Discussion
I looked into this some months ago and spoke to a number of teachers both newly qualified and experienced.
With the exception of one primary school teacher I was universally told to run for the hills. It was best summed up by one chap who said "you're essentially paid to take s
t all day". Make of that what you will but his views were certainly not unique.
I should also point out that there is supposedly an abundance of teachers and because of the "12 month placement" scheme securing long term employment can be very difficult at the moment, certainly in Scotland anyway. So expect fierce competition.
If it's what you want to do though mate, go for it. In my opinion It's an honourable career and if you're going into it with a genuine desire to teach then, competative or not, you'll do fine. I certainly wouldn't advise you to take it up if you're one of the commonplace "It's fair money with loads of holidays" crowd though, whom seem to be bitterly dissapointed with the reality of the career.
I'm only regurgitating what I've been told in the past few months though. I'm sure there are people far more qualified to comment than myself. Best of luck.
With the exception of one primary school teacher I was universally told to run for the hills. It was best summed up by one chap who said "you're essentially paid to take s
t all day". Make of that what you will but his views were certainly not unique.I should also point out that there is supposedly an abundance of teachers and because of the "12 month placement" scheme securing long term employment can be very difficult at the moment, certainly in Scotland anyway. So expect fierce competition.
If it's what you want to do though mate, go for it. In my opinion It's an honourable career and if you're going into it with a genuine desire to teach then, competative or not, you'll do fine. I certainly wouldn't advise you to take it up if you're one of the commonplace "It's fair money with loads of holidays" crowd though, whom seem to be bitterly dissapointed with the reality of the career.
I'm only regurgitating what I've been told in the past few months though. I'm sure there are people far more qualified to comment than myself. Best of luck.
My wife is a primary school teacher, has been for nearly 20 years. It's not a job, it's a vocation. I couldn't do it....
She currently has Yr2s - 6/7 year olds. Her average working week is something like this:
In school for 8am. Usual school day seems to be taking a load of st, (yes - from 6/7 yr olds who know you can't really do anything), then taking st from the parents, marking, displays, meetings with other teachers etc. She usually gets home around 5-5.30 (her commute is 15 minutes). We might have an hour or so together while we eat then she usually works until 9.30ish doing more marking, planning or lately it has been SATS and reports.
Most of us in other jobs get a nice lunchbreak. Despite not being paid for the lunch hour many teachers don't get a break - too busy sorting stuff out or grabbing a quick meeting with other staff. For the last month my wife has had to eat her sandwiches sat in the school hallway at the same time as marking books watching a little oik who can't be trusted to play nicely with the other kids.
Yes they do get long holidays but consider this - the classroom will need sorting out for the new school year, new books for the kids need to be sorted out, new displays, there is usually some more bks from the govt about your subject area which you need to plan/implement. My other half finishes today for the summer break. Both she and the other teacher in her year group have arranged to be in school for the rest of this week and most of next to sort out all the ste. They will also be in at least 4 days before the start of the new term.
50+ hour weeks for crap all pay. No thanks..... You really need to want to do the job. However - the flip side is when you get a really nice class. Last year was such a class for my missus - despite the long hours etc she used to get a real high from the energy from the kids and she said that seeing their progress and the fact they wanted to come to school makes it all worth while. Also - when the parents say thank-you, that goes a long long way.
The job would be a whole lot easier if the govt stopped changing the goalposts and put someone in charge of educaiton who understood it. Less paperwork and more teaching! Good luck if it is what you want to do. I wouldn't last 10 minutes in a classroom...........
She currently has Yr2s - 6/7 year olds. Her average working week is something like this:
In school for 8am. Usual school day seems to be taking a load of s
t, (yes - from 6/7 yr olds who know you can't really do anything), then taking st from the parents, marking, displays, meetings with other teachers etc. She usually gets home around 5-5.30 (her commute is 15 minutes). We might have an hour or so together while we eat then she usually works until 9.30ish doing more marking, planning or lately it has been SATS and reports.Most of us in other jobs get a nice lunchbreak. Despite not being paid for the lunch hour many teachers don't get a break - too busy sorting stuff out or grabbing a quick meeting with other staff. For the last month my wife has had to eat her sandwiches sat in the school hallway at the same time as marking books watching a little oik who can't be trusted to play nicely with the other kids.
Yes they do get long holidays but consider this - the classroom will need sorting out for the new school year, new books for the kids need to be sorted out, new displays, there is usually some more b
ks from the govt about your subject area which you need to plan/implement. My other half finishes today for the summer break. Both she and the other teacher in her year group have arranged to be in school for the rest of this week and most of next to sort out all the ste. They will also be in at least 4 days before the start of the new term. 50+ hour weeks for crap all pay. No thanks..... You really need to want to do the job. However - the flip side is when you get a really nice class. Last year was such a class for my missus - despite the long hours etc she used to get a real high from the energy from the kids and she said that seeing their progress and the fact they wanted to come to school makes it all worth while. Also - when the parents say thank-you, that goes a long long way.
The job would be a whole lot easier if the govt stopped changing the goalposts and put someone in charge of educaiton who understood it. Less paperwork and more teaching! Good luck if it is what you want to do. I wouldn't last 10 minutes in a classroom...........
My OH is a teacher and has been for 5 years now. She currently teachers year 1 but next will be going to year 2 and has always done years 1 or 2.
Her day seems to be like this - Leaves the house at 7.15 with me and gets to school at 7.30 and then works until the kids arrive at 8.45 (I think). As mentioned above she does work all day and gets maybe 15-20 mins for lunch. Once the kids leave she sorts out other bits and pieces and then leaves school at 6 and arrives home at 6.15 which is when I get home.
She plans her time so no work is done at home except the reports which in when some time is spent doing some evenings and a couple of Saturdays.
I would like to point out she does enjoy teaching, yes there are some kids which are a pain but I think she knows what how to deal with them.
Her day seems to be like this - Leaves the house at 7.15 with me and gets to school at 7.30 and then works until the kids arrive at 8.45 (I think). As mentioned above she does work all day and gets maybe 15-20 mins for lunch. Once the kids leave she sorts out other bits and pieces and then leaves school at 6 and arrives home at 6.15 which is when I get home.
She plans her time so no work is done at home except the reports which in when some time is spent doing some evenings and a couple of Saturdays.
I would like to point out she does enjoy teaching, yes there are some kids which are a pain but I think she knows what how to deal with them.
MiniMan64 said:
Just about to embark on a two year career change into teaching.
Any teachers amongst the PH massive?
Am I insane?
Which age range/subject are you going to teach? I used to teach Maths to 11-16 year olds back in the mid 90s and it was hell even then, mind you it was in a pretty sAny teachers amongst the PH massive?
Am I insane?
tty school in a very stty area of Manchester.i know quite a few teachers, some of whom had jobs in industry before changing over. it seems to me that a lot depends on what you teach, at what level, and where.
the happiest in his work is a science teacher at an all girls school in london. the pupils are middle class, bright, and easy to keep in line. he does hardly any work outside of school as the staff levels are such that he has time to do marking etc. at work, and had just left the uk for 6weeks touring argentina as he isn't needed over summer.
the flipside are the ones in underperforming state schools teaching generic subjects. english seems to be a st gig as the amount of essays to mark is obviously high and isn't a question of right or wrong.
i note that the ones i consider to be 'a laugh' handle the kids and stress better and are promoted more readily.
the happiest in his work is a science teacher at an all girls school in london. the pupils are middle class, bright, and easy to keep in line. he does hardly any work outside of school as the staff levels are such that he has time to do marking etc. at work, and had just left the uk for 6weeks touring argentina as he isn't needed over summer.
the flipside are the ones in underperforming state schools teaching generic subjects. english seems to be a s
t gig as the amount of essays to mark is obviously high and isn't a question of right or wrong. i note that the ones i consider to be 'a laugh' handle the kids and stress better and are promoted more readily.
CobolMan said:
MiniMan64 said:
Just about to embark on a two year career change into teaching.
Any teachers amongst the PH massive?
Am I insane?
Which age range/subject are you going to teach? I used to teach Maths to 11-16 year olds back in the mid 90s and it was hell even then, mind you it was in a pretty sAny teachers amongst the PH massive?
Am I insane?
tty school in a very stty area of Manchester.An all girls school sounds like a reciepe for disaster for a male teacher though!
my other half has just become the deputy head of her primary, and to be honest other than the 2 weeks i have booked off over the summer she is in at least part of every day in the holidays. she also works from 7:30 till after 5 as i drop her off and pick her up, and she has to be out by 5:30 for clubs to come in and use the school.
she often marks at home till 10ish, and currently the school owes us about £400 for stuff we have bought for the school and not got the money for yet (we will get it back in a few weeks or so).
she loves the job, and has always said that even if we won the lottery she would still teach.
but that's because she is as mad as a box of frogs.
she often marks at home till 10ish, and currently the school owes us about £400 for stuff we have bought for the school and not got the money for yet (we will get it back in a few weeks or so).
she loves the job, and has always said that even if we won the lottery she would still teach.
but that's because she is as mad as a box of frogs.
jesta1865 said:
...........primary..............in at least part of every day in the holidays. she also works from 7:30 till after 5.........she often marks at home till 10ish
i can understand this for secondary, but primary?! what are kids doing at that age that needs marking and such intensive planning? [quote]i can understand this for secondary, but primary?! what are kids doing at that age that needs marking and such intensive planning?
[/quote]
Usual govt bullst - everything, and I mean everything has to be fking recorded, marked, commented on, planned to the n'th degree.......
[/quote]
Usual govt bulls
t - everything, and I mean everything has to be fking recorded, marked, commented on, planned to the n'th degree.......Edited by rednotdead on Thursday 23 July 22:18
IMO - you'd have to be feckin crackers... werent you ever a student!?
My Pa taught for 20 odd years. He was earning about ~ 40k a year I think when he left as a head of department.
He is now a self employed craftsman/designer. Earning just enought to cover getting out of bed and putting diesel in a clapped out old pick up every day.
He is much happier now....
My Pa taught for 20 odd years. He was earning about ~ 40k a year I think when he left as a head of department.
He is now a self employed craftsman/designer. Earning just enought to cover getting out of bed and putting diesel in a clapped out old pick up every day.
He is much happier now....
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