Teachers in New Zealand are keen to secure better working conditions, support, training, and remuneration. There are few that would deny that a teacher’s job is a difficult one and they deserve all the support that our government and the public are able to provide. After all, they are educating the future of our country.
These important aspects that teachers are striving to secure are undoubtedly essential. But as a light-hearted aside, a conversation on Mumsnet in 2018 broached the subject of what more minor things are disrupting the happy life of a teacher. The responses included a range of gripes, some (OK, a lot) created by parents, some part and parcel of being a teacher dealing with kids all day, and some that just seem to be sods law.
Here’s a selection of what really annoys teachers:
- Crap staffroom coffee
- Wet playtimes
- Constant changes to policy without proper consultation or resources
- Assemblies
- Children who can’t dress themselves/lace up shoes
- Unnamed lost property
- Missing stationery
- Children who are not toilet trained
- Head lice
- Parents who refuse to believe that their child is showing bullying behaviour
- Parents who don’t read with their child or encourage reading
- Ridiculous demands from parents
- When other teaching staff consider their view of children and learning to be the only correct one (and labelling children who don’t fit into this view as naughty, lazy, or having bad parents)
- Being asked, “How will I use this in everyday life?”
When you are in the middle of explaining something and someone says, “Do we need to know this for the exam?”
What do you think would be the toughest thing to deal with as a teacher? Would you consider teaching? Join the discussion in the comments below.
This article was written by Julie Scanlon, Editor for Kidspot NZ.
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Having seen children physically hit and kick teachers, having seen children with anger issues kicking chairs and throwing things around the room, I often wonder how teachers handle this kind of behaviour day in and day out. Their job has become so stressful over the past years that you can certainly understand why there is a teacher shortage at the moment and why they are asking for more money.
Teachers are amazing but I couldn’t do it. Not just the noise but the parents. I think we all must know someone who thinks their child is amazing, like more amazing than anyone else in this planet, so gifted and kind and all they can talk about is their amazing child and all you see is an annoying obnoxious little child who is a bully but oh no not according to their parents. I think the demands on teachers from the minstry etc are too much as well and the pay too low.
Teachers are amazing. Each day can be so different. That list might not even be enough to count the different things they have to cope. They have so much influence with the kids and even one wrong move can set a kid entirely to a different direction. We have to realise that they are to be valued because they are molding the future generation.
I have friends who teach. They are so hard working. Often in bed before 9pm from sheer exhaustion. Dealing with 25+ kids a day must be so draining. Two is hard enough. I definitely could not do it. I have no interest in working with children but I’m so thankful others get that calling and desire. Now we just have to support them better. Because stuff having to home school the little darlings. Amiright?!
Short answer…NO! I hands down give it to those who actually made a conscious willing choice to want to teach.. I’m not sure if they’re saints or insane…either way my hat goes off to them there is no way in hell I’d ever be a teacher ….I barely have enough patience with my own let alone a bunch of them on a daily basis and then to have next to no support from the ones above and having to fight tooth and nail for a decent pay etc.
Toughest part of being a teacher I think would be having to keep it cool remembering the child isnt yours and that the way the parents parent may not be your thing but have to go with it esp if the child is being less than cooperative or being a bully etc.
I don’t think I could ever be a teacher as they do put up with a lot from trouble children to parents also being demanding. I think the toughest thing would be saying they same things over and over to children who won’t listen and always seem to be in trouble. It’s definately not for me but they do a great job.
I actually think these are pretty decent gripes to be fair! Teaching is not an easy job and it’s a very important one. It is difficult to get parents to spend time with their kids with homework etc though and could understand how frustrating that could be. The crap staffroom coffee isn’t just teachers peeves lol, it’s everywhere. Assemblies? Haha I guess they would be annoying trying to rally all the kids together in one place. I don’t really think it’s fair moaning about kids that can’t dress themselves or tie their shoelaces though, as some kids are a bit slower than others.
I reckon the toughest part of being a teacher would be helping aide a child with learning difficulties and behavioural issues. And also the headlice issues in schools because that gets pretty crazy at the best of times and can’t be easy on the teachers constantly trying to help and notify parents then one parent does the right thing but others don’t.