To think teachers' kids have all the advantages

[thepogues]

Bit tongue-in-cheek but a significant grain of truth.

Wherever my kids have been in classes (whether at primary or secondary), the kids of teachers always seem to do unusually well. Of course, some kids will be naturally super bright but statistically you'd assume their IQ/potential to be spread (bell curve and all that) plus, anecdotally (though I've known lots) most, anecdotally, do not appear more sparky or intelligent than their peers. But perhaps they work harder as they all seem to excel, particularly in terms of home work tasks but also when it comes to certain exams.

What is the reason for this? Is it because the teacher parents (or grandparents/relatives, for that matter), know how to teach or is it because they are able to find out about upcoming tests/similar tests or because they know the ins and outs of what is required to achieve certain grades (in line with the curriculum). Or both?

Would love to hear your views/comments.

[MadMadMadamMim]

This is one of the daftest things I think I've seen. Teachers' kids all do unusually well - and it's in secondary education.

Hmm. I'm the child of teachers. I failed my Maths O level several times, and could not grasp Physics/Chemistry. I'm not dumb - but being the offspring of teachers did not help me noticeably in the subjects I'm weak at.

I do, however, have an honours degree and teach an essay based subject to A level (having eventually scraped a Maths O level). 2 of my DC are dyslexic and have really struggled to achieve more than a basic grade in essay based/writtten subjects.

I would say that 'being a teacher' provides little advantage for your children - except perhaps to ensure that I am extremely cynical about the benefits of homework, or 'box ticking' exercises. I have - as others have said - no 'insider knowledge' or what the hell you need to do to succeed in the majority of subjects on a GCSE curriculum. Many of them (Business/Spanish) I never took myself and would be woefully inadequate at providing help in.

[HouseofGamers]

My mum was a teacher (history and english) in the school I was in for two years. I was taught by her for at least one year. It was horrible, she would pretend I didn’t exist so that she wasn’t accused of favouritism. She never marked my exams, but I was bullied because of her. She was known as a no nonsense tough teacher so pupils took that out on me. I didn’t tell her (more to do with our relationship than anything else tbh). I was naturally quite academic but more science based and did well at school. My brother was much more practical and hated academia, but did well in his chosen career once he found a good path to go down. I can’t remember mum being much help with studying etc but I was definitely expected to go to university and study hard.

[Musmerian]

@manysummersago - not necessarily. Plus if you get a 50% discount it’s a way of managing private education. Mine liked having me around.

[BeyondMyWits]

Dad was a Chemistry teacher, not at my school.

Education was valued in our house. But more than that he taught me exam technique, how even if you haven't a clue on a question, you can get marks, how to read marking schemes, how to see what is being looked for, key words and phrases, how to brain dump onto paper if you are running out of time. I did much, much better in exams than I should have based on subject knowledge alone.

[MrsSpoon78]

I have taught a core secondary subject for 16 years and have Masters degrees.

My oldest child (year 3) has a variety of learning disabilities which means they read at two to three years below their actual age and can barely write. Mathematically working towards age related expectations. They have an EHCP.

My other child (year 1) is average.

They get the absolute dregs of me during term time and it's not good enough. That's why I am leaving the profession.

[noblegiraffe]

Maternal education level is correlated with academic achievement of children.

Parent a teacher? More likely to be the mother, so at least degree level educated.

[RaraRachael]

My mother was a teacher - I was very academic, sister wasn't

I'm a teacher - DD quite good academically DS could pass any exam without even trying but has no common sense

It certainly wasn't the case that teachers' children excelled at our school. If I looked back at the High School Dux, I don't think very many were the offspring of teachers.

[MissVantaBlack]

Interesting. The most intelligent people I know all seem to have teacher parents (usually primary), so I have wondered about this too. It doesn't seem to be just down to genetics, since the parents in question seem to be of average rather than extreme intelligence. I think it's down to the environment they create for their children early on. They seem to ask lots of questions: not just "What did you do at school today?", but "It's raining! Here's your umbrella. What would you use to make an umbrella, if you were designing one?" type questions, to make the child think. And dinner table conversation, news, general knowledge, reading...I think they build a framework of understanding of the world, and also a curiosity about the what, where, why, how questions of life, in their children.

[Blanketpolicy]

is it because they are able to find out about upcoming tests/similar tests

I give teachers more credit than to think they are giving their child any advantage by giving them prior warning (are you implying cheating?) on class tests. It would be a major disadvantage in their future education if they hadn't learned how to prepare themselves.

The reason some teachers children do better is because they have a parent that values and supports education at home and perhaps knows more about study techniques etc, all of which any parent can do.

[grapehyacinthisactuallyblue]

I think one thing that stands out for me is that they value the education. Also know how to help if their dc is struggling. Also like PP said, statistically, if you have educated mother, you do well, so mother with degree may do better.

[Justalittlebitfurther]

I’m a teacher on of DDs is academically bright and the other really struggles. I know plenty of teachers in the same situation. This is a very anecdotal post.

[SleepingStandingUp]

Yes I think teachers kids have the advantage of having parents that know how to get information into brains, understand the ins and out of schools and exams etc plus have considerable chunks of the school holidays off with them to focus on enrichment activities. I wish I'd thought of that when I decided to NOT do my PGCE. I've looked at teaching now but it seems impossible with three small kids

[CandyLeBonBon]

I'm amused that people think teachers have time for 'enrichment' activities from parents who are teachers - ime they were far too busy with school work, trips, parents evenings and extracurricula activities to have much time to devote to their own kids!!

[manysummersago]

It’s not impossible @SleepingStandingUp !

The ECT stuff is a bit ridiculous though.

[Libertybear80]

It's called 'Educational Capital' and the theorist is Pierre Bordieux.

Yep I'm an educationalist.

[SleepingStandingUp]

@manysummersago

It’s not impossible @SleepingStandingUp !

The ECT stuff is a bit ridiculous though.

I've got two who aren't even in school yet tho, the cost of ful like child care for them and wrap around for the eldest is massively prohibitive

[Fairislefandango]

They seem to ask lots of questions: not just "What did you do at school today?", but "It's raining! Here's your umbrella. What would you use to make an umbrella, if you were designing one?" type questions, to make the child think.

Really?! That sounds a bit... performative. Doesn't sound like the teachers I know! I think just talking to your kids about stuff that interests you/them is enough. There is no need to turn conversations into an academic exercise. I think people often massively underestimate the kind of conversation their dc are capable of though.

[manysummersago]

I remember - you have twin toddlers? I salute you.

[thepogues]

@BeyondMyWits

Dad was a Chemistry teacher, not at my school.

Education was valued in our house. But more than that he taught me exam technique, how even if you haven't a clue on a question, you can get marks, how to read marking schemes, how to see what is being looked for, key words and phrases, how to brain dump onto paper if you are running out of time. I did much, much better in exams than I should have based on subject knowledge alone.

Thank you, this is helpful and makes sense. I'm sure we can all print out various online tests and specifications but this knowledge is really key. I remember not knowing what a teacher friend was talking about when she was mentioning that her DS was using the PEE technique and had been encouraging it since Y2/3. This was in Y6 and although my DC had by then mentioned they used it at school, it was something that only came up very late in primary.

[thepogues]

@SleepingStandingUp

Yes I think teachers kids have the advantage of having parents that know how to get information into brains, understand the ins and out of schools and exams etc plus have considerable chunks of the school holidays off with them to focus on enrichment activities. I wish I'd thought of that when I decided to NOT do my PGCE. I've looked at teaching now but it seems impossible with three small kids

Yup. Most FT working parents only have 1-2 weeks hols at a time and so unless they choose paid-for (expensive) enrichment courses, there is definitely that.

[Dobbysgotthesocks]

Child of a teacher here.

Neither me nor my siblings were exceptionally high flyers. We did ok - well but no better than our peers who also had professional parents.

We certainly were not coached or tutored by our teacher parent. They would not have had time. My teacher parent spent most of their evenings and weekends marking and doing preparation work for school. My non teaching parent had a great deal more time and was the one who generally helped with schoolwork/ ferried us around etc.

[thepogues]

@grapehyacinthisactuallyblue

I think one thing that stands out for me is that they value the education. Also know how to help if their dc is struggling. Also like PP said, statistically, if you have educated mother, you do well, so mother with degree may do better.

True but most of the parents I know are all educated, including many with post-docs. In fact, many more 'educated' than some of the teachers I know. And they all value education, reading etc etc. I think knowing what is expected for grades and being able to help in primary is key; especially as there is so much that rides on how the kids do in primary for their confidence/setting and future school choices.

[thepogues]

@MissVantaBlack

Interesting. The most intelligent people I know all seem to have teacher parents (usually primary), so I have wondered about this too. It doesn't seem to be just down to genetics, since the parents in question seem to be of average rather than extreme intelligence. I think it's down to the environment they create for their children early on. They seem to ask lots of questions: not just "What did you do at school today?", but "It's raining! Here's your umbrella. What would you use to make an umbrella, if you were designing one?" type questions, to make the child think. And dinner table conversation, news, general knowledge, reading...I think they build a framework of understanding of the world, and also a curiosity about the what, where, why, how questions of life, in their children.

Yes, I have seen similar amongst parents and grandparents (very involved in grandkids) who are teachers.

[Dobbysgotthesocks]

@SleepingStandingUp

Yes I think teachers kids have the advantage of having parents that know how to get information into brains, understand the ins and out of schools and exams etc plus have considerable chunks of the school holidays off with them to focus on enrichment activities. I wish I'd thought of that when I decided to NOT do my PGCE. I've looked at teaching now but it seems impossible with three small kids

My overriding memories of school holidays were being dragged into school and made to help sort supplies of stationary, or rip down stuff of school notice boards. We spent a lot of time with our parent who was still doing a lot of jobs in sl the school holidays.
When we weren't doing that we would often be home whilst our parent rested because they were burnt out.
School holidays were also for cleaning and clearing the house. All things that got neglected in term time due to the crazy hours they worked.
People dramatically underestimate just how much work teachers do.

[thepogues]

@SuperTea

I work in a PRU and we get a surprising number of teachers' kids.

Most of the teachers I know admit parenting or even tutoring your own kids is nothing like teaching other people's. Teachers obviously know how to support their kids best with academic work when the children are compliant, but they face the same issues as the rest of us when it's not going so well. Which some find really hard to deal with because they're supposed to be experts..

This is interesting. You say 'a surprising number of teachers' kids'. More than for other occupational groups? Maybe it's not that surprising if the kids were somehow getting the peripheral 'support' and then they're struggling when left on their own? Just a thought...