachers “Moaning Minnie’s”?

Now this one is very grey for me, are they just a vocal profession? Could other professions do with taking a leaf out of their books? Maybe. I guess more changes might happen. Has this feed had a lot of moaners?. Yes 100%- from both sides actually! however I think it’s probably because teachers are sick of being slagged of my the media, parents and other professions. So they are being incredibly defensive and in turn come across as moaners.

Just what I think not trying to offend anyone.

I think it’s probably because teachers are sick of being slagged of my the media, parents and other professions

Yes, it'll be that.

I gave the example earlier of a civil servant , who was actually paid more than my DH and about the same as me (my FIL as it goes). I think constantly comparing teachers to other hard pressed and poorly treated public servants isn't helpful to debate. Comparing to a patent examiner witha degree and a post grad qualification (and an ex teacher to boot) might be equally valid. Slightly fewer days holiday, but otherwise far superior working conditions (flexi time, air conditioned office, free lunches, high status and low stress, self managed workload, intellectually stimulating, clear progression based on knowledged, skills and expertise) and a far less stressful job in terms of people management ( I couldn't do it, though , as it would be dull to me). Someone else posted on a leaving teaching thread that they worked at a HEI (non academic role) and were now working their actual hours for slightly less pay and 44 days holiday. So, while it is easy (lazy?) to cite other , on the face of it, similar graduate professions with excessive workloads (and we are arguing about excess here) it is also possible to find out about similar graduate professions with better pay and conditions. This is, of course, why many teachers are leaving the profession.

No offence taken.

fair comments piggy. Also what is DH I am
New to mums net.

Nothing to say now @echt
Also I think calling some thick in pretty offensive piggy, do you not? but may because I’m new I’m not tough enough yet. #boredonmatleave

If you could change just one thing about teaching what would it be?

Am I the only one googling patent examiner?

Do teaches work harder than anyone else?(seams to be a common theme).

No teacher has said this on MN. GFs make the comparison.

Has this feed had a lot of moaners? Moaners implies a lack of substance to the complaint. It's a way of denigrating the poster, without being specific, which you do. Again. So yes, you are being offensive. As I said before thick or goady. Take your pick.

I think the moaning comment actually comes from the fact that many of the arguments put forward by the teachers on here don’t appear to be very balanced. Very little of “yes this aspect sucks, but this part is great”. Just very negative and doom and gloom, that comes across as moany to me.