[Closed] Teachers bleating on about how hard they work...

If you mean that in my experience I encountered a lot of very poor teachers, who really didn't give a **** about the children, then how will feigning stupidity help with this?

I'm sorry about your dad. Clearly, your teens are a defining point in the emotional development of a child; you should have been able to access more support than you did. Your school probably did fail you in that case.

Take some time and come and visit my school. See what you think of an average teachers day. I'm based in Kent, and can put you up for the night. Hell, we'll even cycle in!

Take some time and come and visit my school. See what you think of an average teachers day. I'm based in Kent, and can put you up for the night. Hell, we'll even cycle in!

Tenner to the charity of your choice if that ever happens.

Measuring the effectiveness of a teachers input is always going to be a contentious issue though. I had teachers who had a major impact on my career choices. Though I don't know if any of them could have influenced my exam results significantly.

Good to see it is not just Scots Winston hates...

Now if you knew a "lively" 11 yr old, not perfect but not a "bad'un", that lost their father in the space of 2 weeks, who then started acting a lot more disruptive, how would you handle it?

I would talk to them about it, we would have shared experience, although my Father died when I was 2. I regularly talk about this when talking about smoking etc (he died of lung cancer).

incidentally I had a primary school teacher who had the whole class making fathers day cards whilst I was made to do maths. ****ing bitch. I added 1 to every sum I did for a month, that nearly sent her mad!!!

incidentally I worked 7.30-4.30 4 days last week with 7.30-8.30 on Thursday as we had yr12 parents eve. Did 3 hours marking and an hour setting work for next week during the weekend. No idea how many hours that was but that was a very easy week work load wise as I am currently on crutches due to a knee injury. Having surgery on Monday 🙁

What do all you other teachers teach, and in what council?

I'm Maths in Nottinghamshire County

DT in Dorset (just - our playing fields are in Devon!)

banks - Member

Some of you need to work in a kitchen/restaurant...

Funny you should say that . I worked for over 30 years as a Chef , 15 of those as a relief chef where you get fairly well paid but people only call you up when they are in a fairly sticky situation . I have worked over 50 days without a day off , travelled all day , arrived at a restaurant with 4 functions booked over the next 2 days , virtually nothing prepared and pretty much worked 48 hrs straight but in a strange way I always liked the job and now I am out of it I quite miss it . I have also worket for a year , 1 day per week lecturing at college and I found that incredibly difficult . You had very little real way to get kids interested and most were only doing catering because they were too unqualified to do anything else . I stuck it for a year because the pay was good and I needed the money but couldn't wait to get out . Possibly I just wasn't very good at it .

If I felt I could be brave enough to influence young people's lives, I'd like to teach.

I remember very little of the curriculum, but the sage words of Mr. Volwerk, Mrs. Walker and Mr. Hunter, looking back, helped define who I became.

To the fudders criticising, for 40 hours a week teachers get left with your offspring to fill the gaps in your parenting and that is admirable.

You'd take a holiday from your kids too if you could.

OP here, turned into a debate of some sort.

I actually have to say despite the holidays, teachers (or some ) are pretty good at their job, just like any industry some good some bad !

[b]I wonder what the week day crew will make of this post...there wont be any teachers able to comment...and if you are a teacher and do comment make sure its on your break time ! [/b]

Night folks

Funny you should say that . I worked for over 30 years as a Chef , 15 of those as a relief chef where you get fairly well paid but people only call you up when they are in a fairly sticky situation . I have worked over 50 days without a day off , travelled all day , arrived at a restaurant with 4 functions booked over the next 2 days , virtually nothing prepared and pretty much worked 48 hrs straight but in a strange way I always liked the job and now I am out of it I quite miss it . I have also worket for a year , 1 day per week lecturing at college and I found that incredibly difficult . You had very little real way to get kids interested and most were only doing catering because they were too unqualified to do anything else . I stuck it for a year because the pay was good and I needed the money but couldn't wait to get out . Possibly I just wasn't very good at it .

Never a chef, just a sous chef and i do miss the banter and carnage a lot. That weird moment of silence just before you get battered. I do not miss the 6 am to 12-1am shifts 6 days a week thou! Made working with ABA in a school setting seem easy..

Any teachers commenting during the day...

I am but I'm in hospital at the moment!

Hope nothing to serious

Fell of my bike a month ago. ****ed my knee had an exploratory arthoscopy.

Good to see it is not just Scots Winston hates.

Oops my mistake I have it , provoking a reaction on STW , he is certainly quite keen on that 😉

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1492912417/ref=tsm_1_fb_lk

[img] [/img]

Teaching is a bit like fitting tubeless tyres.
If you haven't done, what the hell are you commenting on it for?

Teaching is a bit like fitting tubeless tyres.
If you haven't done, what the hell are you commenting on it for?

I've not been a teacher but I have been married to one for over 20 years. From what I've observed she does indeed work very hard (too hard at times) during term time, but that is offset by the massive amount of holidays. I did once suggest that it would seem sensible to me if teachers had shorter summer holidays than the kids they teach, as it'd give them some great time to do prep & personal development etc. - surely making term time itself less stressful. Never again however, as I was horribly savaged for even suggesting it.

Make the school holidays shorter and see how much your already-expensive out of term holidays go up by....

Make the school holidays shorter and see how much your already-expensive out of term holidays go up by....

Fair point, well made. Expensive holidays is one significant downside to being married to a teacher.

Expensive holidays is one significant downside to being married to a teacher.

It wasn't so bad when she was teaching in Scotland - if you went on holiday as soon as the Scottish summer holiday started it was a lot less expensive than it was when the English holidays start. She'll be working in England from later this year though, so even that option will soon be gone. 🙁

No doubt about it, teaching is hard work (and I speak from experience).

I’m not a teacher any longer, but that was because the job wasn’t what I wanted. There was more crowd control and admin than teaching, which isn’t why I went into it.

However, I now work more hours in a year and for much less money than I did as a teacher, so I can understand why some people get a bit sniffy when the argument is put forward that teachers work longer hours than anyone else and for “not a lot” of money. Someone further up the thread worked out that they do something like 2335 hours a year, equivalent to 48.5 hrs/week with 28 holidays. I work 50hrs a week and get the statutory 28 days holiday ([b]including[/b] 8 days bank holiday), and I gross comfortably under £20k per year. From where I’m standing, even an NQT’s salary [i]is[/i] a lot of money, but for all that you won’t see me going back to it!

In the end, though, no matter what you do there’ll be someone who works fewer hours than you for more pay (and yet who still moans about it), and there’ll be people who work longer hours for less. Maybe we shouldn’t slag off other people’s jobs/workloads/pay until we’ve tried them, nor should we make comparable judgements about our own situation unless we’ve tried a whole load of other experiences.

Are expensive holidays a necessity?
Maybe some quality time with the kids locally is better than you drunk on a beach in mexico with them in some kiddie club.
Maybe even stay at home with them.

Not a necessity but a fact of life when your other half is a teacher. 🙂 We've no kids but Mexico? Chance would be a fine thing. We're camping in France again this year, cheap as we can do it. 🙂

My point is does everybody need a foreign vacation? Can everyone afford one? Even in the cheap season.
So when you hear people complain it really falls on deaf ears as they have more pressing things to worry about.

Aaa, fair enough. If we don't have the cash, we'll happily staycate. Holidays are nice, but you gotta pay the bills and food on the table's nice. 🙂

Epicsteve, a week or two in school with no kids doing prepration woulx be great, its not a daft idea. I believe itswhat happens in 6th form colleges. I aint losing my holiday to do it though. 😉

I'm a teacher. I work about 10hrs a day Mon-Fri, never have more than 10mins for lunch each day. By "work" I mean either teaching lessons, preparing lessons, marking, doing admin for trips/events/pupils etc, organising events like Higher Ed Fairs, producing marketing materials, giving talks, arranging activities for the students etc etc... I work a couple of hrs a day at the weekend, so 55-60hrs per week on a normal week. Weeks where I have events after school, 14hr days are not uncommon. Wages are ok but given my qualifications, I have no doubt if I whored myself off to the city I could probably earn a load more, but I'd be considerably more miserable.

I love going to work, I love my job and I love the holidays so I get to ride my bike lots.

There are very few negatives - I've never minded hard, relentless, work so that's ok. It's just not being able to do certain bike events that I wish I could like Sunshine Cups, Andalucia Bike race etc etc...

GB

I'm a trainee teacher, doing a Primary PGCE at the moment. I gave up a very cushy job earning twice as much as I will next year as an NQT (and it's costing me £9k for the pleasure!), but with 28 days hols (inc national holidays), the job was generally 9-5.30 barring occasional disasters/trips away when I'd be working longer. Trouble is it was boring! I've certainly not moved jobs for the money, the money is crap for people with masters level educations (which a PGCE is).

I can honestly say that I've never worked as hard as I am this year, I'm doing the aforementioned 18 hour days, plus 12 hours over a weekend usually. I have a lot of paperwork, essays etc... to do for my course on top of all the stuff I have to do teaching. So I'm hoping the workload will drop off a touch next year, plus as Mike said earlier in the thread I hope to be more efficient as I learn how to do things better/quicker. But things will still take a lot of time to do.

As for the shorter holidays..... The OH is a teacher too (6th form college) and spends a week either end of the summer hols working, a few days each half term, Christmas and Easter working. Few teachers actually have a full 13 weeks holiday. But that's their choice for making their lives a bit easier during term time.

This isn't a woe is me, I'm an over worked hero teacher post, it's just the way it is.

I'm doing the aforementioned 18 hour days

So during the week you get to sleep about 4hrs a night and spend no time with your family or friends?

Seriously?

Your life must be like the Paris bit of Down and Out in Paris in London.

A nice two week strike by the teaching profession might just encourage a little of the respect that teachers are due.

gobuchul - Member

Seriously?

Your life must be like the Paris bit of Down and Out in Paris in London.

Some people work very hard.
You should try it sometime and see how it feels. 🙂

Some people work very hard.
You should try it sometime and see how it feels.

They should of tried harder at school! 🙂

Personally, I think there is a H&S issue here. I really don't think teachers who are only getting 4hrs sleep a night should be looking after children. I also hope they are not driving to school in such a fatigued state. Apart from the obvious problem of very poor quality teaching delivery.

gobuchul - Member

Some people work very hard.
You should try it sometime and see how it feels.

They should of tried harder at school!

And you should 'of' listened in your English lessons. 🙂

Personally, I think there is a H&S issue here. I really don't think teachers who are only getting 4hrs sleep a night should be looking after children. I also hope they are not driving to school in such a fatigued state. Apart from the obvious problem of very poor quality teaching delivery.

Wait till you hear about junior doctors.

Wait till you hear about junior doctors.

The difference is they really do work long hours.

What do you do, btw?

Something that doesn't need good english. 😀

gobuchul - Member
The difference is they really do work long hours.

So you think all the teachers on this thread are lying?

My wife does work pretty long hours - but talk of regular 18-hour work days (i.e. not including any on-call time) days sounds like bollocks to me (for pretty much anyone, not just teachers).

I'm not a teacher but work an average of 10 hours per day, with occasional longer days when required (but even then an 18 hour day would be very, very unusual).

So you think all the teachers on this thread are lying?

Lying is a bit strong. Exaggerating may be a more polite way of saying it.

My wife does work pretty long hours - but talk of regular 18-hour work days (i.e. not including any on-call time) days sounds like bollocks to me (for pretty much anyone, not just teachers).

I agree. An 18hr working day would typically give you about 4hrs sleep a night, which for 99% of people just isn't enough. I am not talking about extreme situations here, just a regular working week.

I struggle to imagine why a graduate would work those hours for about £25k a year.

if these teachers are doing it for the love of teaching why are they moaning?
they obviously aren't doing it for the terrible pay, 4 hours sleep, holiday entitlement so what are they doing it for? ❓

They do it for the love, and it is a good, satisfying job.
But the Michael is being taken. That upsets you, when you have committed to such work.

Teaching commitment? Yea right. If you are thick then you are thick and no amount of teaching can change that. No extra amount of commitment from the teachers can change that.

However, there are some teachers that should not be in teaching profession and these are the ones that think they are god sent who do not feel they should commit.

Pz Steve +1

This kind of thread was never going to be balanced discussion tho'

I think that some professions are seen as unimpeachable (nursing for example) and some people within other public sector professions would like to be on the same pedestal (teaching included).

As a result and despite the apparent 'obvious troll' of the original post we end up with six pages (so far) of posts that range from criticism of teachers to "don't criticise me i'm a teacher / know one / married to one etc."

There's good and bad and (probably) a majority of OK / doing enough to get the job done types of people in every profession.

For me anyway I don't think someone who chooses to teach is should be lauded because of the hours they work or criticised for the amount of holiday they get. If a teacher can make a difference to a kids life by helping them to become a better adult then it's worth putting the hours in and I don't begrudge the holiday.

Epicsteve/gobuchul - seriously there is very little lying going on from me. On the last 3 weeks of my last teaching placement I was operating on 4-6 hours sleep. Will I carry on like that? No. Do I think it's sustainable? No. Do I think it's safe over the long term? No.

Of the 18 hour days that will include travelling to/from school (leave home at 7am, get home 7pm). I then do my other work around family life in the evening, but there are very few occasions in the evening when I haven't got a pen in my hand, a book open, a laptop on my knee or sat at a desk.

But I am a student teacher so have a horrendous amount of paperwork, essays and so on to do on top of my planning, marking and lesson prep. I am coping, but only just.

My observed lessons are being graded good (by school senior management and experienced teacher), so the children must be safe and must be learning what is intended. I hope to have more time to be able to improve further once I qualify and get more experienced at planning, marking, assessment and lesson prep.

I've done the 9-5 office job, with little stress and reasonably good pay and it bored me senseless. I actually feel like I'm doing something worthwhile for once. Unfortunately it's at the neglect of a social life and what was a rather enjoyable cycling hobby, I hope to restore some balance at some point.

On the last 3 weeks of my last teaching placement I was operating on 4-6 hours sleep. Will I carry on like that? No. Do I think it's sustainable? No. Do I think it's safe over the long term? No

That's a bit more sensible.

Others in this thread have suggested that a 16hr day is normal for most teachers, not student teachers who are creating lesson plans from scratch and having to write additional essays.

It gets easier after 6 years. By that point your subject knowledge is much more sound, you have lesson resources for everything (if you're organised) and you've figured out how to control the kids, deal with their parents and balance work and life.

GB

Problem is especially in science what you have to teach changes every three years at best! For balance i worked 7:30-4:30 all last week but I have spent about 5 hours marking a level coursework this weekend. I am cutrently slacking of general book marking due to my baddy knee excuse. I will be caught out soon though.. Good news is it looks like 9/10 of my A2 group have an a or a* based on last years grade boundaries.

Oh and if anyone wants to join our overpaid cushy profession I know a place looking for staff.

Hammerite- I'm in exactly the same boat as you. I'll be earning about a fifth of what I was earning prior to deciding to go into teaching.

I worked hard in my previous life to make that kind of money, and am now finding myself working harder. Three years ago, I was that corporate person who looked at teachers and thought exactly what the OP posted. Now I've done what many others on here have suggested - walk a mile in another man's shoes and then comment.

Hammerite, I'm on my NQT year. It's even harder but far more rewarding having your own class.

The key is to work smart. I mark at dinner whilst others sit in the staffroom. I plan on Thursday nights and prep on the weekend.

I leave at 6.30am and I'm home usually around 5.

I work very smart, app grids as I go through the term and the children peer mark in lessons.

I work in a challenging, and I mean 3-4 exclusions everyday, school and I wouldn't change it for the world.

Oh and I'm classed as supply so I don't get paid for these holidays everyone talks about.

"Teaching is a bit like fitting tubeless tyres.
If you haven't done, what the hell are you commenting on it for?"

This forum would be empty if we applied that rule to any subject that's discussed. the thing with teaching is that we all have experience of it done well or badly (as pupils or parents, even as teachers). So those that have a view can carry on as they see fit with their comments.

Yep already trying to do that Mosey, marking most lunch times. I just need to get faster and smarter doing things, but concentrating on getting it right before I do that.

the thing with teaching is that we all have experience of it done well or badly (as pupils or parents, even as teachers). So those that have a view can carry on as they see fit with their comments.

To a certain extent you're right. However, if you have never taught, you cannot understand the time constraints and pressures that a teacher is under.
I came to teaching relatively late, at the age of 34.
I've done a variety of other jobs over the years....barman, computer games testing, joinery/kitchens, scuba diving instructor, furniture sales, admin, database manager.
All of these jobs had their ups and owns, but only in teaching am I working at 100% from the moment I arrive in school until I leave
I work smart, and try to be as efficient as I can, but whilst you are in the classroom you attention needs to be on the pupils (especially as a DT teacher!) So when you are not teaching you have marking, meetings, admin, pastoral duties, and the occasional break for a cup of tea - though normally this is disturbed by a colleague asking about one of your tutees, or a pupil coming to ask a question or hand in work. School may finish at 3.40, but I rarely leave before 5.30/6 pm, and then I normally have at least an hour or two's work to do at home.

But....... I love my job. It's different everyday - kids surprise and astound you (and annoy you). I learn or discover new things all the time, and I work with a nice bunch of intelligent and interesting people. And I get nice long holidays 😈