Teaching - is it a good job?

Lalaladybird

Any teachers out there? What are the pros and cons of the job? I am thinking about applying to do the one year PGDE and want to make sure it will fit in round family life ok. Can you do it part time?

richardw

Cons - Children-not working with adults, awful parents, non-academic children's problems, can't go on cheap holidays in term time, early starts for the breakfast club, Michael Gove the education minister, awful coffee in the staff room, short lunch breaks, physical violence and ABH, not getting paid enough, religeous brainwashing tasks.

ecgirl07

cons - dont do primary in scotland as there are no jobs.

katemb87xxx

Hiya, I've almost finished my training to become a college lecturer. So far, I absolutely love it. It takes a lot of time and good organisational skills but if you plan your lessons / resources before hand and stay on top of it then there's less to do at home.

At work there are several mums with young children who teach full time, they manage it perfectly so I wouldnt worry about this too much.

Also you could always team teach with someone else if this is permitted at where you would work and you could share the work load bewteen you.

Good look with your decisions

Madmel

That's sad! I love my job but I work in a selective school and the kids are fantastic. I work part-time as I have a daughter still at primary school and I have to drop her off and collect her. The primary school does not have reliable breakfast or after-school provision so my timetable takes this into account. Only 2 more years of this to go...!

I have served my time in *difficult* schools and the kids can be hard work. But if you really like young people and are passionate about your subject, why not go for it?

The holidays are fine for me. I know I don't get the cheap deals to go away, but I save a fortune on childcare as I'm at home with them. We get the odd day where I work and they are off, but Grandpa is riding to the rescue next week for me;)

Go and look at a variety of different schools once the term has got going and see what you think. If you need any help PM me.

gratefulforhelp_2

It is the best job in the world, it is rewarding and fantastic. I'm in my 18th year in, some good advice already on pros and cons.
No, I'm not going to add any cons. Its happy and lovely and uplifting, actually its also exhausting like you wouldn't believe, that's a con.

Worst moment - when one of my students died of meningitis (in class on Friday, turned off life support on Sunday)
best moment - when you get cards saying things like "thanks for not letting me give up" or you see their faces when they get their results.

msb5262

Hello OP,

It's a brilliant job if it's what you really want to do. It is however unremittingly hard work, and one of the drawbacks if you've got children of your own is that it's emotionally draining. Sometimes I feel as if my children only get the dregs of my emotional energy as well as the dregs of my time, because I've given it all at work.

If you are very keen to teach, do it. I love it with a passion and get immense satisfaction from my work. I feel very lucky to have a career I enjoy so much and which can make such important differences to children's lives.

However, if your main reason for choosing teaching is that it fits round family life, think again - it doesn't really in many ways, and the strain on your own family can be considerable.

Hope you haven't found this offputting but I'd feel dishonest saying anything else!

Good luck

MsB

ETA - it's also extremely hard to find a job in many areas...I'm still on a temporary contract!

PinkLipgloss

I finished the PGDE course last summer and my friends with children found the workload to be a real strain. It's a super intense year (at masters level at University of Glasgow) and I personally found I neglected my family (but luckily I don't have children).

Most of my friends, despite having completed very successful probation years, are now unemployed. This wasn't an issue for me as I never planned to stay in the UK - I am now happily teaching in Madrid.

It's the kind of course (and job - when you finish) that you REALLY have to be 100% dedicated to in order to be able to see it through.

However, lots of fun and highly rewarding!

sueeve

Teaching is wonderful; you have to accept that those who haven't done it will never understand the level of exhaustion involved. Getting home too tired to put the kettle on. Creeping in when I knew my husband was upstairs so that I didn't have to talk to anyone for an hour. Being to tired to go on holday for several days after breaking up, after 2 years of sitting on a beach staring at the sea and unable to function I learnt to refuse to go straight off.
Having what you are supposed to be doing constantly changing, and if you are secondary not having any text books for the new syllabus/criteria, and no money to buy any resources.
And it has been my life! Now retired.

alipops1986

I finished my NQT year last July and can honestly say that although i enjoy my job, it's exhausting on many levels.

Points to consider:

- Exhausting and draining ; dealing with behaviour, students issues that they bring to school as well as teaching.
- Pressure of GCSE exam results [i teach English so you can imagine!]
- Constant requests for revision in half terms.
- Marking and planning at home, takes up considerable time and cuts into family time.
- Prescribed holidays, yes more than other people, but often you are planning, marking coursework and preparing for the next term. Plus, expensive if planning to go away.

Fortunately, my boyfriend is also a teacher so we understand the pressures/exhaustion etc we both suffer from, but at times this does not make it easier!!

bylromarha

For me, I loved the job (primary) and put up with the many cons like the mass of paperwork and working 8am - 9pm most days as the 9am to 3pm is worth it.

My fav kids were the hard work kids - I know my direct input in some difficult young lives turned their attitude towards education from a neg to a pos and subsequently eased a few family's lives.

I'm not sure how it work with family though as I quit to have a family - I knew my classroom practice would suffer with young kids. Am going back in the next couple of years, so ask me then!