I feel despairing about the world as a whole. I'm a pensioner now and I feel particularly sad about the perceivement of teachers in the UK nowadays.
There's good and bad in all jobs so it's pointless just having a go at the few bad teachers, like they do on some threads.
I'm sad and despairing because when I was young and children growing up, teachers used to be so admired and respected. After all, they're teaching and helping to raise our future aren't they?
In my view it has to be one of the most important professions going.
We used to work together with schools and there was a rapport which has been lost somewhere along the way?
I don't know when it started to change?
But it never used to be anything like it is today.
People may think I've had it easy because of less sen in those days.
On the contrary, my eldest (now 50) had difficulties not recognised at that time. But he had 2 brilliant teachers who worked with us and together we improved DS learning and happiness in school.
I'll never forget them.
25 years later I had another DS with difficulties (recognised this time as autism) and the Senco and teacher made a right mess of things.
I'm still annoyed with them but that doesn't mean all teachers are bad.
Teachers (in my opinion) do a really important and good job but seem to be scapegoats at the moment for parents to have a go at!
They are raising our kids, supposedly alongside us. But parents would rather work against them.
Even with the problems I had with a couple of teachers, I have the common sense to realise that other than family, teachers are the MOST IMPORTANT people in our kids lives.
Education is flawed now, due to the governments lack of support, less resources and not providing more sen assistance.
But that's not teachers faults. They're doing their best in very difficult conditions.
We should be supporting them, not coming on mumsnet specifically to put them down?
Of course it's one of the most exhausting jobs going. Physically, emotionally and mentally. Common sense tells us all that.
How many of us have done a kids party or outing, been run ragged, exhausted and needed a few days to recover?
Teachers do that day after day, month after month, year in year out.
As for holidays, they probably need a week at least to wind down. I would!!
Then there's marking, planning etc..
I'll bet there's not much of the hol left for themselves.
I had a friend who was teaching and she had a nervous breakdown, needed mental health treatment and never went back.
But for some reason, the respect for teachers has gone, the admiration has gone. The parents support for them has gone.
Having a go at people who are close to our kids?
Making it a competion as to whose job is hardest?
Welders might be hard working but they're not teaching and helping to raise our future, are they?
Ffs, get things in perspective!
We're in sad times really......