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?

Yep - when done developer (coding) work, yep when worked for a public tenders body for urban regeneration

it’s not uncommon.

no one is saying all other jobs are harder just that other jobs are just as hard.

Some might be harder, they are struggling for doctors, nurses, midwive and carers too so recruitment and retention issues are not unique to training.

@GeekyThings would you like to see my contract. I am paid for 37 hours, 39 weeks of the year + 5.6 weeks holiday pay. That is my contract so anything I do above that is my choice and I'm happy with that.

My husband, on the other hand, not a teacher is paid for 52 weeks, albeit 6 of them are holidays

195 Days can pay 63k, that's pretty good, if true:

@GeekyThings sorry - 5.6 weeks holiday pro ratad for a 39 week contact that should have said.

@Chickenkatsu this is innacurate. Look at the teacher’s pay scale, which is published by the unions, if you’re that bothered.

@GeekyThings I'm in an independent school, so vastly different, and far lower paid, than state school. I accepted the job, I like my job and I don't mind doing what I need to do around my paid hours to do my job. Simple.

@ScarlettOHaraHamiltonKennedyButler I have said that exact point many many many times.

@SlowingDownAndDown but this thread is about teaching ????? So teachers are responding. Not seen one person say teaching is the hardest job out there - it isn't. But that doesn't mean it's not hard (just not the hardest).

I am a teacher.

I love aspects of my job and find aspects difficult/frustrating - like every other job I've had.

I work hard and work outside my hours - like lots of other jobs.

I worked hard during covid and found it difficult to juggle with my kids - like almost everyone else.

I enjoy the holidays but I have two disabled children who can't access holiday care so a job which didn't have the summer holiday off would be impossible for me anyway.

You’ve lost me there.

@Milkand2sugarsplease I can see your contract, anyone can look at teaching contracts - most fall under the statutory guidance for pay and conditions, and if they don't, they usually still contain clauses similar to this one:

"51.7. In addition to the hours a teacher is required to be available for work under Paragraph 51.5 or 51.6, a teacher must work such reasonable additional hours as
may be necessary to enable the effective discharge of the teacher’s professional
duties, including in particular planning and preparing courses and lessons; and
assessing, monitoring, recording and reporting on the learning needs, progress
and achievements of assigned pupils."

Any extra time you work falls into that, and you are paid for it under your contract. If you're lucky enough to not need to do much of it then you get more in the way of break time, if you're not so lucky, then you get less.

I genuinely think there could be a thread on here that starts with-
“I’m a brain surgeon and today I did 24 hours of surgery on 4 premature babies while standing up in a dust camp in a third world country, using nothing but my bare hands and a butter knife”

and within five responses you’d have-

“Well, try being a teacher and then you’ll understand hard work!”

You know people have got no evidence for their claims when they start their post with "I genuinely think there could be a thread on here that starts with...".

It's basically "Here's a silly imaginary situation to back up my made-up view". Teachers don't think teaching is the only hard job.

What actually happens on threads is that it all it takes is for a teacher to say something about teaching being hard work, or to mention something about teaching which makes it difficult or frustrating without making any reference to other jobs, and lo and behold - posters start banging on about how teachers always say teaching is harder than any other job. And yet literally nobody said any such thing.

I've seen many threads on MN about the shitty aspects of lots of jobs. Retail, nursing, carer jobs for example. All perfectly valid complaints. I would hate todo those jobs! Nobody comes along and accuses them of saying retail/nursing/caring is harder than all other jobs. Because they aren't saying that. Just like teachers aren't saying that!

@GeekyThings bloody hell, how many times, I'm not under teachers pay and conditions.

@GeekyThings nor do I follow teachers pay scales - both of which I accepted when I took the job.

Any life insurance brokers will confirm that teaching is one of the most ‘life threatening’ professions - second to only vets, dentists etc but on the same level as those who work up at heights daily (scaffolders etc). I pay a hefty premium compared to my office based friends.
Teaching is not the hardest job, by any means. I’d sooner be a teacher than in the army, for example. But it’s a lot more difficult than others give us credit for. Otherwise there wouldn’t be a recruitment and retention crisis.

@GettingOrganisedNow “And I'm utterly baffled by the whole "teachers don't get paid for holidays" thing... I mean, they basically do. It's a technicality that doesn't really mean much, but it seems to be picked over endlessly on here.”

I haven’t read the full thread so apologies if this has already been explained. Teachers get 5 weeks of annual leave like other jobs. The rest are school closure weeks. If you get ill during the school holidays you get 2 days back for every 5 days you were ill, only if it was an annual leave week. If it was a school closure week you get nothing back as it’s not contracted time.

I have a relative who works for the DWP. She was on annual leave last week but fell ill, got all 5 days back and was able to move her annual leave to this week. Every job I’ve worked in prior to teaching has also had this same policy of giving you annual leave back on a day-for-day basis if you’re unwell during it.

Surely in primary at least teachers actually get a lot of love as expressed by multiple presents at Xmas and end of year? That doesn't happen in many other jobs.

10points for the whataboutism.

What actually happens on threads is that it all it takes is for a teacher to say something about teaching being hard work, or to mention something about teaching which makes it difficult or frustrating without making any reference to other jobs, and lo and behold - posters start banging on about how teachers always say teaching is harder than any other job. And yet literally nobody said any such thing

What usually happens is that someone post something along the lines of saying how teachers have…

an easy ride
only work part time

work 9-3
just play with kids
are always on holiday
don’t know they’re born
don’t live in the real world
have gold plated pensions

etc and a teacher will reply saying, something like, ‘I work hard, actually’.

Then someone (often the OP) will pile on them gleefully saying, ‘see, I told you teachers are always moaning that they work harder than everyone else’.

I have never, ever seen a teacher say this in years of being on MN.
I have however, seen lots of people say that they have.
It's quite interesting - presumably there are other things that different professions 'always think / say' that are untrue too.

Have some self respect and don't bite. Even the user name is similar to a long term poster

It's fact that teachers pensions are way better than either NHS or local government pensions. This is a substantial benefit that comes with being a teacher.

@Snog 😂😂😂😂😂 the new pension scheme is rubbish. I didn't bother and kept my own personal one going. Long gone are the fab public sector pensions I'm afraid.

I think quite often teachers are used as an alternative target by media and politicians. The real question is why is people's ire so easily redirected towards them?

The way the funding for schools is set up, it seems that everyone thinks that people should get somethin' for nothin' - central government starves local government, so funding for schools is something less than fumes, then schools and teachers get blamed for not providing an acceptable education.