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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that teachers are allowed to actually have a life

243 replies

stillenacht · 17/12/2008 20:49

Another post is getting on my nerves a bit - i hate the fact that because of our jobs (vocation whatever...) we have to be society's keepers and society's bitch. It truly pisses me off.

OP posts:
lil · 18/12/2008 20:37

dear nurses, how on earth do you stop yourself from saying what you really feel when you are faced with drunks who have banged there head at 2am and are hogging the A&E. Must be hard. At least with teaching you can excuse the poor behaviour with the fact thet they are only kids. (just!). Treating adults who are seriously obese or smokers or drunk say, would be toooo difficult. my own values would get in the way - how do you do it???

Original poster
stillenacht · 18/12/2008 20:43

I agree lil

Nurses are saints, i couldn't do that job not because of the abuse (as teachers do put up with that too) but because of the body fluids involved. They are underpaid saints.

But i feel society does by and large think nurses are wonderful and appreciate that they work in very tough condition and they aren't blamed for many of societies problems. Teachers are blamed continually and teachers aren't respected in the same way that nurses are by society at large (not individuals obviously).

OP posts:
Original poster
stillenacht · 18/12/2008 20:44

Indeed nurses are wonderful.

OP posts:
lil · 18/12/2008 20:52

hmm, true stillenacht, nurses are called 'angels' in the media aren't they. Teachers aren't. All their problems are responded to in the same way " at least you have lots of holiday"...grrrr.

twinsetiscrapatflouncing · 18/12/2008 20:59

I have taught in a sink school so know that for some teachrs the endless abuse is a reality, but it is not lik that in most schools.

I no teach in a good secondary school and my pupils are utterly delightful, polite and a joy to be with. It is a real disservice to young people to say teaching is about endless abuse. For me teaching is quite simply the most rewarding job in the world.

I do think we have a duty as role models, the people I teach do look up to me and I see an awful lot of them. Whilst I may not be a total paragon of virtue I do In my "real life" I am slightly vulgar, love a drink and a shopaholic. Teaching is a bit like acting you create an acceptable version of yourself, in fact the name twinsetandpearls was a nickname at a previous school for my teaching persona.

I am overweight and while I dont think it makes me a crap teachers it is something I would like to address.

whonickedmynickname · 18/12/2008 21:04

In my experience if you teach you either need to drink, smoke or otherwise do something else to chill out - teaching is stressful and hard work and generally thankless - and if you don't take time out you burn out

Just my humble opinion.....

twinsetiscrapatflouncing · 18/12/2008 21:05

I have to say as well that outside of mumsnet I have never heard anyone say anything derogatary about teachers. Infact I only get the upmost respect. I get the odd jibe about holidays but even that is not serious.

Heated · 18/12/2008 21:05

I find it's easier to be debauched if you live out of catchment.

twinsetiscrapatflouncing · 18/12/2008 21:07

I agree you need time to chill but that would be the same for any profession, we are not unique in that, in fact we are quite lucky that we have the holidays and weekends to relax.

tiredsville · 18/12/2008 21:07

I think both nurses and teachers are great.
I have never been overly appreciative with the heads though.

Twinsetandpearl [snigger] I have never associated your name with your teaching persona.

twinsetiscrapatflouncing · 18/12/2008 21:09

Tiredsville it started because my teaching uniform was a twinset with pearls but there was also a hint to my other persona

herbietea · 18/12/2008 21:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

whonickedmynickname · 18/12/2008 22:36

heated - god yes - mingling with 6th form at the weekend is NOT cool

mayorquimby · 19/12/2008 12:30

fair play to you teachers you do a job i would never dream of. i couldn't give a toss if teachers smoke in front of children (that really makes it sound like you are making them sit there and watch you smoke rather than they just happen to be passing when you are smoking out in public) the childrens moral compass should be their parents not you.
also just for all the other shit you put up with, like me being a cheeky little tosser,never rude just a bit cheeky, and being a slacker.it must be mind numbingly boring to have to tell a 16 year old that they can raise their grade up to a high B or an A if they just applied themselves (a phrase only used by teachers) and then hear them say "yes sir" with the knowledge that as soon as that bell goes i'm playing football for 3 hours and i'll do my homework on the bus in the morning.

TEACHERS I SALUTE YOU

OrmIrian · 19/12/2008 12:44

If I find a teacher who relates well to my DC, teaches well and enthusiastically, is pleasant and approachable for parents and manages (or at least tries) to enthuse their pupils with the subject they are teaching, I genuninely wouldn't give a flying f*ck what, where and how much they smoked.

YANBU.

Heated · 19/12/2008 13:44

Well, if the GTCE have their way then teachers will all have to sign a moral rectitude pledge

Given that living-sainthood now a teaching requirement along with my PGCE, I'm going to start a campaign for my canonisation after my death (probably in harness on a Wednesday afternoon's double with yr 9)

hecAteAMillionMincePies · 19/12/2008 13:49

I tell you what is odd - how many parents think it is the role of the teacher to teach manners, right from wrong, respect and consideration... erm no, it's the role of the teacher to teach maths and english and to support the PARENTS in matters of morals etc. I can't tell you how many times I've heard or read parents complaints about the failure of teachers to take care of things that are CLEARLY the role of the parent - what's that about?

ra29 · 19/12/2008 14:24

Working with kids or vulnerable people is tough. It is incredibly demanding but also very rewarding (if you are the right person).
I have known many utterly useless (or worse) teachers/nurses/doctors etc and really if you don't have the passion and skills you shouldn't be doing it. You are not doing society a favour by being a teacher- you are choosing this particular job because you really want to do it and are good at it. You get paid and if you in the right profession should also feel personally rewarded.
I'm sorry if this sounds tough but it is an incredibly responsible job and not a career I think that should be taken lightly. Of course you need support and I think there is not nearly enough supervision/support for teachers who do an amazingly difficult job. I also feel this strongly for TA's who get paid so little and yet so much is expected from them. However, if it's too tough- leave. Kids need committed people who want to be there and want to see the good in them (troubled children particularly).

Heated · 19/12/2008 14:36

No one goes into teaching lightly Ra - the sheer workload, discipline issues and having to be at the top of your game from the word go - would scare off anyone not committed.

ra29 · 19/12/2008 14:56

Maybe not lightly- but perhaps without real understanding of what is involved. Reading comments here about how teachers are there to teach maths rather than morals for example. Teaching certainly is not just about teaching academics. There are huge emotional aspects to learning that need to be understood and thought about. I think you also need a good capacity to be self aware in order to understand what's your own difficulty and what is the childs.
Sadly I'm not sure that those things would 'scare off anyone not committed' or at least they may be committed but is it to the right things, do they have the right skills? I am so often struck by teachers who may be well meaning but seem to have no basic knowledge of child development for example or who can't think deeper than 'this child is naughty'. It's a huge job...

hecAteAMillionMincePies · 19/12/2008 15:32

Beg to differ Ra - I see many parents who hand over responsibility for raising their children to teachers. It is NOT down to teachers to raise children, it is down to PARENTS. It is the role of a teacher to EDUCATE a child, not to raise them. That is a VERY important difference. I see parents who expect their children to be taught things by teachers that are CLEARLY the role of the parent. A teacher is there to educate, a parent is there to raise. Each should support the other, it's teamwork, but they are 2 different roles.

Heated · 19/12/2008 18:42

Teachers have pupils in their care 32.3 hours a week; parents for 135.5 hours.

There is a strong pastoral element to my role (and I spend a lot of out of lesson time on this) but mostly my job is to impart knowledge and skills.

Also bear in mind that in a lot of schools, I'm talking secondary level, senior pastoral roles (heads of year and upwards) have been given to non-teachers.

Blandmum · 19/12/2008 18:46

and the main reason that parents so deal with the teaching of morality is that my morals (which I consider to be high btw) are not those of the parents and the family in general of the kids that I teach.

A 'for example'. I'm teaching my children how to deal with alcohol in a reasonable way. This is my considered mode of action. This would be anathema to a muslim family. Why should I impose my moral view point on their child?

You teach your children morals, I'll teach them Biology

southeastastra · 19/12/2008 18:48

have you seen this

hecAteAMillionMincePies · 19/12/2008 19:00

That's ridiculous!

So should there be a code of behaviour for parents too? you get your children taken away if you get drunk and have an argument in the pub? (not great behaviour I know, but hardly actionable ) If parents don't maintain these same 'appropriate' standards at all times, whether the kids are there or not, I assume there will be consequences for them too? After all, they are the PARENTS, they can really be a bad influence.

Just when you think they couldn't come up with anything more fecking stupid.