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?

Topgub

It was also in the nursing publications and others so it was a significant number.

and if you are going to police language start with your own.
You have spoken about teachers as a group and "myths" that you have rewritten to suit your purpose. so you have no high ground to stand on.

Also you have stated that you were not on MN during the pandemic, so you have no idea of what it was like on here so maybe you should stop writing posts like you were.

@bigfootisreal

I know enough about teaching to know what standard of teaching should have been delivered.

Parents like me?

What does that even mean?

Parents who dont think teachers and schools can do what they like without criticism?

If teachers are threatened by being held to a decent standard of teaching it says a lot.

*I'm not sure why you're not getting it.

England is a different country to Scotland. Scotland is a different country to Wales.

Teaching appears to be less stressful in Scotland or Wales.

So its different from country to country*

I am saying you mentioning other countries are not relevant because generally teaching discussions on mn and the media are talking about the English system.

@FrippEnos

I'm not policing language. I'm just pointing out the hypocrisy

MN doesn't represent real life. I don't hear anyone speaking about teachers IRL.

Some people, perhaps, just as some people think nurses sit at the nursing station drinking tea or lawyers are all on huge salaries - but I think most know it’s not a 9-3 job. I think what more people perhaps see are shorter working years and longer holidays, look at comparable professions, see what they’re paid and think that perhaps if you were to extrapolate the busier term times over a standard full time year of 48 weeks at 40 hrs per week then the pay and T&C aren’t so bad.

*I know enough about teaching to know what standard of teaching should have been delivered.

Parents like me?

What does that even mean?

Parents who dont think teachers and schools can do what they like without criticism?

If teachers are threatened by being held to a decent standard of teaching it says a lot*

only problem is that parents with such mentalities complain about teachers/teaching when it's often their child just not getting their own way in a situation and nothing to do with the standard of teaching but such is life.

@SurfBox

It was relevant to the point I was making though.

That is not the pay scale used in most schools.

@SurfBox

So the absolutely woeful provision of educational material from my kids school during the pandemic was them not getting their own way?

OK then

🤣

Fair enough but you really need to look at the amount of cheap teachers before you mention the pay at the top scale, these are often elusive to many. Don't believe me? Look at the school gates of most schools these days or on the website- how many of the teaching staff are young or not long into the profession? There is a reason for that.

*So the absolutely woeful provision of educational material from my kids school during the pandemic was them not getting their own way?

OK then*

It was the 1st pandemic in living history so alot of schools/services were not adequately trained/resourced for such an event. And what exactly was so woeful?

I think the first lockdown didn't create a great impression on a lot of parents.

Yes, it's true that "the govt suspended the curriculum," but in my book, actually suspending the curriculum and NOT TEACHING AT ALL is only OK if there is an understanding that kids and teachers will be back in school over the summer during what would normally be holiday time.

In Japan, where I live, there was very little teaching during the school closure (it was treated as a "holiday where we send each family a package of homework worksheets"), but then the summer holiday was cut to about two weeks in most schools to make up for this, and other holidays were cut as well. Non instructional time like sports day practices were also cut, and some extra Saturday school days were added. The kids here are not behind at all.

The fact that UK teachers did not do much in the first lockdown but would not even countenance a reduced summer vacation or any Saturdays did make me raise my eyebrows a bit, to be honest; to be fair, though, getting the parents to go along with this might have been hard too.

Yes, of course people have been complaining about dentists and doctors! I've lost count of the number of complaints I've seen about GPs in particular on here. A lot more than complaints about teachers.

Can't believe how long UK dentists refused to see people---it was quite pathetic, and no this did not happen in most other countries.

It’s the pay scale used here - and I have only posted about here, so don’t accuse me of making stuff up.

Equally, if you’re talking about where you are then you should make that clear rather than othering parts of the UK which aren’t England.

But all it does is show that teachers are incredibly well paid, if you’re trying to explain why teachers aren’t blessed to have long holidays that doesn’t really help

@SurfBox

Yes, it was the first pandemic and lots of roles had to adapt overnight.

Schools new closures were coming weeks before they did. They certainly knew what to expect 2nd time around.

It was woeful in that there was practically no provision

A scanned page from a work book was about the highlight.

Along with guilt tripping emails from the head about teachers having their own families and how stressed they were

It was shocking.

You're not trying to tell me they couldn't have done better in 12 weeks?

And, no. They weren't also trying to teach key workers kids in school

The LA made damn sure hardly any got a place and the ones that did were given the same 'resources' as the kids at home while baby sat by a ta

Just curious re this conflict over salaries. So a teacher with a salary advertised at £30k as a random figure..what is their actual pay per annum? Sorry I don't know the teaching pay scales/terms.

@Turtlerunner £30k. It's not pro rata, however much people keep using the phrase. They're just using it incorrectly.

@Topgub how many nurses, shop assistants etc give their contact details to clients? I don’t have direct email/number for GP or dentist.

then you should be happy that I am pointing out yours.

@toomuchlaundry I don't have a direct number for a teacher? I don't know anyone who does.

We aren't even allowed to speak to class teachers we must speak to a deputy head with any problems that we have. Teachers are for a five minute conversation at parents night only (and our letter says we are not allowed to ask questions although thankfully the teachers do actually let us).

We have a a great school and great teachers so it isn't so much of an issue. If my DC did have a problem in class I would rather speak to the teacher direct though.

Topgub
Schools new closures were coming weeks before they did. They certainly knew what to expect 2nd time around.

Schools were told the Wednesday or Thursday of the week before. So not weeks before.

All updates to guidance were (pretty much without fail) on the Friday before they were to be implemented on the following Monday.

The favourite times for updates was the Friday of the holiday when all teachers and heads were out of school.

As for what happened second time around, it varied from school to school. We had a full virtual timetable, the schools close to us had half and half.

@Topgub schools did not know they were going to be closed before the first lockdown. Schools found out the same day everyone else did. Also the Government suspended the curriculum so schools did not have to teach it during first lockdown. Schools were told they would be providing childcare for key worker children so they wouldn’t be disadvantaging pupils kept at home. I believe the Government only thought it would be for a few weeks.

Don’t you remember the Government telling schools they wouldn’t be closed in January 2021, then the very next day after children had been in one day, they had to close. Schools really didn’t know anything in advance