Does this happen everywhere in the teaching profession?

[Brownie79]

I work in a school and am fairly new to the profession.
As my time in school has progressed I've started to notice how bitchy most people are.
Everyone seems to be calling people who arent in their little group or in some cases people who are !
It makes me uncomfortable if I'm honest and I'm not sure how to best handle it .
It's already tough working in our profession at the moment, so don't want to make a fuss or fall out with anyone However dont want it to look like Im joining in either.
Has anyone been in a similar position ?

[coffeeandpyjamas]

There are bitchy people in every profession. My workplace is not teaching but there are some extremely bitchy people who take office politics to the extreme.

[Apple1971]

Nope.

I work in a school in inner london.

The staff overall are lovely. Don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone being mean about anyone else. Everyone support each other and is kind.

There are groups who sit together in the staff room, but it’s not an exclusive club and you can go join in without feeling like a weirdo.

Schools are like all work places. Some are good. Some not so. You can’t generalise

[Cookiecrisps]

Teachers and school staff are not an homogeneous entity. 🌻

[Brownie79]

@cookiecrisps I never suggested that we are all alike ,or that everyone in our profession bitches.
I simply asked about a new situation and peoples experiences
I am getting a bit tired of people posting the teacher bashing flowers.
Why would I bash my own profession?!!
Weirdly by the looks of the ridiculous responses to a harmless question ,it would appear that bitchy behaviour is not restricted to one set of people!!!

[SonnyRobes]

My OH is a teacher. Yes, it's very bitchy. Bitching about other teachers, about students, about parents...

[Malbecfan]

Depends on the school. Current 2 (1 primary, 1 secondary) definitely not. Last 3 secondaries I worked at had some. One had a horrid bully that I called out and when I wasn't happy with the "outcome", went for the jugular. She was fired. I had already left because I hated the school. Another was a very pious up-itself C of E bastion. Chief nasty wore a dog-collar.

My motto is to treat others as you would like to be treated. Be nice, be kind.

[feelingdizzy]

I'm a primary school teacher who has worked in lots of schools . I've been DHT and a HT.I also had another career before teaching,so have in my experience plenty to compare.
In general,I dont find schools bitchier than other workplaces.It can be a very intense job ,with little downtime so any difficulties can feel quite intense.
Most workplaces have more difficult characters, but usually they are balanced out.As HT I always say to approach me with a difficulty and I do really try to work things out with staff.Honestly I can usually sense when something is up.I will always try to deal with difficulties but also staff need a moan,and they cant always agree between themselves and with me.
I'm ok with the fact that the moan is also sometimes going to be about me!

[blue25]

Teaching is a very bitchy profession in my experience. Lots of women on power trips.

[jeanne16]

It is really no different from any work environment. Why do people think it is?

[TheFallenMadonna]

I'm in my third decade of teaching. I have found that when you treat people with respect and act professionally, generally you get along with everyone sufficiently. I'm never quite sure what people mean by "calling out".

[JellyfishandShells]

What is it about some MN posters that they love picking on teachers, in particular ? Reflecting some long held resentments from their school days? Some kind of antipathy towards people from outside of their bubble who have interaction with their precious children ? Limited experience of other professions outside their own jobs ? The only other profession that comes near to getting such generalised abuse is medicine- for some of the same reasons, presumably.

[SquirrelFan]

I started working in a secondary school about a year ago and I have to say, it's the complete opposite in my experience. People are so cheery and friendly--I find I am the Minnie Moaner and have to rein it in! No bitchiness amongst the other staff at all.

[Missteebeee]

The school I worked in was lovely

The staff were all kind and very supportive of each other

The maternity unit I worked on however was awful.

[SpanishFly]

What is the daffodil emoji for?

[Musicalmistress]

Bitchy behaviour can happen in any workplace but I have to wonder where you have been given the flack the teaching profession is often taking on this site that you think it's a good idea to start a thread like this?!?

[Brownie79]

@Musicalmistress at school ,not trawling through online forums.
How about you?

[HipTightOnions]

Not my experience at all. I am a career-changer and one of the things I love about teaching, especially compared to my so-called “real world” experience, is the team spirit and basic kindness of my colleagues. Perhaps I am in a particularly nice school and department.

[VickyEadieofThigh]

What an interesting time to start a thread that reflects negatively on teachers.

Indeed.

[2bazookas]

I never observed or experienced any bitching when teaching. Probably working too hard to notice.

[Hwyrynos]

The school where I worked had 40+ staff and all got along brilliantly. I loved it.

[Letseatgrandma]

Everyone seems to be calling people who arent in their little group or in some cases people who are

I can’t make our what your post is saying?

Calling what?

Everyone is calling people on the phone-even those who are or aren’t in their little group?

Everyone is calling people names-even this who are or aren’t in their little group?

[Musicalmistress]

@Brownie79 at school hubs, checking on vulnerable families, delivering free school meals much the same as many others.
You don't need to 'trawl' this forum to find a teacher bashing thread these days - they seem to be ten-a-penny. Which is why it seems odd timing that a fellow teacher would then start one, given many people are already sticking the boot in?

[redcarbluecar]

I doubt that many people have worked in enough different professions to be able to draw robust comparisons. I’ve not found teaching particularly bitchy (worked in 5 places, 18y) but I’m sure it’s the case in some places. Sorry you’re experiencing this. I guess just get on with the job as best you can.

[StaffAssociationRepresentative]

Is this still a Staffroom? Or have non-education staff come in by mistake?

All the staff at my school are lovely. We have lots of banter instead

[melodien]

My secondary school aged daughter reported that the TAs in the learning resource base she worked in for some lessons spent most of the time gossiping about pupils, some of who were even in the room at the time. Maybe they assumed because they had SEN they were deaf as well