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?

@MajorCarolDanvers where are they all going ? Teachers are unfortunately needed in certain numbers for education to function well. If you're happy with your kids being babysat not taught then that's fine.

I really hate cod armchair psychological theories like this.

There are a lot of tough jobs out there - I can think of LOADS. But for some reason, it's only teachers that we constantly hear of moaning.

I never hear sewage workers on here complaining, or refuse collectors, or palliative care nurses moaning, or firepeople going on about working unsociable hours and through the holidays. I never hear A&E workers spouting off on social media, or people who clear dead bodies from the seas asking for a pay rise and highlighting they have to work through the summer. I never hear pest control people moan about the low pay and hard work. I never hear of the millions of people who volunteer in traumatic roles with NO pay, winging about how tired they are and how noone else can do their job.

I don't doubt for one second that teaching is hard. I've done it myself and seen the challengea. BUT there are MANY MANY MANY MANY many other jobs that equally, if not more demanding, and some teachers seem to think it's only them and that they are sooooo hard done by. Bless them.

@Classicblunder I can see how that is necessary, and I'm sure many jobs are similar. For me it's the having to do it all so early in the day, when I always feel at my worst. Once set 5 lessons of cover while hooked up to an ECG in A and E - nurse thought I'd gone mad

@Whadda I just read the first of your many links. The closest comment to 'teachers work harder than anyone else' that I could see was one poster saying it was the hardest job she had ever done. So I'm going to assume you are misrepresenting the other threads too.

@OhGoodnessItsSoExhausting who has said it's just them ? I've never seen that, I've just seen teachers commenting on teaching. I wouldn't feel qualified to talk about sewage workers as I've never been one. City banking however I can compare - long hours but v long boozy lunches and lovely corporate perks. I'll ignore the sexism and misogyny (was the 80s).

Early in the day is standard though as colleagues need to know stuff before the working day gets underway.

I once got so stressed handling a work crisis in the hospital while I was waiting for a blood pressure check during pregnancy that I had to beg them to redo it as I knew it wasn't a real reading!

It is stressful, but it is the price of a professional job, I think

Where are they all going? Everyone is changing careers left, right and centre.

Now your snarky little pass ag quip is a good example of why many people hate teachers on the internet Teachers are unfortunately needed in certain numbers for education to function well. If you're happy with your kids being babysat not taught then that's fine

Teachers are not unique. The same thing is happening in every profession. I could rewrite your snarky quip about the NHS, Care Home Workers, Charity professionals, Chefs, Restaurants, Refuse Collectors....its every sector.

And how does that make you feel? 😜

@mumsneedwine - 👏

Exactly this. It may be something about the sorts of teachers who are drawn to posting on the internet but the amount they complain about doing completely normal hours is staggering. Agree with pp that it might partly be to do with people going straight into teaching after university and so not realising that the rest of the world doesn’t do 9-5 either.

The teachers I know IRL are great.

100% this, especially the bit about telling your kid off.

Definitely this ..

I hate threads about teachers and teaching! It always descends into a bun fight and I wish all teachers in here just never engaged. OP, I'd never have started a thread like this!

For all you who dislike (MN) teachers moaning:

1. I admit here I'm fairly paid for what I do (specialist SEN teacher, not mainstream).

1. I have no idea about holiday pay but I appreciate all my time off (whether I work or not).

1. I don't think teaching is the most stressful job there is and you couldn't pay me enough to be medical or police (but teaching can be extremely stressful).

1. I don't think teaching is childcare but obviously parents rely on their children to be at school for x days a year.

1. I have known some atrocious teachers. We are not all amazing people.

Now, can we just get on with our jobs, without second-guessing each other?! (I wish!!)

Teachers on the internet, however. They think they are the only people with a stressful job.

No they don't, as @Whadda 's failed attempt at proving it goes to show.

Saying teaching is really hard is not remotely the same as saying it's the only hard job, however much you might enjoy pretending it is.

I think teachers have a really really important job, probably one of the most important…and it must be tough having to work after hours and in the holidays. However, as a PP said there are many, many other jobs that work 9-5 and don’t have the long holidays where it’s also expected/ you have to work after hours. I’ve worked in corporate jobs where I was finding myself working in the evening, after the 5pm finish if I had a deadline…but didn’t really think anything of it. Also it IS a good perk of being a teacher that you don’t have to worry as much about childcare during the holidays, as I find it stressful and expensive having to piece together a plan. That said, I couldn’t be a teacher, not for me (although have considered retraining for the hours that fit around children!). I think the point is, no one is saying teachers have it easy, it’s just that they don’t have it harder than many, many, other careers…I do hear lots of complaining about having to work lots ‘out of hours’ but with teaching hours being 9-3 term time surely that extra work just bring you into line with the hours most people in corporate jobs do?

@VickyEadieofThigh I can 100% assure you that I am not paid for 52 weeks if the year. I'm paid for 39 weeks teaching + my pro ratad 5.6weeks holiday pay in independent school so please don't just assume because you are 1 retired teacher, you speak for all of us.

Love you ToD101

@MajorCarolDanvers wow, someone is a bit moany. I never said other professions didn't have the same issue ?? Weird take on a genuine question - where is everyone going ?
And it's not a snarky comment, it's a fact of life. Not enough teachers then not all kids will be taught. You seem a tad aggressive towards teachers though.
(And for clarity, if not enough doctors then people will die. Not enough dustman the rubbish will build up. Not enough .. I am not claiming teachers are special, but your children are and I weirdly would thought parents would want the best education for their kids).

Yes I do this in my job too. Never just been able to go of sick and that’s that. In fact I often just work through as much as I can as it’s more hassle and more work piled up if I’m off sick.

@Bellezza I post mainly to try and help medics and vets get into Uni. But do enjoy a good debate so sometimes join in as it's a bit of fun.
I qualified in my mid 40s so have had plenty of experience in other sectors. I love teaching, I don't begrudge the 50-60 hour weeks in term time as it needs doing. I've never said my job is the hardest in the world (never seen any teacher say that) and only post about teaching on threads that are set up about teaching. I'd not comment on nursing or caring ones as I have no experience but I'd support them totally if they say there jobs are hard work.
Pointing out facts is not moaning, it's pointing out facts. Now I'm off to the pub as it's the holidays.

Yes, my grandfather used to work the first shift down a coal mine, roll the grass court and then play tennis against teachers who told him what a hard day they’d had!

To clarify - teachers do get paid holidays. However out of the 13 weeks ‘off’, we are paid 6 weeks holiday and the other 7 weeks is undirected work time or ‘non contact’ time. Therefore, as I have to work 12 hour days during term time (to keep up with admin, marking, planning), I choose to only work a few days of that non contact time.

@Milkand2sugarsplease No one is paid for working 52 weeks a year, everyone gets holidays. Most salaried staff (including teachers) are paid in annual salaries, subdivided into 12 months, regardless of where your holidays fall.

Also you've left out a bit of what you're paid for - the non directed time you're contractually obligated to provide that all teachers seem to either forget about, or be unaware of for some reason. That's why they don't specify length of holidays like most other workers contracts, you're not really supposed to have that many because it's presumed you'll be doing more work more than just your directed hours.