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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.

Original poster

Anyone else praying to get through this week? On my knees

117 replies

EarlyMorningCoffee · 08/12/2019 07:30

I could type it all out but I think it can be summed up quite neatly by

  • SMT
  • Nativity

I feel if I can make it to Friday, I can photocopy 30 Christmas workbooks, stick on a film and gibber in a corner.

OP posts:
StationView · 08/12/2019 08:37

To all of the non-teachers contributing....

If teaching is so easy, why don't you train to become one and join us? Short working days, three months' holiday a year - it's a doddle as any fule knoe. Lots of vacancies ATM, too, as recruitment and retention are inexplicably poor given the easiness of the job.

Honestly, give it a go. You won't regret it Xmas Grin

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 08/12/2019 08:38

You do know that, 'If nobody's going to die' was tongue in cheek, right?

This thread is ridiculous. I (mostly) love my job, I'm good (very) at my job, but I also sometimes need a space to acknowledge that it can be bloody difficult and bloody exhausting and that some of the things we're made to do don't actually make teaching or learning any better.

I'll be teaching educationally sound lessons until the end of term and nobody who knows anything about education would have any cause to complain about any of them. And I'll be spending much of today marking mock exams, so fuck off with your, 'Teachers are lazy whingers' notions.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 08/12/2019 08:39

Station Grin

oncemorewithfeeling99 · 08/12/2019 08:42

I’m a teacher but a sahm for the moment. Eldest is in reception. I feel for his teacher, I think I was staggering to the end by this point in the term. Kids are exhausted too. Bring on Christmas! We have two full weeks left here but nativity this week. I imagine the last week will (rightly in my mind) be mostly films and colouring. I’m thankful he is at school which has a sensible attitude and doesn’t insist on a relentless pace until the end of term- totally counterproductive.

wherethewildthingis · 08/12/2019 08:42

I am not saying teaching is easy, I'm saying other jobs are also extremely difficult. I've not at any point mentioned holidays or short days. I think it's poor form to complain on a public forum about a public sector job. I don't see other sectors doing this. Please point me to the surgeons/police/cps lawyers/social workers doing the same, if those forums exist? Are we in any doubt that those professionals are also exhausted, stressed, on their knees?
This does seem to be something unique to teaching professionals. And it's completely legitimate for others who fund and use these services to comment on what presents as a poor attitude.

PixieN · 08/12/2019 08:42

I am shattered and the kids are too. I will definitely be showing some films and doing some fun stuff in the last few lessons before Christmas as they’ve earned it. They’ve worked really hard this term getting through assessments etc - I don’t go easy on them. So, I will be showing a couple of groups films of the texts they’ve studied. It’s kept them focused and been a great motivator at keeping them on task in these last few weeks. The end is in sight! Grin x

Abouttime1978 · 08/12/2019 08:43

Non teacher here. I help weekly in my kids primary school.

It's been a ridiculously long term and kids and teachers alike are on their knees here. The next two weeks are manic with performances and trips etc, no wonder you've all had enough.

Just do the necessary, and get through to the Christmas break. You are very much appreciated.

isittooearlyforgin · 08/12/2019 08:44

Blimey! Ops post is a bit light hearted, quite a lot of vitriol. I think last few weeks are so hard because children and adults thrive on routine, and the last few weeks are all over the place, carol concerts, parties, nativity, etc etc so it feels quite hard to manage so many transitions. I love Christmas but think it’s a big ask of very little children to keep up with so many changes, I’d much rather keep doing all lessons as per usual TIL the end of term but it’s impossible when fitting in so much else. It’s perfectly fine for professions to let off steam. No one is suggesting teaching is uniquely stressful, it is quite therapeutic for any profession to talk about the down sides of their job as long as they also love it. It doesn’t have to be a competition.

VashtaNerada · 08/12/2019 08:46

I did a ‘normal’ job for years before becoming a teacher. I love teaching but my god it’s so much harder than sitting in an office! Of course other jobs are also hard - police officer, nurse, paramedic, social worker etc - but that doesn’t mean our job isn’t tough. I’m feeling completely run down, the next two weeks are going to be exhausting. We’ll all deserve a stiff drink once the last child has made it home!

isitxmasyet · 08/12/2019 08:47

I can see what Vincent means though. Yes this is your special forum but it is public and it does feel a bit here we go again....

I’m a medic in hospital and this is also a very busy time for us but we don’t have a special group to moan about it.
I will also be working Xmas day and New Year’s Day without any annual leave and the same is true if most of my colleagues. Same for police and paramedics etc etc.

I think teachers do a great job and no I wouldn’t like to do it which is why I didn’t chose to teach (or work in a shop or be an artist or an accountant etc).

But ramping up the colouring in sessions to get the excited kids through the last two weeks and being guaranteed at least two weeks off for Xmas and new year with never any weekends or nights to work- well it’s not so bad is it?

Yes teaching is hard and yes it has its downsides but sometimes it feels like teachers just refuse to see anything but how they are the most put upon profession there is.

Teachermaths · 08/12/2019 08:47

@wherethewildthingis You'd better not search twitter or blogs. There are literally thousands of tweets/blogs from NHS staff, Police, social workers etc all explaining the daily reality of their job (which could be construed as moaning). Some workers in these sectors have even written books about their jobs Shock

MN staffroom is used as a forum for teachers to share ideas, support each other and vent. (Mainly since the TES forums went to shit). It doesn't mean we don't care, it doesn't mean we think we are the only people who work hard, it's just (usually) a safe space to share with other professionals.

PeterRouseTheFleshofMankind · 08/12/2019 08:50

Oh FFS it's just a bit of light hearted letting off steam, why all the cats bum mouths?

Original poster
EarlyMorningCoffee · 08/12/2019 08:52

I could type out a list of things I've bought and the hours I spend in the evenings and weekends working, but I will no doubt only be moaning.

OP posts:
CallmeAngelina · 08/12/2019 08:54

Nothing stopping other professional groups from starting up their own section in MN.
Or do you just want to take a pop at teachers? Feel free. Everyone else does.

PeterRouseTheFleshofMankind · 08/12/2019 08:54

I’m a medic in hospital and this is also a very busy time for us but we don’t have a special group to moan about it.

One of the most popular books of 2018 was a book essebtially moaning about how difficult being a junior doctor is!

oncemorewithfeeling99 · 08/12/2019 08:54

Ignore the people who haven’t been there. If they want to have a justified moan about the challenges of their job then they can go and do that elsewhere. Meanwhile in the real world we have a teaching retention crisis and shortage.... (and I say that as a teacher who decided it wasn’t family friendly and is now at home full time!) so best of luck to all the teachers making it through until the end of term. May your SLT cancel any observations, may no children fall asleep from exhaustion and may glitter not be spilled on your lap and be forever stuck to your black trousers! Godspeed!

isittooearlyforgin · 08/12/2019 08:55

Btw I think it an excellent idea for other professionals to have letting off steam forums too. I certainly dont begrudge social workers, police or nurses for instance having a safe space to discuss the extremely difficult natures of their job. I absolutely agree that these professions and other frontline services are stressful, under paid and vital. Of course they should have a chance to let off steam too, but please don’t begrudge teachers their safe space too.

StationView · 08/12/2019 08:57

isitxmasyet

never any weekends or nights to work

Are you for real? Do you have any idea how much work teachers do at home? Shock

FredaFrogspawn · 08/12/2019 08:58

The bit I find hardest (secondary) is that the most challenging students are also tired and some may have negative feelings around Christmas from past experience so they are less easy to work with in and out the classroom.

But i love the good bits - the student led raffles and the non-uniform days, the carols sung by our in-house choir and the mfl card making lessons.

I’m not sure I would survive primary teaching at this time.

MsJaneAusten · 08/12/2019 08:59

Wow. This thread is enlightening. Happy Christmas everyone! It’s not a race to the bottom you know. Someone says they’re finding something hard, sympathise, chat to them, or MOVE ON. Don’t try telling them they’re wrong Hmm

I am not saying teaching is easy, I'm saying other jobs are also extremely difficult
I’m pretty sure no one here suggested that they weren’t. It’s the Staffroom. We talk about teaching, to teachers. Scroll on by if you don’t want to read our whinges.

I’m a medic in hospital and this is also a very busy time for us but we don’t have a special group to moan about it.
Ask MN to make you one then. We promise we won’t come on it and tell you that your job is easier than other people’s, because, well that’s a bit demoralising and we respect what you do.

OP - I feel you. Can I also add, I’m 99% sure we’ll get The Call this week? Ugh. Joy to all.

Beerincomechampagnetastes · 08/12/2019 08:59

This thread is quite bizarre.Hmm
I’m confused as to why the op is getting a hard time for posting in staffroom about something the section is designed for by people who aren’t teachers.
If you work in a difficult job and want to post about it- start your own thread instead of complaining on ops thread that you don’t have a designated space. If you don’t want to post about your job- don’t.... but don’t tell op what she can post.

TooStressyTooMessy · 08/12/2019 09:01

Bloody hell. This thread illustrates the lack of respect for teachers and why so many leave.

This term is so, so busy and you all fully deserve a big moan (and a massive glass of wine). Huge thanks here from a non-teacher who has also worked frontline NHS and yes, we deserved a moan then too. Doesn’t mean we can’t appreciate how hard teachers work.

VelvetSoft · 08/12/2019 09:02

To all those moaning about teachers moaning... do you never let off steam about your job? Never? Never have the dread about a known silly season at work?

Really?

Never?

I'm pretty sure that if you posted about a bad period at work, you wouldn't get posters piling on to tell you that you have no right to feel overwhelmed and knackered.

Original poster
EarlyMorningCoffee · 08/12/2019 09:02

I feel you. Can I also add, I’m 99% sure we’ll get The Call this week? Ugh. Joy to all.

Nooooooooo!!! I thought you'd be safe by now. You poor buggers :(

OP posts:
TackyTinsel · 08/12/2019 09:04

The non-teachers piling on here to have a go at the OP need to hide this thread and do something else. Your comments are in no way helpful.

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