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 ?

I have only worked at two schools as a teacher. One was more bitchy than the other, I just tried not to join in or change the subject! Don't change to fit in, I think these people must be miserable just bitching all day. I always feel like crap if I do get carried away bitching. Hopefully as time goes on you'll find a less bitchy group, if it gets you down look for a new job! Being happy is so important in such an emotionally draining job, good luck!!

The OP isn’t a teacher, she’s in some kind of support role. Maybe admin or classroom assistant.

She words her posts very carefully to imply that she’s a teacher but she’s not. I wonder if she is jealous of teachers, their professional qualifications , salary and status ?

I know there are many teacher bashing threads on MN right now but in general, people are proud if they have a family member who’s a teacher.

I know many of you don’t feel that ATM and that’s a shame. Because it’s one of the most important jobs in society and many parents And pupils appreciate what teachers do.

I've previously worked in the legal sector and in the film industry. They're really bitchy. Way bitchier than the teachers I know.

Yup. Worked in other sectors pre teaching.

It's not bitchy.

Depends on the department/school. I've worked in schools that were like that and schools that weren't. You don't have to stay in a school where the staff are bitchy: there are good ones out there. Good luck OP

What is the daffodil emoji for

Well i thought it was supportive

But someone just said they were teacher bashing flowers soooooo...

No idea

I guess it can be in some schools.
I've found inlarger schools, especially when I taught secondary, everyone was grouped off and it was rare that those groups mixed.

However I've been in primary for the past years and certainly my infant school, which is much smaller and - crucially - has a tiny staff room, then it's really sociable and friendly where everyone talks together, everyone is included and there isn't really the bitchiness at all. It's a comment visiting staff, such as supply, often make about us. I volunteered at a very small primary before here and it was similar - all very friendly without the cliquey groups.

So I think maybe, reading come comments on here, I've fallen really lucky where o am.

I worked in a secondary school last year in the pastoral department and I’ve worked in a fair, few different organisations in my time.

Honestly? It was the most toxic, poisonous place I’ve ever had the joy of working in. Utterly despicable behaviour from staff members, worse than the playground. I only have experience from one school though, and I certainly won’t be trying another.

I've worked in the same school for the last 10 years. For the first 5 I was there it was an incredibly bitchy place, I felt like I was 15 again and I dreaded going near the staffroom. But then a few 'queen bee' teachers left and it's now the loveliest, most supportive place to work and I miss the staffroom so much right now! It's amazing the difference just a few powerful personalities can make.

I've worked in a few schools and, generally, haven't found it to be the case, in fact most people were lovely. The only two schools that had a bitchy clique were an independent school and an outstanding primary. In both, there were a higher than average proportion of female staff. And in both, I was amazed at just how nasty the people in the clique were, truly horrible. SLT turned a blind eye even when two excellent teachers left because they felt it totally draining.

This is not exclusive to teaching. Since I've become freelance, I've worked for different companies and have experienced similar bitchiness twice though involving both men and women.