A thread about a thread. Well lots of them!

[rollonthesummer]

I'm so fed up with people moaning about teachers on here! Am I being overly sensitive/observant recently or is it always like this?!

tiring

I don't moan about my job or say it's harder than anyone else's. When people tell me that teaching is a piece of piss-'what with all those half days, long holidays and days 'off' teacher training or 'it's just playing in the sandpit really', then I do tend to say something.

I would never dream of telling someone else their job is easy or they are a load of whiners though, so they don't feel the need to retaliate and then they don't get accused of 'forever moaning'

And now I'm moaning!

Yes I'm feeling it too.

Yes it's a bit grim. But people have to stop responding to these threads so much I think. Threads might die out if no one argued back.

I've have become involved when I should just not read the thread.

"Why doesn't the school/teacher do 'this'". 'This' being something illegal or impractical.

Teachers expected to be charming and polite to everyone all the time no matter what the provocation.

Sigh

It is hard not to respond. I do get that. A couple of recent threads are just unnecessarily mean. I just think it fuels it a bit because as soon as you explain you are moaning. I go for a dignified silence online. Thankfully in real life people who actually know me aren't like that.

As an experienced teacher I've found Increasingly over the years, when people complain or moan to, or about, schools, the underlying issue is often quite unrelated. Sometimes in the background there's a marriage going tits up, poor parenting, teenager being out of control at home... but I guess it's easier to look elsewhere for the blame

And occasionally I guess maybe a bit of envy, if people just look at the perks. I've even had a friend make a bit of a barbed comment about my good pension and the fact I get 6 weeks off in the summer... conveniently ignoring the fact that I am in work at 7.30 in the morning, not 8.45 like her, teach up to 150 teenagers with their differing needs and behaviours each day...

Bottom line is though, it's not teachers who start these threads- it's non teachers who just want to have a whine

Thing is I totally understand a bit of envy about summer hols. I would be envious if I had to grapple with childcare. But they seem to attract far more ire than the large bonuses/ salaries etc that are perks in some jobs and that some of my acquaintance take for granted. More public I suppose.

I think that teachers are great.I know I couldn't do that job myself with the level of enthusiasm I've seen from teachers at my dds school.

Yes I can't believe all the negative comments teachers get, especially about holidays. As phantom says lots of folk earn far more and get company cars and huge bonuses without much comment. New teachers are not well paid and without access to automatic pay progression are never likely to earn the kind of salaries experienced teachers have been able to achieve, especially with continual funding cuts. With the hours many put in I wouldn't be surprised to find their hourly rate works out at little more than minimum wage and for educating and caring for our precious DCS.

Although, similarly, I do think that you get lots of teachers posting about the private sector and large bonuses, company cars and gym memberships etc. Which really don't happen now for most people, that's just as galling.

Lots of assumptions made about both sectors.

Of course not everyone gets bonuses etc. But some people do. I know lots of them. And it's fine. It's just not attacked in the same way perhaps because they can choose not to mention it

Wasn't it at the NUT conference a couple of years ago that a senior Union speaker did say precisely that teachers deserved their long holidays because they worked harder than everyone else?

Not a comment easily forgotten by (say) nurses - also now a graduate profession, with long working days, no long breaks and swops between day and night shifts, and lives (literally in many cases) in their hands.

And of course, all occupations get negative comments. Teachers really aren't being singled out.

It's a bit like the umpteenth thread in 'pregnancy' when someone expecting for the first time, noticed how many unsolicited and disobliging comments are made. The advice is almost unanimously 'smile and nod' and to remember that the odd dick-brained comment isn't worth paying attention to.

Since when does one NUT person speak for me or indeed most teachers? I'm not about to feel bad because of their ill judged comments. I think judgement is worse for teachers, on here and other social media hence the numerous threads currently. However I'm off from this thread before it boringly goes the way of others! Following my own advice and not responding further!

And of course, all occupations get negative comments. Teachers really aren't being singled out.

Exactly this. I've just seen a facebook group with thousands of members/posts complaining about Stobart lorry drivers. I see forum posts virtually every day complaining about my profession, accountants, whether it's that they're ripping you off, incompetent, etc. A few clicks and we have forum complaints about plumbers, against whether it's because they're perceived to be expensive or poor workmanship. It's ALL trades and professions that attract negative comments and complaints. Teachers aren't being singled out. These days, people just don't doff their caps to ANY professional - perceived poor workers are complained about whatever they do.

I think the press took it as representative because it was a senior Union bod making a keynote speech at the annual conference.

Yes it's been really getting to me on here so I took a break for a few days. Finding it really hard this past few weeks so to be insulted in my leisure time was the last straw.

Unfortunately lots of parents think 'oh couldn't you just...' not thinking that there are 29 others doing the same. But then anyone would want the best for their own child so I do try to understand.

Just a shame that I feel you cant have a moan without someone telling you how lucky you are. It'd be nice for some understanding rather than an argument!

(Especially from people who rejoice when the holidays are over after looking after one child for two weeks not thirty for seven weeks!!!)

The thing that gets me is parents or members of the public thinking that individual teachers make decisions which are actually made by management or governors, or even by the LEA or government. While I appreciate they're not working in a school, I do expect a bit of common sense about those things, for example, I know that the lady behind the desk at the bank doesn't choose the bank's opening hours so I wouldn't post on Facebook about how she has chosen only to open the bank to customers while I'm at work, or hold an individual shop assistant responsible for charging me for a plastic carrier bag.

I agree with all of the previous posters who've said smile, ignore, don't feed the trolls, etc.

As was said earlier on the thread everyone's an expert as they have all been to school. However they just saw the play not the rehearsals or read the critics.

I am with you in that one locked. My pet hate is that 'teachers' fine kids for going on holidays.

My favourite moan and 'couldn't you just' request is for me to check their book bags for something. When the parents say 'I'm too busy to check their bag for letters because I work and have 3 children, can't you do it?' it's sometimes all I can do not to reply "I work too, have children of my own ad have 30 children to think about here!"

Yes, pieceofpurplesky. The money goes into my pocket and I spend it on Marxist literature like The Guardian when I'm having all of those "last minute training days" AKA days off.