Teaching is not my first job, but I’ve been doing it a very long time (20 years).
Over that time, I’ve met and mentored people who came into teaching from the corporate world who have been wonderful teachers and others who have been shit. Likewise, I’ve met teachers who started teaching straight from uni who were excellent and others who were very weak. I don’t think it makes much difference to be honest @JangolinaPitt and is very much down to the individual.
Anyway, as I say, teacher is not my first job. Before teaching I worked in retail management and I also worked in the service industry. The biggest difference was that in my other jobs I didn’t bring home as much work, but those jobs were far less enjoyable. I love teaching (not the paperwork).
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve gotten wiser and these days I say ‘no’ to a lot of extra work. (Not important stuff that benefits my kids, but pointless extras such as becoming the department ‘numeracy champion’). Being the only specialist in my subject area and teaching primarily KS4 and KS5, I guess it’s easier for me to do this as I’m not replaceable at the drop of a hat. But I remember my earlier years teaching and the desire to impress, do well, get on, meant that 60-70 hour weeks was a reality and I earned less than £20,000 at the time. Some teachers, particularly new ones, just can’t get past that stage in their careers and quit within 5 years.
I work in Wales and Welsh Gov are playing with the holidays. One idea floated is to reduce the summer to three weeks and add a week into Oct half term, Christmas and Feb half term.
Teaching mostly GCSE and A level, I do come in during the holidays (except summer) to hold revision sessions. It’s both an ‘expectation’ and I’ve never really minded as I like the teaching part of my job. But, I do not then, do any work over the summer….that is my reward.
If Welsh gov piss about with the holidays, that would indeed end my teaching career. That summer holiday is the carrot for me. I’m waiting to see what happens.