Moral dilemma

[toastedmarshmallow]

I have recently (since half term) started a maternity cover post in a secondary school and I am really not enjoying it so far. The staff in my department are lovely and so supportive but I am struggling to cope with challenging behaviour and very disrespectful attitudes from some pupils.

I realise that the beginning weeks are challenging and I am being tested by the pupils but I am finding it so draining. I fundamentally feel that I don't have the right skill set for this school and that I will always find it challenging (behaviour particularly but also the massive workload). There have been several times in the last few weeks where I have been in tears and have fantasised about never going back.

This weekend I heard about a potential temporary vacancy at a lovely primary school (I am primary trained). If anything comes of this I would much prefer to work there for many reasons. My dilemma is: would it be morally wrong to give notice in my current job? I would mean leaving them in the lurch as the permanent teacher will not be back till Easter or May. I feel I would be letting them down especially as they have been so supportive but my heart says to go for the other position.

Nothing might come of this but am keen to get opinions. My DH, who is not a teacher, thinks it would be morally wrong to leave my current position earlier than planned.

Teaching's a hard job to do in a place you feel out of your depth in. Is there anyone you can speak to at your current school? It might be worth putting the application in, then worrying about it - you may not even be short listed. However... haven't you missed the Autumn term resignation date?

Am not a teacher, but this is about your happiness/emotional well being, and you need to do what's right for you in that context: I don't think it's about morality
The school will manage x

Hand your notice in NOW
The only reason to stay would be if you have no other recent references or do not want a gap in your cv although you could stil include them and use the primary relevant references.
Do not stay out of loyalty. You will resent it or be worn down by it eventually and the kids will not get better as you get worse.

I am biased - I was in the same boat. Sept - Easter agreed, potentially longer if she did not come back. Awful discipline. Awful head. Lovely HOD.
I wanted to go at Xmas - two others did just that.
But I did not want to leave the HOD and nice kids in the lurch.
I stayed until Easter.
The woman did NOT come back.
I was still made to feel bad for leaving despite Easter being the original deadline. It made me really ill being there. Huge huge mistake.
Do what is right for you. Seriously. They will probably find a supply who wants the gig as day to day supply is harder to come by these days.
If not then it is the HOD job to protect GCSE classes from a daily supply cover situ and rota classes accordingly. With respect if you are finding it a struggle then you will end up ineffective for the disaffected pupils, the committed ones will work for you but will therefore be engaged enough to work with others.

Your DH is not wrong but nor does he see the bigger picture.

You have missed the Autumn deadline.
An ex-colleague of mine in the above situ did that too but still handed in notice to leave at Xmas as he had found a job for January and that school knew the situ and effectively poached him/did not expect references. Different LEAs though.

The school could theoretically try and hold you to your contract but it was only a temporary vacancy. They could threaten to sue for breach but unlikely esp if your union rep says you will counter sue for stress.
Doubt they would bother in any case. They may threaten to get the LEA to blacklist you but again I am not sure this is worth their while.

I would be honest and get out now.

Thanks for the supportive replies. I'm not in a financial position to leave without anything to go to. My contract says 2 months for established staff but also mentions a 6 month probationary period so not sure where I stand. I was hoping I could leave at Feb half term or sooner if I get something else.

I'll find out if this other job exists later in week. on the positive side good day today, had a really good lesson, only about the 3rd or 4th in 5 weeks!

That's good The only way is up!

Look after number one!

Thanks will keep thread updated if there's any news

I heard from friend who works at the lovely primary school. The head is talking to someone about the job on Monday so looks like he already has someone in mind

Feeling quite miserable now. I am really not happy where I am, even if I get on top of the behaviour I don't think I can manage the workload. The experienced teachers there all seem to work from 7.30-6 most days. I just can't do that. I have 4DCs and my family life has just gone to pot since I started there. The house is a tip and my DH is holding things together. Sometimes I'm leaving before the older kids wake up.

I don't know what to do. I feel such a failure, I should have never taken the job I'm doing now. Before this I had a .4 job at an independent school. It was badly paid and organised and I thought I wanted to get back in state system and earn a decent salary. I also had a PT supermarket job to make a bit more money.

I have a few choices

1. Stick this .6 ML job out till Easter/May when permanent teacher due to come back. Look for other teaching/TA jobs (not many PT ones around here)
2. Quit and see if old school will have me back (I was fed up there and wanted to get back into state system)

3.Quit, try and go back to supermarket work and hope to get some supply work (not much round here HLTAs/ cover supervisors tend to be used) 4.Quit and try to get any old work with employment agencies etc (I have an admin qualification)

I'm worried that if I quit without anything to go to and before the end of my ML contract that I will get a rubbish reference. I could just pretend I'd never worked there and use my previous job as their references will be more primary relevant) but I don't think that's legal.

Well, it's not that long til Easter. Speaking as someone quite miserable I their job too I do think this time of the autumn term is about the worst it gets. I'd have a rest over Christmas and then count down the weeks!

If it were me I'd try to stick it out unless The Perfect Opportunity were to present itself to me unasked for.

It's not long until the holiday - why not wait and see how you feel in the New Year?!

Sensible advice- I know it's the right thing to stick it out but I'm just exhausted and moany at the moment!

I'm kind of in a similar position, OP. Worked in a private school for ages, wish I'd never left. Working part time (but not very) on a maternity cover at a comp and hating it. Not because of the kids though - they are ok. Basically I have a rubbish timetable and was persuaded to teach a subject I'm not qualified for in addition to my own. The school is also the most workload-heavy I have ever seen.
It is making me miserable and if they don't change my timetable (possible staffing changes for after Christmas) then I will resign for Easter and even consider walking sooner than that, or threatening to. Don't feel guilty - you owe them nothing. It is just a job. Teachers are entitled to resign, just like anyone else, even mid-year.

Moan away - it's what we're here for

I love my job, I still moan about it

WW - sorry you hate your job too :( However, my advice to try to stick it out was nothing to do with the OP being a teacher, but to someone who took on a fixed term (maternity) contract and needs the money - teacher or otherwise.

Thanks for support, still feeling really rubbish.

Colleagues from old school have been in contact to say no-one has been appointed yet, the kids are missing me and they think I should come back. I was quite fed up there but was never miserable going into work. I feel I might look a complete failure going back.

Other options are 3 and 4 in my post above.