Page 5 | To not want to teach

idontwanttoteach · 2024-09-30T17:59:48+00:00

This is probably going to be a frustrating thread because there’s literally no way around it, I sort of have to teach because it’s the only thing I’ve done and the only thing I can earn the amount I do and plus the holidays (have young children) and so on. But. I. Do. Not. Want. To. Teach. I know about the FB group by the way but there’s no real feasible alternative for me at the moment.

hettie · 30/09/2024 21:55

I'm not sure if I'd want to be retraining in my 50's either. You didn't say your exact age, but it sounds like you might only have a few years to make the jump out of teaching or you'll be in hitting 50 before you know it...
I retrained when the kids were little, bloody nearly killed me and nearly finished off my marriage, so I'm not exactly the poster child for the way to do it. Nor is my new career a post teaching pathway particularly (any more than day being a nuclear engineer would be). But I am now in that 50's phase and I am so so glad that the next 15 years of work aren't in the industry I started out in.
It's a bit 'if not now when ...' there's unlikely to be a 'good' time let alone a perfect one to make the move?
And sorry to push the point, but you really are in the trenches of young kids, work, domestic merry go round...Are you sure sure that dh is lifting as much of the load in all of this?

FridayFeelingmidweek · 30/09/2024 21:57

I totally hear you! I've had to go back to full time teaching because of a divorce. 4 weeks in and I already want to leave again but I can't afford to at the moment. It's just the total lack of flexibility and stress. The holidays are the saving grace, but so far I've felt like I've just not been there for my kids at all in term time, which makes me want to cry.

Anyone saying change jobs, it would be great but you can't just move sideways after 20+ years in a profession.

I know there's no answer, just wanted to show my solidarity.

FridayFeelingmidweek · 30/09/2024 21:59

@dontbenastyhaveapasty This is the best response! Totally has to be about reframing and it's interesting to hear so many others feel the same way about their jobs.

AgainandagainandagainSS · 30/09/2024 22:01

In an ideal world, if schedules, money etc weren’t an issue, what job would you be doing?

EuclidianGeometryFan · 30/09/2024 22:05

idontwanttoteach · 30/09/2024 20:00

@pandapopadance if we did that … blimey where to start.

It isn’t really possible but let’s say for arguments sake we do that. DH would need to find a completely different role in a different company and lose the benefits he’s gained in many years working for that company.

He’d be on far less money so we’d all be on significantly less money as a family even if I was FT. Childcare costs would also increase so we’d have to sell up and move somewhere not as nice.

It just isn’t doable.

You just typed out what would have to happen, proving it is 'doable', then said it isn't doable.
Yes it is doable, if your DH will step up and make sacrifices for you, and you both agree to move to a cheaper 'not as nice' place.
But if DH won't make the sacrifices, and you won't radically re-think your marriage, and you are too attached to your nice house/area, then you have to stay in teaching.
But don't pretend to yourself that it isn't a choice you are making.

Milkandacookie · 30/09/2024 22:13

So many jobs I've looked at are around 23k. Even ipsea legal advice... And sendiass advising families about send rights.

Rjen early help is often around 27k

So many post teacher jobs either only require gcses or they require a ton of experience (uni working with disabilities was full of ex sendcos and deputy heads so I couldn't compete even though salary was 30s..)

Its such a hard point to jump out at and yes further comkciated if you cant manage full time and work up in the way you could when younger.

I'm screwed

MyOtherCarisAVauxhallZafira · 30/09/2024 22:25

@Milkandacookie

DWP work coach
Loads of transferable skills from teaching and similar jobs.

Salary range 30-40k and a civil service pension and a foot in the door to civil service progression
https://dwpjobs-eorecruitment-microsite.co.uk/vacancies.html

Also from the ad - Role Type: Operational Delivery

Role Title: Executive Officer

Detail of reserve list: 6 Months

Post Type: Permanent

Working Pattern: Full-Time, Part-Time, Flexible Working, Full-Time Part-Year, Part-Time Part-Year, Job Share

Salary Range: £30,001 to £40,000

Salary Minimum: £33,979

Vacancies | Executive Officer Recruitment | DWP

Apply now for our Executive Officer roles.

https://dwpjobs-eorecruitment-microsite.co.uk/vacancies.html

TheElectricCity · 30/09/2024 22:32

Ioverslept · 30/09/2024 19:58

So where did you go?

Show quote history

I moved back to Ireland. Teaching here isn't perfect but it's a hell of a lot than it was in England. School finishes at 2.30pm for the day, the standard is high but the expectation isn't ludicrous so the children aren't overworked and exhausted and their behaviour is much better, while still getting an excellent education. Teachers are happier and morale is much better, meaning we can dedicate our full energy to the job but have a normal life too.

Makingchocolatecake · 30/09/2024 22:33

If you don't want to teach anymore then you need to do something else before it drives you mad. I've decided to escape and can't wait to get out!

SEN/local authority jobs with wfh.
Psychotherapist/counsellor (get a masters loan, study, qualify, then go self employed).
Tutoring.

MrsSkylerWhite · 30/09/2024 22:38

As for every child ‘deserving to be taught by someone who wants to be there’ - really? Professionalism isn’t enough, rapid joy is now a demand as well?

I, like most people I think, have always thought teaching is a vocation? You don’t agree?

Hercisback1 · 30/09/2024 22:43

MrsSkylerWhite · 30/09/2024 22:38

As for every child ‘deserving to be taught by someone who wants to be there’ - really? Professionalism isn’t enough, rapid joy is now a demand as well?

I, like most people I think, have always thought teaching is a vocation? You don’t agree?

🤣

Goldenbear · 30/09/2024 23:06

ANightingaleSang · 30/09/2024 20:03

@Mynameistallullah
Business Analyst
Virtual Assistant
Personal Training
Content Writing
HR roles
Education Liaison
Corporate Learning and Development
Publishing
Project Management
IT jobs eg. Networking & switching
Career Advisor (at a college for example)
Pharmacy

There are so many options

How does a teacher on goodish money earn the same money on a completely different profession, I wouldn't think it was that viable. I have an MA and prior to my first child had a very good job in central London but then had to completely retrain to work in info sec/ data privacy as the job was much more flexible with regards to childcare, it has taken me 7 years to get back up to comparable pay!

MrsSkylerWhite · 30/09/2024 23:16

Hercisback1

Seriously, why is the idea that teaching is a vocation so funny? I don’t understand.
Its a job you’d have to really want to do, surely?

Goldenbear · 30/09/2024 23:17

dontbenastyhaveapasty · 30/09/2024 20:36

The thing is, your predicament is actually not at all about teaching. I’m late 40s in the public sector and I feel exactly the same: fed up with a job I used to love, because all the joy and interesting bits have drained away over 14 years of austerity. Only: I earn significantly less than a teacher, despite my postgraduate qualifications, expertise and decades of experience AND the fact I’m in a shortage profession.

But also, close friends in go-getting high paid private sector jobs feel exactly the same too.

Maybe it might help you to reframe it a bit and reflect on the fact that many (most) professionals are fed up with their jobs and would love nothing more than to leave, if only it weren’t for the money? There isn’t a greener field you’re missing out on, it’s just that middle age as a tired working parent is a bit shit?

I agree to an extent but I'm not sure if this a public sector thing. My DH is an Architect at Director level and still loves it, it is a Labour of Love for him. I have a friend who is a Designer and she loves her work and enjoys it so much she prefers working on stuff on the evening to relaxing.

oustedbymymate · 30/09/2024 23:34

I left. After 12 plus years. Gave up the wage the holidays the pension the sick pay. I couldn't be happier. I have two very small children.

I took a wage cut. I took our income protection to cover sickness. I have a shot pension. I have to pay to cover school holidays.

But. My mental health is worth it. There is always a way out

Original poster

idontwanttoteach · 01/10/2024 01:41

@MrsSkylerWhite no, I don’t agree.

I think you can be fed up and wrung out with it on the inside and still plan, prepare and deliver lessons to a high standard, treat students professionally and with kindness and have positive relationships with parents and carers.

Conversely, I think that you can be passionate about teaching with every fibre of your being and want to do it with a burning desire and be a pretty shite teacher.

Slavish joy only goes so far. As others have identified exhaustion and burnout probably applies to my age and stage as much to teaching now.

OP posts:

Milkandacookie · 01/10/2024 02:46

(@oustedbymymate Well done for getting out. what are you doing now? )

I don't need to be a earning huge amounts as I've already dropped but would like the potential to work up. I'm worried of getting stuck in sideways jobs and at my age not have time to sort it out.

But I'm realising my mental health is shot.

I guess teaching is one of those jobs you can't just plod in it takes a lot out of you to keep going. I need out. But Im looking at jobs less than my friends kids will earn in a couple of years when they finish uni...

You do see jobs where it needs to be OT/mhn/SW (ie mental health education) and it's great those roles have scope to go sideways but so frustrating that despite all our "transferable skills" and the skilled work we do it's so hard (as evidenced by that Facebook group) to actually jump into something else.

Hercisback1 · 01/10/2024 05:57

MrsSkylerWhite · 30/09/2024 23:16

Hercisback1

Seriously, why is the idea that teaching is a vocation so funny? I don’t understand.
Its a job you’d have to really want to do, surely?

The idea teaching is a vocation is what keeps the profession low paid and reliant on good will.

northernballer · 01/10/2024 06:06

I've been where you are - teaching is shit with a young family. Whinge away!

I left and work in an unrelated field now.

ohfook · 01/10/2024 06:11

goodluckbinbin · 30/09/2024 19:05

Get an exit strategy. No child deserves to taught by someone who doesn't want to be there. Loads of alternative in the private sector for teachers though the benefits and pensions etc aren't any where near as good, generally.

Oh god it's a profession not a vocation. Turning up and doing the job properly is enough.

MrsMurphyIWish · 01/10/2024 06:29

dontbenastyhaveapasty · 30/09/2024 20:36

The thing is, your predicament is actually not at all about teaching. I’m late 40s in the public sector and I feel exactly the same: fed up with a job I used to love, because all the joy and interesting bits have drained away over 14 years of austerity. Only: I earn significantly less than a teacher, despite my postgraduate qualifications, expertise and decades of experience AND the fact I’m in a shortage profession.

But also, close friends in go-getting high paid private sector jobs feel exactly the same too.

Maybe it might help you to reframe it a bit and reflect on the fact that many (most) professionals are fed up with their jobs and would love nothing more than to leave, if only it weren’t for the money? There isn’t a greener field you’re missing out on, it’s just that middle age as a tired working parent is a bit shit?

I agree with this.

Been teaching since 2000 and nearly 47. Some days I enjoy my job, some days utterly bored and fed up. I think it’s just bloody working for 25 years for paying bills that’s the issue! I think I would feel like this in any job.

DH is leaving teaching at Xmas and he’s supportive of me doing so too but I can’t imagine doing anything else. Plus I’m used to the holidays now! I do have an edit plan though. I’m only going to teach until my youngest has left school (so another 6 years).

It may not be teaching per se that’s making you fed up. Is it really just money that makes you feel trapped?

Hooe you’ve woken feeling more positive!

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 01/10/2024 06:58

I manage project managers in the public sector. We have a lot of ex teachers, mostly secondary, mostly science.

Milkandacookie · 01/10/2024 07:03

Ibiza how would I get into that? I'm happy to work my way up but I'm not currently in a line management role (although have coordinated etc.)

FridayFeelingmidweek · 01/10/2024 07:16

You can be a good teacher and still not want to be there - especially female teachers - I've seen many want to leave having lost the love of it, but still be exceptional practitioners because they are professionals.

Part of the problem is that it is seen as a vocation. Most teachers try to give their all so schools then take advantage (extra hours, regular weekend marking, parents evenings and meetings that run way over time, exam sessions during holidays, zero flexibility regarding so often our own children miss out etc), and this is why there is now a teaching crisis with staff leaving.

Yes the 5% pay rise is a step forward, but it needs better structures such as bring able to empty more staff so that flexible time could be an option for a start. One of the things I hate most is that I miss my child's special school events. This is just a starter.

ridl14 · 01/10/2024 07:19

idontwanttoteach · 01/10/2024 01:41

@MrsSkylerWhite no, I don’t agree.

I think you can be fed up and wrung out with it on the inside and still plan, prepare and deliver lessons to a high standard, treat students professionally and with kindness and have positive relationships with parents and carers.

Conversely, I think that you can be passionate about teaching with every fibre of your being and want to do it with a burning desire and be a pretty shite teacher.

Slavish joy only goes so far. As others have identified exhaustion and burnout probably applies to my age and stage as much to teaching now.

Absolutely - a lot of teaching is acting. And when you know how to do something well you often do it to high standards even when you feel like garbage. I think most people in vocational jobs are conscientious - at least the ones more likely to burn out