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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

If you left teaching what did you go on to?

181 replies

Snowflakewater · 06/10/2022 20:12

I had a really tough day today and parTly just need to vent and partly need some advice.

I think at the place I’m in now I really don’t know if I can carry on teaching, I’m losing passion for it on a daily basis. The good kids are amazing but the bad are awful. I got told “spotty features” and another shouted something so bad I just wanted to burst into tears another told me “I’m an arrogant so and so” for them flinging a chair across a room, I learnt not to let much get to me but this just did.

Since I’ve been back after summer I’ve lost the passion to teach, I just feel like I’m on auto pilot, I work with others who just seem to know jr all and one up each other in meetings. The kids simply do not listen and it just feels exhausting.

Part of me wants to stay or maybe this school just isn’t right, but then another part of me thinks, maybe I’m just not a good teacher and actually it might be time to find something that I do genuinely feel more passion for.

How is everyone else getting on?

OP posts:
Original poster
Snowflakewater · 12/10/2022 21:21

swallowedAfly · 12/10/2022 11:31

I definitely don't live for work and live and breathe teaching as you put it or relate to your assumptions at all.

I personally can't start work early because I have a reluctant teenager to get out of bed and at least looking like he will leave on time for school before I can leave. I do stay after school to about 5 most days, sometimes I need to stay later and sometimes I leave on time because I'm tired but obviously with the awareness that I'll pay for it the next day or whatever.

I also burn out easy and have to take care of myself due to health problems. I'm working 0.8 this year, less last year. Teacher friends would tell you I'm often baffled as to how they manage to work full time effectively and raise young children. It would literally kill me! Term time is really bloody tough and my house is a shit hole and we eat far too much crap because after a full day's teaching I have zero desire to stand on my feet in the kitchen and decide what to cook let alone cook it. I think a lot of us just survive through term time the best we can other than a few superhuman types.

I have become better at just saying no to some things that I don't have the time for and don't believe are of benefit to me or my students. Part of the reason I get away with that might be that I'm relatively effective and experienced teacher and because everything important is done and possibly they know they're taking the piss anyway asking the staff to do task x.

The calling home business really is worth making time for. It makes kids feel very visible in their behaviour and harder for them to just dehumanise you or blame everyone else when you've had reasonable ideally friendly and constructive conversations with their parent and they know that line of communication is open. It also, though they'd never admit it I suspect, makes some kids feel like you do actually care about them, do see their potential and do want them to do well and that in itself changes the dynamics. It's work and time put in but it does pay off and make life easier going forward.

The only other reassurance I can give is if you put in that bit of effort and you stick around in a school for a couple of years life becomes a lot, lot easier. Kids do test you, especially new to the school staff - seeing things through with those time taking actions like calling home and still being there the next school year are how you 'pass' apparently and attitudes towards you, your right to tell them what to do and control your own classroom change.

All that only applies if you decide to give it one more push and start again and give this year a proper shot with an open mind as to how things could turn out. If you've already decided 100% you're done then as I said before and another poster reiterated after, then less responsibility and less pay is likely to be the pay off and cost of the kind of working experience you're looking for.

I await insults Wink

No insult’s required actually. That’s pretty solid advice and well rounded too. Maybe you read my reply above and realised even though I say I hate it, there are moments of joy and I’m not completely lazy and bone idle and just because I don’t stay over I most definitely go in early and work. I actually like going in early it’s nice and peaceful but because I’ve got chronic fatigue a 5am start causes me problems if I do it too often, I always feel like I’ve never had a good rest.

I actually thought about 0.8 too, because it might help me balance and not always feel so irritated and moody because of chronic fatigue, but I hear it’s a big drop in pay?

Yeah like I said I do like to call home and be pretty on it with the behaviour issues as they arise, the kids will then say as soon as they get onto warnings “oh god you’re going to call home aren’t you” so I think having them realise I won’t waste time allowing jr can occasionally make them realise I want them to do well and I actually need them to stop being silly or dragging my good ones down.

Yeah I think I’m actually looking at a career in completely different arena.

OP posts:
jollychaotic · 17/10/2022 21:51

I’m not a teacher but I have friends who left teaching so I was interested in this thread. One started at the bottom in marketing and comms for an FE college then worked her way up. Another is now in education research and another tried sales and hated it and decided to go back to the sector to be a TA.

I work in mental health research and the incidence of poor mental health in teaching is so high I sympathise with anyone who is looking for a way out. My advice would be to pay for a session or two with a professional adult careers advisor or coach who can help you think about your transferable skills.

Original poster
Snowflakewater · 18/10/2022 20:52

jollychaotic · 17/10/2022 21:51

I’m not a teacher but I have friends who left teaching so I was interested in this thread. One started at the bottom in marketing and comms for an FE college then worked her way up. Another is now in education research and another tried sales and hated it and decided to go back to the sector to be a TA.

I work in mental health research and the incidence of poor mental health in teaching is so high I sympathise with anyone who is looking for a way out. My advice would be to pay for a session or two with a professional adult careers advisor or coach who can help you think about your transferable skills.

Yeah and often if you’re honest about it you’re chastised because people who know the profession inside out are either very close to retirement or have grown very resilient.

how do I look for a careers advisor? I tried the .gov website but they never returned my call.

OP posts:
OutDamnedSpot · 18/10/2022 21:59

www.educationsupport.org.uk

I posted this for you before OP. They will be able to help with (or signpost to) careers advice too.

Original poster
Snowflakewater · 18/10/2022 22:10

OutDamnedSpot · 18/10/2022 21:59

www.educationsupport.org.uk

I posted this for you before OP. They will be able to help with (or signpost to) careers advice too.

Yes you did post that earlier, however I was asking the previous poster about careers guidance in particular as they mentioned a careers coach.

I’ve used ES and not found them useful for careers guidance. They don’t suggest career options explicitly. They’re more of an emotional support line and not a careers advice line, they’re only going to give me generic answers.

I’m actually seeking solid advice about what professions I can go to with the skills I have, hence why I asked the poster about careers coaching and advice.

OP posts:
MrsHerculePoirot · 19/10/2022 07:10

Maybe Google ‘careers coach in my area’?

Original poster
Snowflakewater · 19/10/2022 08:01

MrsHerculePoirot · 19/10/2022 07:10

Maybe Google ‘careers coach in my area’?

well I’m asking someone who clearly has knowledge of the subject. Again you’re posting like I reached out to you specifically for input. The question wasn’t addressed to you.

OP posts:
borntobequiet · 19/10/2022 08:37

I’m actually seeking solid advice about what professions I can go to with the skills I have

What skills are these?

jollychaotic · 19/10/2022 11:46

To find a careers coach try here
www.thecdi.net/find-a-professional 🙂

Original poster
Snowflakewater · 19/10/2022 17:15

borntobequiet · 19/10/2022 08:37

I’m actually seeking solid advice about what professions I can go to with the skills I have

What skills are these?

Are you asking or just insinuating I have none, quite a poorly constructed and ambiguous sentence.

OP posts:
Original poster
Snowflakewater · 19/10/2022 17:15

jollychaotic · 19/10/2022 11:46

To find a careers coach try here
www.thecdi.net/find-a-professional 🙂

Lovely. Thank you

OP posts:
JanglyBeads · 19/10/2022 18:23

OP when the kids are rude to you do you answer them back too?

Sometimes remaining silent is much more effective.

Snowflakewater · 19/10/2022 18:50

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Snowflakewater · 19/10/2022 18:50

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Original poster
Snowflakewater · 19/10/2022 19:03

JanglyBeads · 19/10/2022 18:23

OP when the kids are rude to you do you answer them back too?

Sometimes remaining silent is much more effective.

Agreed. Follow your own advice.

OP posts:
OutDamnedSpot · 19/10/2022 22:23

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Snowflakewater · 20/10/2022 07:50

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OutDamnedSpot · 20/10/2022 18:00

You’re right - of course. On here, I’m completely irrelevant.

But in the real world, I employ English teachers. Your SPAG wouldn’t have got you through the first sift. Or if you had got through, your attitude would have you sent home by lunchtime.

Snowflakewater · 20/10/2022 18:54

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JanglyBeads · 20/10/2022 19:18

I think many of us believe that someone's attitude on here can never be that far away from their attitude in real life.

Original poster
Snowflakewater · 20/10/2022 19:26

JanglyBeads · 20/10/2022 19:18

I think many of us believe that someone's attitude on here can never be that far away from their attitude in real life.

My attitude is like this due to the fact you are defending a profession that’s on its knees and demonising someone who doesn’t want to do it for much longer!

For goodness sake just park the whole disagreement and move on with your life, I’m telling you to leave me alone now because I’m getting irritated with the resurfacing of this nonsense.

OP posts:
QuickFoxRun · 20/10/2022 19:46

You’re not being “demonised” because you no longer want to be a teacher; most people in the thread agree that leaving teaching seems like it would be the right thing for you. You seem really poorly suited to the job, and it clearly isn’t doing your mental health any favours. Log off mumsnet if it is upsetting you and, please, seriously consider getting some “in real life” support.

OutDamnedSpot · 20/10/2022 19:48

No one here thinks you should remain a teacher or is demonising you for questioning your career. We’re astounded at your attitude and lack of self awareness.

BlueRidge · 20/10/2022 20:08

IT'S YOUR BLOODY THREAD!!! You ASKED for opinions.

Original poster
Snowflakewater · 20/10/2022 20:32

QuickFoxRun · 20/10/2022 19:46

You’re not being “demonised” because you no longer want to be a teacher; most people in the thread agree that leaving teaching seems like it would be the right thing for you. You seem really poorly suited to the job, and it clearly isn’t doing your mental health any favours. Log off mumsnet if it is upsetting you and, please, seriously consider getting some “in real life” support.

I have a therapist I pay and do use that for support. However, it’s just getting annoying looking at negativity when I’m just replying to another poster. I didn’t ask anyone else I just asked them.

Suddenly everyone needs to provide their 10 pence worth two weeks later.

OP posts: