Teaching - an elite profession

Gra76

Why would anyone take unnecessary 'sickies' when they have nearly 2 months of holidays a year? I have a couple of teacher friends, and I can't remember either of them ever having taken a 'sickie'.

Both of them can be thoroughly insufferable to be around though as they both seem to think that they're significantly more educated than anyone else because they're teachers and for no other reason. One of my friends uses "I'm a teacher so I would know" as a comeback in some of the arguements I've had with him in the past, even when Googling the subject to prove him wrong...he still maintains he's correct and won't be told otherwise. You could say we've had some heated debates on certain topics over a pint in the past!

You couldn't pay me to put up with other peoples kids all day though, I have to coach 7 year olds at football at the weekend and I can only take 1 hour of them at a time, once a week. 6 hours a day for 5 days a week.... hell no!

zagubov

Gra76 wrote: »

Why would anyone take unnecessary 'sickies' when they have nearly 2 months of holidays a year? I have a couple of teacher friends, and I can't remember either of them ever having taken a 'sickie'.

Both of them can be thoroughly insufferable to be around though as they both seem to think that they're significantly more educated than anyone else because they're teachers and for no other reason. One of my friends uses "I'm a teacher so I would know" as a comeback in some of the arguements I've had with him in the past, even when Googling the subject to prove him wrong...he still maintains he's correct and won't be told otherwise. You could say we've had some heated debates on certain topics over a pint in the past!!

That's because we're paid to know!

Gra76 wrote: »

You couldn't pay me to put up with other peoples kids all day though, I have to coach 7 year olds at football at the weekend and I can only take 1 hour of them at a time, once a week. 6 hours a day for 5 days a week.... hell no!

We get fed up with people going on about "long" holidays. they're worthless as you always end up paying top dollar for holidays and if your other half doesn't share the same hiolidays as hyou it's completel;y useless.

Loughton_Monkey wrote: »

Shame....

They can, and do, however, book 'sickies' instead. Which do you think is the more dishonest?

Nope. Agree 100% with Lydia. This is one job where absenteeism is rare because it's a pain in the neck for everybody concerned including the absentee

lostinrates wrote: »

Lydia, I am sorry to disagree with you, but I do know more than one teacher who does this, in both sectors. One is a 'dog' friend....crufts for each group is on a weekend only two years out of four, and if she wants to compete then....

What kind of a weirdo is she? She'd have to be pretty thick-skinned to put up with the grief her workmates would give her for landing them with extra work and trouble. It's one of those jobs where a slacker soon stands out :mad:

They'd never put up with that treatment from a "colleague" like that and I guarantee they'd find ways to make her life a misery in return.:eek:

Hey I've just realised this is my 3000th post? Do I get a medal or something?

Davesnave

zagubov wrote: »

Nope. Agree 100% with Lydia. This is one job where absenteeism is rare because it's a pain in the neck for everybody concerned including the absentee

It's true that the last person who wants to be off sick is the teacher. Unless there's a very good scheme in place, returning to pick up the bits after a couple of supply teachers have been in is not a great experience.

(I say this having worked as a supply, but mostly within a very well-organised school where we addressed this issue.:))

lostinrates

zagubov wrote: »

That's because we're paid to know!


We get fed up with people going on about "long" holidays. they're worthless as you always end up paying top dollar for holidays and if your other half doesn't share the same hiolidays as hyou it's completel;y useless.

Not everybody goes away during holidays, and days off to do useful stuff are handy.. This year all dh's time off has been to do stuff with me (hospital appts) or admin...acc etc.


Nope. Agree 100% with Lydia. This is one job where absenteeism is rare because it's a pain in the neck for everybody concerned including the absentee

What kind of a weirdo is she? She'd have to be pretty thick-skinned to put up with the grief her workmates would give her for landing them with extra work and trouble. It's one of those jobs where a slacker soon stands out :mad:
that particular friend has been teaching for over thirty five years, and not found out, or if has been is tolerated so far. About twenty of those years, maybe just under or over, at the same school
They'd never put up with that treatment from a "colleague" like that and I guarantee they'd find ways to make her life a misery in return.:eek:
Nope, she seems to have a good relationship with her colleagues, I know she socialises with them. She has a form group (primary teacher). This year however she did start a new thing for her, a job share. Last I heard that was going well, and hopefully gives her the days off she wants.:) she is also head of a 'dept' in the arts part of the school she teaches is, but think she has given this up this year.
Hey I've just realised this is my 3000th post? Do I get a medal or something?

Ofcourse, she is not the only friend we know who does this, but she is a good example, because she is not a nq with unrelaistic plans to slack, and she puts hours in elsewhere. But she is also the first to say the pattern of her job (bar shows) has suited her better than others might have done. I think she is also a pretty good teacher.

zagubov

lostinrates wrote: »

Ofcourse, she is not the only friend we know who does this, but she is a good example, because she is not a nq with unrelaistic plans to slack, and she puts hours in elsewhere. But she is also the first to say the pattern of her job (bar shows) has suited her better than others might have done. I think she is also a pretty good teacher.

Fair enough; maybe she has a deal with her workmates that keeps them sweet but I can assure you it's exactly the kind of job where patternsd of absence get noticed by the staff, and where missing colleagues immediately gets everybodys attention pdq as they'll be trying to figure out how to cope with the extra hassle it could bring.:D
It's like being an actor's understudy in a way!

nicko33

Davesnave wrote: »

It's true that the last person who wants to be off sick is the teacher. Unless there's a very good scheme in place, returning to pick up the bits after a couple of supply teachers have been in is not a great experience.

Try being the only competent nurse in a care home and having to fix the mess after some bank nurses have been in and under/over/mis-medicated

Davesnave

nicko33 wrote: »

Try being the only competent nurse in a care home and having to fix the mess after some bank nurses have been in and under/over/mis-medicated

I think the only experience I shall now gain in a care home is on the receiving end!:rotfl:

We solved most of the supply problems by having parallel class colleagues stepping in to say, "Here's an outline plan & the resources/ resource refs for Literacy & Numeracy today," as soon as the supply came through the door. No "Buts!"

It didn't always work though. Returning after a planned absence for training purposes, I noted approvingly that everything had been done, as planned, and even the book mark in the class novel had moved on a few pages. Preparing to continue, I was met with howls of protest.

"But this is where Mrs Blenkinsop got to yesterday, isn't it?"
"Yeah, but she did it all wrong!"
"Wrong? Mrs B is English and I'm sure she can read!"
"But she didn't do it properly. She didn't know what voices to use."
"Oh I'm sure, you understood..."
"Nooooo! Please go back and do it all again!"

When I was a child , the teachers used to say that to me, though they probably didn't say "Please." :rotfl:

IveSeenTheLight

ruggedtoast wrote: »

I dont think I could be a teacher. Imagine a job where every single hour you spend has to deliver some quantified measurable output, on kids no less. Not the world's most controllable variables.

It's outrageous for a public sector job too.

I had a wonderful Maths teacher.
He gave us an informal exam every term.
The results of the exam determined where we sat in the class with the highest achiever sitting back left, next highest to them etc etc etc.
the lowest achievers sat near the front.

This was a fantastic way of segregating children and not allowing them to choose their desks / coleagues.

It also fostered competition for those wanting to get the top seats (back row of 6)

It also allowed the teacher to help those with the lowest marks as they were nearer to the front / teacher.

Conrad

I would pay teachers a lot more and fund it by cutting the military back to S Korean / Japanese / German levels and slashing welfare for all but the very needy.

competitionhound

I remember being taught at school by both good and bad teachers, communication was the key ingredient, not what schooling background they had.