gjm: I saw a documentary once called Bad Teacher where she helped students cheat on a test so that she would get a financial reward for having the best class. True story.
ROFL. Seriously? "Documentary"? It's a comedy. And not true story.
keewee01: 1. I know quite a few teachers (people I went through Uni with, friends and family, and I've been on a BOT) - and I would have to say that it is the minority who do those sorts of hours. At my sons school, and another school (I live across the road from) most teachers are gone by 3.15pm and they are usually ain't taking work home. AND they get how many weeks of paid holidays a year??? Would average at least 10 weeks for all the teachers I know - and they are the better teachers who do go in to school on the odd day in the school holidays and for the last week of the summer holidays. So, sorry - from what I see every day I cannot agree with the 9-10 hours a day, 6 days a week. I don't disagree that some do, but they are by far the minority - and the weeks and weeks of holidays they get (and do take) well and truly make up for it.
This doesn't jibe with my experience having flatted with mid/senior high school teachers on two different occasions. Both left school much later than 3.15, and led after school sporting activities, and academically in the holidays to help kids catch up. At home (and for much of the holidays) both were usually busy creating resources and marking. Socially, my impression was the lifestyle was similar for other high school teachers.
Like you say, they could be part of a minority, but my impression is this is less of a minority than you might think. It appears to me that most teachers just get on and do what needs to be done. It is possible this will vary school by school and dept by dept, and depending on the mix of students in the class. I get the impression if you get lucky and have a great class, it can make a lot of difference to your year.
I don't doubt that your experience is more relevant than mine and probably extends over a longer period, I just think (a) there is more variance than you are accounting for, and (b) for many different factors.
keewee01: 1. I know quite a few teachers (people I went through Uni with, friends and family, and I've been on a BOT) - and I would have to say that it is the minority who do those sorts of hours. At my sons school, and another school (I live across the road from) most teachers are gone by 3.15pm and they are usually ain't taking work home. AND they get how many weeks of paid holidays a year??? Would average at least 10 weeks for all the teachers I know - and they are the better teachers who do go in to school on the odd day in the school holidays and for the last week of the summer holidays. So, sorry - from what I see every day I cannot agree with the 9-10 hours a day, 6 days a week. I don't disagree that some do, but they are by far the minority - and the weeks and weeks of holidays they get (and do take) well and truly make up for it.
This doesn't jibe with my experience having flatted with mid/senior high school teachers on two different occasions. Both left school much later than 3.15, and led after school sporting activities, and academically in the holidays to help kids catch up. At home (and for much of the holidays) both were usually busy creating resources and marking. Socially, my impression was the lifestyle was similar for other high school teachers.
Like you say, they could be part of a minority, but my impression is this is less of a minority than you might think. It appears to me that most teachers just get on and do what needs to be done. It is possible this will vary school by school and dept by dept, and depending on the mix of students in the class. I get the impression if you get lucky and have a great class, it can make a lot of difference to your year.
I don't doubt that your experience is more relevant than mine and probably extends over a longer period, I just think (a) there is more variance than you are accounting for, and (b) for many different factors.
The discussions here have been mostly about the earlier years of education and not secondary school. Most of the teachers I know are primary. The handful of secondary teachers I know certainly do work longer hours than primary teachers do - I won't disagree with you there.
Makes it a bit of a joke that the Primary Teachers Union got their members pay parity with Secondary teachers!!!
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