Teachers!

[MsFannySqueers]

So retired/ex teachers are being asked to consider returning to the classroom because of possible staff shortages in the New Year. Is this something you would do?

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

I think their colleagues would agree.

But you’re no longer teaching?

Kindly don’t presume to speak for me or my fellow serving colleagues.

@echt

Soooooo....

The government wants the retired and ex-teachers to work cut-rate in the very places that teachers have caught Covid, and are. er, too ill to teach.

Those very teachers, the ones who actually know what teaching entails say, for the most part, fuck that for a game of soldiers.

Others ride up up to say they're letting the side down by critiquing the job.

It would be nice to imagine that amongst all of the people queuing up to kick teachers, at least our former colleagues might have a modicum of respect for what we do.

For god sake l don’t care whether I’m speaking for you or not.

The majority of teachers on here are ex teachers. What do you expect? Stop being so holier than thou.

The one which I just left did not going to name it but south east (not London.)

Enough time on contract to remain very actively interested in our displays during covid.

It would be nice to imagine that amongst all of the people queuing up to kick teachers, at least our former colleagues might have a modicum of respect for what we do

They do not disdain what teachers do, they have disdain for the regard in which it is held by this government and its derisory inducements to get back in the saddle.

I haven’t heard of supply teachers tutoring, it’s all overseas online rubbish with unqualified cheap options.
I’m only in my 40s and I’d never go back

I taught for just under 20 years, lead schools. I’m sure I’m capable, but I’m way past the level of crap teacher’s have to take.

No, I like my new job and it's full time from home, so I haven't time 😀

In most schools many teachers are managed out in quite a horrid way if they don't dedicate their every waking moment to teaching. Schools can be horribly ageist. In my experience older teachers seem to have more learning walks, more book scoops and more complains mismanaged then younger counterparts. After being so poorly targeted and many leaving with early retirement, stress and depression I very much doubt they will come running back! Honesly, DoE could not be more out of touch!!

A lot of the academics round here have rules now you have to be on site 8am-6pm. Supply rates less than £100

Tesco delivery drivers here are getting £11-12 ph. So I’d get paid more for a shift of the same length with no paper work to take home, prep, staff meeting pressure on days off, no slagging off in the media, no attempts to give me a double workloads consisting of 40-60 kids at once. Why would I teach at this point. I can’t even get childcare hours around teaching hours.

Academies, I’m misspelling and adding random apostrophes in annoyance 😂

TheViewFromTheCheapSeats

That’s hardly minimum wage!

I've just asked dm who is a retired teacher. She says no way and the union arnt supporting it anyway.

Those people expressing surprise that former and retired teachers are so strongly opposed to going back into the classroom clearly have no ideas of the reality of teaching.

I loved teaching. Loved being in the classroom. I would have happily carried on for another 10 years.

BUT. I got too expensive. I got a new head who wanted to save money fast. I got sic of working every evening and every Sunday just to keep up with each and every stupid new initiative. I got sick of the constant book reviews and lesson obs. I got sick of the ever increasing behaviour problems.

I actually cannot believe the gall of some on MN. You do nothing but run teacher's down. Complain about every tiny thing. Stalk potential headteachers on social media (that thread was an eye opener!) Complain at too much homework, not enough homework. Fail to support teachers when your child behaves badly in class. Tell us to put up, shut up or get out.

Well, I chose to quit. I will now allow myself a shrug of my shoulders and a sod you when you now realise that schools need people like me. Nope - not sorry, but hell would indeed freeze over first.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

TheViewFromTheCheapSeats

That’s hardly minimum wage!

£95 a day before tax, 8-6pm - so 10 hours a day with no lunchbreak (as the kids still need supervising so they don't tear lumps out of one another) - £9.50 per hour before tax.

It might not be NMW, but it sure as hell isn't a good wage when it can only be done for 38 weeks of the year maximum.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

TheViewFromTheCheapSeats

That’s hardly minimum wage!

It is just about minimum wage plus a holiday entitlement paid by the hour. You dont get paid sick or holidays.

I just had no idea about supply rates!!!

I know they’ve been driven down since being outsourced but not by that much!

I started teaching when all supply was handled by the council and you were paid on the teaching scale.

The horrible thing is I can do private 1:1 tuition for children at private school/ going for the 11+ and earn the same in 3 hours in the comfort of my own home, whilst my children are safe relaxing in another room fee of childcare costs.
I’m not a saint and with then options available to me it’s the only viable one. With schools struggling I have more tutoring work than I can handle

I think some will in RL. Not many on Mn obviously. But I know the old headteacher at DSs primary school (now chair of governors elsewhere) has volunteered to go back to help out.

I know teaching must be a hard job but some of the stuff complained about on here is within the gift of schools to solve. Like crap SLTs and treating teachers like rubbish.

I'm a retired teacher and am friends of several retirees. One does occasional supply, but the rest of us will never step inside a school again. All of us loved teaching and were good at our jobs, but we all feel we've done our time. Several of us have frail elderly parents or partners who are not in the best of health. Frankly the government can take their plan and shove it.

Redeploy all the OFSTED inspectors. No inspection under current circumstances can possibly be meaningful, so use their skills in short-staffed schools.

Would surely have the added bonus of bringing standards up, since the rest of us could learn at the feet of these gurus of enlightenment.

@amillionmenonmars amen 🙌🏼 I’m only on mat leave but it’s like I’ve been shown the world outside of teaching and I’ll now do anything not to have to return 😩 For me it’s the constant weight of sort of anxiety on your shoulders just presuming every time someone says ‘do you have a minute?’ itl be you getting into trouble like a 5 year old or told how something could have been done better. Someone pointed out on a Facebook group I’m on that in no other job does someone regularly come to watch you doing your job after you’ve passed ‘your test’. What are they watching you for? 😂 Are you not trusted to be good enough all of a sudden? Every parent that complains should be brought in and told to lead the class for even 30 seconds, I would say a week but 30 seconds in my class from last year would do the job just fine.

Now do you see why I didn’t notice someone look at little Johnny the wrong way when he didn’t say anything about it and has been launching rulers at half the class most of the morning? 😂

@Fink

Absolutely not. There was a reason I left. The kids are great, my subject is great, but I just can't handle the atmosphere.

Plus, I am busy doing other stuff.

Couldn't agree more

@Inertia

Redeploy all the OFSTED inspectors. No inspection under current circumstances can possibly be meaningful, so use their skills in short-staffed schools.

Would surely have the added bonus of bringing standards up, since the rest of us could learn at the feet of these gurus of enlightenment.

Oh yes this

@Inertia

Redeploy all the OFSTED inspectors. No inspection under current circumstances can possibly be meaningful, so use their skills in short-staffed schools.

Would surely have the added bonus of bringing standards up, since the rest of us could learn at the feet of these gurus of enlightenment.

This. Absolutely this!!