Being used in my new job?

[Blownupblowndown]

Gave up teaching this July (6 years as a French teacher in a tough secondary school). Was fed up with the 60 hour weeks, the silly admin and extra stuff we had to do and the low pay.

i now work as a librarian in a much smaller school, working 3 days a week but coming out with roughly the same money at the end of the month. It’s a no brainier huh?!

while the job itself is very boring, and I miss some parts of my old job, I love having the extra two days off a week which means I get to do the school runs on those days and I even got to go and watch my kids in their school Xmas play for the first time ever- priceless!

However, I have now been asked twice by the head of English (my line manager) to fully teach a lesson on my own, without any support. She words it cleverly- it’s something to do with books so must therefore be my territory.

Now, I’m being paid a librarians wage (£11.50/hour). I am not receiving a teacher’s wage for these lessons worked. I know what substitute teachers get per hour, and its quite a bit different. Apart from the money, I didn’t sign a contract to be pulled in as a teacher. I don’t want to teach at the minute. Yes I’m a little bored as a librarian, but taking over a class of bottom set year 7’s and all that entails is not in my contract! Bear in mind, these lessons have been sprung on me with an hours notice each time, with no time to prepare or get to know the kids in the class. Also, both have been in the last month and I’m worried it’s going to become a ‘thing’.

Am I right in thinking, this might be something they will try to do more often and I should say something?
i don’t mind helping out but my last school really took advantage of my inability to say no or let anyone down and it led to burnout and the end of a career I loved!

What does your job description say? If it is not in there, then don't do it.

So when they ask me, I just say ‘no’? I don’t want to be rude and I don’t want them to think I’m unwilling to help. I’m just worried they’re using the fact I used to be a teacher to their advantage

You should highlight this to your line manager. Definitely does not seem right.

“It’s kind of you to offer me this opportunity, but I’m afraid I’m no longer teaching.”

It's the Line Manager who is making these demands (probably under the 'your contract says Any Other Duties' getout clause).

Are you a union member? If not, you need to be before you end up being their intervention strategy.

Oops sorry. Why not just say no, or find another job. £11.50 p/h is not that high. You could probably do something completely different and still get that.

I think I may have to find another job. But it fits so well with the hours. There’s not many jobs in my area that are term time, require very little childcare costs and no extra work at home.
Would love to do some tutoring or something from home but I don’t quite feel confident enough to offer myself for the prices these private tutors charge

You need to speak to your manager and state that you're employed as a librarian not a teacher, and you can no longer stand in as a teacher for lessons - unless of course your contract says something different.

And yes offer tutoring - you can do it at lower prices if you want and offer locally.

This is really unusual. We have sessions with the librarian but the class teacher is always there. If it's something for the whole year group, we all go with our classes and it's always planned in advance.

The only thing I can think of was that this was something the previous librarian did/suggested/enjoyed? Doesn't mean you have to do it though but might be where it's coming from.

Being cynical, treating it as intervention sessions means the wage cost can be claimed and partially funding by the national tutoring fund/16-19 if you get sixth formers. Also a way of getting cover supervisors for less than a cover supervisor.

Are they bringing the class to the library to run lesson?

Usually yes, they bring them and stay with them. I just hover and help out if needed but they are controlled by their class teacher.
But the first time I was asked to teach a lesson, it wasn’t even a library lesson. It was a normal English lesson in their classroom! The second time was a library lesson but there was no other teacher present- just me. The thing is, I’m a French teacher. I didn’t teach English. I don’t even like it as a subject. I do love books obviously but not a reason for me to have to teach English!

I don’t understand how you are now bringing home the same pay each month on 3 days a week as a librarian as you were when teaching full time. I thought initially you were getting paid more than class teachers but clearly this is not the case.

I would say that you can’t teach during your 3 days as librarian. If they want to
employ you to teach on the other two days, that might be something you could negotiate. It totally undermines the librarian role of you can just be taken at short notice to do cover. I assume office staff don’t do this?

If it’s in library time avoid eye contact and look busy.
disappear out he back or busily clack in your computer.

When they ask you say…

”sorry that won’t possible”
or
”no that won’t be possible. I can’t help.”

if they ask why just be vague but firm.

”I’d rather not get into specifics but I can’t help. You’ll need to find another solution”

if they say “it’s a complete emergency!!!!” You say “oh no that’s a shame have you tried asking X or could you do Y?”

If you are weak and a pushover NEVER help or it will be a slippery slope.
if can hold off for 3 or 4 month they will get the picture and stop asking

’thanks but I finished teaching as it made my anxiety high and affected my mental health’

The word anxiety will make them back away straight away.

Are they asking other librarians to teach? They are taking the p*ss!

Don’t do it. They want a teacher for the price of a part time librarian. It’s exploitation.

I agree, it makes no sense. I’m a single mum of 3, and was earning too high a wage to receive any benefits apart from child benefit.
Now, working 21 hours a week, I receive benefits and along with my wage, it adds up to about the same. It’s a very small deficit tbh but well worth it when it means I get to see my children more!

No, they don’t ask the other librarian to teach any lessons, apart from sometimes, she tutors 2-4 students who need help with phonics or reading. But definitely not whole classes.
i think mentioning anxiety is a good idea!

You are making this a big deal unnecessarily. Explain you have stopped teaching for now, and if you want to get back into in they will be the first to know and you can discuss appropriate payment for any lessons you cover at that time. But for now you wish to keep to your library duties.

Then repeat that. If they keep bringing this up, make the answers shorter and shorter. You may get to the point where you are just saying no, but in general, to start with, you may want to give some more information to keep the relationship good. Beware though, the more you explain and justify, the more fuel you give for discussion.

Businesses will always want to get as much as they can from employees. The trick is not to take that personally, work out your boundaries and stick to them.

As for burn out and finding another job - that is a bit melodramatic. If you always say yes even to things you dont want to do, that is on you. Being able to say what you will and wont do is a basic life skill as an adult. The Centre for Clinical Interventions has a good free workbook about assertiveness which you would benefit from.

Thanks for the advice.
I’m in no way suggesting burnout is possible in this role. I was saying that was one of the reasons I left my last job and being a bit of a ‘yes’ person aided that.

Yes, I get you, and lots of us struggle to say no because we want to be liked, keep the peace etc etc. But rather than expecting other people to regulate themselves, especially when it is an employer, we can learn to say what we will and wont do.

Don't internalise all the blame OP.

They have an absolute cheek asking you on a librarian's salary to be a teacher.

I think you need to address it. Say that you are no longer prepared to take on teaching responsibilities- unless they are ones you would reasonably expect a librarian to carry out. Tell them you had your reasons to leave teaching and the situation cannot continue as it is.

Id approach your line manager and have a conversation about it - citing the 2 examples you've so far been pushed to take on ans stating that you left teaching for this role. Cause you didn't want to teach, and that you're neither contracted as a teacher, nor paid as a teacher, so don't want this to become routine. Hopefully, by politely making your stance clear, your line manager will take it on board. Once she knows you don't want to be taking on extra responsibilities, you can see that hat happens and if it still continues, you might need to go higher than her.

Next time you are asked just say “that doesn’t work for me as I am a librarian not a teacher and that role is above my pay grade”.

If you're a qualified French teacher (up to GCSE? A-level) and you had challenging classes before I would have thought tutoring would be a doddle.

I know some might have to be out of school time but 'cramming ' would be in study leave time?

You'd earn more and would be in your own home! And you don't have to start on the top of the tutoring scale. Start a bit lower and you'll get some that can't afford the top prices