Does the teaching profession have any status?

[Mysteriousgirl2]

I’ve just got back from a 50th. I’m a teacher. This evening when I introduced myself, there was the usual ‘and what do you do?’ type of questions.

I felt a bit small to be honest, as there were obviously a lot of wealthy people around with big important jobs and big job titles.

I’m really interested what you think about the status of teachers. Any thoughts?

And yes, before I get slated, it does matter to me and I’m genuinely interested in what people think.

Maybe I wish I didn’t, but I do care.

I'm a teacher.
People just think it's a hard job without much money or rewards.
I still think it's more respected though than other public service jobs (Inc police).

I think teaching is incredibly important, but it definitely isn't respected as a profession- at least where I live. It should be, but it's not.

Most of my friends have "big important jobs"...when I was teaching I certainly didn't feel inferior to them in any way. I earn a fraction of what most of them earn. However, my war stories are far better!

I was, but now I’m not.

Defiantly less respect, and under paid and having to deal with constant entitlement from parents and students it’s not worth it. Even the staff are too tired to support each other. Never again.

I feel a bit sorry for you and teachers in general. Seems a grim and thankless job ( and I’m a nurse! 🤣) there’s no more status to it than any of the caring professions these days. Hopefully you enjoy it?

I get fed up of the job being faux-elevated and admired and the same questions every time. I give another vaguer job role now. The wider issue is talking about jobs in the first place - not a happy topic for many.

Depends who you are with!
I personally see it as a solidly middle class job on a par with social work, nursing and policing that requires a degree and capability.
Is it on the same level as medicine or corporate law or chartered accountancy I don’t personally think so as the level of personal responsibility is a bit less.

Yes, of course. Teachers are educated professionals, who can keep an entire class under control and educate them at the same time. I imagine most of us have been inspired by a good teacher in some way, probably more than once.

Im a solicitor and crown advocate. I retired early through property development. I "might" have been one of those people at the party BUT I ultra respect a teacher. I think its a solid respectable career 👍🏼

I find the use of the word responsibility interesting. No I don't think it compares to medicine but it's a different kind of very real responsibility. Most people probably wouldn't offer to babysit for more than say 6 or 7 children at once as they would struggle to keep them safe. A teacher not only looks after 30 children by themselves (and it often is by themselves, TAs being a distant memory for many teachers) but has to teach them stuff at the same time. A primary teacher is responsible for most of a child's learning, 30 times over, for a year of their life. That's a big responsibility. I think it's interesting it's not seen that way. I work in a school, but not as a teacher/TA.

I think it's held in poor esteem. I used to teach but got out for various reasons.

Over the years I had comments such as:

• I thought you were much too smart to end up in teaching
• Lucky you with all those holidays!
• It must be awful never getting to leave school and get a proper job
• You teachers are all just fuddy-duddys
• Must be great to finish work at 3pm every day
• Teaching is so easy these days - just put out some games and worksheets and let them get on with it
• Those who can do, those who can't.....

I don't think it's held in very high regard at all to be honest.
Unfortunately bad press hasn't helped us, especially during COVID and the strikes.

And we do make a difference.

Recently, I caught up with the parent of a child who I'd taught.

Diagnosed as ASD while I taught him as a reception child. Initially not able to stay at school, for more than one minute at a time, without a constant scream, hammering the door, to go home. Giving him his door key to hold helped and slowly, with his fantastic parents, we extended his time in school, a minute at a time, each day, timers in place, the aim to send him home whilst he was smiling, so that he remembered each previous day as a happy one, spurring him to come back.

That little boy HAS JUST GRADUATED in linguistics with Japanese! His mum in tears telling me about it!

Even if it is one child, we make a difference.

I don’t think any one disputes teachers make a difference.

The people I went to university with in the eaely 90s have mostly had extremely well-paid city jobs and would probably look down on teaching as a job. Most of the people I know now are either teachers themselves or would consider it a good, but unappreciated job.

I don’t think any one disputes teachers make a difference.

Quite a few MNers seem to think most teachers are tyrants with a power complex, which is laughable. What power?

I work for an investment bank and absolutely respect teachers. Honourable work teaching future generations. Sadly often underpaid.