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?

people who cause damage because they don’t click with a student or students etc. but don’t realise they have the power to effect that person for life

or maybe the student doesn't click with the teacher. A relationship is a 2 way street.

*I'm a teacher/SENCO. I don't work after 6pm or during the holidays. There's lots of brilliant things about teaching:

It's never boring*

some of the curriculum actually is boring and tedious to teach at times.

As said before, teachers seem shocked sometimes that their job is hard, that they have to experience stress, long hours, work above and beyond what's understood to be expected. Every time I read one of these threads where a teacher is shocked about their workload/stress, there are so many people going through the same thing. So the question is why do teachers believe they should be exempt from what is the norm for most of us?

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.

can someone explain to me why this is trotted out to make teachers seem hard done by? All it does is show that they’re really highly paid (in comparison to other ‘similar’ professions) for the hours they do get paid for as opposed to paid a similar rate to other professions over a full year.

I don’t get it and no one has ever explained it to me.

Aah, just seen the previous posts 😂

but I still don’t get why teachers moan about this then

It usually comes in response to being told you’re lazy and do fuck all during the 6 weeks. Teachers usually reply saying that the holiday is unpaid.

Virtually all of what is perceived as ‘teacher whinging’ comes as a response to being criticised. It’s mostly just pointing out the truth.

So the question is why do teachers believe they should be exempt from what is the norm for most of us

it's because it's the 1 job people just see the holidays and the 9-3 days and think teachers only work these hours and are blind sided to the reality. In other words, it is the only profession people think they know everything about because we all went to school but never saw what goes on behind the scenes.

That and in the past 20-30 years the workload has increased significantly so people's experience of school memories will be radically different to what happens today. There is much more bureaucracy, red tape, inspection, etc today.

The days of coming in and working out of a text book are long gone yet people still have this memory in their head.

Explaining isn’t moaning.

I’ve work in schools. I know teachers who work 6.30am to 8pm (with a commute on top) and I know teachers who sneak in as late as they can get away with it and leave as early as they can.
It depends on your school and what subject you teach and what the SLT are like.

I think the worst thing about schools in this country is the difference in pay and conditions for teaching and support staff. I’ve seen support staff pressurised to work the same kind of hours as teachers for basically minimum wage (and no overtime). Amazing support staff forced out because they are all seen as easily replaceable as teaching staff.

@SurfBox

People also know teachers.

They know the effort (or lack of) that they put in.

The myth that every teacher works 80 hours term time and at least half of the the holidays is exactly that, myth.

There's vast differences from school to school and even country to country.

That doesn't answer the question. why do teachers complain about their lot ? That question isn't answered.

They may not have full freedom for the 6 weeks during the summer, two at christmas, two at easter and two half terms of one week which is about 30+10+10+10 = 60 days. Even if a full 50% of that holiday is taken up with courses and other responsibilities that is still about 10 days more holiday than average!

And yet teachers still feel entitled to complain. I mean we can all complain, but read the room. Do it in the staff room.

I have relatives who are teachers and they know they have it good.

I don’t think that is the case @SurfBox I think most people have also seen their own workload increase massively over the last couple of decades, it’s not just teachers, and I think most people are well aware it’s not a 9-3 job. If we look at the salary - £42336 guaranteed after 5 years - this would equate to roughly the top of a B7 salary for a lead nurse or ward manager, or an SHO on the 4th point (based on hours worked over a year). These levels takes much longer than 5 years to reach with an extremely high level of responsibility, scrutiny and depth/breadth of role spec.

Teachers get so much flack both on here and other forms of social media. People seem to think it is okay to hurl abuse at teachers, blame the school for all ills of society, in a way they don’t for other professions etc.

How many posters on here complained about work shy teachers during lockdown. Not denying some teachers had it easier than some, but actually that would probably come from directives by Senior Leaders, but much easier to blame the teacher. However, where was the hate for dentists? I have only just been able to make an appointment with my dentist, the first since the start of lockdown. What were they doing in the last 2 years!

Any anti social behaviour by youngsters in our local area, people will be on the local Facebook pages blaming the school/teachers. Schools get the blame for lack of SEND funding/help, even when it can be down to other agencies. So much easier to take it out on the school.

As a governor I have had emails from parents in the early hours of the morning threatening OFSTED if I don’t respond immediately. That is minor compared to what teachers/HTs get on a daily basis. If you work in a hospital, shop etc I bet most employees don’t have to provide their contact details to the patients/customers so they can be contacted whenever and have questions, demands, threats on a regular basis.

@toomuchlaundry

How many posters on here complained about work shy teachers during lockdown

Me! I did!

With valid justification. The attitudes expressed by lots of teachers during covid were awful. Not just from teaching management or unions

I also complained about doctors, dentists etc

@toomuchlaundry

bet most employees don’t have to provide their contact details to the patients/customers so they can be contacted whenever and have questions, demands, threats on a regular basis.

Are you joking?!

🤣

Its the constant moaning from teachers who are always threatening to leave the profession because they work so much harder than anyone else. Not just on these boards but the constant complaining from a family friend as well. Coupled with previous HT using a school assembly to make a political speech about her pension and how outrageous a certain situation was. We had to listen to this self entitled nonsense as we could hardly walk out. We came to see our children, hear about their progress not listen to your issues.

I am a gp carer so have come across a whole range of teaching standards over the years - from bullies and cliques making the primary school impenetrable to kindness, decency and a real feeling of wanting pupils to succeed. Kids know who the decent teachers are, no doubt about it. They also know the mean spirited staff who need to get a 9-5 job elsewhere. You always remember an inspirational teacher.

What I am saying is that often teachers are the authors of their own misfortune. There are other professions who are under appreciated and work incredibly hard.

The comment about posters being outraged by mediocre or poor teachers when this permeates other sectors overlooks the fact that these people shape our childrens' futures and can influence their well being and welfare. They have unprecedented access to our children, this is a privilege whether they think so or not in the majority of cases.

@ElsieMc

Yes

I rarely (or never) see teachers criticised in the way that hcp are.

The actual ability as teachers is rarely called into question.

Its mostly the moaning that's criticised

It’s also the fact especially in primary schools there is a suspicion of men that want to work in these environments, as they leave it makes make teachers a lower percentage and they feel the stress of this more.

the way to look at this isn’t because there are more women it’s why there are more women.

in sure there have been studies but part of it might be the atmosphere working in a female dominated environment. Women have to hack it all the time in other places working in a male environment, and in thinks like construction there is an effort to look into what can be done. Does this happen in teaching

also if more men are leaving than women which’s seems to come up when I search, why is this? Now it could be because the above, but it could also be that it’s easier for a man to switch industry and work type than a women, and we also need to address this, imbalance.

painting the reason people don’t like teachers as ‘because women’ is disingenuous at best and harmful to those women at worst

but did you complain about the teachers at your children's school or just teachers in general? which is what got the backs up of teachers on here.

I must say, and this is only from what I've seen that I generally just see teachers complaining about how negatively people talk about them but I'm as yet to see any "teacher bashing" for myself.

And yes I also agree that I see teachers complaining pretty frequently. I fully respect teachers and think they do a cracking job but some people I know personally are always banging on about how hard and shit their job is like no one else's job could possibly be as hard.

I complained about my kids school yes.

The attitudes from the HT were awful. The provision was dire.

Why shouldn't I complain?

Would you complain about the NHS if it didn't provide the service its supposed to?

There are countless threads doing just that

Most of it justified.

Topgub

I didn't say that you shouldn't have complained.
I asked if you lumped all teachers in together or just about the teachers etc. at the school that you child went/goes to.

and there were countless threads calling all teachers lazy.
There were also many responses pointing out that the dfe and government had suspended the curriculum and given no guidance.

And they likely complain about you as a parent too and this is likely justified too.

When teachers say they work pro rata it's not really true they get a high salary for the hours worked in comparison to other professions. I'm sure teaching in the pandemic must have been hard but many other professions had the same risks or worse and still went to work without moaning.

@FrippEnos

It wasn't all teachers but my experience was very far from unique.

Most parents had a similar experience.

Its a shame for the teachers who were doing their best, I agree

@bigfootisreal

Really? What an odd comment