To think that teachers are responsible for the school year

[Babymeanswashing]

Obviously, no other country has long school holidays in the summer. Five and a half weeks is obviously a lot, and given that non teaching spouses and non school age children get to take advantage of nice cheap holidays, I really think teachers need taking to task for this.

OK, there was obviously a heavy dose of sarcasm there in case it goes over anybody’s head, because I’ve been flamed for having the tenacity to teach and am ‘lucky’ because of the holidays.

I’m not fucking ‘lucky’! DP is paid over 80k a year, PLUS a car, PLUS a phone, PLUS gift cards for places like Argos on a regular basis for ‘loyal service.’ And while he has slightly less holiday than I do, he also has a lot more flexibility not only in the year but in his working day.

AIBU to say - go and train as a teacher if you think we are lucky. And I bloody love teaching BTW!

@Greenmarmalade

I don’t however like the narrative that they are the only profession that works long hours though. This is fundamentally untrue. My sister in law (teacher - I am related to many) posted something the other day about how teaching is the only job where you have to do work to prepare to come to work and to be honest that’s just crap.

The workload is actually impossible, if you were to do everything you were meant to/asked to do. Literally impossible.

I can’t think of any other job that compares in terms of hours worked after/before work and at weekends. I don’t know anyone apart from teachers who do 2-3 hours in the evening after working 8-5 (briefings, meetings, after school cpd, detentions, clubs) and 4 hours at weekends. And it can be much more.

Try nursery nursing then. We don't finish shifts until at least 6.if a staff meeting then it's usually 8. Then some staff have to be back in by 7 to start shift the following morning. On top of that we have tons of paper work which has to be done evenings and weekends. Far less holiday and far far less pay than teachers too. I know teachers work bloody hard but nursery staff are always overlooked. We get a rubbish hourly wage which doesn't include all the hours we work at home either.

@Greenmarmalade

Most people recognise that. But it's only really teachers who bleat about how they are misunderstood and how difficult their job is.

I think teachers ‘bleat’ because they are underpaid for these hours, and definitely undervalued in society.

Tell me another job with similar workload expectations outside of normal working hours, and which is vilified in the media and by governments.

My other issue is that I never claim to know all the ins and outs of other people’s jobs. How could I? Yet people claim to understand and know everything about my job. Why? Because they went to school? Because they have children in school? Because you know someone who works in a school? Unless you are actually doing the job, you don’t understand and know every aspect of it.

I don’t want to do something else. It’s a great job, it fits in nicely around my own family, it pays well and I enjoy it

That's great. Genuinely, pleased for you. In which case, why moan?

@Greenmarmalade

Most people recognise that. But it's only really teachers who bleat about how they are misunderstood and how difficult their job is.

I think teachers ‘bleat’ because they are underpaid for these hours, and definitely undervalued in society.

Tell me another job with similar workload expectations outside of normal working hours, and which is vilified in the media and by governments.

Social workers.

Who is doing the moaning /flaming in these situations?

Teachers won't get any grumbles from me. Having home-taught for a year, I support you wholeheartedly. And my ds likes school.

Anyone coping with 32 nine year olds every day needs a long holiday (and I know you do lesson prep then as well) .

The problem is the narrative the government are trying to spin that these pesky teachers are the ones stopping our kids from catching up on the school year.

When the reality is that the government asked the teachers to work in their summer holidays (which they don't get paid for, people seem to forget this) and didn't offer them any more money to do so. Then didn't understand why they wouldn't work unpaid for six weeks.

Oh phew. I first read this and to humour you I as going to just respond with: 😂

The media seems to be able to whip up a hatred of teachers, no idea why. If you want long holidays and expenses etc go be an MP?!

@Wimpund21

I don’t want to do something else. It’s a great job, it fits in nicely around my own family, it pays well and I enjoy it

That's great. Genuinely, pleased for you. In which case, why moan?

Where was I moaning? I was pointing out I’m not responsible for teachers hours or P and C!

You couldn't pay me enough to be a teacher!! Looking after other peoples kids all day? Trying to teach them stuff they don't want to learn? The annoyance of getting told when I must take my holidays? Irritating parents thinking they know better?

Teaching is a really hard job, so why begrudge them the so called 'benefit' of having all summer off?

My heart bleeds. You never hear any other profession whine as much as teachers about how hard by they are. If you don’t like it retrain and do something else.

@DysmalRadius

• That's unusual I think - most people know someone who does such a role or are at least aware of other jobs that take up as much /more time than teaching and very few of these offer the same perks.

For example, many people who work for themselves do these kinds of hours regularly, only without the job security, holidays, pension and progression.*

Yes- I’m sure self-employed people in certain professions do.

What perks does teaching have beyond longer holidays?

I honestly don’t know anyone who works longer hours at home.

Pp said accountant- I’d never known about this, so good to know and keep in mind.I had assumed accountants would be paid overtime.

Where was I moaning? I was pointing out I’m not responsible for teachers hours or P and C!

Oh. Sounded like moaning to me 🤷🏻‍♀️

Seriously how thick are some people on this thread

It's a chicken and egg things really:

People: Teachers have such great holidays
Teachers: Retrain if you think my job is so great

Teachers: There is no other job that has a comparable workload, I have no flexibility during term time and I do lots of work in the evening to keep up with all that is expected of me
People: Retrain if you don't like your job

It's a pointless argument.

It must have taken a while to become a teacher. What about the realities of it are different to what you expected during your training?

I honestly don’t know anyone who works longer hours at home. Pp said accountant- I’d never known about this, so good to know and keep in mind.I had assumed accountants would be paid overtime

Really? Do you think there are just one or two positions where this happens?!?

Anyone in a salaried position with some level of responsibility - whether for other people or specific cases/jobs/clients - is likely to have to pick up unpaid hours, some more often than others, to get the job/case/whatever completed.

Accountants. Solicitors. Brokers. Bankers. People managers in call centres. People managers anywhere actually. Social workers. Mid management in Councils. Mid management in anything really.

If you're salaried and have to get xyz done then you get it done. Sometimes the workload is heavy and there's not enough time. No overtime in many cases, you work until its done.

This is just standard, I'm blown away that some people are unaware of this 🤦🏻‍♀️

Nothing. Why?

(Ten months BTW.)

Teachers do not work harder than anyone else. If you’re in a profession it’s not uncommon to pull 50+ hour weeks. Surely you knew this before you got into teaching.

Bloody hell the comprehension skills on here make me think teachers deserve flaming as we are doing a shit job at teaching!

You, on the other hand, sound like a gift to guiding the next generation through their schooling

Nearly as nice as you eh anne

DH is a teacher and when people go on about the holidays he just says 'I know, bloody brilliant, isn't it? I don't know whether to spend August asleep, drunk or a bit of both!'. It tends to shut them up.

Teachers get paid a lot more than senior nurses with equivalent qualifications.

The Tory government worked out a few years ago that left-wing teachers educating the voters of tomorrow was a bad thing and massively increased their salaries. I was staggered that most of the teachers at my DC's secondary voted Tory in the last election since when I was at secondary the teachers were staunchly left-wing.

The power of money. Unfortunately senior nurses don't influence the minds of future voters so they continue to be underpaid for their level of education and responsiblity.

@Hardbackwriter

DH is a teacher and when people go on about the holidays he just says 'I know, bloody brilliant, isn't it? I don't know whether to spend August asleep, drunk or a bit of both!'. It tends to shut them up.

I’ve started doing similar. There’s no point engaging in the debate so I just wind them up.