Teachers I need solidarity before I leave the profession

[Soniastrumpet1984]

I love teaching. I have done it for 22 years.
I am sick of parents moaning. Today has put the tin hat on it.
Here's my situation (this is not exact but an approximation as close to similar as I can get it without putting actual details.)
Let's say I've been teaching French bakery recipes to my cooking club. A local French bakery has offered to host 5 students( in its tiny kitchen) on Saturday morning at 7.30am before they open so they can watch the pastry chef making the items. This is a total favour and just a nice thing they do not have to do. They did this as on my way to work, I was chatting whilst waiting to get my coffee. I as a teacher have agreed to give up my Saturday morning to take them. Every child in cookery club was offered the experience, by email with their parent copied in. It was NOT first come first served, they were clearly told if there's more than 5, we will draw out of a hat. There were more than 5 interested , so I wrote them all on pieces of paper and trotted next door to a different teacher, who came and drew 5 names out. Now I have Two parental complaints demanding to see photos of the slips and why didn't I video the draw and provide evidence. I know it's Friday and I'm tired but fuck I want to leave.

Yeah they've got the right idea.

That seems excessive...or is it different children getting a treat each day? In my son's class the teacher picked a child each day who had done whatever behaviour they were focusing on and they got to select something from the reward box - this had sweets but also stationery items. My son always chose a pencil rather than a sweet as he is that way inclined.

@porridgebath Would you thank a babysitter? Would you thank a family member after they've looked after your child for a week?

Do you ever say thank you to cashiers or waiters? Do you give a quick nod and smile to your child's football coach when you pick them up?

If the answer is no, then at least you're treating teachers like everyone else, but I do think it's a shame that we've lost those small every day gestures of appreciation.

@Sugarcoldturkey

I get the impression that @porridgebath agrees with thanking people - but thinks it's not needed for teachers. And thinks we're all a load of whingers because we are saying it would be appreciated. Personally I think anyone that does something positive deserves a thank you - regardless of whether it's paid or voluntary.

No. I think a thank you is a nice to have but not essential for anyone

@porridgebath

That's a shame. I say thank you to postman, bus driver, cleaner in school, GP, shop staff, footie coach, waitress, bar staff - basically anyone who does something nice for me.

So do I. I haven't ever said I didn't.

So why not teachers?

You thank a bus driver for doing the part of their job they're paid for, but refuse to thank a teacher for part of the job they're NOT paid for, going out of their way, working for free, just to give your child a positive experience on a trip/residential?

What possible reason can there be for that?

Set one up then.
Join the PTA or volunteer for it. Offer to organise, run and supervise the exhibition. Most PTAs are crying out for volunteers to help run things.

Complete example of the of attitude that teachers get. Your idea of a baking competition is more likely to exclude kids. Children from families of lower income may not have a lot of baking supplies or afford new ones. You would also get some parents who would just do the baking for them. It would favour kids with more available parents and higher income household.

OP, pulling names out of a hat is completely random. There was no fairer way to do it. I wasn't surprised you got complaints. I used to run a really fin art club for free and supplied all the materials. Only 10 kids could partake, over 60 applied so did pull names and got the same complaints. Never did a fucking club again. Parents today are so entitled and one of my main reasons for leaving the profession.

It's not their fault your friend died though. If you can't do your job because of it then take time off

But the poster could likely do her job.
The email she returned to doesn't sound like part of her job - not if it was something the parent could have sorted easily.

And unless she'd gone and got a sick note from her GP, how can she take time off? In many schools you're lucky if you can even take half a day unpaid leave to attend the funeral of a friend, let alone longer!

Do teachers think that working parents receive thank you mails all the time doing our jobs? I don't...

A large amount of the time during a residential is unpaid time. Most school don't pay teachers extra for giving up their evenings, weekends or overnight.

A simple thank you for taking care of your child for several days, including overnight, when it's a lot of unpaid time, isn't difficult - sure;y?!

Oh they do. If they've gone the extra mile for a customer who just walks away without acknowledging them, l they absolutely do moan.

Both my kids have worked in retail and other customer facing jobs, and people who can't be bothered to say thank you are very much resented.

I'm so sorry, this sounds so demoralising and exhausting! I'm still a teacher - I wish leadership would support us to give honest feedback about why the clubs aren't running, just as you described. I'm sure it wouldn't stop people moaning but wish I could give people the bigger picture sometimes.