Not sure I want to be a teacher, advise me good people of urban!

[treefrog]

It's not just a "teaching sucks and I hate it", it doesn't. It just annoys/upsets me that my job has stopped me from doing a lot of things that I want to do, and the gain doesn't seem worth it.

I had a student tell me I was a "Fucking useless teacher" yesterday, which would normally just slide off me, but given that I'm living miles away from the people I care about, in a room the size of a shoebox, with nothing to do in the evenings except mark tests and write reports, when I wanted to leave this town since March, it stung a bit.

I'm living to work and not the other way round, and I just don't think it's worth the sacrifice...

 

[scifisam]

It's not just a "teaching sucks and I hate it", it doesn't. It just annoys/upsets me that my job has stopped me from doing a lot of things that I want to do, and the gain doesn't seem worth it.

I had a student tell me I was a "Fucking useless teacher" yesterday, which would normally just slide off me, but given that I'm living miles away from the people I care about, in a room the size of a shoebox, with nothing to do in the evenings except mark tests and write reports, when I wanted to leave this town since March, it stung a bit.

I'm living to work and not the other way round, and I just don't think it's worth the sacrifice...

That's why I've left, for the time being at least. Lots of aspects of the job were hard, but they all had their upsides too; for example, for every kid who says 'you suck' there's one who says 'you're great.'

But with the hours, there's no gain. I was left with (almost literally) no time for my daughter, my GF, my band, my friends, housework or sleep. It's not the sort of job you can have and also have an active other life.

 

[kabbes]

Sam, I didn't know that you had packed in the teaching, for now at least. I'm sad to hear that.

 

[treefrog]

UPDATE: I withdrew my acceptance for that job in London this morning, and have applied to finish my Honours degree in Glasgow next year.

I'm going home!

 

[bluestreak]

Make up yer mind woman.

 

[treefrog]

actually this time. Really truly.

 

[bluestreak]

Glasgow's gain is our loss

 

[treefrog]

Have hit the wall mate, and you know how much that hurts...

 

[gaijingirl]

I'm really pleased you came to a decision - but Glasgow's gain is London's loss - you seem happier for having made your mind up though.

This week has probably been my best week in teaching so far - but today I cried before work and again after - simply out of tiredness - nothing bad happened, no one abused me (well not anything out of the ordinary anyway), I had quite a few nice moments - doing origami with a Japan-mad year 8 was fun.

Today the politics of it all, the lack of funding, the extreme rubbishness of various points of the system all moved me to tear of frustration and sadness borne out by being exhausted - I just find it hard to keep up with the unrelenting pace and the extreme frustration I feel at some of the shit stuff that's happening in my/our school(s).

I'm supposed to go and watch the fireworks in the park any minute now with loads of people I really want to see but all I want to do is lie on my bed and drink myself to sleep to be honest.

 

[treefrog]

That's the thing- you have to give your all to the job if you want to survive. Not most, ALL. I miss having energy to do anything else, miss being able to use my evenings productively, miss being able to see the people I care about. Today was a relatively good day but I'm still utterly exhausted after it...

 

[scifisam]

Sam, I didn't know that you had packed in the teaching, for now at least. I'm sad to hear that.

It's turned out fine, though - I'm now on almost the same money for far fewer hours and pretty much no stress at all, still using the skills my course gave me (and getting better pay because of it), and I'm loving the work.

Well done for finalising that decision, Treefrog. Although I'm a bit confused by you teaching without a degree! Imagine how relaxing going to uni will be after teaching secondary school.

 

[purves grundy]

Imagine how relaxing going to uni will be after teaching secondary school.

That's what I'm doing right now and it's fuckin birlliant, I tell ya! I feel much more a part of the classroom experience now I've had time on the other side of the desk.

You'll love it.

Then afterwards, if you're at a loose end, go abroad and do some genuinely enjoyable teaching and living.

 

[wrysmile]

I am very happy that you've made a decision you're happy with - life is too short to be doing something you hate. I am sad though that you're again leaving us even before you got back to London. On the plus side, good opportunity for another leaving do....

 

[Miss-Shelf]

i am so glad i don't work in school any more - I still get teachers pay and conditions + ie i can take my hols when i want

and I have time for a life

i regret that i trained when my daughter was 3 and shes now 15 in a few weeks and a lot of that time i was pressed down and stressed and depressed and lonely and pre occupied and much of that was to do with my job and everything it required of me in order to do it in a half decent way

the experience did open many many doors for me into different communities in a way that might be hard if i were just living here
also gave me a huge amount of compassion and respect for people who live in extreme poverty and bring up their families with a lot of dignity
and has inculcated a view in me of the child in all of us and that learning is so exciting and young children are brimming with new ideas
I've also learned so much about children's behaviour and how we all still behave in these ways sometimes (albeit in a modified way)

hope all the currently stressed teachers in urban have some resolution to their dilemas and get a good rest this weekend

 

[treefrog]

Well done for finalising that decision, Treefrog. Although I'm a bit confused by you teaching without a degree! Imagine how relaxing going to uni will be after teaching secondary school.

The scottish system is different to the English one- I have an Ordinary Degree (no honours) which is acceptable to teach with, but I dropped out before finishing my final year project (long story). Although I do have a degree, I always wanted to finish it off properly, and now it looks like I can

 

[playghirl]

yes it is, as long as you've done you're NQT/probation year. I was offered full registration by the GTCS last month.

Yep I have Scottish and English QTS.