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Original poster

Shocked by hatred of kids & parents on TES website

433 replies

kris007 · 20/02/2008 18:52

I've spent a bit of time reading the TES website which contains threads and postings from teachers and I am stunned by the level of hatred and abuse directed towards students and their parents. I am horrified to think that some of these creatures may actually be teaching my kids!
It appears that the "state of war" we read about it British classrooms is by no means one way traffic - the teachers
seem to relish getting in on the all the drama.

OP posts:
nickytwotimes · 21/02/2008 10:44

Sorry to join in so late, but my dh is a teacher and would never post on a website because he would regard it as being unprofessional. He sometimes has a good bitch when he gets home at night, but that's it!

spokette · 21/02/2008 10:46

This was on the thread that JodieG1 linked

"LOL !!!!!!!!!!

bet all the teachers at MissXenia's school throw a party when she leaves. Yuk. Imagine dealing with her as a mother."

Brilliant!!

Jacanne · 21/02/2008 10:46

I haven't been there but will go and check it out with interest.

Since becoming a parent, I have been amazed at how much the teaching profession and teachers are generally reviled and how little understanding there is about how teachers are constrained by the curriculum and government directives. I used to get very defensive about it but now just shrug it off. So I guess it works both ways.

Xenia's comment, though true to form, has made me smile. It's funny because around here you don't need a teaching qualification to teach in a private school and quite often private school teachers earn less - so how does the "you get what you pay for" comment work there?

BeauLocks · 21/02/2008 10:47

Why shouldn't they be allowed to let off steam? It's no more hateful or abusive than MN on a given day. Think of all the truly dreadful things some MN posters say about people who make different life choices from them. And if you're having trouble thinking of any just check out the AIBU topic, particularly on a full moon.

spokette · 21/02/2008 10:49

I liked this one too

"As for mumsnet, well don't mention eating grapes in supermarkets that's all I'll say."

I have not been seen TES forum before but it is now bookmarked!!

Never heard of Bounty either - is that another parenting forum?

hunkermunker · 21/02/2008 11:26

LOL - better than the Bounty mums - praise indeed!

(Beetroot, wasn't the link good - there need to be more teachers like him around! Wonder if any on that TES thread? Hope so! I know there are a couple or three on here!)

islandofsodor · 21/02/2008 11:39

As a non-teacher but someone who works with children and who finds the subject forums useful, I have always been treated on the whole pretty well on TES.

There are a lot of threads on opinion with some fairly way off views. Most of the posters on them are what is known over there as "socks". They name-change, post utterly stupid things like is ADHD an excuse for naughty children etc etc for the hell of it. They are not representative of the views of most teachers.

However us as parents don't see the other side of the coin. Dh comes home sometimes and has a few takes to tell of things that have gone on at school.

I think on the whole it is a great site and I have learnt a lot from it.

GailRobinson · 21/02/2008 11:45

I work on the TES website and would like to just add a few comments to this thread.

The forums are a place for our users to let off steam and after a particularly bad day some of the views may seem extreme. However that doesn't make them bad teachers, or indeed bad people, it just means they've had a bad day.

If you spend some time on the subject forums and around primary, secondary and early years forums you will find evidence of a very dedicated workforce that genuinely want to to do the best for their pupils.
Best wishes
Gail Robinson
Community Producer TES Website

Twiglett · 21/02/2008 12:00

Gail, I don't think any right-thinking parent gives a toss that teachers let off steam.

Of course they do: kids are bloody annoying and irritating and say stupid things at times.

Some parents are pratts. Ignore them!

They do not represent my views.

I think teachers are great they take my boy, and soon my girl, off my hands for 7 hours and give him, and soon her, back a little more educated ... what's not to like?

You have my permission to castigate, complain and speak the truth to me about my child. I may not like it but I'll back you up 100% to my child!

One Lone Mum.

coppertop · 21/02/2008 12:05

I'm always amazed aat the self-restraint the teachers have at our school. Personally I would have throttled some of the little buggers darlings a long time ago.

Whatever they're being paid, it's not enough.

twinsetandpearls · 21/02/2008 12:07

I think that section of the website does not represent TES, I tend to use my subject area of the TES website and it has a very different feel, mainly very hard working teachers who are seeking advice on how to be more effective or sharing good practice.

I have had some awful days in teaching as I teach at the tough end of the chalk face and am sure after such days I say things that do not represent me as a teacher. I can remember being lynched on here for starting a thread entitled something along the lines of "Someone remind me of why I teach other than the holidays" Mumsnetters could not wait to wade in with their size fives to tell me how glad they were that I was not teaching their child and what a shame I was to my profession. I actually love my job and am a very good teacher but it is immensly stressful and sometimes quite soul destroying. A week for me at the beginning of term included my windows being smashed, regularly being sworn at, being threatened, having some pupil's work being smashed up as well as the general low level disruption I deal with. The following week I was pysically assaulted only to have the child's mother scream abuse at me and say it was my fault as her son was a little angel. In that week there was also lots of fantastic events but when you get tired and low you forget that.

There are of course bad teachers and they may also be part of that thread and I would advise them to get another job, for everyones sakes really as life is to short to spend it doing a job they hate and kids deserve teachers who want to teach.

hunkermunker · 21/02/2008 12:07

Hello, Gail. Some people look for the worst in everything - be it parents in teachers or teachers in parents. That's a shame and the root of this sort of thread, both on here and on TES, I bet.

mrsruffallo · 21/02/2008 12:09

Just wanted to add my support as Twiglett has done.
Yes, there are some idiots in MN - those who put all their value on money, those that pull everyone on their spelling, grammar etc not just teachers so please ignore them, as most sensible people on here do.
From personal experience I love my dd's teacher and can't believe the energy she has to handle a class of 30.
I will stop now before I get too crawly

Judy1234 · 21/02/2008 12:16

I won't comment on TES but in the very acdemic private schools the teachers do tend to be paid more and I don't know any in my children's private secondary schools where the teachers didn't have very good qualifications. It's certainly the case that just as any parent can home educate in the UK so can parents have their children taught by anyone they choose. That's great in a free society. We certainly want that to continue.

hercules1 · 21/02/2008 12:18

But being paid more money and having better qualifications does not mean a better teacher. Although I don't agree with your points about better qualifications and money anyway.

mrsruffallo · 21/02/2008 12:20

So if you are a good teacher you teach privately?
That is utter crap

hunkermunker · 21/02/2008 12:20

Did you watch the YouTube link further down this thread, Xenia?

denlive · 21/02/2008 12:20

What a load of bollocks this all is. It always amazes me how mums think that their brats are little darlings in school. Mumsnet go get a life and stop commenting on us the teachers. As one of your posters said ....walk a mile, then comment...

yetihed · 21/02/2008 12:21

Threads discussing threads!? Love it!

Right then, let's really kick off- let's meet behind the bikesheds, right, with our handbags, right and form teams, right, and thrash it out... at dawn.

islandofsodor · 21/02/2008 12:24

What about those of us in the middle, regulars on both!!!

Judy1234 · 21/02/2008 12:25

Yes, very moving youtube clip, thanks. But he is a bit of a prat and thinks a lot of himself. There's a rather annoying arrogance of a log of teachers which seems to come with the job (and may be they need to do it well) which is not really justified - a kind of over sense of self importance, lack of humility and ability to see they're in the wrong sometimes. Remember I know masses of teachers because of being married to one for 19 years and the people we knew etc.

mrsr - I didn't say that. Most teachers work in state schools but certainly some (see other mumsnet threads) are attracted to the private system for various reasons and sometimes the money is there, the lovely grounds, the nice environment, children who want to be taught and are very clever (in some schools), staff accommodation, free school fees for children - it's a pretty nice package if you get it set up right so not surprising there is a net loss to the private sector each year. And parents in the private sector benefit from it. But even so anyone who speaks regularly to teachers and then also to people in careers where it is harder to make it and you need higher exam results can see the difference in IQ even just in how they talk and what they talk about. It's self evidence.

juuule · 21/02/2008 12:25

"It always amazes me how mums think that their brats are little darlings in school"

Brats? Oh how professional of you. Hopefully, you are not a teacher.

hunkermunker · 21/02/2008 12:35

self evident Xenia, surely? Could do better.

Do you really believe that every person reaches their full potential in their life, Xenia? It's all very simple the way you put it and I do admire your unflappability, but I think there's a lack of warmth and empathy - an understanding of what other people's lives are like - in your posts that is probably the flip side of that unflappability.

kiskideesameanoldmother · 21/02/2008 12:43

roffle at Xenia. and i have never been a Xenia basher. just so funny this time.

mirror, anyone?

mrsruffallo · 21/02/2008 12:50

So what is your point xenia? Yes, some teachers want to work in the private sector because of their perks.
Some prefer more diversity.
Is there a point you want to make or do you just want the 90-odd percent of us whose children don't go to private school bow down to your superiority?