Are there any teachers who still like doing that job?

[Sandrine1982]

Inspired by another active thread where OP asks about a new career after teaching. That thread is very depressing.

So I wanted to ask if there are teachers who still like doing what they do? Or is the situation really so dire?

We have a DD in reception in a large city school and I don't know what to make of the teachers.
Certainly some of them look like they dream of being somewhere else. How sad for the kids. It really rubs off them.

And I know it's not the teachers' fault!! It's resources, class sizes, special needs, etc etc etc.

But really, do any of you guys still enjoy what you do?

xxx

I love actual teaching which is why it's hard to leave. But yes I'm looking at those threads and job ads... most of my teacher friends have left.

I work in an inner city primary and I love my job.

I left mainstream primary teaching because the management were so horrible to everyone (in a catholic school, FFS). I still work in education, but I'm my own boss, I work full time (I was part-time before) and I'm not stressed. I would put anyone off being a primary school teacher. The only happy ones I meet are working on supply.

I mostly like the job. I work in a primary in a fairly affluent area. I mostly like working with the children although it is becoming increasingly difficult to meet their needs, with less money and fewer resources. I find the job incredibly difficult and often very stressful. I dream of a job that isn't quite so exhausting and doesn't raise my blood pressure so significantly. I wish it paid more for the hours / effort involved. I like that I'm never bored, that I have a sense of purpose and I like the holidays. I think on balance, teaching is for me.

Plan on leaving in September. I cannot physically do it anymore.

Love/hate.

Yes, I love the children, their innocence and positivity (I work in the infant department!) I enjoy the camaraderie of workig in a team of like minded people, we laugh a lot. I also love the holidays and the pay isn't bad either!

I’ve taught for about 15 years. Secondary. 10 years in the UK and the past 5 years abroad in a private school. I love it, but used to get overwhelmed with the workload at times in the UK. It depends what your strengths are as to which school is your best fit.

Now I’ve been teaching abroad (China), I’m not sure I’d ever like to teach in the UK again. Possibly just A levels, and probably not full-time. I don’t think I’d have the energy for KS3 again.

Yes, for the majority of an academic year it's either fine, good or amazing. I've not had any issues with parents for years though - that was something that ground me down in the past - and my class is around 50% smaller than average.

I've been teaching 28 years and still mostly enjoy it. There have been ups and downs and the job has changed a lot but I still enjoy being with the children and the actual teaching!

I am secondary core subject. 90% of the students I adore teaching, and love my job. 10% of them I could walk out the door over tomorrow.

It's hard work, and getting harder, but I still enjoy it. this is my 15th year teaching in the UK in standard comp schools, schools in nice areas but with some behaviour issues.

My daughter is a teacher, admittedly only in her second year, and absolutely loves it.

She seems to have landed on her feet. The school (a Catholic secondary) seems very well managed, the SLT are extremely supportive and appreciative, the students are mainly great and she hasn't yet had any trouble with parents.

She is working very hard but is enjoying it enormously.

I loved it until I had kids- and working every evening wasn't sustainable. Then I dropped to part time.

But I really want a wfh flexible hour job eventually...

Funny I was talking in the staff room about this today. I love the actual teaching and the kids but today completely fed up when told in a couple of weeks I've got parents evening on the Monday, a peer review Tuesday where we just be criticised, a twilight Tuesday night and then have to give up my ppa to host the other part of parents evening, not even a please or thank you. Not sure when I'm going to see my own child that week or do any planning or marking unless I work into the early hours each night. I've been looking at jibs this evening.

I wonder if job satisfaction varies depending on whether you're a primary or secondary teacher?

I like the actual teaching bit. The 'extra job' as my husband calls it ie the paperwork is ridiculous and the stress levels are high, adrenaline all day every day is exhausting. I've dropped to part tine and planning to leave in next few years.

Thank you everyone. We really appreciate you 🌹

I’ve been teaching secondary for 23 years (part time for 18 since I had my eldest.) And this year I am seriously considering it being my last.

I spend my days off working and the days I’m in I’m just exhausted by the end of it. Even the holidays have lost their appeal as I’m usually too tired / ill to do anything at half terms and Christmas. The summer off is the only holiday I truly relax for a few weeks, until results day.

I used to say the actual being in the classroom teaching is fine, but even that seems to be getting harder.

Maybe it’s just my age.

TA here, and I'm tired....so tired. I adore the kids in my care and love them like they were my own, but that's part of the problem. I have nothing left for my own child after trying to meet the needs of increasingly demanding children/parents/curriculum. I'm talked out, touched out and exhausted from running on adrenaline all day every day.

I'm slowly realising that I need our. I have never felt so close to burn out and its beginning to show in my health.....my smart watch shows a dramatic rise in resting heart, stress and low "battery" on the days I work (I'm PT). Days off, all is calmer in my body. I'm worried its beginning to take its toll.

The only ones I know who really enjoy their work still are both in private primaries.

I taught in the UK for close to 15 years. We moved abroad due to Brexit and have taught here ever since. I love my job. I earn way more than I used to in England and don't need to work much beyond my contracted hours. I don't tend to take work home. The kids and parents are generally really nice and SLT are supportive when there are issues.
I wouldn't go back to teaching in England. It was ridiculous even back then.

I hate a good 70% of it.

I love the children and teaching them during class time. The rest, I hate.

I’ve had enough and I’m done in. I’m considering leaving and actively looking at other opportunities but can’t afford a pay cut right now. I’m at the top of the scale and don’t have the qualifications or experience to do other things with similar pay.

I’ve just gone back to work after mat leave. I love being in the classroom with the kids, but all the unnecessary admin work and meetings, and jumping through hoops etc. really make me dislike the job.
It’s also parents evening on my sons 1st birthday, and because we are understaffed I have a full evening, meaning I won’t see my son at all on his first ever birthday.
We are all just so burnt out.

Oh Middle 😔 . That is so sad.

I want out but in the last few years have been saying this and too scared to leap without knowing where I'm leaping too. I'd love to have retrained as an Ed psych but the universities that do it are an hour+ in either direction so completely impractical.

I am primary and have been doing it a very long time. I love being with the children but the workload, expectations and pressures caused directly by Ofsted have ground me down-I’m hunting for an ‘out’.

It’s not recognisable as the same job as the one it was when I started :(