Is teaching really so stressful?

[summertime06]

Really trying to get my head around this without getting flamed. I have a good friend who is a teacher, part time since having kids, doing the same hours as me (I'm not a teacher), 3 days a week.

For the past year or two, all I ever heard when we met up was how stressful her job was, how difficult it was to be a teacher and a mum at the same time etc etc. I get that there's work to be done outside teaching hours, but I do the same in my completely different job and just get on with it, I think it's part of the job when you get up the pay scale/responsibility level a bit. Any time I did mention that things were similar in my job, I was put down, I couldn't possibly understand how stressful it was to be a teacher?!

And now she's made the decision to take a career break for a few years because there's just no way she can continue to be a teacher and a mum to 3 young kids. That's fine if that's what she wants to do but she's making out that she's been left with no choice but to make this decision because teaching is just so difficult. Is it just me or am I missing something? I get that it can be stressful as are lots of other jobs, but there are surely also lots of advantages? Not having to sort out summer camps and childcare during school holidays? Is it really so much more difficult and stressful compared to other jobs? I genuinely want to understand!

I don’t doubt for one minute your job is stressful. The main differences I see are 1) you only deal with one issue at a time, 2) you are seen as a figure of authority by most and therefore not challenged, 3) you aren’t constantly being reviewed and scrutinised by your employers and the government. I’m sure there are plenty more.

Both jobs have a big impact on people’s lives. Poor teaching or teaching not tailored for the individual can have a massive detrimental affect on children in a way they may never recover. If you make a mistake, it can have a massive affect on people’s lives or be deadly thus you have a very responsible job. I imagine it is frustrating your friend dismisses this.

Agree, 100% @myself2020.

“my friend didn't recognise that I also have a stressful and difficult job. I personally enjoy the challenge that it brings and it's never anything I'd ever really complain about to friends.... I rarely get nights out with friends and much prefer to enjoy those nights out rather than complain about work.....

I am supporting my friend a lot with her career break, that's really why I wanted to understand it all more, I've been a counsellor for the past 10 years so am very used to being in this role.....”

How would she know how stressful your job is if you don’t like to talk about it? you clearly don’t enjoy being in a supportive role as much as you claim

I think it’s also teachers moan because you can see how good teaching could be. So much more doable without pointless paperwork, the judgement of SLT and the endless threat of something ; parents, Ofsted, missing a safeguarding issue.

It’s like driving an old car. Of course you're grateful you have a car that gets you to work. But it’s a stress every time you go somewhere because you know there’s a chance it will break down and you’re on edge listening to the creaks and rattles.. You wouldn’t have that stress with a new car. You just get in and turn the key every morning.

Sorry I haven't read the whole thread. There are lots of stressful jobs but I think what is uniquely stress about school teaching is that you are a) performing all day with relatively little time away from your 'clients' b) held directly responsible for your outcomes - whether little Jonny learns to write c) dealing with small irrational people who don't always do what you say d) these small irrational people have parents who will be on you if they think you are not doing your job properly e) senior managers who monitor your performance with an eye to the overall school performance and that can breed a very political environment f) you are making alot of of-the-moment judgements and decisions so plenty of things to second-guess yourself about when you get home g) lesson prepping.
Just a few reasons why teachers have my sympathy.

@summertime06 With respect, your posts do sound like you are trying to make it a competition. I don't think you'll find a teacher who doesn't acknowledge that lots of jobs are stressful, including their own. I was late to teaching and in my past life was in one particularly high stress role for a few years, but nothing could have prepared me for teaching. I definitely didn't understand before I was in the role myself.

With the situation you have with your friend, if it's on your mind and bothering you so much, you either have to tell her, back off from the friendship, or offer support to her. You say you are a counsellor, so perhaps you could use that to help, if you feel inclined.

Are you dealing with 30 patients at a time OP?

Obvious question imv which may have been asked above.

That's the stress imv - dealing with one person even if they're drunk/ mentally unstable/deaf whatever is not the same as trying to manage 30.

I have friends who are teachers, and think it must be a very stressful job TBH.To stand up in front of 30 odd children ,and gain their attention is something of an impossible task!.The government are always changing the rules and moving goalposts too.I think it is different to many jobs as you are responsible for your pupils progress, and it is hard to "switch off" especially at senior level .KS1 and KS2 are difficult too.Reception/year 1 are also hard as you are also trying to "get them ready" for more challenging years ahead .

Unfortunately we do have to sort out childcare over the holidays, costs me a small fortune at nursery but got to be done in order to get work done.

Also, re the comment of why aren’t we leaving the profession; I’ve worked and worked at this for years. I think I’m pretty damn good at it, so I don’t want to give up something I see as my vocation for an 8-6 job that I have no passion for.

@PickAChew

Fuck to the yes.
I don’t teaching is for you.

My ex is a maths teacher, he is also the school SENDCo, before he was a teacher he worked in banking. He found teaching really stressful, but very rewarding, especially lower ability sets.

He is quitting teaching and going back to banking, he can’t wait to only be working a 40 hour week, not be verbally abused, physically attacked or treated as incompetent by SLT.

I'm currently taking a career break from teaching. I have a 2 year old and an 8 month old. I went back part time (3 days a week) when my first was 8 months and I could barely cope. I was at school until 7 marking those 3 days. I still had to take books home to make andmarkdd during my lunch. We had a ridiculous marking policy. At the weekend I spent one whole day planning my lessons and making resources and power points. During reports and parents evening, I had to come in on days off to liaise with partner teacher. Reports took a solid two weeks to write. I had phone calls on days off to ask about pupils. Sometimes I came in as that was only day parents could meet. I had to do a subject coordinator role so that was another thing to keep me up. Then we had assessment grids to fill out after every lesson to say if each child met objective or not. We had to deep mark written work each week which was using a check list against writing. Assemblies,school masses, sports days, fetes all needed extra commitments. Appraisals needed a whole portfolio. I absolutely adore teaching in the classroom and never found it stressful standing up in front of a class. It was the extra stuff that came with the job. When both my children are in school, I will go back as I can't imagine doing anything else but yes it is stressful. Often the school doesn't take into account family commitments.

I wonder what would happen in the OP’s workplace if a patient came through the door, was asked to wait in a particular chair, then called her a fucking cunt and threatened to smash her fucking head in?

A. Police called and patient removed, then banned from the surgery for abusive behaviour
B. Patient asked politely to leave, but on the understanding he/she would come back tomorrow for a “fresh start”, and no choice for the OP about whether or not to serve said person.
C. Patient back tomorrow, no choice of whether or not to serve him or her, but a list of “triggers” sent round in the interim, including “It makes me angry when people tell me what to do”, just to make sure she doesn’t repeat her error.

Despite the assurances, this yet more coat-trailing, anti-teacher rubbish. Perhaps you should just believe what your “good friend” has told you?

Or, a patient walks into the surgery with visible racist commentary somewhere on her body. OP asks that it is covered or removed (and reports to her manager, as per the policy). Patient says he/she doesn’t see why they should remove it. OP insists.

A) Patient banned from surgery and matter reported to police.
B) Patient banned from surgery but no police report made as no evidence.
C) Patient not banned from surgery, and instead transferred to a different pharmacist in the same building because of OP’s “bullying” and “targeting” of patient, and patient allowed to come in and tell OP that patient got moved because patient hated OP.

Anyone who is a teacher and is working from 6am to 8pm every day is either a fool or in the wrong job.

Teachers sign a working time agreement at the start of the year which accounts for a 35 hour working week. This is signed by the trade union and the headteacher and any teacher who routinely works much longer than this needs to discuss this with both of these parties. Of course, some teachers work a few extra hours a week, and this shows dedication to the children.

But, as a parent, if my children's teacher was working 60 or 70 hours a week I would consider this counter to effective teaching and learning.

@starzig
Really? A normal workload? So 14 hours unpaid work at home every week. Every week. I include my ‘annual leave’ weeks in that. And that’s a normal workload week. Double, triple it for when it’s parents evening week, report writing month, Ofsted are coming...... and that’s after 7.30-5 as a shift 5 days a week.

My school have a light marking policy so I expect it’s still worse for some schools where the teachers are taking books home to mark too.

I’ve said this before on here. Dh has a job with the emergency services dealing with very serious incidents where people regularly are very seriously injured and/or die and he has to make safety critical decisions very quickly to bring situations under control.

He used to be a teacher, but found it too stressful.

I am still a teacher, and in my experience it’s not the kids that make things so difficult, it’s the management and staff culture. If You have a great head and management team who protect you from difficult parents and respect your individual subject knowledge and allow you to teach accordingly then life is stressful but good. You have a micromanaging and indecisive SLT? Your life will be a misery.

@Aw82 are you in Scotland? Teachers in England have no such agreement. Ours is 1265 directed time hours per year PLUS any amount of time needed to complete professional duties. The 1265 is when the Headteacher can tell you to be on school premises. The work outside of this is legally uncapped!!!!

I'm not a teacher but you couldn't pay me to be one. They are saints. 30 of our little darlings with different personalities and needs, managing their behaviour and somewhere in all that making sure you teach them things and if possible inspire them to be the best version of themselves? and then go home and do it with your own 3?
To be honest I am sure some teachers can do this but if she can't or doesn't want to then so what. There are many professions I would find stressful - others I would find enjoyable - everyone is different.

But, as a parent, if my children's teacher was working 60 or 70 hours a week I would consider this counter to effective teaching and learning.

And it is. But if the work is given to someone and they are told it is “non-negotiable” and it’s very clear that they will either get through it or be on capability, what are they going to do?

And don’t say go to your union. Your union wouldn’t back you up if you unilaterally refused to work more than 35 hours.

Anyone who is a teacher and is working from 6am to 8pm every day is either a fool or in the wrong job.

So if you found out that 80% of teachers were indeed working these hours (or the equivalent), you’d say they were all fools or needed to be replaced? Replaced by whom?

I’ve been a TA for 11 years. Initially it was with the intention of training to teach but I changed my mind. I get to work with and help children, do a job that matters and is satisfying and walk away at the end of the day.
The teachers I work with however, are all highly stressed and overworked. The culture around parents has changed. They complain much more, want to know every detail of their child’s day but don’t support the teacher/child in terms of discipline, homework etc

You are running on adrenaline all day. Mentally you don't get a break as you have to fire on all cylinders all the time and physically you are on your feet and constantly moving. Yes it is exhausting.

Anyone who is a teacher and is working from 6am to 8pm every day is either a fool or in the wrong job.

And so it begins... the wide eyed 'just asking a question' thread becomes a platform for anyone and everyone to chip in their 2p on a job they don't do.

It's probably best if people don't entertain goady comments designed to inflame the thread.