Those who think teaching is easy should put their money where their mouth is

[noblegiraffe]

Teacher training applications which rose during the pandemic have now fallen to 15% below pre-pandemic levels when we already had a critical teacher shortage. The government's decision to slash bursaries is now looking completely idiotic.

www.tes.com/news/teacher-training-applications-drop-pre-covid-levels

The only thing that the government has put an appreciable amount of funding into recently related to schools is £24 million to ensure that they will all be Ofsteded within the next 5 years. With inspectors expected to massively reduce the number of outstanding schools, this is a punishing schedule rather than a supportive one.

This is causing Heads to quit, on top of how terribly they were treated during the pandemic (this continued with an email late Friday telling them that they once again have to take on the job of the NHS and set up covid testing centres for January, with orders needing to be in by Tuesday).

We already have a critical shortage of headteachers.

www.theguardian.com/education/2021/nov/27/ofsted-inspections-headteachers-quit

I've noticed lots of posts on here from people who think that teaching is easy, that school funding is fine and there are no issues in schools, that you can leave at 3 and get lots of holidays.

So isn't it about time they put their money where their mouth is and trained as teachers? We are in dire need of them, and it's such a doss it should be a pleasure for them. A bit of a holiday even. And as it would be a public service, it would be guilt-free.

getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/

From what I read on here, there is little respect towards teachers in the UK.

It shocks me, most classes in Ireland have 2 qualified teachers and extra support teachers for reading and mathematics sometimes 3 in the classroom during lift off reading.

From providing class stationery, long paperwork trials, under staffing, headteachers bossing unnecessarily, harsh unattainable deadlines, impossible due to staffing support issues, it seems like a thankless job.

The government will regret it in 10 years when no-one is training.

That odd thing is a lot of people in real life realise it is very tough. When I retrained as a teacher a few years ago (secondary). Most people looked at me like I was mad and said I was incredibly brave.

Not sure where the real life “teaching is easy, they all finish work at 3pm” crowd are in real life. I’ve only seen them on line, so they do exist but thankfully I’ve never had a real conversation with one.

The proof is in the pudding. The amount of people I know who take the piss out of teachers and tell them to go and get a 'proper' job! Well now when their DC hasn't got a qualified teacher in front if them/class has closed due to staffing, I just nod and smile and say well that's what you get! Many have voted with their feet and it's too late for moaning now.

I never see anyone saying anything of the sort! Lots of posts complaining about "teacher bashing" though

My view - it's not an easy job but not the hardest job out there either and does come with some decent benefits like pension and school holidays (also downsides like very little term time flexibility)

What we need are good teachers, not just anyone with an expectation it will be great as a childcare option. I expect applications fell in part because people realised that if they couldn't homeschool their own child without pulling their hair out, they may not want to work with 30.

I don’t understand people who bash teachers. Honestly, you couldn’t pay me double their salary to have to deal with the bureaucracy, the pressure and the hours my friends tell me about - let alone actually having to stand in front of kids every day and attempt to have them learn something!

I never see anyone saying anything of the sort!

How about this recently deleted thread?

What we need are good teachers, not just anyone with an expectation it will be great as a childcare option

We're way, way beyond the ability to be picky now.

Tbf @noblegiraffe I only want my children taught by someone like me - has always wanted to be a teacher, went straight into it from Uni (I know that means I haven’t experienced ‘real life’ according to mumsnet) and still love being in the classroom. I also want my children taught by those who came into teaching later but are dedicated and committed.

The people who see it as 9-3.30, holidays galore and a job fetched from reality are welcome to stay in their ‘real life’ job.

I think there are enough of the right kind of teachers but we need to stop losing them. My friend and I are the second type mentioned by mother and we're both looking for a path out after 10 years. It's not because we don't enjoy teaching!

Obviously everyone wants their child to have a good teacher, mother but we don't have anywhere near enough of them.

Maybe some of these who think it's cushy would fall in love with the job and become good teachers like those of us who have been doing it a long time did.

My view - it's not an easy job but not the hardest job out there either and does come with some decent benefits like pension and school holidays (also downsides like very little term time flexibility)

I don’t think I’ve ever heard a teacher say it is the hardest job in the world. For example I wouldn’t swap with anyone currently working in the NHS. Policing also looks very hard.

Teachers are allowed to say it’s a tough gig. That’s not a claim that it’s the hardest job known to man.

It shocks me, most classes in Ireland have 2 qualified teachers and extra support teachers for reading and mathematics sometimes 3 in the classroom during lift off reading.

What school do your kids go to?! I have never heard of any school here that has 2 teachers per class. We have some of the highest pupil-teacher ratios in Europe. There is no such thing as a Teaching Assistant, the way that there is in the UK. There are Special Needs Assistants, but they are assigned to a particular child, not to a class.

@WhenSheWasBad

My view - it's not an easy job but not the hardest job out there either and does come with some decent benefits like pension and school holidays (also downsides like very little term time flexibility)

I don’t think I’ve ever heard a teacher say it is the hardest job in the world. For example I wouldn’t swap with anyone currently working in the NHS. Policing also looks very hard.

Teachers are allowed to say it’s a tough gig. That’s not a claim that it’s the hardest job known to man.

I have seen a lot of teachers on here talking about how hard it is and the recruitment crisis. But you could say the same thing about social work, midwifery, nursing... Policing also looks like a tough gig to me. I don't think I have ever seen a thread like this one about those other professions.

I hadn't seen the thread about school funding - probably cos it was deleted. I don't know if I just miss them but I really don't think I have ever seen a post saying "teachers all finish at 3, such an easy job" but open to someone finding one

@Phineyj

I think there are enough of the right kind of teachers but we need to stop losing them. My friend and I are the second type mentioned by mother and we're both looking for a path out after 10 years. It's not because we don't enjoy teaching!

@Phineyj That is so sad. It’s a travesty that we lose excellent teachers but I don’t think the government cares unless it’s a body in front of the class.

You could not pay me enough to be a teacher in the UK.

The arguments about whether it's a difficult job or not become irrelevant when you have a recruitment crisis don't they?
Just like the NHS/lorry drivers/carers/hospitality and any other jobs that had recruitment holes plugged with people from overseas.
Societies infrastructure relies on these posts being filled or things start to unravel. More pay or better working conditions to meet supply and demand.

Here you go, Classic, one from yesterday www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/a4412045-English-schools-to-do-onsite-covid-tests-again-after-Xmas?msgid=112836037#112836037

Teaching doesn’t pay enough to have a nice lifestyle. That’s why many don’t do it. I really wanted to be a teacher when I was a teen but I’m glad I didn’t.

I'm not a teacher but still get what your saying, I've experienced similar in other jobs too. People very quick to moan about a particular vocation/job but wont step up even if there is nothing to stop them doing it.
Even when they moan about specific things regarding the jobs and it is explained to them why they are 'Yeah but, why this and why that'. They always knock back what your saying and find another problem.
I'm 46 worked in 3 different industries and had repeated problems like this in two of them.

@Classicblunder

I never see anyone saying anything of the sort! Lots of posts complaining about "teacher bashing" though

My view - it's not an easy job but not the hardest job out there either and does come with some decent benefits like pension and school holidays (also downsides like very little term time flexibility)

This is what I think too. Teaching is a job that suits me and I’m good at it, and there are loads of problems in schools and in education generally - but it is a balanced job that comes with good benefits. That’s why I chose it over my last career, and it was the right decision.

Worked in 3 different industries that is!

Societies infrastructure relies on these posts being filled or things start to unravel. More pay or better working conditions to meet supply and demand.

Can you please explain this to the government who seem to think that constantly taking the piss of school staff is the way forward?

Ofsted is the single biggest factor in the teacher recruitment crisis IMO. The pressure of being Ofsted-ready is what drives SLT to set ridiculous unachievable targets and box-ticking exercises which create meaningless workload for teachers. I've been teaching for 18 years and I'm currently thinking seriously of how I can get out because of the ridiculous pressure on attainment for my Year 2 class who have yet to complete a full year of school. All because they fear Ofsted might be coming in the next year or two.

[quote noblegiraffe]Here you go, Classic, one from yesterday www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/a4412045-English-schools-to-do-onsite-covid-tests-again-after-Xmas?msgid=112836037#112836037[/quote]
Oh yes, the teacher who finishes at 3 everyday and single handedly took the school out of special measures.