Inset Days vs School Holidays

maman

lostinrates wrote: »

I was attacked once in cells by a client when working as a clerk and cell staff were great. ( I think prison officers get under or around £20k on average rate? ) I am willing to bet they get a fair amount of flack.

I was routinely attacked, bitten, and have incurred injuries from livestock when they first arrive with me or when I was in a visiting role. I found my work rewarding and enjoyable in otherways, which is what motivated me.

I'd say both these jobs were less stressful than my husband's current role, despite the threat to physical person.

Have I missed something? You met livestock when working as a clerk in a prison/police station??

duchy

The point that comes over ...not just in this thread but others too..... is that *some* teachers (and other people like Gregg who speaks "from experience" although "never claimed to have taught" so it is unclear where this "experience" comes from) feel it isn't understood how challenging their work day is and feel unappreciated. The problem is that they come across as not understanding that other jobs are equally challenging and don't come with union protection, decent pension, reasonable job security, no need for expensive childcare in school holidays etc etc. No one says teaching is easy but some of the teavching profession do their image no favours with their attitude which is often perceived as entitled by others who feel they work equally hard and have their own challenges and don't get at least a month off in the summer to recuperate and recharge before re-entering the fray.

The inconsistency of "training days" which vary in number vastly as well as content (like the should they be admin days question-lots of parents would love a day now and again at work with no other work duties to catch up with their admin but businesses don't work that way) raise questions like why some schools need so many more than others and lead to more alienation as parents don't understand why the need varies so greatly.

(Please note the use of the word "some" in this post for those looking for a "soundbite" to jump upon)

duchy

maman wrote: »

Have I missed something? You met livestock when working as a clerk in a prison/police station??

Standing in a school corridor when the bell goes for the end of school can be akin to standing in the path of a herd of thundering buffalo so there are similarities

GobbledyGook

duchy wrote: »

The point that comes over ...not just in this thread but others too..... is that *some* teachers (and other people like Gregg who speaks "from experience" although "never claimed to have taught" so it is unclear where this "experience" comes from) feel it isn't understood how challenging their work day is and feel unappreciated. The problem is that they come across as not understanding that other jobs are equally challenging and don't come with union protection, decent pension, reasonable job security, no need for expensive childcare in school holidays etc etc. No one says teaching is easy but some of the teavching profession do their image no favours with their attitude which is often perceived as entitled by others who feel they work equally hard and have their own challenges and don't get at least a month off in the summer to recuperate and recharge before re-entering the fray.

The inconsistency of "training days" which vary in number vastly as well as content (like the should they be admin days question-lots of parents would love a day now and again at work with no other work duties to catch up with their admin but businesses don't work that way) raise questions like why some schools need so many more than others and lead to more alienation as parents don't understand why the need varies so greatly.

(Please note the use of the word "some" in this post for those looking for a "soundbite" to jump upon)

I agree with the bulk of that.

To me part of the issue is that some people seem to think that because teachers have holidays they'd love to have that means teachers shouldn't complain about anything else. It's the same with many jobs, if it's 'worse' than another job people seem to think there should be no complaining at all. The whole public/private sector debate sums it up imo. A few private sector workers I know get really riled if our public sector friends get the union involved in anything. They don't seem to get that just because they 'have' to work for a boss who expects them to work until 9pm doesn't mean that other people should not object when the council they work for (for example) tried to change their working day from 9-5 to 8-8 without any discussion.

It's the race to the bottom that gets me. If you have a tough job then you have a tough job, but it doesn't mean someone who has an "easier" job or someone who has "better" conditions should never, ever moan about their job.

daisiegg

GobbledyGook wrote: »

I agree with the bulk of that.

To me part of the issue is that some people seem to think that because teachers have holidays they'd love to have that means teachers shouldn't complain about anything else. It's the same with many jobs, if it's 'worse' than another job people seem to think there should be no complaining at all. The whole public/private sector debate sums it up imo. A few private sector workers I know get really riled if our public sector friends get the union involved in anything. They don't seem to get that just because they 'have' to work for a boss who expects them to work until 9pm doesn't mean that other people should not object when the council they work for (for example) tried to change their working day from 9-5 to 8-8 without any discussion.

It's the race to the bottom that gets me. If you have a tough job then you have a tough job, but it doesn't mean someone who has an "easier" job or someone who has "better" conditions should never, ever moan about their job.

This is a GREAT post. All I ever hear if I dare to utter a negative word about teaching is 'BUT YOU GET SUCH GREAT HOLIDAYS'!!!

However...I do not think this just applies to teaching. My husband works in finance and works extremely long hours - 13 hour days minimum in the week and always more work at home at weekends. It is also very stressful and pressured. However if he (or I) mention anything about the hours or pressure all we hear is 'but it pays so well!'

My dad works in an industry that boomed a few decades ago but has sadly been declining since. He was made redundant from a big international company that was a fantastic place to work, and now works for a smaller company where the environment is unpleasant and stressful,the hours long, the benefits bad and the pay doesn't even make up for it. However, if he opens his mouth to complain he is immediately reminded that so-and-so who got made redundant at the same time as him never managed to find a job again.

I can think of loads of other examples off the top of my head but I won't bore you with them! My point is, no one seems to like anyone else feeling hard done by and complaining about their lot in life!

gregg1

duchy wrote: »

The point that comes over ...not just in this thread but others too..... is that *some* teachers (and other people like Gregg who speaks "from experience" although "never claimed to have taught" so it is unclear where this "experience" comes from) feel it isn't understood how challenging their work day is and feel unappreciated. The problem is that they come across as not understanding that other jobs are equally challenging and don't come with union protection, decent pension, reasonable job security, no need for expensive childcare in school holidays etc etc. No one says teaching is easy but some of the teavching profession do their image no favours with their attitude which is often perceived as entitled by others who feel they work equally hard and have their own challenges and don't get at least a month off in the summer to recuperate and recharge before re-entering the fray.

The inconsistency of "training days" which vary in number vastly as well as content (like the should they be admin days question-lots of parents would love a day now and again at work with no other work duties to catch up with their admin but businesses don't work that way) raise questions like why some schools need so many more than others and lead to more alienation as parents don't understand why the need varies so greatly.

(Please note the use of the word "some" in this post for those looking for a "soundbite" to jump upon)

And yet you also claim to be speaking from experience never having been a teacher:question:

FYI, there is NO union protection in an Academy school!

daisiegg

gregg1 wrote: »

And yet you also claim to be speaking from experience never having been a teacher:question:

FYI, there is NO union protection in an Academy school!

Not exactly. Headteachers are not required to recognise unions. Doesn't mean they don't. Our school became an academy and our head made it very clear she would still recognise the unions the same as always.

lostinrates

maman wrote: »

Have I missed something? You met livestock when working as a clerk in a prison/police station??

Lol, different jobs!

maman

daisiegg wrote: »

Not exactly. Headteachers are not required to recognise unions. Doesn't mean they don't. Our school became an academy and our head made it very clear she would still recognise the unions the same as always.

gregg1 wrote: »

And yet you also claim to be speaking from experience never having been a teacher:question:

FYI, there is NO union protection in an Academy school!

At the moment, many (if not most) academies do recognise unions as the staff have transferred their pay and conditions over from when they were employed by Local Authorities. Some academies still buy in HR advice from Local Authorities. As time goes on I'm sure these conditions will deteriorate in academies and free schools especially for new employees. Employers are still bound by employment law though and teachers can belong to unions and take advice.

maman

maman wrote: »

Have I missed something? You met livestock when working as a clerk in a prison/police station??

lostinrates wrote: »

Lol, different jobs!

Oh thanks, I thought it might be a derogatory statement about the inmates/clients!;)