Have seen a number of posts weighing up the pros and cons of teaching. I posted about this myself more than a year ago as I was having a wobble about going back to my part-time teaching job after maternity leave. Obviously, every teacher has a different situation- different school, different workload, different family demands. I have a toddler and after being back at work for more than a year, I don't feel any better about things really. The situation is this:
- I work part-time (3.5 days). It is not an option for me to do less, I have requested it once already.
-I find that there are many, many extra demands on my time. We are a tiny school and teachers tend to have to take on extra responsibilities to make things work. It is an option to say no, of course, but the atmosphere is not good if you are seen to be trying to get out of your share of the workload. I don't feel it is a 3.5-day a week job- it has expanded.
-It is just assumed that I can attend many courses, training on days off. I don't say yes to all, but for the reason above, I do say yes to some.
- I have to leave work in good time most days due to childcare- picking up etc. I spend the early part of the evening (while putting DC to bed) panicking about the work left to do when she is in bed. I hate rushing her bedtime story, bedtime routine. I then work til 9-9.30 with DP spending time alone. Crawl into bed about 10 because I am tired.
- My days off are my time with DC, but a chunk of weekend is also taken up working.
-I don't particularly enjoy the job any more- I think I do it ok, and I care for the children in my class but I don't feel the same about it as I did.
- we could afford (just- it would be a tight squeeze) for me not to work but I hear so many people saying that it is worth keeping hold of a teaching job as there are so few around, and in particular the holidays- (obviously I do work in the holidays to some extent but it fits in nicely with having DC). But all I think of is when DD is at school in a couple of years- yes,my holidays will be the same as hers, but how many school plays, sports days, assemblies will i miss?
Anyway, just wondered if anyone had given up teaching and found it to be the best decision (or any other stories- would be grateful for your experiences).