Britain’s army of over-worked secondary school teachers are struggling to get by on as few as 75 days paid leave a year, according to a new report.
The study by the Learning Information Council (LIC) labels as “pitiful” the six-week summer ‘break’. And it describes the practice of forcing staff to work from 9am until 3.30pm – sometimes with little more than an hour for lunch – as “Dickensian”.
Many teachers are expected to work for up to seven weeks in a row before finally being allowed to take a fortnight off on full pay, or sometimes just a week.
“It’s a disgrace to work teachers – in some cases literally – to death like this,” said LIC chief executive Sven Dennis.
“This is a vulnerable section of society.
“When faced with the prospect of a career in industry many of them panicked and took shelter in the public sector.
“They are not geared up to do ‘work’ as most of us understand it. They should be protected.”
Mike Myers, a sports teacher from Halifax said: “We really need the break in the summer. And six weeks just isn’t enough – I agree with that.
“In my department it’s physically draining as well as mentally tough. There are days when I am on my feet for hours on end, umpiring a cricket match in the blazing sunshine or playing football with the sixth-form lads. It really is dreadful.”
Tracy Ireland, head of maths at a secondary school in Essex, believes terms are often too long and that as a result staff run out of things to teach children.
She said: “After over a month of lessons when you will see classes for two hours per week there’s simply no more knowledge left to pass on.
“I often spend the last week of term showing maths-related videos – well, videos at least. Usually it’s stuff I haven’t seen that’s just come out on DVD. We’re studying that new Sherlock Holmes with Jude Law in it next week, though pupils will have the option to bring in their PSPs.”
The National Teachers’ Union say they back the findings of the LIC study, but boss Marge Simpson is unable to comment until she returns from a four-week break in Tuscany.
Caitlin
May 20, 2010
You’d imagine that before slating someone else’s job this ‘journalist’ would do his own job properly i.e. get his facts straight. But then again it must be tough coming up with articles slagging off worthwhile jobs- how would you find the time to do a minimal bit of research?
Most teachers will be in school by at least 8am and not leave until at least 5pm. All teachers have responsibilities after classes have finished, there are after school clubs, meetings, parents evenings, training meetings, there is marking, planning, preparation to be done every evening, every day, every weekend.
Teacher’s are under a constant pressure not only from the upper echelons, but from pupils, parents, governing bodies and society as a whole. Teachers have a public responsibility and accountability that applies a type of pressure that the ‘closeted’ private sector workers would have no comprehension of. Teachers have a pastoral responibility to children who might come from all manner of backgrounds. This is emotionally and physically draining because on top of this are your academic responsibilities for your pupils.
This article only highlights who indeed does lack any education and intelligence. It shows your inability to contribute anything worthwhile to society and really identifies your position at the bottom of the food chain: not content with not contributing to society also take from it by offering negative and damaging comment on the positive things that do exist there.
The age old retort is as always applicable: stand this muppet in front of 30 adolescents (some with behaviourral difficulties, some with anger issues, some just not in a good mood today) for an hour, five times a day, five days a week, add a good dose of marking, a good slug of lesson plan, a few trainging meetings, a sprinkle of after school activities and a dash of pastoral care and see then if he has indeed pulled the short straw.
Robin Brown
May 21, 2010
Open comments on a satire site – this should be interesting.
Jane Gibson
May 21, 2010
Come on Caitlin get a grip I too work in a school and the one thing I have learnt is that you need a sense of humour to do this job! Hope Friday night has helped you to regain yours.
Zewa
May 25, 2010
“This article only highlights who indeed does lack any education and intelligence. It shows your inability to contribute anything worthwhile to society and really identifies your position at the bottom of the food chain”
Really? How does it show that Caitlin?
“Most teachers will be in school by at least 8am and not leave until at least 5pm.”
That’s just a normal working day. This ‘closeted’ private sector worker does that on an easy day then of course there are the weekends, evenings and the lack of holidays (a week last year in TOTAL).
Good article.
zoe
September 3, 2010
Very funny
(And I am a teacher)
Many teachers are far too precious and defensive. The holdays are a major perk with teaching- not many people manage 6 weeks off let alone 6 weeks in one go.
Yes, we work hard in term time, yadda yadda yadda. Yes, we do overtime- but do fo many others.
The article just made me laugh