Why we should value our teachers.

[MrsMurphyIWish]

I was born in 1978 into generations of family who hadn’t left education.

I loved school - I was clever and it was a sanctuary from the neglect at home.

In 1997 I vote New Labour and because of that I was able to go to Uni with no fees.

I have taught since 2000, taking 18 months out for 2 maternity leaves. I’m an outstanding teacher. I want my children to be taught by the likes of me - not people bribed into the position, not people who have a third class degree and couldn’t think of anything else, not a turn over of NQTs. I want people who who love their subject who want to pass on their passion to the next generation.

This is why I’m striking. I want quality teachers for MY children who will still be teaching in 23 years like I am.

I'm striking because I want better for my children, too.

I support striking teachers. Our children deserve teachers who love their jobs and are valued and rewarded for all they do.

whats the issue with third class degrees? Thats a bit snobby. What if someone has a third class degree and a masters or PhD?

I'm not very sold on teachers having the highest grades in their academic history, tbh.

I actually think the best teachers are the ones who struggled with some learning themselves. Often individual teachers teach best in the subjects they personally found hardest

I completely agree with you. Well said. 👏it is not just about pay but about erosion of standards and budgets for our schools. Also, teachers and educational staff should be more highly respected by wider society in many instances.

Just in case it isn’t clear, I meant I completely agree with the op! 🙂

I'm slightly disgusted that an "outstanding teacher" would slag third class degrees. Some of the best teacher I know struggled at university or school.

I am a teacher btw.

Well said, totally agree and right behind you all.

Erm, I did struggle. I grew up in poverty and in foster care at times. Why do you think I’m a snob?

I thought what you said about third class degrees was snobby

Don’t forget you’ll have had students who went on to get those third-class degrees you hold in such derision.

Tbh, this is why I think education is under valued in our country. I want the best of the best teaching future generations.

Oh for crying out loud, get the gist of what the op said.

I agree op. Former teacher here, and its terrifying how many teachers are in the wrong job- but schools are desperate. Why is that?

I think your comment about third class degrees is a bit off, but I do agree that teachers deserve better and if we support our teachers and properly fund education then it will be a win all round for society generally.

I support teachers, ours do a great job. I wouldn’t want to do it and don’t envy them. I also don’t think they get paid that much.

The "best of the best" in terms of academia are not always suited to teaching. Many of the worst teachers I've worked with had the "best" degrees.

and the best teacher may well be the one with the third class degree. You dont know much about teaching if you cant see why that is

exactly

I actually said those who couldn’t think of anything else to do with their degree.

I always wanted to be a teacher - I want my children taught by people with the same passion as me.

Em no. It's elitist attitudes like OP's that piss many people off about teachers. We are hated enough as a profession without fuelling it...

OP, what on earth are you talking about?

It was Tony Blair and New Labour who introduced university fees. It had been free up until that point.

Hopefully you don’t teach history or politics.

Michael Morpurgo and Carol Vorderman both have Third Class degrees.

Michael Morpurgo studied at King's College London, reading English, French, and Philosophy, and graduated with a third class degree. He then joined the teaching profession with a job at Wickhambreaux Primary School in Canterbury, Kent. He also briefly taught at St. Faith's School in Cambridge.

I 100% support striking teachers.

Our children deserve better. Not from the teachers, who work to the point that they put their class of children before their own! But from the government.

I would have stayed in my UQT role and done my PGCE, I was good at my job and loved it. But there is no way on this planet I would enter into a profession where effectively I would be in an abusive relationship with my employer (in my case the gov, not so much SLT as they were good).

My kids are both still in school. Soon I'll be buying glue sticks, paper, pens. Soon there will be no support for my SEN child who doesn't meet threshold for an EHCP. Soon there will be no qualified teachers teaching them.

we have a deputy head with a first from oxford - he is a total liability. Not least because he has such a mega superiority complex! No understanding of our children what so ever - and is so sure he knows better than us how to approach our own subjects - of which he actually knows nothing.

On paper the "best of the best" - in practice a very negative influence on the quality of education in the school. Give me a teacher with a third over an oxbridge first any day

The people who are going to instil and encourage a love of learning into op the future of our country need to feel valued, they need the tools and resource in which to do the job to their best and they need to be respected for it.

Not "scrimp on" by watching their loved profession be diminished and be in a position where they are being prevented from delivering their best due to lack of resource and funding. Knowing they are able to deliver a high class education to their children if they were only afforded to, our childrens education is being neglected and i very much support our teachers in trying to raise awareness of this for anyone who is still left questioning it.

Again - not the grading of the degree but thinking that a “lower” degree would mean teaching is “easy”.