People who described themselves as teachers when they’re actually teaching assistance or cover supervisor

[KarlWrenbury]

This is a thing I’ve noticed recently. Is it because they can’t be asked to describe what they really do or is it slightly more disingenuous? For reference no I don’t think it’s a great amazing thing to be a teacher but it’s interesting that they do.

assistants *

In independent secondary schools you can definitely be a teacher without being qualified to be a teacher. Presumably you wouldn't say that someone with years of teaching experience but no teaching qualification wasn't a teacher.

I've been a cover supervisor. I also have an Oxbridge degree in my subject, a PGCE and 30 years' teaching experience.

So if you're a qualified teacher, you're not a teacher? Okay.

No but he's still entitled to call himself a pilot (does that ever happen? 🤣)

But they are doing the job of a TA. So they are a TA. They don’t plan, do parent’s evenings, write reports or teach the majority of lessons. They were a teacher. Now they are a TA. Probably because they think teaching is really stressful and being a TA has far less responsibility and far fewer hours.

He can but he won’t do the job of one or be paid as such.

As a teacher myself, I see how bloody hard the TAs work and how the whole school would crumble without them, so I couldn’t care less if they refer to themselves as “teacher” or not.

They are really not- at least not in secondary.

But if the qualified pilot who is working as cabin crew flies the plane for most of his working week, he's a pilot, no?

It’s fine with me, next time I’m asked to countersign a passport I’ll direct the person asking to the nearest teaching assistant and say they can do it.

This absolutely does happen in secondary

Interestingly a school teacher is a regulated profession so you cannot just claim to be one if unqualified Regulated Professions Register | School Teacher

Teacher is obviously a bit more loose when it comes to other areas such as Yoga or Piano

This.

I wonder how many qualified teachers who now work as TAs feel the need to tell people they are teachers.

Far fewer than those TAs who are not qualified teachers yet tell people 'I'm a teacher'...

They can't win
Some are saying if you have QTS but don't teach they're not teachers
Some are saying if they do the job of a teacher but don't have QTS they're not teachers.

DD does all this. Plus the stress of teaching.

They're not working as teachers, but they are teachers, in the same way that a doctor or solicitor, who's not practicing but maintains their professional registration is still a doctor or solicitor.

I found myself chuckling at this thread as a lawyer with a primary school teacher sister and a HLTA mum.

When discussing both my sister and mum, I say they both "teach" in primary schools. Or if describing my mums role solely (say, she's given me advice) I'll say "my mum teaches in a school and always says ABC". I never say my mum is a primary school teacher, but as some have said here she takes one day a week lessons and having worked at the same school with the same teachers for years, shares the prep with them including reports etc. I've gone as far as to ask her whether work she was doing (a decade ago when I lived at home) was the teachers work and she said "we're all a team".... except the teachers get a bigger salary and disgustingly let her take some of their work load home with her.

On a separate note, my sister has had to leave the profession to care for her son and I still say (and tell her) she's a teacher as she's qualified, worked as one for several years and always will be. I'd feel the same if I left my profession, I'd still be a qualified lawyer, just not a practicing one perhaps.

Just to add a different view to it. And I believe OP you said you don't want to "sound snobby" because you're a profession that can sign things - I still advise people to use an accountant/lawyer etc. rather than nurse/teacher.... people in glass houses!

I’m a teacher and have two TAs in my class. One covers my PPA. I refer to both of them as ‘teachers’ when talking to the children. Neither of them call themselves teachers but honestly it’s just semantics; our roles and pay reflect our job titles and I think both of them are fabulous so I’ve no ego over someone not qualified being known by my job title!

If you left your job as a lawyer and started a job as a receptionist in a law firm, I’m fairly sure your employers would have something to say if you introduced yourself as a lawyer.

Well no one can call themselves a registered nurse if they are not on the register. But there is no public register of qualified teachers. It's just not a thing. If a school wanted to employ a teacher with qualified teacher status obviously they could, but they could employ anyone to teach who they thought capable of doing the job. And lots do.

Teaching assistants do an amazing job and often teach under the direction of teacher.So many schools are employing TAs as the teacher it is not surprising they should call themselves that .
Qualifications and pay are at risk particularly in primary where TAs are often job sharing in my experience .Parents are not made aware of the difference in qualifications and often the TAs have a wealth of experience, but it is another erosion of the requirement for teachers to be trained and well qualified.

I will also say that, hands down, my TA is a better teacher than pretty much every ECT and supply teacher I’ve ever met. She might not have QTS but I would rather leave my class in her hands than most ‘teachers’

I was with you until the passports.
I sign loads of them as a teacher

Yes.

There is.

All qualified teachers are registered with the department for education and have a teacher number.

If I moved away from law and went into being a receptionist at a firm, I wouldn't be so insecure as to say I was a lawyer to people coming into the office and I'd be happy being on reception.

I would (as I said) be entitled to say to people that I'm a qualified but non-practicing lawyer... as my sister could say she's a qualified teacher who now works as a full time carer for her son.

Sport and practical subjects are the most likely lessons for children to be injured in. But sure, let the cleaner or the dinner lady teach these lessons, I’m sure it won’t harm anyone.