Is teaching really that bad?

[Cremeegg456]

I did a secondary PGCE and gained a pass with Merit, and 'outstanding', that was 6 years ago and I've never completed my nqt year.
I know the PGCE isn't representative of what actual teaching is like though but I remember it being what seemed like a lot of unnecessary paperwork, but we also had the assignments on top.

I've done various work with young and elderly people since which I've enjoyed, but I've never made a lot more than minimum wage. Had zero hours contracts, agency work etc.

I did enjoy teaching but I am just not prepared to work evenings and weekends as well, it's just not worth having no life for me. Not prepared to work more than 45 hours a week.

But truthfully if I want a higher and more stable income I think I would have to go into it, if I'm thinking of buying a house, children etc in the next few years.

Would be interested to hear from people as to what their work life balance really is.

Hear Hear to all that, @ThrallsWife. I hate uniform.

No no and no. Parenting your own kids is hard enough let alone picking up the pieces for a full class. The pressure of knowing some of them aren't getting what they need etc... it's just too much. Long hours. Pressure. Disrespect. Low pay. Absolutely not.

@Fairislefandango

Yea same, we’ve currently got 6 years 10s and 5 year 11s in isolation room for uniform breaches they’ve been in there missing all exam classes for about 18 school days. Neither party will budge. Surprised it’s not made the news yet!

@Sleepingonmyfeet

That’s the issue though *@Fairislefandango*. It was pot luck whether you were taught well or not. I can honestly say I learned nothing at primary school, really, honestly, nothing.

I find that incredibly unlikely. After all, here you are reading posts and writing posts on an internet forum.

That wasn’t my teachers - my parents (dad) taught me to both read and write.

I was a secondary teacher for a long time. I loved the students, my heart went out to them, and that there is why IMO teachers are always exploited - they do so much because they care and management take advantage of that. And teachers get so much criticism thrown at them by some parents despite an insanely difficult work environment. I've seen a new teacher crumble and walk out before their first day was out.

There was no work life balance, so much stress, I mostly drowned under pointless admin and paperwork and am so glad to be out of it. I still work with young people but in different but rewarding ways and with a far more stress free life.

There’s a Facebook group called ‘ Life After Teaching’. Join and read the posts. It will answer your question. Not everyone on there has left. Lots are trying to escape. I’m recent retired and missing the positives in the job. Just reading it reminds me why the negatives outweigh the positives by a mile. I worked in a great school with an understanding head and relatively small class sizes. Despite this work/life balance was impossible to achieve.

@howtomoveforwards

How would parents even know? It's like the best kept secret only known within the inner workings of education

Seriously? The state of education as a parent is something you really should have an active interest in. In fact, as a citizen of this country with a vested interest in our country’s long term future, you should have an active interest in education. If you have missed the shit show that is GCSE reform under Gove plus years of austerity, pandemic, and now war, you really aren’t very interested in anything at all. Educate yourself. Take some bloody responsibility and listen to what is being said. Our education system is in crisis and has been for some time. It is not a secret.

Ok thank you for that, much appreciated.

I am a volunteer in a school so I do have an awareness of the themes noted within this thread.

My observation was based on what I see in school from parents. Maybe it isn't such a secret, but maybe the parents are not around long enough to care, in and out of primary within 6 years and by the time they grasp what's going on it is no longer important to them to actually do anything about it.

Anyway thanks for jumping over my post. Apologies accepted.

@noblegiraffe

How would parents even know? It's like the best kept secret only known within the inner workings of education.

What would you like to know about, whytcvv? The huge cuts to funding? The redundancies? The critical shortage of teachers? The critical shortage of headteachers? The govt failure to meet recruitment targets every year? That the school estate needs basic repairs costing £11.4 billion? That there's a bulge of kids heading towards secondary which will mean a shortage of secondary school places?

Happy to explain anything you're not sure about.

Thank you for your kind offer of information and awareness.

I was speaking from what I perceive in school from parents. Dropping off and collecting their children each day with no regard to the issues highlighted within your post.

Do they realise but either do not care enough or don't know where to start to do anything about it? Or perhaps they just don't comprehend just how bad it is.

And add the academy system...parents are just not bothered or disregard the fact that education, as part of a democratic system is being disbanded.

@NovaMN

And add the academy system...parents are just not bothered or disregard the fact that education, as part of a democratic system is being disbanded.

Do parents even fully understand what being an academy means? To them it's the same school I think.

I retired from teaching a few years back, and my take on this question is fairly unchanged.
The teaching is wonderful, seeing the lightbulb moment is very rewarding.
However, it's the other stuff that's the problem, teaching being a political football, irrespective of the party in power, parents who think they always know better, I wonder if they are the same with their childs' doctors, dentists? Schools having to fill in as social workers, police, marriage guidance, parking wardens (!!), resolvers of out-of-school disputes between children, the list is almost endless.
Lack of parental support generally, too many parents only ever speak to the school to nit-pick, the motto for many parents is Discipline is what other people's children need. When you accept a school place you are accepting the school standards, if you don't like it, try elsewhere, don't take you saddo face to the papers.
Lack of decent salary progression, I knew of people who resigned senior jobs for a regular teaching role and the drop in salary was almost compensated for by the reduction in stress.

I’m planning on leaving teaching this year.
I simply cannot cope with the hours - I go to work and very often don’t get a break, then come home and in the evening fo more work and then also do work on the weekend and I’m still barely keeping my head above the water.

I absolutely love being in the classroom which the kids - but I can’t stand everything else that goes with it.

Have you thought about a TA position or something that allows you to be in the classroom but not have to do all of the extra work right now so you can get a feel of if it’s right for you or not.

I think this meme sums up the job brilliantly.

@Cremeegg456

Do you think a PGCE would lend itself to other roles? I have a friend who's a head of department and says she never does any work outside of school of stays late which is incredible

Get on prospects they have loads of great careers You could apply your PGCE too! What about learning mentor? Or you could go in to something else working with children or have you thought about FE teaching or private schools they don't follow the national curriculum so I've heard it's a bit more relaxed! There's definitely a few options

I think part of the problem it seems reading this post is the constant changing of goalposts and the fact the job is now it seems part teacher/part social worker/part admin manager. I’m not a teacher but my mum was and she was incredibly unsuited to the job but liked the idea of long holidays and being home by 4.30 which clearly now isn’t the case. I do think it’s a hard job to combine with young kids— probably more suited to those with none or with kids in double figures . I also think it’s very poorly paid for the first few years— my 23 year old son works at a decent level in tech without a degree (he did apprenticeship) and is on 32k (in London) — There are young women earning 40k in recruitment or estate agents , to be frank I dont like sales and I do enjoy plenty of variety , so would rather be a teacher , but a lot of bright young people early 20’s will look at starting salary in teaching and think ‘no thanks’ especially if placements are in a very challenging school. I do think we need to consider too why so many young kids and teens are so poorly behaved and out of control because it’s clearly not helping with teacher retention . My sons behaviour improved rapidly with 2 years from 11 to 13 at state boarding school (Royal Alexandra) and loads of ex army type teachers and house masters plus compulsory prep before tea etc. About killed us financially but was worth it .

Not a teacher! But I thought it interesting that on the “If you love your job, what do you do” thread, there were several teachers.

I'm a primary teacher in my nqt year and I'm 40 married with one child. I do 70 to 80 hours a week. 10.hours at school another 1 or 2 when I get home and then most of Saturday. It should get better next year but we shall see.

I knew of people who resigned senior jobs for a regular teaching role and the drop in salary was almost compensated for by the reduction in stress.

I did that for my last few years before retirement. And then remembered what it was that I used to love about the job. Becoming a class teacher again and only having to focus on the kids was such a relief.

My DD is also a teacher. She was about to walk away from it two years ago, but her HT was desperate to keep her and asked if working 4 days a week would help. So she gave that a go and it's definitely helped in that she gets to have at least a day of her weekend, as she does the bulk of her planning on the fifth day (in addition to the work she does in the evenings). It's not a job for the perfectionist though (which she is) as there's no 'job done' moment. You can always do more, or better.

It's shit.

Not enough money in the world to make me want to go back to it.

Loved working with the kids - especially children from disadvantaged backgrounds who needed extra patience and kindness. Loved feeling like I had made a difference.

Hated the workload, excessive paperwork, planning, resourcing, meetings, observations, irrational parents, lack of support, progressively worse pupil behaviour through the years, marking, cross marking, evaluations... the list goes on and on!

It's not a job for the perfectionist though (which she is) as there's no 'job done' moment. You can always do more, or better.

This is it in a nutshell, if you care about the students then you always feel like you should get a bit more in, and before you know it 6 days a week are only sleeping and working.

@saraclara

I knew of people who resigned senior jobs for a regular teaching role and the drop in salary was almost compensated for by the reduction in stress.

I did that for my last few years before retirement. And then remembered what it was that I used to love about the job. Becoming a class teacher again and only having to focus on the kids was such a relief.

My DD is also a teacher. She was about to walk away from it two years ago, but her HT was desperate to keep her and asked if working 4 days a week would help. So she gave that a go and it's definitely helped in that she gets to have at least a day of her weekend, as she does the bulk of her planning on the fifth day (in addition to the work she does in the evenings). It's not a job for the perfectionist though (which she is) as there's no 'job done' moment. You can always do more, or better.

I’m sure she has already done this but please make sure that your DD has taken advice on the impact that this will have on her pension.

Pensions are great but there's no point having to retire very early on ill health grounds or leave from stress and MH issues.

Pensions sound great but if you are forced to work part time because working full time on 60+ hour week nearly breaks you, it’s not actually that good at all.

Pensions are great? Compared to what?

My first message from a parent this morning was at 7.30, insisting I call immediately as it was incredibly urgent, turns out her son had been told he needed to miss 5 minutes break for having thumped another boy the day before and she insisted that he wasn't going to, my last message was 10 minutes ago asking where her daughter's cardigan was( I will answer that one on Monday!) I have been hit, kicked and sworn at by a 6 year old who doesn't like the word No, been informed by another parent that her child is a "free spirit" and shouldn't have to follow classroom guidance if he doesn't want to. In between, I have responded to two Marac requests for information regarding domestic violence, hugged a parent who came to tell me their Mum was dying of cancer and wanted a weeks holiday so she could take the children to see her one last time and managed to fit in teaching Year 6 English and maths!
Teaching is the best job in the world, the rest of it not so much!