DianaTeachers are all bloody whingers!
May 6th 2008 02:14
Link: www.aeuvic.asn.au
Recently I was attending a function with a number of people from the arts community. I was at a table where the conversation turned to teachers and the current campaign in Victoria for better pay n stuff. People who knew I worked as a teacher started asking my thoughts and opinions and I was trying to anwer as succintly but un-biasedly as possible.
I guess we had all had a few drinks but does that excuse belligerent behaviour?
One man, fairly high up in arts admin, leaned in towards me and virtually spat, "Bloody teachers! Whinge whine whinge, that's all we get from you lot! All those holidays! My God, you don't even know you're alive! Try doing my job:no mamby-pamby long summer break and early finishes and all the other bloody union rigmarole there!!!!"
There was kind of a strained silence (in all the noise of the reception) and he sat back down abruptly, flushed, and had a good guzzle of his red.
Everyone looked at me expectantly for a reply, some of my friends casting sypathetic, shocked looks in my direction (but probably secretly relishing a 'scene'?)
But before I could respond, though my heart was beating like a drum, another man got up and yelled, "Bull crap! Teachers work bloody hard, putting up with all your horrible, spoilt disgusting children who don't want to learn and have attitude and give everyone a hard time and you should try a stint in the classroom if you think it's easy....."
This kind of broke the silence and after that voices were very raised at our table as the issue was debated and everyone had a story to tell about hard-done by teachers or teachers who were bored and switched-off or whatever.
Later, the first bloke came up to me, clearly the worse for wear, and tried to sleazily apologize for his comments and offered to take me to the Gin Palace for a 'quiet drink' where we could thrash out the whole argument.
I managed to evade his grasp, decline his invitation and leave unscathed.
But still, the arguments and remarks echoed in my head as I drove home through deserted streets.
Some bits from both sides of the argument were true, I conceded, but what is it about teachers themselves that inspire such vitriolic hatred or divine worship?
Why can't we or society have a balanced view of teachers and the job they do without getting so tied up in knots emotionally?
There is still that view, I reckon, that really people consider teaching to be a 'calling' and that we should all be doing it for 'the love of it', bit like the Church.
Well, here I go, off to pray and address my 'flock'...
I guess we had all had a few drinks but does that excuse belligerent behaviour?
One man, fairly high up in arts admin, leaned in towards me and virtually spat, "Bloody teachers! Whinge whine whinge, that's all we get from you lot! All those holidays! My God, you don't even know you're alive! Try doing my job:no mamby-pamby long summer break and early finishes and all the other bloody union rigmarole there!!!!"
There was kind of a strained silence (in all the noise of the reception) and he sat back down abruptly, flushed, and had a good guzzle of his red.
Everyone looked at me expectantly for a reply, some of my friends casting sypathetic, shocked looks in my direction (but probably secretly relishing a 'scene'?)
But before I could respond, though my heart was beating like a drum, another man got up and yelled, "Bull crap! Teachers work bloody hard, putting up with all your horrible, spoilt disgusting children who don't want to learn and have attitude and give everyone a hard time and you should try a stint in the classroom if you think it's easy....."
This kind of broke the silence and after that voices were very raised at our table as the issue was debated and everyone had a story to tell about hard-done by teachers or teachers who were bored and switched-off or whatever.
Later, the first bloke came up to me, clearly the worse for wear, and tried to sleazily apologize for his comments and offered to take me to the Gin Palace for a 'quiet drink' where we could thrash out the whole argument.
I managed to evade his grasp, decline his invitation and leave unscathed.
But still, the arguments and remarks echoed in my head as I drove home through deserted streets.
Some bits from both sides of the argument were true, I conceded, but what is it about teachers themselves that inspire such vitriolic hatred or divine worship?
Why can't we or society have a balanced view of teachers and the job they do without getting so tied up in knots emotionally?
There is still that view, I reckon, that really people consider teaching to be a 'calling' and that we should all be doing it for 'the love of it', bit like the Church.
Well, here I go, off to pray and address my 'flock'...
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Comment by Cibbuano
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Comment by Anne Tootill
HI Diana, I think it has a lot to do with the extremely long holidays you enjoy - no one else comes close - then when you've organised yourself crazy - finding someone to mind the kids while you are at work, there is another declared 'Pupil Free Day' which frankly sometimes is the limit.
It's tough out there for the supermum and it's getting tougher.
Interesting though, if you are a high school teacher, I think you deserve a medal., if you are a Primary school teacher, you have my respect and thanks. Cheers, Anne
Comment by Brenton
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Comment by Diana
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Comment by Diana
Eyes On Oz
I understand the point about organising child-care during hols and Pupil Free days, but parents forget that really schools were not designed originally to be baby-sitters!
As for teachers putting up with a lot, really, depending on the school, that is very true. Kids can be lovely individually but turn rude and disrespectful in front of their peers, which of course is most of the time.
I am thrilled by your responses, thanks again!