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?

1 person in charge of every single child in the whole school, to make meals, manage the office, teach etc for every single child! Some people have no idea.

@bigfootisreal If there's one thing that MN has taught me, it's that quite a lot of people "have no idea." Particularly where schools are concerned.

And if you try and tell them @CallmeAngelina you are moaning and hate children

Yep, and that no one else has as hard a job as teachers.
The thing is, very few of us would ever dream of saying any of this stuff. It's only when we're accused of finishing at 3.30 and swanning around in endless holidays that we try to address the misconception and then get accused of "bleating."

Yes! The complete lack of self-awareness is funny, but pretty alarming at the same time. Poor kids.

As usual. No specificity.

Because teachers just moan about there workload etc on here and always negative.

I’m a teacher- I’ve just handed my notice in after 15 years- and I’ve been part time since 2018. I’m not going to moan about it being harder than any other job, it’s not. But it is hard and all consuming, like a lot of other professional jobs are. There are some staff working in education who are excellent, average and appalling. It’s not special or unique in comparison to any other profession.

I do think it’s more concentrated in a way that other professions aren’t, due to the structure of the job- our pressures are all concentrated around specific days/hours and so can perhaps feel more consuming than other professions as they’re all at once rather than spread out. Of course that’s not the case but can feel it and I imagine can cause some of the moaning.

The holidays are great, I don’t care if I’m paid for them or not, they’re great. The pay is ok, the pension really isn’t as great as people think.

With regards to the pay I do think though, that whilst it’s fine, it’s not representative of the workload nor of the absurd targets we’re expected to achieve per student. I also don’t think that it’s fair of the skills, experience and training required to be successful and impactful in the role.

None of that though is why I’m leaving. I’m leaving because it is immeasurably more difficult, less funded, less support from wider services and far more non teaching related admin in just the last 5 years, let alone 15. Not to mention pointless admin tasks for SLT at no notice. For a good few years the best bit of my job (being in the classroom) has been enough to balance out the rest of it but it’s not anymore.

I’ll miss my students terribly- teaching teenagers has been the utter privilege of my life and even on the worst day they can make me laugh like no one else. I shall worry about certain students and feel like I’ve let them down. Some have no one in the world who cares. But I can’t continue to give all of myself to a profession that isn’t valued by those who are responsible for it and is being deliberately run into the ground for political gains.

I’ve become jaded, hard and cynical and it’s only fair on my colleagues and students that I leave before it comes into the classroom with me.

Not true.

I'll help.

1. Teachers means all teachers. Not true.
2. Always means without change/difference. Not true.

@Lostatsea10, Sorry you are leaving. I admire (most) teachers and believe they are underpaid. I'm not sure the government realises that they can't just replace those that are leaving.

If I were a teacher I think I would ignore all education related threads on AIBU and stick to the Education boards where their input is valuable and by and large appreciated.

I also think rehashing the pandemic with hindsight isn't helpful to anyone at this point. it was unprecedented. Some schools coped better than others. Some teacher coped better than others. Some teachers had more going on in their personal lives (eg their own children not at school, relatives who were CEV to support, their own health issues) than others. Some schools had wealthier catchments than others (leading to differences in tech at home, parents able to help with schoolwork, number of vulnerable children, number of essential worker children).

Everyone has a different view of the pandemic seen through their own lens. You are never going to get consensus on here and generalising just inflames things and is not constructive at all.

Yes and this one is a prime example!

@bigfootisreal

If that actually happened and there was no option to bring in staff from another site to help then obviously the school would have to close.

However it does feel like schools closing has now become the go to rather than the last resort.

There was a report locally recently of multiple hospital wards with 30 pts with 1 trained nurse.

That is actually horrific and dangerous. They didn't close. How could they?

You said there will be lots of school closures in the next year. Presumably because so many teachers are leaving?

I think its more likely the govt will ban schools from closing.

Every sector is facing staffing crisis. Everyone is going to have to find a way to cope.

And yes, it's the govt fault not teachers but that's the way it is.

Topgub
There is 'no other site' as you call it. And it happened more than once this year.

Classes will merge next year as a result of a shit storm brewing: lack of teachers, huge rise in energy bills taking one school's annual cost from 30k to 85k, wage rises, cost of food rises etc. The only option is to reduce staffing and to merge classes and teach to classes of 40 or 50. Which in turn will cause more staff to leave.

It shouldn't come as a surprise, teachers have said this storm was brewing for many years but were were just moaning of course!

Topgub

You said there will be lots of school closures in the next year. Presumably because so many teachers are leaving?

No I meant with illnesses parents keep sending sick kids into school causing staff to get sick and be off. When too many staff get sick the result is a short term closure.

Topgub

The more you post, the more your ignorance about schools and education issues shows.

@bigfootisreal

Huh.

So its parents fault?

Sure

🤣

Yup, shit storm has been brewing for years. Blame the tories. No one said teachers shouldn't 'moan' about genuine issues.

Offsted and lack of funding are worth moaning about.

Not getting paid for holidays you do get paid for, not so much.

Goady post. No need at all.

@Sherrystrull

And bigfoots post wasn't at all goady and was definitely needed?

🤣

Topgub
Well it really is when they acknowledge their child has an illness and say they refuse to take time off work so they are sending them in anyway and then the staff get it! Yes it is their fault.

@bigfootisreal

The joys of public service eh?

Topgub
You want teachers to tell you about the problems but without complaining about the impact?

@bigfootisreal

I didnt say I wanted teachers to tell me their problems lol

Topgub
You said teachers can complain about Ofsted and lack of funding, did you not?

Yup.