If you didn't have to teach, would you?

[NotQuiteThere]

Feeling low, after another interview and rejection today.

I teach a shortage subject and have had two interviews and three rejections so far. My termly assessment reports and lesson observations have been excellent so far (NQT year), and my results are good - no concerns from my current school.

Although I enjoy teaching, we all know the workload is intense. Financially it isn't essential that I am working, but I have always been financially independent, and think it's important. I'm very happy at my current school, but on a fixed term contract and there is no space next year. Workload takes its toll on me during term time, but I make sure that I rest properly and spend lots of time with dc during the holidays.

I picked dc up from school this afternoon (they were pleasantly surprised), and had a lovely time with them, chatting, reading, eating together, putting them to bed etc. I thought how nice it would be to do this more often with them, and not have to spend 2-3 hours after they've gone to bed planning, marking etc., as I am doing now.

If you didn't have to teach, would you?

Yes I would. I bloody love my job. But I teach adults. Not sure how I'd get on working in a school.

Really want to give up am having to go through improvement procedure atm and really beginning to think I cannot spin all the plates after returning to full-time and am wondering what to do next as need the money coming in after 10+ years of part time.

No. Loved the students, hated all the rest of it. I've left now. By the way someone mentioned colleges - try speaking to people who work in them before applying there - there's often very low morale there, too.

It is with regret I'm saying no, as I once adored my job, adored teaching and everything about it.

However, I am increasingly finding I'm lacking the patience and tolerance I once had with rude, argumentative students. I fake it, but it stressed me out and makes me feel cross, and I dread certain lessons.

I'm fed up of having to jump through silly hoops with different colour pens which takes ages and makes no difference to students' achievement.

I'm sick, sick, sick of DATA There's so much data there is barely any time for teaching.

I'm out, after ten years, six of them as second in dept/head of dept.

Absolutely not. I'm making plans to leave, I want to be doing my last term this time next year.

I had time off to have DC and thought I'd be a SAHM for years, but went back after a year with each one. Now full time again and youngest is 3.

Financially I don't have to teach. Mentally, I couldn't bear not teaching.

I am in SEN though and it's different to mainstream. Certainly no easier though, with vast amounts of paperwork and evidencing.

I'd love 3 days, but it would never work for my class so I won't do it.

18 years for me, but I do change jobs often! I HATE the unnecessary stuff that doesn't benefit children or lead to progress and I really detest anything that SLT claim we have to 'do for Ofsted'.

I've found a niche and a good school. For now.

I like the holidays. And I'm lucky that my subject is one which doesn't get scrutinised for data really (music). i have a lovely head who trusts me to do a good job. I like my colleagues a lot. The kids are brilliant mainly and I have a lot of fun.

So yes, in the right school, I would continue to teach. If I won the lottery tomorrow I'd use my own money to hire an assistant to do all my admin and then I'd just do all the bits I like!

Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences.

At the moment I'm thinking how nice it might be to volunteer at the charity/coffee shop in town, maybe do some tutoring and be able to drop and pick dc up from school. Sort out the housework in the spare time instead of cramming it into weekends and evenings, and not have to plan and mark pretty much every evening.

I remember a poster on here saying that nowadays in maths, you pretty much had to have a pulse to be hired (!) and similar stories about schools crying out for maths teachers, so not getting jobs makes me feel like a failure!

elephantoverthehill I will be next year, as I'm moving to a Lead Practitioner role. Can't bloody wait!

No, not if I didn't have to. Although I would want to do something! I look at friend's earning twice the money for (probably) half the stress and wish I had made different career choices.

No. Qualified teacher here working as a TA. Crap pay but I leave the job at the end of the day, and get all the holidays with DCs, perfect solution. Am lucky enough to have a high wage earning DH though. If I had to go back for the money I Would be miserable.

Yes and no
I retrained as teacher after another career.
Saw this insanity in FT expectations so decide to do supply.
And really enjoying it - have all the good stuff - being in classroom, without the pointless drossy meetings/admin etc. And no dealing with entitled parents of bratty kids 'who-are-being-picked-on-by-the-teacher.' And the obsession with marking!. (Why set so much work that 'requires' written marking - how about just verbal feedback and giving responsibility for acting on it back to kids?).
Behaviour can be challenging, but I go back a lot to a few schools, and so gets better all the time.
But.. it is a hobby - money is a tiny percentage of what I got in my previous career, so would not do if I needed a 'proper' career.
And would discourage others from contemplating teaching.

I love teaching, but not at the moment. All joy is being sucked out by the misery of scrutiny and initiatives dreamed up in offices by people who no longer teach themselves.

So, no.

I would want a job though. I'd work in a bakery, like my first job at 14.

It makes me sad to say it, but no. I love teaching but hate a lot of the crap that goes alongside it, and health issues are making it all a lot harder. I do wonder how much longer I'm going to have the energy for it, and that terrifies me. :(

I would work as a TA. In fact, I'd love to do that now - just helping and supporting kids and teachers without any of the other crap - but it wouldn't pay the mortgage. I envy the TAs in my school.

No.I never want to teach again and am working on an alternative

I love teaching and would keep doing it however I only work 3 days and have set responsibility so only teach 1 or 2 days a week. I try and do what I can to make workload manageable for full time class teachers however my favourite days are in a classroom door closed have fun with the kids. If I was working full time as class teacher I would struggle and don't like the pressure on nqt's compared to when I did mine 10 years ago is sad

Yes, but would go part time, would love to do 0.5. This is my 24th year, I still really enjoy being in the classroom and my subject. I teach in a 6th Form College though, we don't deal with the same level of madness that primary and secondary do, though the sector has its own woes.

Yes.

No. I used to love it, and still love being in front of a class and having a great lesson. But am fed up of data, the obsession with constant measurable progress, levels, the learning walks, the demonstrating dialogue in books, the different coloured pens... Planning my exit as I'm done with it all!!

No. However DH was diagnosed with progressive MS 3 years ago and is no longer able to work. I'm UPS 1 and can't even begin to see what else I would do - in my 50's and never done anything else. Anything remotely related to my experience would mean a pay cut which we can't afford - we're struggling desperately on my pay as it is.

Don't give up at this stage. After half term there will be another wave of job adverts going out after the resignation deadline. The fields for those interviews are usually smaller too. I'm sure you'll find something. I was hired for my job as an NQT in June... That was 7 years ago and I've been in the same school ever since, although I've been promoted since then. In a way I'm really glad I didn't find a job sooner because I ended up in the right school for me.

Just popping on to update. I had an interview this week and got the job! It's a lovely school and part-time too. Am so looking forward to starting.

It's one year for the moment, but hopefully might have longer term opportunities.

Excellent news!