All teachers can tell you exactly what is stopping them from being as effective as they would like to be, and actually I'm not completely sure that it's just a case of nobody listening to them. I think the following list of frustrations teachers experience in their daily working lives are well known to be true, by senior managers and by politicians, it's just that they haven't effectively been addressed.
I've compiled a list of ten things that I think hold teachers back, based on my own personal experiences, and on research and reading I have done into other's opinions also. I've ranked them according to how much they stop teachers doing their job properly, and how much they effect wellbeing.
Once again, I'd love comments on what I've written. I know you are reading, but I really would appreciate it if you took the time to comment.
Number 10 Lack of resources
Number 9 Inconsistent assessment of performance
Number 8 Feeling lied to about the nature of the job
Number 7 Lack of support for challenging and special students
Number 6 No Jobs
Number 5 Use of unqualified staff
Number 4 Constant criticism
Number 3 Goalposts always changing
Number 2 Not enough time to complete all paperwork
Number 1 Being held accountable for student’s poor choices
Number 10 Lack of resources
Number 9 Inconsistent assessment of performance
Number 8 Feeling lied to about the nature of the job
Number 7 Lack of support for challenging and special students
Number 6 No Jobs
Number 5 Use of unqualified staff
Number 4 Constant criticism
Number 3 Goalposts always changing
Number 2 Not enough time to complete all paperwork
Number 1 Being held accountable for student’s poor choices
4 comments:
No1 - I can't agree - so many pupils take no notice whatsoever of teacher advice re choice of subjects in KS4. I have had experience of undue teacher pressure for - particularly relating to degree potential, bright students, being encouraged to take "easy option" subjects which will severely restrict their University choices in the future.
No 2 The beaurocracy abounding in teaching knows no limits and as we have to foreguess any eventuality (risk assessment procedure etc ) and the "initiatives" we have to endure and the constant reinventing of the wheel and the inability of any of the powers that be to recognise " if it ai't broke don't fix it " it will certainly not change in the future.
No 3 Totally agree. It is a time proven method to keep us down.
No 4 Same as the above. Demoralise and place teachers way below the part time cleaner or lollipop person in consideration and value and you are top of the current trend of management.
No 5. I feel I am a voice in the PC world's wilderness bleating about how teachers are even promoting their own demise by being so ridiculously "professional" in that we do not identify nor inform pupils and parents that their classes are being child minded by unqualified personnel. Until we stop being so politically incorrect and apologising for actually having obtained qualifications over years of study and experience.... well we will rate even further down the well of value.
No 6. Agreed.
No7 Hmmmmmm as far as I can see it is that category of student /pupil who receive all manner of "resources". There are no resources for bright working class origined pupils. There is little time and few resources expended for the average and above averaged ability pupils....savce for when there is the need to raise D grade pupils to C. For solid C grade candidates and above - well they can "heal" themselves.
No 8 Most of current education is a lie.
No 9 Well we walked right into this one. "performance Management " - yet another stick to beat us with. Think nothing would be said if an examination class failed to reach target grades? A parental gripe on unfounded or immature juvenile's perception might be ignored? Whenever has the Utopian concept of having supported a young person through trauma and even the day to day struggle some kids have to survive - when has that ever been monitored and valued and yet society would crumble altogether without that input from so many teachers?
No 10. Well - never really a problem as I think I was pretty adept at getting what I wanted/needed re resources - but I quite accept that I might have been ahead of the game in that area ( or plain devious- who knows ?)
I would add to that lost as a matter of extreme necessity - the grind of trying to address all society's ills in an increasingly "broken society". The almost epidemic level of impossible management teams who have all seemingly attended the same courses to damage teachers and to thwart individuality and to take the drive and entusiasm out of people. The intolerable lack of valuing and rewarding teachers doing the job under increasing difficulties and excessive demands of the job whilst creating a smoke screen of complying to create a "work/life" balance for teachers.
Hello, thanks for your amazing input and taking the time to write all that. I'm really glad that you agree on some of the points I've made.
I'm not sure about your response to number one though, do you think that students don't listen to teacher's recommendations, or that they do and the recommendations aren't very good?
I was more thinking in terms of behaviour when I wrote that post, in that teachers are treated as if it is themselves who have chosen to allow bad behaviour to be there.
I like your first suggestion for additional points, I think my number 11 would definitely be, "Being expected to pick up after society/parents."
All I can say is, after having struggled to keep my head above water a bit recently through having the weight of the education system bearing down on me, I have just printed this off and put it on my wall. I am not alone. Unfortunately, in school, no-one can hear you scream.
Wow! An honour indeed, thankyou for your kind words and I'm glad I could be of help.
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