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The staffroom

Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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Original poster

Anyone else had enough?

153 replies

DaveCoachesgavemetheclap · 08/09/2019 19:26

I'm 52 and have been teaching Primary since 1989. I'm lucky in that the school where I work has good behaviour and paperwork/marking etc isn't as excessive as in some schools although it's pretty bad. All I can think about is getting through the next 3 years to reach 55 so I can retire, although realistically, I couldn't really afford to go until I'm 57. I was just wondering if there's anyone out there who has zero interest and enthusiasm like me.

OP posts:

Farrowandbrawl · 18/09/2019 20:23

@Gigis

I really did have lots of responses didn’t I!!?

Lots of Moany teachers getting very cross about being criticised!

SabineSchmetterling · 18/09/2019 20:24

He was late 40s but he was medically retired.

SabineSchmetterling · 18/09/2019 20:25

He had a few years on desk duty only before that too.

Gigis · 18/09/2019 20:27

Yes you did! Well done you!! Go and tell your mum how proud we are.

But I think the tune is a bit overplayed now. It's a tiny bit boring and sad now. You must be tiring yourself out anyway, surely you have better things to do than talking to boring moany teachers about their jobs? A big important police officer like you? I'm amazed you've found the time today to respond as quickly as you have.

Farrowandbrawl · 18/09/2019 20:27

@noblegiraffe

Well my life is sometimes a bit shit . Never empty though. But this has cheered me up no end today !
I did wonder if I’d get lots of teachers posting saying they really do like children and their job.. but I think there was about..2

SabineSchmetterling · 18/09/2019 20:30

They probably work 4 days on 4 days off. We might have another couple of day of this until they next have to do a shift.

DippyAvocado · 18/09/2019 20:32

An hour for lunch? 😂😂😂 In my unpaid lunch break today, I: sat with a pupil who was upset at lunchtime, tidied up from the morning lessons, cut up and set out all the resources for my DT lesson, went to two separate PE cupboards to collect equipment for my PE lesson, supervised two children who had to come back and finish some work and met with the SENCO about ways to support a child with additional needs in my class. I just about managed a glass of water. No time to go to the loo or eat anything. That is a fairly standard "lunch hour".

I had a 30 minute meeting before school, hour and a half long staff meeting after school and then just had time to print some resources for tomorrow's first lesson before I had to leave at 5.30 to pick up my own DC. I have brought 30 books home to mark and stick work in for tomorrow and have to prep resources for 3 other lessons.

I wouldn't dream of making derogatory comments about the police or another profession that I had no experience of so I really don't understand why teachers seem to be fair game.

To answer the original OP, I have just changed year groups (primary) and find it a real struggle. Despite spending a week of the holidays setting up my new classroom, I didn't get everything done so I feel like I'm already on the back-foot. A new head in our school seems to be making it her mission to implement all sorts of changes and I feel like I'm on a hamster wheel all the time. I'm so tired and grumpy with my own DC . I'm 40 and have been teaching 15 years. I don't want to be a headteacher so have no idea what will happen to me when I'm deemed "too old" for the job.

BelleSausage · 18/09/2019 20:34

@noblegiraffe

I think you are right the culture at the moment is for parents to assume they have paid for private school and expect the same level of service.

I had an hour long meeting with a set of parents last year where dad brought a long list of ‘grievances’

I gave his son a negative behaviour mark for being disruptive (he had been).
I gave his son a low effort grade for not finishing his work (he hadn’t)
I once contradicted his son during a lesson. (Actually he shouted something over me as I was trying to teach and I told him to stop)

An hour. A fucking hour to work through that petty grievance list.

Farrowandbrawl · 18/09/2019 20:37

@DippyAvocado

Sorry everyone

Dippy did you say you had to go to 2 separate PE cupboards today on your break.

Hold on.

Not just the one . But 2!!! Omg !!!!!!!!!

And an upset child- bloody hell anyone would think you work in a school

unicorncupcake · 18/09/2019 20:38

People have tried to imply that the routinely cover duties on their breaks with out being paid , which as you know is nonsense.

How could you, as a non teacher possibly know that is or isn’t true?! It happens all the fricking TIME 🤦‍♀️

I am ‘just’ a classroom teacher, and am in school at least an hour early every day and stay an hour after the end of the day every day as a matter of course to get my work done. I have started a new job this term and haven’t been in staffroom once to sit down. Every time I pop in at breaktime to check pigeonhole etc it is deserted. People don’t sit there and chat. They are in and out.

SabineSchmetterling · 18/09/2019 20:39

I can’t help but feel that the real problem there is the Head, Belle. There’s no way our Head would let a parent come in for a meeting over something so petty. If they really insisted then they’d be seen by a Head of Year or member of SLT who would tell them, in no uncertain terms, that the teacher was just doing their job. We don’t make teachers sit in meetings with disgruntled parents.

BelleSausage · 18/09/2019 20:39

Don’t get drawn in everyone.

We know what the job is like. People who have been to school only know what it is like to be a student. How little they know if the other side!

BelleSausage · 18/09/2019 20:42

@SabineSchmetterling

It was still in department. The reason we had the meeting was the parents were asking for a set move. We had no idea until we got in there (HoD and I) just how vicious and petty the father was.

And I didn’t want to end the meeting until I could bring it back round to a reasonable conclusion. More fool me.

SabineSchmetterling · 18/09/2019 20:48

There’s nothing worse than when you get blindsided like that. I remember once returning a phone call to the mother of a girl that I’d been teaching for several years who had got upset during my lesson after being reprimanded for something. I knew the mum well. On the phone I actually got her husband who shouted at me, accused me off bullying and then told me that he “worked in senior management in the city” and could arrange some training for me on how to deal with people. (What an utter tool!) I just wasn’t expecting it at all and let him rant for way longer than I should have done.

noblegiraffe · 18/09/2019 20:53

Sounds grim and frustrating, Belle

I now only ever email parents to avoid the potential for massive rants over the phone, and I’ve refused to meet parents where I know it will be unproductive.

BelleSausage · 18/09/2019 21:02

@noblegiraffe

I good policy that I may well adopt.

@SabineSchmetterling

That is awful. Honestly, the irony of the bully boy accusing you of bullying.

The issue me I’ve had the week was a new low. It does seem to be getting worse.

MNHQ

HebeMumsnet · 18/09/2019 21:05

Evening, everyone. The Staffroom is generally here as a place for teachers to swap advice and find support. We don't expect everyone to agree with every word everyone says here but we do think it's possible to disagree politely or just scroll on by.

SabineSchmetterling · 18/09/2019 21:22

I was really upset by it at the time. Now I’m honestly embarrassed for him. His poor daughter was mortified and I was told by another member of staff who knew the family that his wife was too embarrassed to speak to me afterwards. What a way to make a prat of yourself!

gluteustothemaximus · 18/09/2019 22:03

I work in a school. Not a teacher, but support staff. I see how incredibly undervalued they are and how many hours they put in. A tough job, and entitled to moan (on their own section of MN).

Leave the GF. Every profession has them.

MrsRLH75 · 05/10/2021 17:29

Omg! I know this is an old post but I found it when I was searching for an answer as to whether I’m too old to retrain as a primary school teacher at 46. You all (mostly) hate it! Shall I go back to the drawing board? Is it that bad? I’m a lawyer and mum to 4 kids so not afraid of hard work but this has made me rethink…!

Marzipanfruit · 05/10/2021 20:22

I actually remember this thread at the time as I was thinking of leaving teaching for good. If it is something you truly want to do, please speak to any teachers you currently know. It is hard, as in normal times you would be able to volunteer and see what it is really like. It is such a shame the original thread was derailed by such an obviously unhappy and bitter person. It can be the best job in the world, and you would be coming in with life experience and fresh eyes. I wish you well whatever you decide.

MrsHamlet · 05/10/2021 20:49

I love teaching... secondary though :)

echt · 05/10/2021 21:33

[quote Farrowandbrawl]@Belinda whatever
That if it was that bad you lot would just leave... not moan on here.

Honestly teachers are the most pampered and indulged profession

Anyone know of a teacher getting sacked for under performing.......
Nah thought not[/quote]

echt · 05/10/2021 21:34

@Farrowandbrawl

This all compounds my opinion

Any criticism must be a ‘troll ‘ teachers are simply perfect 🙄

And yes @BeingATwatItsABingThing you clearly don’t like your job. You feel done, you envy someone going off sick, you don’t feel respected by the wider public. Why on earth would you stay? I don’t think you are alone. From what I’ve seen most teachers feel the same as you and it absolutely shines through

echt · 05/10/2021 21:36

[quote Farrowandbrawl]@DippyAvocado

Sorry everyone

Dippy did you say you had to go to 2 separate PE cupboards today on your break.

Hold on.

Not just the one . But 2!!! Omg !!!!!!!!!

And an upset child- bloody hell anyone would think you work in a school[/quote]

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