I think it really is down to where you teach. I teach in a tough Liverpool secondary and it is a hard job, very demoralising and grinding BUT there are real up sides and it is a tough job to leave because the holidays are awesome and the pay is pretty good.
I don't want to turn this into a competition of woes but I still can't believe I get paid the same as another teacher working in leafy Surrey with bright, educationally encouraged students. The 'worst' schools often have the best staff because they're the only ones who can cope. I've taught in private and the teachers there were a gang of nobbers who couldn't each their way out of a damp paper bag - my current school is a virtual no-exclusion system which means the academic cream of the locale are taken by the selectives and we teach everyone else.
Remember like a lot of public sector work you meet ALL of society, parents and kids. I've taught the local gangland boss's kids (racist, bigoted, misogynist), a future rapist and murderer (psychotic at 16, mum wouldn't allow intervention), future Oxford graduates and some rare, well balanced happy kids.
This is turning into a weird ramble....I'd better stop....
Out of my friends the only 2 who enjoy their work are teachers, my sister is starting training this year and has been volunteering in 'special' schools and finds it hard work but loves it.
I am very very tempted to give it a go, I'm sure when you pro-rata the hours / leave that £40k works out quite a decent wage. Only downside I can see is when my mates go on their month long summer holiday they have to pay top whack for flights!
Reading this with interest as I'm staring my PGCE in September to teach secondary science. Spent the last 10 months in an office job (law related), sat at a desk all day hardly seeing anyone and talking only to a dictaphone (occasionally). The boredom of the job got me thinking about what else I could do that had the level of interaction with other people that I wanted.
Teaching's always been on the cards for me and now was definitely the right time to do it. I spent some time in secondary schools observing lessons and really enjoyed it. I can't wait to start next month!
No doubt my enthusiasm will wane a bit after I get my standard-issue stab vest.
jon
Insanity? Yep the wifes one and she's insane 😆
No offence but I wouldn't want my children to be taught science by someone who hasn't got a degree in science or experience in this field.
I know a Psychologist teaching GCSE science and knows nothing around her area.
We need passionate teachers who are passionate and experienced in their subject not people who want an easy job and no subject experience.
Lots of the more experienced teachers (think 20 years plus) have taught several subjects in their time. Its unusual to teach something right outside your subject area but not impossible with the right support and some dedication to reading up on the subject.
I've just finished a years supply where I've taught most subjects. They were all fine where the teacher who was of had left the work and they would mostly be good where there where schemes of work left to follow. Can't say I was particularly great teaching art and A level music, everything else was fine:)
Having said that I know someone who is leaving a school as she got very little support teaching science with a psychology background.
What I think teachers need is to be able to get kids to listen, pay attention and put effort in, with out that all the subject knowledge in the world is useless.
Teechrrs r dix
Teaching isn't about imparting knowledge in the first instance. It's about forming relationships with the kids you teach. You need to be able to form a constructive, respectful and enjoyable relationship with 30 kids. When the bell rings you have to put them aside and deal with the next 30, just as successfully. When the first lot return, you have to pick up where you left off.
If you can get the relationship thing, the 'teaching' bit should be easy - in a good atmosphere, most kids will 'want' to learn. If they don't, ask yourself why not.
I'm a teacher who loves his job. Sometimes it's stressful/frustrating/heart-breaking, but every day is different and you never know what might happen. We (me, staff & kids) laugh a LOT.
However, my sister is qualified teacher and she has just left the profession. She hated it, and was probably hated in return. If you don't enjoy it, you need to do something else as it can destroy you.
Igzakly