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 work in small charities and who work with children and vulnerable people in various projects also do this.

Every day in the third sector.

Teachers are not unique. Sorry.

I think people find the long summer holiday followed by inset days inconvenient.

People are envious of the holidays. Mind you I've seen lots of threads on Facebook Family Lowdown & on here from people wishing summer hols were already over due to kids doing their heads in 🤷🏻‍♀️

People don't understand that it's not necessarily the number of hours, but more the intensity of trying to make sure all children make progress every lesson. Obviously there are harder jobs but usually they are better paid.

People don't understand how hard it is keeping a load of hormonal teens on task last lesson of the day when there's been some drama at lunch or on Snapchat over the weekend. Especially if it's a subject they don't enjoy or value.

I like teenagers, enjoy the fact that no two days are the same, appreciate the decent holidays & think the pay is ok. Otherwise I would leave and do something else.

I don't think the pension is as amazing as people think. A percentage of a lowish salary won't mean a comfortable retirement. I think after 20 odd years I'll get around £8k a year. So not awful but not going to pay for anything flash.

I also think social workers and GPs and nurses get a hard time. I think generally people are more impatient and bad tempered since lockdown.

I know quite a few teachers irl and none of them moan about the job beyond the usual 'line manager is an arsehole' or 'this one kid was really winding me up today' type thing. They don't work in the holidays or late into the evenings (apart from parents nights) and love their jobs.

MN teachers are really something else, there is so much complaining and they can come up with any reason as to why their jobs are harder than anyone elses. I remember during Covid one on here saying that they were working harder and in more danger than nuses on Covid wards. (I expect someone will come on soon and stress how true this is now I have dared to question it)

Then of course the whole 'if you think we have it easy come be a teacher' when no one is suggesting that they have it easy just simply that lots of other people work just as hard.

I’m in Canada where teachers are very well paid a few years into work and people are well fed up with them here as well.

I worked in a school for years as a teacher’s aide and some teachers are lovely and do a good job but many are lazy and the majority are moaning whinge bags. They go on and on about how underpaid they are (in front of people paid a tiny fraction of their income) while many are on over the equivalent of £60,000 a year (the province publishes the salaries of each permanent teacher who made over x amount in each school district, so yes I did know exactly how much each one was making).

They’d sit in the staff room moaning about how underpaid they were and in the next breath chat about their plans to go to Hawaii or Mexico for their second time in a year. In a very expensive housing market a lot of the older ones owned two homes.

It seems to be too often teacher culture to believe that no one works as long or as hard for as little pay as teachers. The population at large does not suffer from delusion, so ya, it’s a bit annoying. Also, having worked with them, a not insignificant number don’t seem to actually like children very much and speak to them in ways they’d never dare to speak to an adult.

I had this once from a Vicar's wife, her face was a picture when I compared teaching to her husband;s job, an hour on Sunday and the occasional hatched, matched and dispatched.
I love reading here how people are encouraged to take a day off for their 'well-being' or they ring their husband/partner to come home because mummy isn't feeling well!

I love reading here how people are encouraged to take a day off for their 'well-being' or they ring their husband/partner to come home because mummy isn't feeling well!

Many jobs dob't have the option of just taking a day off for 'well being'.

Also pretty much anyone with school age children are stuck with expensive holidays.

Just more reasons teachers think they have it worse than everyone else.

There was athread on here a few weeks ago telling a teacher she was quite right to fake a sick day as it was going to be hot and she had anxiety about it so yeah not just for everyone other than teachers is it?

OP I have huge respect for teachers. I have no doubt that most of us on here (myself included) would lose control of a classful of secondary school pupils in minutes and probably have a nervous breakdown at some point, all while being paid half what we would in the private sector and being slagged off constantly on this forum and many others, with the govt periodically sticking the boot in too.

I think people who slag off your profession literally have no idea how hard it is, maybe resent teachers for having so much perceived control over their lives (confirming to school uniforms, timetable, school run, reports, etc etc) and the assumption that teachers just live it up all summer long when they cannot.

There is a reason there is a teaching crisis in this country and teacher retention is poor. Think a third of all new teachers leave within 5 years. There is also a shortage of supply teachers.

It's like a stuck record. Most teachers only come on here to answer questions about teaching and then are told they are moaning. During covid we were repeatedly told that we were not at any more risk than people working from home as covid didn't spread via children. And we should just shut up and stop moaning. That worked out well.
I'm assuming most people don't want teachers teaching their children as they dislike them so much. I'd not trust my little darlings to those lazy, moany slackers who think they are so special.
Oh and Ive worked in the City and in hospitality so have seen many other jobs. Teaching is not harder but it's more exhausting mentally than anything else I've done. However there are many other jobs that are much harder and tiring - nurses and doctors for one.
I'm sure I'll be told I need to shut up or leave if I don't like it (which so many of my college have done so we now have a massive shortage of staff).

I love reading here how people are encouraged to take a day off for their 'well-being' or they ring their husband/partner to come home because mummy isn't feeling well

But everyone can do this, even teachers , nurses and doctors.
I can do it too. The consequences: I don't get paid and nobody will pick up my work... I will get a bollocking followed by a disciplinary if I ring in sick for 1-2 days more than once every 6 months or so...
That's probably standard for most working people.

I agree with the jist of this.

Less moaning about how overworked and underpaid they are might increase the love for teachers.

Many many many of us work long hours, are low paid and underappreciated. But some teachers appear to think it's only them. Many of us non teachers don't get Christmas and summer holidays off (or even partially off, if teachers want to highlight they do so some work on the holidays)

I'm not sure I've understood you right. Do you mean to say you think a vicar's job is just 1 hour on a Sunday and the odd mid-week service? If you were being sarcastic, then fine. If not, then you're doing the same to a vicar's job that people do to ours! There is much more to being a vicar than you think, although I wouldn't necessarily consider it one of life's more stressful jobs (depending on the community where the parish is I suppose).

Number of times I have seen anyone on here say that teachers only work 9-3 = zero

Number of times I have seen teachers complaining that everyone thinks that = 284429 minimum

Can I just ask if anyone has a job where if they are sick, including being in hospital, they are still required to set the work needed for that day ? Weirdest thing for me about teaching. You have to call before 7 and set all cover work with resources by 8. Then you can continue vomiting. Never worked anywhere that being off sick is more work than going in.

Can I just ask if anyone has a job where if they are sick, including being in hospital, they are still required to set the work needed for that day ? Weirdest thing for me about teaching. You have to call before 7 and set all cover work with resources by 8. Then you can continue vomiting. Never worked anywhere that being off sick is more work than going in.

Why not try and understand why so many teachers are leaving. If it's so much harder outside teaching then why aren't they all flooding back ?

My DP has a job where it is more work rining in sick than going in. He is not well paid and never rings in sick.

Every job I have ever had has required me to check work is organised, cover in place, colleagues briefed. Often still need to check emails etc in case something urgent comes up.

Teaching is not unique.

And the academics I know will actually have zoom meetings and run seminars when they are in their hospital bed.

People are leaving jobs in every sector. Its called the Big Resignation.

Teachers are not unique

PS the holidays are lovely. But I can't go to my DDs graduation as it's in term time which makes me sad. In industry I could choose the days I had off so never missed a sports day or assembly. Teachers miss them all. Not saying that's worse or better than other jobs, just that it's a thing.

The vast majority of people have an experience of being taught by a teacher when they were children. I think most people can relate to being taught by at least one teacher who made them feel a bit shitty.

I think the teacher bashing is the inner child of many trying to take back some power from childhood experiences. I don't think teacher hate comes from the adult voice - if you know what I mean.

The other thing is teaching is a profession which is largely made up from women. People love to hate women.

Whenever I read posts by those who seem to have irrational hatred for teachers - my main reaction is that they've probably got something to work on in therapy.

Not set work as that's not the nature of my job but I have never just called in and gone back to being ill, I will do at least one usually more emails to my team/colleagues setting out things that need covering and quite often I will still dial in for important meetings. I am in a senior public sector role. I haven't had a full day off sick in 5 years because my role is so busy. I had a horrible bout of covid and still worked an hour or two each day I was ill because of an ongoing work crisis