I don't mean the masses of teachers out there who remain professional and wear enormous smiles for their pupils every day. I'm thinking of some-one who is still deeply happy in the job and wouldn't want to be anywhere else but the classroom.
Five years ago, I was deeply happy in my job. I used to say jokingly (but it was actually serious) that I'd stay in the classroom even if I won the lottery. I'd just take some of my winnings and build a bit of an extension on my Music block to give myself a nicer working day.
When you're happy, nothing seems like too much trouble. I gave up hours of extra time for all sorts of regular enhancements activities. We'd have weekends away with small groups of kids to cover allsorts of extra support. One of my favourite sets of memories is from a composition weekend for Year 10 and Year 11 pupils in the Welsh borders (staying at a quirky, but perfect) residential centre. Really, really nice times....
Then things started to go 'awry'.....
Firstly the government put my retirement date back by 6 years and 8 months (it was the pettiness of the months that always irritated me). Now - when you have an aggressive degenerative illness like Huntington's Disease rampaging through your family - you really start to question the loss of those 7 years of 'active retirement'.
Then the whole job became high-jacked by paperwork. I even had to provide detailed written analyses of the effectiveness of my voluntary enhancement activities......(!!)
I used to say that I did all the extended curriculum work because I didn't have the punishing marking schedule of my colleagues in other departments. Then 'marking' came to Music too....
After 3 years of struggling with an impossible work life balance, I decided to leave the profession.
I decided that quality time with my family had to come first. My Mum has HD so it's not practical to put things off with her. If she feels that she can do it... then we do it. (There isn't a place for endless paperwork in this situation.)
But it's clear that I'm part of a flood of professionals that are leaving the classroom at the moment. A few days ago it made the national news that there was a developing crisis. One of my friends, who I've known for about 20 years, is moving on at the end of this week. Over the years she's organised regional dance festivals and done an immense amount of 'additional work' for the love of it. Another friend, again an established and experienced teacher with an intelligent interest in the job, is going at Easter. Another, younger, teaching friend cannot see herself working in the profession for much longer... I hope - for the pupils as well as the profession - that there are still some genuinely enthusiastic and vocational teachers out there.
I'm sorry that this isn't particularly seasonal nor cheerful....
For those of you who are still 'at the chalk face' - I hope that the last few days of term are memorable for the right reasons and that you have a good Christmas break.
Jx
I always wanted to be a teacher - from the age of about 5. I absolutely loved my job initially. I loved the camaraderie outside of the classroom and spent hours extra, quite happily, organising events and trips. My husband was the same even though he had fallen into teaching rather than choosing it. But we have both witnessed a huge decline over the years. Staff are constantly watched over and have no freedom to go 'off piste' to add extra enjoyment to their lessons. The behaviour of students is deteriorating and the respect for teachers is on the decline. Staff no longer have time to have a quick catch up and debrief in the staff room and socialising seems to revolve around drinking alcohol after school rather than tea in the staff room. Teachers health is suffering and the education of our children is suffering as a result. It certainly isn't the vocation it used to be. There are still some teachers who are keen, but it seems the best ones get beaten down all too quickly. It's a very sad state of affairs!
ReplyDeleteThe teachers I know personally that still seem to love it appear to limit all extra committments. They focus where they have too so they can still enjoy their personal life. A few still coach or advise activities but only a season. Preschool has gone this route as well-more paperwork less play and interaction with kids. You obviously made a wise decision.
ReplyDeleteI don't know any teachers personally to ask their views but Eleanor's old music teacher is leaving at Christmas to concentrate on developing his career as a musician. He's worked at the school for eleven years, though my own personal view is that he won't be missed if Eleanor's experience of his teaching is anything to go by. There are some wonderful teachers though and it's sad that they're becoming disillusioned by the job.
ReplyDeleteMy line managers wife is a teacher, she is just finishing her treatment for breast cancer and is due to return to work next spring. Her slow creeping dislike for what the job had become started before the cancer diagnosis but now it is readily apparent. She intends going back but only to fund a retraining program so that she can leave the profession as soon as practicable.
ReplyDeleteI only know one teacher and she ended up going abroad to the far east to work, better pay better work conditions and no paper work, she loved her job, she returned to the UK after 26 years and tried teaching hear after two terms she was searching for another overseas post she hated the UK education system now retired she has returned and is enjoyment retirement here, it is a sad state of affairs and glad I no longer have children at school.
ReplyDeleteNot a teacher, but having as well to wait 6 years for my pension, is no joy
ReplyDeleteIve never been a teacher, but it's not only that profession that's having these same issues. In the western world, I think it is the madness of beaurocrasy and doing everything "right". I think retirement age is one boundary they are pushing too far. I always thought I'd retire at 60 and the age for women was pushed to 65 and although I was made redundant at 50, I found it hard to get another job, so why on earth are they pushing for older people to keep working? I find everything a bit crazy these days and feel sorry for children growing up now. Bit long winded, but I think you'll know what I mean. Take care.
ReplyDeleteIt IS crazy! I totally agree. My poor husband always has so much ridiculous marking and things to do and all my colleagues. I am a lot luckier than most teachers!x
ReplyDeleteMy husband is an amazing teacher, he relates well to the children, gets good results, spent hours doing lesson plans and marking. He left mainstream and went to supply, but there is a lack of work for supply teachers. The stress was just too much for him and there never seemed to be support from the management side, he felt he was becoming a babysitter rather than a teacher. I think it's so sad, he loved teaching once and it's all he ever wanted to do, now our financial future is looking very uncertain xx
ReplyDeleteIt is so sad that the best teachers seem to be leaving the profession. I do think respect for teachers has declined and parents are generally to blame for this. I collect my grandchildren from school sometimes and the language and behaviour of the waiting parents makes me feel very uncomfortable. No wonder their children lack respect for anyone in authority. I worry about the kind of world my GC will be facing....
ReplyDeleteI'm a happy teacher - but I'm teaching English as a foreign language away from the classroom. Yes, there's preparation; yes, there are reports to write, but I'm trusted to plan my own lessons, and I can do what I'm good at. Huzzah!
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I both took early retirement from teaching. The joy was gone and there was no reason to stay. We got to start our retirement pay right away, no waiting till we were 65, but we would have retired even if we could not have done so.
ReplyDeleteI work in a 'good' school with many lovely colleagues but it is still a struggle to maintain a personal life too. I was so angry that my own retirement age was extended by 7 years and 8 months in one fell swoop after having worked whilst bringing up children without the benefit of free nursery hours or family tax credit. Grrrr!
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