Being a primary school teacher is INCREDIBLY HARD or AIBU 🫠

[BoneTiredandWired]

Today alone as a teacher I have: Intervened in three fights. Had multiple restorative conversations. Given up both my break and lunchtime to sort out arising issues. Unexpected fire alarm chaos. Taught music and German and had a real laugh with my class. Saw real positive developments of my kids abilities. Shortly later spoken seriously and told off my class.
Dealt with multiple crying children who don't want to leave my class next week. Sang and coordinated our summer concert songs.
Written the last of 28 individually written reports for all my kids.
Tidied up and emptied my entire classroom.
Had a 2 hour after school meeting.
Cried on the way home out of sheer emotional exhaustion and having to be strong carrying the emotions of so many throughout the day.

I ❤️ my kids so so much, but teaching is HARD and so so much more than people think it is

And why they don't just quit if they don't like it

Right, so you're not happy for your kid not to have a teacher.

Parents should care that teachers are leaving then. And that people are not signing up to be teachers.

I greatly respect and appreciate what our teachers have to deal with

My youngest is now mid way through secondary and I've never known the schooling system so chaotic in all the years of parenting.

However that said,I don't think anyone should stay in a job that makes them that emotionally knackered all the time.

There are many other roles suited to teaching out there so there's no reason not to branch off and I don't blame teachers for doing so

I would never want to put another child through the state system with the way it currently is

Of course I'm not happy but I'd rather people who were teachers were happy to be teachers and if they aren't then they should leave other wise it's just cruel to them. Miserable teachers aren't going to encourage more people to be teachers so if they just leave then that will leave the ones who are ok with how shit it is.

I think teaching is incredibly tough. I'm not a teacher and have no experience of it but from what I do know the workload is huge and now my own DC is at primary I can see first hand how much pressure her teacher is under - from the school and also parents.

The chaos of dealing with young children all day would be too much for me.

So you want teachers to secretly leave teaching and leave parents totally in the dark about what's going on in schools?

Everyone knows teaching is hard because they never stop wanging on about it.

No of course I don't want them to leave secretly. Just what's the point. OP is clearly struggling with the job. It's not for her. That's fine. But she has agency in her own life and could quit and go and get a job in something else.

I mean there's a nicer way to put it but yeah. I don't think anyone is under an illusion that teaching isn't hard. That's why so many people chose not to do it

Parents aren't in the dark judging by the sheer level of moaning that goes on here on MN. We all know you work the hardest and have the hardest job ever and are leaving in droves. WE KNOW!!!!

OR, and hear me out, the country could start taking education seriously and try to make the job less shit so that people do want to do it.

What are you doing about it?

I couldn’t disagree with you more. Ex teacher and one of the reasons I’m an ex teacher is the total lack of respect from parents 🤬

I’ve heard the same from family members who are teachers, @StraightLines , it completely depends on the school and administration.

They could. But I can't do that so all I can suggest is that teachers who don't like teaching quit. I'd say the same to paramedics scarred by the trauma of their jobs. Sometimes you have to be selfish and change career.

OP hasn’t said her job is much harder than anyone else’s?

she’s just venting after an exhausting day about how hard it’s been.

I'm a parent and I respect teachers so I can't really do anything more to help. I'm glad you got out as it sounds like a shit job.

There's an election coming up, for a start.

Sometimes teachers can’t because they can’t afford to quit and they’re trapped. It isn’t always that easy to just quit. I agree if it’s possible to quit then absolutely an unhappy teacher should quit. The concern is the sheer numbers of teachers leaving. The state of education is massively worrying at present

Already voted.

I respect teachers, they do a hard job.

Is it harder than being a lawyer, accountant or other professional job? No, I don't think so. And before people start saying lawyers earn more - some do (much like private school teachers) - but criminal lawyers started on as little as £16k in my day, less than teachers - and could be on call rotas for nights plus at risk of attack.

I think teachers complain because it's become socially acceptable to do so. Almost expected.

Of course criminal lawyers, policemen etc. all don't get so much holiday either.

It’s National Thank a Teacher Day. On any one day, a teacher can also be a social worker, dietician, occupational therapist, speech and language therapist, nurse, PCSO and psychologist. It’s really tough in education. Thank you to everyone who remains in an educational role and supports our precious children.

I don’t think it’s the salary, @JustMarriedBecca , it’s the expectations and the way that they’re treated by parents and children that makes the job especially hard.

I don’t kick off in my accountant’s office, for example, or yell at them when my child isn’t doing well.

I’d compare teachers to nurses and paramedics, rather than accountants. People think that they can treat them like dirt and still expect to be looked after.

Agree.
@JustMarriedBecca I see what you're saying but your argument doesn't hold given there's not a crazy retention crisis in the other jobs you mentioned.

I am a teacher, not in the UK anymore, so my job is way easier (teaching is way harder in the UK). So, yes, I appreciate for the pay, the job is tough.

But, I agree with PPs. There are OTHER difficult jobs out there. Many other professions work long long hours in highly stressful roles also. Teachers seem to believe that no other profession works like they do.

I have a lady who cleans my house as I AirBnB it - a six hour changeover is such hard work - if I do it myself, I am exhausted. But then, she moves onto her next job. She is incredible at her job but she must be so tired at the end of each day, In my opinion, she works far harder than any teacher for far less pay and she just gets on with it.

Teachers, vote with your feet - leave the profession and you would be perfectly right to do so ... but please stop the constant cries of 'my job is way harder than anyone else's.'