Teachers- please help me with insights into the profession!!

[Ispr]

Teachers,

Any teachers who could offer me some insight into the profession for my essay would be greatly appreciated.

I would love a first hand perspective on any strategies used by current UK teachers to negotiate issues such as disproportionately low pay, long working hours, high numbers in classes, expectations of teacher being well beyond the formal job role etc.

For example:

• Do informal networks of teachers exist, that share lesson plans/teaching resources?
• Do teachers do informal work in holidays/weekends to make up salary?- does a shadow education industry exist?
• Do teachers use resources from school to benefit their own families? eg borrow school textbooks for their children to use, borrow schools sports equipment for the weekend for their child?
• Do teachers use the after school clubs in their school for their own children, to allow them to do the extra work in school they need to? Are there informal agreements that allow teachers to put their children in these clubs for free?

What is your motivation for teaching/what was it to become a teacher?
Is teaching a profession that involves decisions and work that is done for other reasons, other than the formal salary?
Does teaching allow time to care for families?

Please help! Any responses will be kept confidential

Do informal networks of teachers exist, that share lesson plans/teaching resources? Teachers use TES/twinkl and 101 other sites for resources, subjct teams meet up in local areas to share information and resources, some MATs share lesson plans and resources.

• Do teachers do informal work in holidays/weekends to make up salary?- does a shadow education industry exist? Lots of teachers also tutor at weekends and during the holidays, some teach English as an additional language etc
• Do teachers use resources from school to benefit their own families? eg borrow school textbooks for their children to use, borrow schools sports equipment for the weekend for their child? It's usually the other way round, teachers pay for the resources they need for the classroom!
• Do teachers use the after school clubs in their school for their own children, to allow them to do the extra work in school they need to? It depends, not many teachers have children in the school they teach. if they do then yes, I would imagine they would use the after school clubs if available.My son used to sit in the library whilst I finished work.

Are there informal agreements that allow teachers to put their children in these clubs for free? Depends on the school entirely.

What is your motivation for teaching/what was it to become a teacher? I enjoy helping children to learn, that simple!
Is teaching a profession that involves decisions and work that is done for other reasons, other than the formal salary? There is the reward you get in seeing children develop and progress, generally outweighed by the paperwork and data requirements!
Does teaching allow time to care for families? Only during the holidays, you never get to sports days, christmas concerts, end of year activities for your own children though!