Should teachers be allowed to have hobbies?

[teacherwithhobby]

First of all, I'm not a school teacher, but teach at an FE college. I don't teach music, but I play piano and sing in my spare time, do local open mic nights. I don't see that I'm doing anything wrong in this. I'm fully dressed when I'm performing, my music isn't anything overtly sexual, just a woman at a piano, and performing and meeting others around this hobby is part of my social life. I feel like this is looked down upon by colleagues, that I should be 100% dedicated to my work all the time and have no hobbies at all. I don't see that my hobby interferes with my job, I'm not a big drinker and wouldn't have anything on a work night if I'm playing somewhere in any case. Similarly, it doesn't cause any mid-week late nights. I've often felt like you aren't allowed to have any hobbies if you are a teacher, that it's looked down upon by some who are full-on martyrs. For example, I mentioned going for a run and my supervisor sniffily said 'I don't think you'll have time for going on any runs this week'. Really? I'm not allowed to take 30 minutes exercise in my day outside of working hours to take care of my physical and mental health, I should only ever think about work all the time? Seeing as relationships and children take up a lot more time and exertion than playing the piano or going for a run, should people be allowed to have either of these if they are teachers, or should some sort of vow of chastity be taken? Do any other teachers out there experience this, or am I in the wrong, I should 100% be dedicated to my job all the time, no hobbies allowed?

When I worked in FE, some teachers treated teaching as the hobby.

I think this is ludicrous TBH.Why on earth shouldnt you have time to relax FFS? We dont live in China! Running is good exercise and good for mental health as well.I would ignore them and crack on .

My old head said that if the teachers didn’t have time for other things the children are the poorer for it. That is so true

I work in a school (not a teacher) and many of our teachers have hobbies. Music, running, animal care, sports, one's training for the marathon.

I think you're describing a toxic school as opposed to a general view on teachers. In my school, it's actively encouraged to look after your mental health and it also adds to the make up of the school which is a bonus!

Ay?

I’m a primary teacher, I work long hours, but still have several hobbies and even the time to be posting on Mumsnet in the middle of a Saturday afternoon (no5 having my own children probably helps). I play an instrument, climb, cycle, run, paint and crochet amongst other things. Many of my colleagues are on sports teams, play in bands, sing in choirs. Some coach and tutor too.

Absolutely ridiculous. What did the complaint say? I don't get anyone who would see anything bad in that 🙄

For example, I mentioned going for a run and my supervisor sniffily said 'I don't think you'll have time for going on any runs this week'.

"Why's that? Am I in indentured servitude 24/7?
Can you explain what your problem is with my half hour run, or how you feel it impacts our school?"

You can't let sniffy people like this get to you, or get away with it OP.
Or next thing you know, you'll be apologising for eating breakfast.
It's nothing more than a dominance display - sometimes hard to recognise, when it's presented through a lens of martyrdom & disapproval.

Agree with others that your colleagues sound weird. Of course you should be able to make time for your hobbies. The only thing where there might be a slight point is re the snow day - presumably this is a normal paid working day for you, regardless of whether the school's open? Most teachers I know would be spending a snow day setting/marking work, catching up with emails etc. Having said that, it takes a particularly joyless person to actually complain about a teacher enjoying at least a little bit of fun in the snow with their kids.

This isn't my experience of teaching at all! Sounds like a problem with your particular workplace / colleagues. Most of my department run - in fact, they have their own runners' club after school on a Friday but they also run at weekends and before/after school (some currently building up to marathons). I've worked with teachers who are in bands/DJ/sing at weekends. Sports are very popular from yoga to horse riding to football. I have colleagues who volunteer, do charity work, travel extensively in the holidays and even over weekends. It's really weird to suggest you can't have hobbies as a teacher. A good work/life balance is key in any job.

It's your boss.

At my schools we have several musicians and I am a decent runner. Achievements outside work are shared and celebrated and one of our standard interview questions is "how do you manage your own wellbeing?" for which both music and exercise would be good answers.

So many of the issues faced by teachers would be solved if (some) heads and other school leaders were better managers.

Well not just teachers, but the colleges and their employment contracts (or lack thereof). Aren't most FE teachers on casual hourly-paid agreements with no holiday pay and barely any employment rights whatsoever? When you look at how the sector has been decimated and turned into one giant gig economy, it's already taking the piss expecting the "employees" to treat the job as the committed life-focus it clearly isn't. Expecting them to go even further and compromise their own leisure time for it is just laughable.

Of course pp are correct and these attitudes would be unacceptable aimed at any teacher. But one might at least understand them among post-threshold departmental heads in a busy secondary on a good wage and secure contract. In FE they're particularly ridiculous.

My choir is full of teachers and teaching assistants

I've been teaching for over 20 years and never encountered this attitude. I would move jobs op. No one cares what you do as long as you are doing your job.

It is completely unacceptable for teachers to be engaging in any sort of real life. Teaching, like medicine should be a lifestyle. It's time to return to the contractual obligation of not getting married or having children. Hobbies may be permitted as long as they are done within the school and for the unpaid benefit of the children of other people who attend the school. Teachers should understand that a portion of their salary should be paid straight to the bank accounts of the parents of the school, in order that they can buy their child snacks, pencils. People who choose to have children cannot be expected to provide snacks or pencils. Play equipment will be found, sourced, made or bought by teachers. Teachers should also buy laminators, ink & printers to provide what the school needs. It is essential teachers take self defence classes to handle violent attacks. However using the self defence skills will result in criminal investigation, public shaming and dismissal. Those teachers will sign up for a 40 hour week of voluntary service in the NHS.

Now, who would like to apply?!!!!!!!

I know teachers who go out till 6am drinking and do cocaine, OP. I wouldn’t worry.

I mean teaching does seem to attract a judgemental type. Or it turns people judgemental, one or the other. Guess you have to have a prettythick skin to deal with those type of people all the time.

I think you're describing a toxic school as opposed to a general view on teachers.

I agree, I would be plotting my escape.

Not really the case in Wales @scaredoff but agree with your general point about the FE sector in England.

Although even poor terms and conditions might not justify sending the whole class out for a fag break in the case of one former colleague.

You need to rethink your workplace OP. I’m a teacher, and my colleagues regularly arrange evenings out to try new hobbies together - walking, climbing, runs etc. our next PD day even has an hour set aside for well-being activities where you can try out a new hobby.
That’s the good thing about teaching: lots of potential employers.

Never come across this attitude in my 26 years of teaching. Your colleagues are being ridiculous.

They act as if they own your life, and if you are in FE you will know that they do not think you are worth anything much at all, given what they pay.

Not what I've ever found as a teacher.

I do think you have to be a bit careful on social media for your own protection - but that's the same for lots of jobs.

Didn’t you realize that you are supposed to return to your spartan cell and stare at the walls in silent contemplation until you return to work?
⬆️sarcasm⬆️

The starting point is the employment contract. Plenty do not allow a second job even teaching a child's football team at weekends without employer consent (and that is lawful to include in the contract by the way). I expect most teachers have no such restrictions but always check

People who coach football teams are almost always volunteers. Also I think clauses like that are only enforceable to the extent that the "second job" would interfere with the first one. I do freelance work alongside my main job and it doesn't interfere, in fact there are plenty of synergies so it probably saves time on the main job at times.

Of course teachers can have hobbies. It's amazing that people jump to the conclusion that the OP must be workshy though

For your own sanity you need a hobby outside of school