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/

I always wanted to be a teacher. But there are people who 'fell into teaching' who turn out to be great at it, and people who always wanted to do it and turn out to hate it and/or be terrible at it.

Some of the most highly academically qualified of my teaching colleagues are the least effective classroom teachers. Some of the most inspiring and successful teachers I've worked with have been academically the least well-qualified.

Quite simply, teaching needs to be made into a more appealing, less off-putting job overall. Because otherwise it will continue to fail to attract suitable people, and it will continue to haemorrhage experienced teachers and talented people who would otherwise commit their whole career to it.

People can snark on and on about the 'perks' as much as they like, but the recruitment and retention figures tell the truth of the matter. Parents' scorn and resentment about teachers 'not working in the real world', being 'petty tyrants', having long holidays and so-called 9:00 - 3:15 days will not keep their children provided with qualified teachers. It just makes people want to be teachers even less.

@noblegiraffe

Because you want everyone to do the work for you pumper.

No - you wanted your ego stroked about teaching and you didn’t get it from me. If you really want a conversation about recruitment, this is the way the conversation has to start. You whining about your workload with absolutely no intention of doing anything about it will do the exact opposite.

People can snark on and on about the 'perks' as much as they like, but the recruitment and retention figures tell the truth of the matter. Parents' scorn and resentment about teachers 'not working in the real world', being 'petty tyrants', having long holidays and so-called 9:00 - 3:15 days will not keep their children provided with qualified teachers. It just makes people want to be teachers even less.

I think it’s the opposite - parents don’t have to be teachers’ cheerleaders. Posts on very popular parenting forums giving the false idea that teaching means staying up until 1am and working through holidays will do more to damage the profession than anything else.

Just popped on here and saw this. Didn't see it earlier as it's Sunday, and I started work at 8.30am and am just finishing now at 4.45pm. Tomorrow I'll be in for 6.45am so can set up remote teaching as well as in person.
Must be lovely to have a job that's not currently 7 days a week. Think I'm going to get one of those next year as this one is a bit shit now.

Posts on very popular parenting forums giving the false idea that teaching means staying up until 1am and working through holiday

Working through the holidays is commonplace. If people apply for teaching thinking they'll get ever holiday off then they're hardly going to stick around when they realise the reality.

I think it's interesting and I think unique actually to teachers the extent to which any criticism of a school or a teacher is taken so personally and to what extent teachers seem to want a lot of praise. I see, for example, loads of threads on here critical of say women's experience on postnatal wards but none from midwives complaining about "midwife bashing" or a lack of respect for midwives. Another profession with a huge recruitment and retention issue as well.

I sometimes see criticism of my career/profession on here, I don't really care to be honest

I do work during the holidays and weekends, but I don’t stay up until 1am and I don’t get into school at 645.

Individuals may choose to do that, but I don’t think it’s commonplace, to be honest.

@Classicblunder

I think it's interesting and I think unique actually to teachers the extent to which any criticism of a school or a teacher is taken so personally and to what extent teachers seem to want a lot of praise. I see, for example, loads of threads on here critical of say women's experience on postnatal wards but none from midwives complaining about "midwife bashing" or a lack of respect for midwives. Another profession with a huge recruitment and retention issue as well.

I sometimes see criticism of my career/profession on here, I don't really care to be honest

There are loads of threads on here where GPS try to explain their job and defend themselves. There are also a far few threads about nursing where nurses are almost universally praised and supported and sympathised with after nurses have posted to speak of their tough jobs.

I think the difference is that most posters believe midwives when they say that poor care is due to systemic problems, and funding. They seem not to believe teachers.

Also, most people don't think they could do a midwife's job or that midwives' qualifications mean nothing.

I think the difference is that most posters believe midwives when they say that poor care is due to systemic problems, and funding. They seem not to believe teachers.

But I think some of it is that teachers often basically deny issues - they don't say as I have seen midwives say, yes the service is sometimes very poor, but funding, I see a lot of "parents are so annoying and demanding and kids these days" not "I wish I had more time to respond to parents"

Although staying up till 1am and working weekends will not be the regular experience of every teacher, I think every teacher will experience this level of workload at some point. Last year's non-exam fiasco would be a case in point.

I did 27 years in an FE college....most of us worked hard....but there were numerous slackers who did very little....impossible almost to get rid of them....bad managers just moved sideways etc...lots of bullying....pay was very good tho....i took a deal to leave early....pleased i did...may consider supply work if i get bored later....

@Classicblunder

I think the difference is that most posters believe midwives when they say that poor care is due to systemic problems, and funding. They seem not to believe teachers.

But I think some of it is that teachers often basically deny issues - they don't say as I have seen midwives say, yes the service is sometimes very poor, but funding, I see a lot of "parents are so annoying and demanding and kids these days" not "I wish I had more time to respond to parents"

Plenty of people say that too. That's selective reading.

@Classicblunder, I don't know whether you were on the schools/coronavirus boards on this site during the first lockdown. If not, and you have a spare day or two, you could go back and have a look at just why some teachers might be a little defensive.
It was simply TOXIC and very damaging.

@Mistressiggi

Although staying up till 1am and working weekends will not be the regular experience of every teacher, I think every teacher will experience this level of workload at some point. Last year's non-exam fiasco would be a case in point.

The same could be said for nearly every profession. I'm a paramedic I could come on here and tell you about the 4 hour overrun on a 12 hour shift as if it is the norm, but that would be dishonest. Yes it does happen but the reality, whilst bad enough, is that we average about an hour to 90 minutes late finish every shift, but sometimes we finish on time sometimes we finish very very late but definitely not 4 hours every shift. Likewise teachers aren't working until 1am every day or working through every weekend.

These threads often seem to loose perspective and with that teachers loose support.

People certainly didn't understand education funding during lockdown, expecting additional teachers and schools to fund temporary classrooms. Couldn't understand why schools couldn't repair windows, fund ventilation systems

It's so much tougher at the moment as it's like doing 2 jobs at once. On line and in person teaching are v different. So many staff and kids off. And OFSTED are looming. Yes, during a pandemic, when everyone is trying to do their best, the lovely people from OFSTED are likely to pop in and expect perfection. Despite staff shortages. SLTs are running scared and making staff perform extra tasks on top of usual massive marking load. Oh and most schools will be marked down - they've decided that before they even visit them.

Pumperthepumper

I think it’s the opposite - parents don’t have to be teachers’ cheerleaders.

And neither do teachers have to put up with the misinformation and bullshit that some people post.

@FrippEnos

Pumperthepumper

I think it’s the opposite - parents don’t have to be teachers’ cheerleaders.

And neither do teachers have to put up with the misinformation and bullshit that some people post.

Like what?

@motherrunner

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.

There's such a Buzz when you see your class beginning to 'get' Jane Austen's work or Hamlet or any other text, when your class starts discussing the issues in texts...

@Cyw2018 my post was in response to one that said teachers talking/exaggerating about 1am finishes would put others off joining the profession.
It is not a comment on whether anyone else works long hours, I know they do.

YANBU l freely admit l couldn’t do it and lm a nurse. But at least l can’t take work home. I’m always bemused by the “it’s dead easy being a teacher with short days and long holidays”. It’s really not like that!

Pumperthepumper

Like what?

Like teachers say they have it harder than everyone else.
That teachers only work 9 till 3.
That teachers only go in to the profession because they couldn't do anything else.
Those that can do etc.
The many generalisations about teachers and teaching.
People that claim to understand teachers contracts better than teachers.

And if you respond to any of these you are whinging.

These are just a few of the regulars.

Oh and before I forget

Teachers should get a job in the real world.

@FrippEnos

Pumperthepumper

Like what?

Like teachers say they have it harder than everyone else.
That teachers only work 9 till 3.
That teachers only go in to the profession because they couldn't do anything else.
Those that can do etc.
The many generalisations about teachers and teaching.
People that claim to understand teachers contracts better than teachers.

And if you respond to any of these you are whinging.

These are just a few of the regulars.

I think you need to look at why you’re so defensive and why public opinion is so important to you.

Pumperthepumper

Wow, that is a messed up response, well done you.