teacher crisis

[supplysam]

New name, I have been reading threads in education for a long time, and really want to put across to some parents what is really going on in our schools.

I've been in schools for 30 years. Not all teachers will have witnessed what I've witnessed, or experienced what I've experienced, but many will have.

I taught for decades. I resigned because the "profession" is now nothing more than slave labour. The normal day is 15+ hours, and many days are longer. fulfilling all the requirements of being a full time teacher simply do not leave time to sleep and eat. Not only that, but you are held over a barrel by ofsted (and school managers) who blame you for the behavior and attitude of students and parents, when you have no control over either. I am not blaming school managers, buy the way, they are often under insane and ridiculous pressure themselves.

As a supply teacher, I walk in at the stat of the day, and walk out at the end, with my job done, and no pressure or expectations at all. The pay is good, and there is no shortage of work.

I am often asked back, I am often BEGGED to take long term positions. This is what happens. I take it, on a day to day basis. When the work load starts piling up, when I find I am spending my family time on irrelevant and rubbishy non educational paperwork, when the attitude of any student becomes something I don't want to listen to, I leave.

The next day, I am in another job, being begged to stay!

[sallyhasleftthebuilding]

I have told school not only is the account open but she is friends with school pupils - it's disgusting

[MrsGuyOfGisbo]

easy to 'blame the government' and then do nothing...

[finallydelurking]

Sally if the school aren't dealing with that you need to contact ofsted/LA that's a safeguarding issue that needs dealing with!

[FannyGlum]

I didn't realise that about exclusions. Well my old school used to pride itself on low numbers of fixed term exclusions. Also checked by ofsted.

Teachers are generally decent people. I was a teacher for over a decade, I know a lot of teachers. They are hard working, decent people. They want the best for the young people they teach. They don't physically have time to do all the things being asked of them.

[EvilTwins]

it's disgusting

No, it's misguided but it's not disgusting.

And Instagram - not sure it's reciprocal, so, like Twitter, unless her account is locked down, anyone can follow her. She is not "friends" with them.

Attitudes like yours feed the problems.

[FannyGlum]

I agree EvilTwins. Teachers are humans, we go out with friends, get drunk, have sex, make daft decisions sometimes. I once had a parent acost me in a pub when I was a hen do! I politely suggested she contact me on Monday (when I wasn't wearing a pink cowboy hat and stinking or tequila)

[sallyhasleftthebuilding]

it's disgusting

No, it's misguided but it's not disgusting.


You haven't seen the pics! And a quick look on her followers list - which are repeats then accepted as followers - shows a fair few young teen names I recognise I'm sure there's more I don't know their age

[EvilTwins]

I don't need to see the pics, and neither do you.

Why should teachers be subject to scrutiny out of school?

She needs to lock down her account, but she can post whatever she likes, unless it's illegal. It is nothing to do with you, as a parent of a child at the school, what she does in her spare time.

[minifingerz]

'Why should teachers be subject to scrutiny out of school?'

Quite.

[CodyKing]

'Why should teachers be subject to scrutiny out of school?

They are only subject to scrutiny if they post their antics online in full view of pupils surely?

[EvilTwins]

Instagram is only in "full view" of people who seek it out.

Why are the pupils doing that?

I have been at my school 12 years and have never been friend requested on FB by a student. I don't use Instagram but as I understand it, you have to find people to follow. Same with Twitter.

Why is it the fault of the teacher?

[FannyGlum]

Dreamgirls was that a private school beginning with A by any chance? I think that was previous colleague of mine.

[mercifulTehlu]

It's depressing isn't it, OP? I too am an experienced teacher (20 yrs) and am now a supply teacher. I'd rather teach supply than be a salaried member of teaching staff even if it paid me half. It's very difficult to explain to parents what it's like in schools these days. Their kids don't give them the full picture because it's the norm for them - they get used to it. And most people just have no idea what being a teacher really involves these days (unsurprisingly - if you haven't done a job, why would you understand the ins and outs of it). The difference is, most people feel qualified to comment on the teaching profession because they have been to school and/or have children at school.

I agree that behaviour can be appalling, and what's worrying is that a quite high level of general rudeness and misbehaviour is just accepted as the norm because there's little you can do about it. But it's the pressure from above, the endless data-driven nonsense that bothers me most. I've only recently started doing supply. It's at a (good) school that I know reasonably well. I breeze in, cover some lessons (usually not my subject), chat with the nice kids, tolerate the naughty kids and only threaten them with sanctions if I absolutely have to, help them with whatever subject it is (if I can!) and breeze out again. What's not to like? If they fail to make the appropriate progress... not my problem. If they don't do their homework... not my problem. If they are rude or seriously badly behaved... I make it someone else's problem.

That sounds utterly callous and cynical, doesn't it? Well, I was not always like that. Teaching was all I ever wanted to do (from the age of 12). I taught difficult kids and wanted to help them. I spent hours and hours meticulously preparing differentiated lessons and marking, running after school and lunch time clubs, counselling kids who came to me with their problems. Not any more. Like thousands of other teachers, I am done.

[mercifulTehlu]

Oh and yy to teaching in a (good) private school being a totally different job. I taught in one for a good few years - absolute bliss.

[IdealWeather]

Well having spoken to plenty of teachers, I agree with SOME of the things you say (overwork etc etc).

I do NOT agree, as a parent, that somehow it's my fault (or my child's fault) if a supply teacher doesn't come back or if I see that the teacher isn't doing the differenciated work I have been told they would do etc...
I think that a lot of the issues you are raising are very valid but you aren't targetting the right people.
If parents shoudn't expect work to be differenciated for their dcs (weaker or high ability), it's because we have been told that this is what happens. If the teachers can't do that, if it's actually not what is required from teachers (or not at the level that parents have iunderstood) then it needs to explained and set up clearly. NOt by teachers. By the government/OFSTED..

Grades: I want to know how my dcs is doing full stop. With little parent evening, how is my dc and (me as a parent) supposed to know if they are working well or if they need support in one area? How do I/they know if they are taking the piss or working hard?

SEN: the issue has nothing to do with the parents but a lot to do with the lack of funding tbh. And if the issue as you say is the act they are weak in one area, then again the best way is to give them the rigt support??

I do agree that we should be up in arm screaming about what is happening with teachers etc...

[FannyGlum]

Dreamgirls yep. There aren't many schools. It happened at my old school. Well it was circulated just after she left to move to the private school. Devastating.

[FannyGlum]

Devastating in that she/they made a mistake, not hurting anyone (it was a wife not a husband- and at this point the marriage was over), misguided yes, but essentially and potentially destroyed a career.

[user789653241]

I can understand teachers are under so much pressure, but is it all parents' and children's fault? I think it's only natural for parents to seek better education for their children.

[minifingerz]

I'd like to add to this - parents who know their children are behaving badly at school may be utterly appalled by it, but be at a complete loss as what to do to stop it.

My dd left secondary last year with two GCSE's, having spent four years making her teachers' lives and the lives of other pupils miserable (and then doing the same to us when she got home). I'm a teacher myself (no longer in schools though) and DH is a professional. We both hugely value education and respect teachers, and did what we could to support the school. It didn't make any difference. Dd was in a state of turmoil and crises, and was taking it out on the world and no amount of threats or serious talks from us made a difference.

My other two children are also difficult at school, ds1 because he suffers from anxiety linked to the years of trauma with his sister (we had police, social services, CAMHS and NSPCC involvement) and this has badly affected his sleep and concentration levels, and DS2 because he has ASD, struggles to manage his emotions, and this impacts on his learning.

:-(

Life is hard for many modern children and families. This impacts on their schooling and their teachers' work, regardless of the views of their parents.

[MrsGuyOfGisbo]

what's worrying is that a quite high level of general rudeness and misbehaviour is just accepted as the norm

Yes
Feel sorry for the kids who want to learn, or the more mature ones who suffer from the wasted time and silliness, and the toxic effects in many classes of having to keep your head down and not demonstrate that you are putting in any effort.

What also worries me is the 'instant gratification' expectation. kids don't listen to the explanation or guidance and so complain they don't know what to do without giving any thought to it. If they have a thought, however irrelevant to the task, they feel entitled to express it, instantly and loudly, and to get the teacher's immediate attention, and if the teacher does not come to them complain, again loudly, that they are being ignored. They will come up to you when you are helping another child, interrupt and demand to be helped. This Year 9,10, btw, not primary! When I am giving an explanation, I always say that they should listen unit; I have finished and then I will take questions ( a matter or max 2 mins!) They cannot keep quiet for that long! They will hear the first few words, and then butt in with 'Miss, i have to leave 5 mins before the end for xxx' 'Miss I've left my planner/coat/something in xxx and need to get it now' 'Miss, I need a pen' 'Miss, I need paper, haven't got my book' 'At this point they don't need to write anything down, just to listen...
Mean while, the quiet patients ones' time is being wasted...

[EvilTwins]

Mean while, the quiet patients ones' time is being wasted...

This.

So much of my time is taken by silly, demanding children who refuse to take responsibility for their behaviour.