Wondering why there's so much hate for teachers?

[Nannyogg134]

I've just been reading some responses to another thread concerning teachers and working over summer and there's a real mix of thoughts. I know that everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but I'm always very taken back by the amount of negative comments regarding teachers (especially regarding workload and school holidays.)

I've taught in a state secondary school for almost 13 years and I came to the job after working in a care home for a few years. There are pros and cons; the school holidays are great (and yes, they are unpaid- teachers are paid per day of their contract, this is term time only, the wage is delivered over 12 monthly payments for ease of life.) However, there is no flexibility, so I rarely see my own children in sport's day, nativities, or even on parent's evening (if it clashes with something at my school.) Overall, I feel very passionately about giving my best to my students and extra time I spend on them feels mostly worthwhile.

However, whenever there is chat about teaching, the general feeling seems to be very negative. I'm just wondering where this seems to come from? Is it the classic 'horrible teacher' stereotype we see on TV etc.? Or is it a leftover from some of our own school days?

I suppose it's not really AIBU, more of a wondering where this issue comes from and if public view can ever be shifted?

I am a parent and I am a school governor. As a parent teachers are positive, don’t moan about their work, education sector etc.

As a governor I hear the truth.

Some of the positive teachers you meet in real life are probably on here telling you how tough it is. Not the toughest job, but tough

We have been waiting all day for a Basher to provide evidence of this phenomenon but none has been forthcoming…

For the opinion that life expectancy of teachers is appalling

I think a lot of it stems from lockdown when many were doing very little and schools were offering very little provision.

You then had the unions constant demands for schools to close/stay closed. Schools would still be shut if it was up to the unions imo.

The teachers who were not required to deliver the substantially reduced provision offered should have been furloughed on reduced pay.

FWIW I would say the BBC is more reputable than the initial website (yourmoneeysorted) which you copied your reference from

If you had read my replies to others, you would have noticed that I apologised for my inaccurate statement.

@NCNCNCN where is your evidence that "the life expectancy of teachers is appalling"

You aren’t listening. I apologised and said that I was incorrect… why are you still asking? I’ve admitted that evidence is insubstantial… not sure what else I can say?
I was wrong?
I retract my statement?
humility is not beyond me

I think teachers are bloody brave!! Taking on other people's kids all day every day, dealing with government guideline crap and then having to deal with shitty parents who can't possibly believe their little darlings are the annoying little shits everyone else sees them as or can't possibly be behind to their own sheer laziness/incompetence!!

It's certainly not a job I'd want to do!! Give teachers a pay rise!!

I'm just wondering where this seems to come from? Is it the classic 'horrible teacher' stereotype we see on TV etc.? Or is it a leftover from some of our own school days?

No. It's because they're always bloody moaning. Pay, conditions, paperwork, pension, parents, kids, holidays.

It's a decent job with decent conditions, decent pay, decent hols and decent pension. Good bits and bad bits, just like plenty of other jobs. The 'teachers have it so hard' narrative that you see so often on mn is irritating.

Teachers have been slated for many years both on here and in the media, long before any lockdowns happened.

@NCNCNCN I just don't get why you would continue to attack me for the quality of the evidence behind my opinion when you admit that you have asserted the opposite with no good evidence whatsoever.

I have a lot of respect for teachers.

but on Mumsnet they whinge a lot.

”teachers are leaving in their droves” is literally the Mumsnet teacher tagline.

and yet….. Mumsnet teachers never give people wishing to become teachers any advice, optimism and just seem to piss on their career changing fireworks.

It’s odd, because the people wanting to be teachers would help with the short staffing issue that everyone complains about 😂

@Snog I did but thank you. I have a v v nice final salary pension from my time in the City which will pay out a lot more than my TPS one would. I wouldn't be a teacher for long enough to out pay my v v nice private one set up over 25 years ago. But I can see that for a full career teacher it's s nice pension theses days (contributions are a lot though).

@Snog because you referenced something inaccurately to validate your point but continued to attack me for mine, which I already apologised for

I have three good friends who left the armed forces and became teachers (two secondary, one primary).

All of them say their jobs are much better (though I don’t know if that means easier, or not), and that they wished they’d made the leap a lot earlier.

Purely anecdotal, I know. But I do find it interesting.

@Lifeisonhold honesty is a bit of a bummer I'm afraid. If someone was looking into teaching I'd give them honest advice, both the good and the bad. No point lying - this is why so many teachers leave within the first few years. They were sold a dummy and didn't know what it would be like. Better to get people who understand it's a bit shit at the moment (not the shittiest!) & still join.

Ha! So, so, soooo true!!! They do genuinely think they’re the only ones who work long hours & are undervalued. In the main, they are paid ok with good conditions. I think the ones who work in tough areas with lots of social issues have it tough in terms of stress and going beyond their job description into social work on a regular basis.

See you’re lovely and would give the good and the bad.

Not just the bad like most do on here. Wish more were like you!

I asked for advice on becoming a teacher a few years ago under a different name (I was leaving the police force), and not one poster gave me any nice or positive advice or wished me luck. I felt like I was let loose into a field full of nasty wolves. It was a nasty online experience :( it was so bad I asked for the thread to be deleted.

Totally agree! If people even stood in some of the classes I’ve taught for 30 seconds, they would realise no amount of holidays or ‘early finishes’ could make up for trying to fire fight in there all day. There was a particularly challenging P1 class I had a few years ago, I was spinning 10 thousand plates at once as always and someone was coming to cover me for 20 minutes while I went to a meeting. I walked back in to a teacher who was a shell of the woman I had left 🤣 She was almost chalk white and just stunned by it all. She just said (through the absolute rabble in the background) ‘I don’t know how you do this’ and left 🙈

I’m now on maternity leave and everyone went on about how hard having a baby is. I have found it a complete doddle in comparison to P1. It’s one child rather than 25 and sometimes it even sleeps! People have said I will be looking forward to go back for a break. I don’t think they have any concept of what my job is 🙈 I dream of going to work, sitting at a desk and having peace!

@NCNCNCN maybe you like other people to reference sources for their opinions in an "academic research " style (even though you don't seem to follow this rule yourself!!!) This isn't how I or most other people live their lives and I find it highly irritating. If this is how some teachers post on mumsnet maybe it's why they are not feeling the love.

Ok @Snog

@Goodnewsday 😂 bless you 🙈

@Lifeisonhold 😊😊. It's job that's never boring, teenagers are hilarious and fun to spend the day with (unless they are cross, angry, tired or hungry and then some become Gremlins). Admin is stupid and v v often pointless, but OFSTED is King I'm afraid. More contact time now than a few years ago so less time in day to do stuff like planning and marking. And bigger classes so more marking.
My favourite presents are the cards & I keep them all. I'm looking forward to the first proper results days in years as I love to see the students so happy with their hard work. Not all, obviously. But to see kids who have battled through tough times & come out with self esteem and a bit of confidence is enough for some.
Fancy it ? If you do, don't come on MN 😂😂

You should try nursing. DD is a paediatric nurse. At 22 with only a few months post qualifying experience she was often the only nurse in charge of 10-plus critically ill children and the HCSWs. 13.5 hour shifts, sometimes without anything more than a 15 minute break. Starting salary for probationary teacher in Scotland is £27.5k, qualified nurse is £26.1k. Holidays for nurses are less too.