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DS has had 4 teachers in almost 2 years at this school which he is at.
His current teacher has left. We were given no notice of this, or who their new teacher is going to be. DS just told me on Friday arvo, when i asked how his teacher was. I liked her so much.
Does your kids' school have such a high turnover in teachers?
Back in my days, the same teachers were there year in year out.
Lachlan has been going to school for nearly 6mths now. 2 terms. I have lost count how many teachers he has had in total. The teacher he started with found out just after she started working that she was pregnant. It was a new teacher to the school. So with every hospital appointment she had came a relief teacher. She had a few due to a lot of previous miscarriages. They never had the same relief teacher twice I don't think.
Early this term the same teacher was there on Wednesday and not there the next day. By the friday we found out she had left due to the cases of Swine Flu going around the school. Lachlan was really upset, cause he loved his teacher. What upset us as parents, was the fact she didn't even tell the kids she was going. She just up and left basically over night.
By the following Monday we found out that the PE teacher was now going to be teaching his class. That was fine, he liked her as he knew her from doing PE but he really missed his other teacher. His new teacher had to finalise PE stuff so there was a few days where once again they had a relief.
I had just got him settled back down again in the mornings with his new teacher (he would not let me leave till it was mat time), when she got sick and had 3 days off school. That was the end for Lachlan he lost the plot. On the Friday I had to leave him in tears, as they had another relief teacher AGAIN.
Last Tuesday they had a class party and his original teacher actually came in to say Goodbye to the class finally. For the rest of the week Lachlan was asking when she was coming back. She was only a contractor, so the answer was never. He has now settled back down into class with his current teacher (the one that did PE), just hope they can get through the next 2 weeks without another relief.
That is so sad and confusing for the kids.
Our school don't have a high staff turnover. The teachers, except 1 graduate are in their 40's or 50's and are fantastic with the kids. There was 1 year when DS's teacher was very sick they had a string of emergency teachers to cover her but apart from that the staff are constant.
Are you sure Lachlan isn't going to my DS's school? :rolleyes:
Geez that is atrocious. I didn't even mention the sickies and relief teachers they've had throughout the year! I guess it would equal to what your DS has had.
I really find it appalling.
DS's IT teachers, RE teacher, Turkish language teachers have changed numerous times throughout the year. I don't keep count anymore.
I was more concered that his "Class" teacher was just up and leaving.
I'm expecting a call back from the school today in regard to the matter.
They really HATE me there. I'm a devil parent to them :lol:
Our school doesn't have a high staff turnover. It is so unsettling for the kids.
Regards,
Dianne
i had this for a few years in primary school its really sucked as there was no consitency and you kept bakc tracking.
its just not fair on the kids at all. they need routine and stability especially in a learning environment,
hope it all sorts its self out soon.
Totally agree. The teacher that left knew my son's capabilities and his socialising problems. Now a new teacher and more explaining to get them up to speed. The teacher that left really cared, she would call me and i would call her if i had any comments/concerns.:
It really aggravates me.
My nephew (8 yo) is up to his 4th teacher this year. The first one to leave also left with no warning.
I wonder why teachers don't last like they used to?
Calling all teachers on BB.... WHY??
The school I teach at up untill this year has had a high turnover of staff, bascially the entire staff bar 2-3 teachers changed in just a 2 year period. When I started in June last year I was the 4th teacher in that class, the kids were actualley taking bets on how long myself and my tandem would last- and much to their suprise we saw the whole year out, and came back this year.
:rofl:
I might need to tell DS that he could earn money out of this teacher leaving business!
I don't know about other states, but part of the problem for me and many other WA teachers is it is sooooooooooo difficult to get our permenancy, so even if I want to stay at a school and the principal wants to keep me, if there is a teacher with their permenancy they get reference over me. I am only on a 12 month contract (and have been for my entire teacher career, been 12 month contracts at a time) so at the end of each school year I do not know whether I will be staying at the same school or not. I have to wait until the permenent teachers have been placed into positions before I will know if there is a spot for me.
As for why teachers don't last out the entire year- speaking from my personal observations there are a few reasons, but mainly it comes down to:
WORK LOAD & STRESS: teachers are just asked to do more and more and more these days, and it does get to the point where some people ask is it really worth it, we have so much responsibility, and sometimes it really does feel like it never ends.
I only work 5 days a fortnight, and have already decided it will be a long long time before I go back to full time teaching, it just takes up sooooooooo much time, and is so demanding. I love my job and wouldnt consider doing anything else, but I also won't be doing 5 days a week until all of my kids are well on their way to high school.
On the subject of back tracking etc. We had 1 relief (the same peron... amazing) for 2 of the 3 days while Lach's current teacher was sick. It came to light that all they did for those 2 days was colour in. No maths, no alphabets, nothing. One parent said "could have kept my kid in kindy for this"
Unfortunatley that is usually the way with relief teachers- the problem is that they get booked in advance, so where they may be available on Mon, they may be booked else where for tues etc- relief teachers are in very short supply (at least here in WA, and I live and teach 20 mins for Perth). As for the work, that is quite usual, if a teacher hasnt left any specific work then the relief just gives them things to keep busy, and while I used to try my best to include some maths, english etc, I had no idea what level the children are at, what they hve done previously, what the teacher had planned etc. Even when I know I am going to be away and leave work for a releif, it is not usually exactly what my normal program would be- partly because another teacher doesnt know what is in my head, what I am trying to achieve from a certain lesson, and what I am assessing, and partly because when I am teaching specific things I like it done my way and like to know it is done properly.
ETA- If I am away from work sick, then I am usually sick sick, so dont feel I should sit for hours at my computer typing lesson plans and emailing them in for a relief teacher- especially when the person taking my class is a qaulified teacher and being paid nearly $300 a day to be there, I expect them to be able to come up with 5 hours worth of lessons to get through the day.
I am a teacher, and the biggest problem for me is that it is impossible to give students the individual attention they need when class sizes are so big. The job is incredibly draining and when jobs come up in private industry, many teachers jump at the chance to do something else. 70% of teaching graduates are not still teaching after 5 years. That's gotta be an indication that something is very wrong.
My teenage DD has attended 2 girls' schools. She was at the first school for 5 years until we decided she needed a change. One of the reasons was because staff turn-over started to get bad. Because I worked there i kind of knew why... and I also knew that it wasn't going to get any better. The last straw was when my DD had 4 teachers in grade 3. All of them left to work at other schools.
Where my DD goes to school now the staff all seem to have very high morale... they are all very vocal about loving working there. maybe one reason is because the class sizes are small? The only subject that has had a bit of turn-over is French... it's a bit of a joke how fertile the French teachers are LOL about 4 have fallen pregnant since my DD started in grade 4 (she is now in grade 9). You don't hear of many leaving to work at other schools. There are lots of very long serving teachers. I wish i could send my boys there!!!
(double post)
I don't have any kids or anything i just wanted to say that i agree that its disgusting how teachers are leaving for no reason at all. I believe children need stability in all aspects of life when they are growing up, having different teachers all the time would confuse the children and upset some of them especially if they liked them. Its amazing how things have changed. I never had a different teacher i had the same from the start of the year to the end.
My DP's best friend is a teacher and he doesn't really enjoy it, he said that high school kids these days are very disrespectful to each other and to teachers and they are very racist, now he is half german and half thai and he has had some horrible names said to him and he's had things thrown at him in class. He wont be returning back to the school next year, he will be using the school holidays and whatever time he has to himself finding a public servant job.
He said he doesn't want to just walk out in the middle of a school term as its not fair on the students he has that he likes and that like him.
But its so sad that he spent close to 4 years studying in uni to realise that the job stinks pretty much.
... I think it would be challenging but good to be a relief teacher... I used to work in a highschool AfterCare class (mainly grades 7 - 8) and I really liked getting to know so many different students.... maybe it's because I look too formidable (sterner than I am) LOL but kids don't seem to muck up with me very much. This thread has given me some food for thought :think:
I find this to be a gross over generalising statement- untill you have been on the 'front line' in a classroom, had to deal with the copious amounts of things that go on just day to day you can not make a statement like this- let me give you a very few examples of things I have encountered in my very short teaching career- self harming 6 yo, who could be so violent I had to evacuate the entire class to a safe place when he got into a mood and call for help because he was so violent, being called numberous names including a F***ing C***, B***** etc all by children under 8, seeing a relief teacher being chased around a school by a student with a baseball bat, witnessing a year 1 student being flung to the ground by the head by an older student in a rage, having parents threatening all manner of things because they have been upset by something happening to their child, seeing a school put into lockdown because a psychotic women took over an awards ceremony, refused to leave and had to be arrested by the police. These are just a few things I have witnessed in my 5 year teaching career- admittedly I teach in tough schools but that is not the point, this is something that teachers are faced with every day.:
i agree that its disgusting how teachers are leaving for no reason at all
And while it is not the best for everyone if a teacher quites during the year, sometimes it is actualley for the best of everyone, the last thing you want for your child is for them to be taught by a teacher about to snap. Most teachers love what they do and put up with alot to continue to do their job, those that love their job and quit usually do so for a very good reason- those that quite their job for no good reason usually aren't the right sort of person to be teaching your children anyway.
Also try not to be too quick to judge, teachers have lives as well, and quite often (and I am sure no more often than other people in other professions) have to leave for personal reason, I dont think they should have to broadcast this personal reasons to everyone to justify there leaving, no more than any other employee in any other job should.
Excellent post Ali! I completely agree. If I didn't have a 3yo climbing on me I'd write more.... back later!
Hun, pretty bold statement! Most teachers dont leave a job for NO reason. I am sure there are underlying circumstances, such as that Ali mentioned in her earlier posts.:
Sorry but I just had to comment on that.
Back to the opening post....
In regards to the change over of teachers suddenly becoming alot more frequent then back when we all went to school...
The teaching population has now become very young as a massive generation of much older teachers are retiring. Because there was such a gap in intake of teachers into the profession, there are mainly young teachers starting to teach. With young teachers, comes teachers at the age where they are starting families. So yes it is disruptive to the children if this happens to be midyear but it is up to the individual woman when she wants to have a child and it shouldnt have to revolve around the school year. ;)
I have just returned to work after maternity leave and am job sharing with another teacher. Their previous teacher has just left to have her baby. Yes it might have been disruptive to the children but they have coped quite well and we are doing the best we can to keep things the same, good communication and handover to make the transition as easy as we could.
In regards to relief teachers when teachers get sick...
It is hard to get the same casual teacher everyday that a teacher is way. Yes in a perfect world that is how it would work but there is not enough funding in a school to employ the same casual teacher on call all the time. Teachers would love to have the same casual teacher taking the class each time as well (would make it easier for everyone) but it just doesnt work like this.
Also you have to remember that teachers work in a job absolutely surrounded with sickness! I honestly think its worse than working in a hospital with sick people sometimes! The kids that come to school with all their sicknesses and passing them around to not only the kids but the teachers as well can not be helped. Teachers are human as well and get sick. I have been back at work for all of 5 days and this arvo I feel terrible (coming down with a cold). Since being off work from the beginning of the year I had not been sick at all (knew it was because I was away from the kids at school). You cant expect teachers to go to school when they are sick and pass it onto the kids again as well. Sorry to go on about it but it is absolutely the biggest downfall of the job of a teacher and each year I waste such an incredible amount of money at the chemist because of it.
I guess the main thing to remember is teachers are human, they get sick, they have families (which should be our first priority but unfortunately school seems to prioritise for me and not by choice), they are looking for job security, financial security & job satisfaction just as any other workers in different professions are.
Ali *snap*
Great minds and names think alike and at the same time!!! ;)
And another excellent post Alibaby! :clap: that's soooo true about sickness! When I was a teachers assistant I have never been so sick so often!
Aww thanks bath :redface:
Its incredible isnt it! Last year i had back to back colds or stomach bugs for about 4 months!! Then DP would get it and we wold fight because then he would get sick and wouldnt get paid for being sick (as he is a business owner).
I just cant believe that I am sick after 5 days back although I shouldnt really be surprised as 4 other kids were off sick today and I sent one home after she started vomiting.
I am a teacher too, and I can understand where parents are coming from. I too feel it is disruptive for students when teachers change often. Unfortunately when we are ill, we can rarely get the same supply teacher in as they are regularly booked in advance. Many teachers are on contracts, so if a longer contract or permanant position becomes available, they'll (understandably) take it. Teachers have a job that can't just be put on hold or 'caught up on' when we are ill.
And as the "Ali's" said so well, we have a highly stressful job that doesn't just go from 9 to 3 for 40 weeks a year like so many people think. Younger teachers are getting burnt out very quickly - I don't think we were prepared for just how full on it can be at uni - and when you think about the public perception of teachers, it's understandable that many young people don't want to stay on in the profession. I know quite a few teachers who have changed careers suddenly (or gone on stress leave, never to return). When you add the mothers on maternity leave into the mix, there is quite a high staff turnover. And don't get me started about illness - at school at the moment we have swine flu and whooping cough plus the whole gamut of colds and flu's. I am yet to get through a winter without at least one cough/cold or infection that has meant taking a day or two off.
If only teaching was just about teaching...
My best friend is a primary school teacher and has been now for over 25 years. I have the utmost respect for teachers and what they put up with. My BF was a dedicated and committed teacher but after 20 years, was getting "burn out" which I am sure most teachers who don't have a break in their career get and combined with that she had a child in her class that was very vindictive towards her. In 20 years she had never encountered a child like that and she had no support from the school and had to have 12 months off to recover. Now my friend is in a school but out of the classroom. I find it really sad that something she loved turned so sour. Teachers have alot to put up with.
Anyway, back to the topic. DD goes to our local public primary school. It is such a fantastic school. I have seen no teachers leave throughout the year, expect for pregnancy. Morale is high and class sizes small. the school is quite large and effectively they employ some almost full time staff as relief teachers so there can be continuity for the kids. For example, they book up these staff to do leave relief weeks ahead so if a teacher has planned leave the kids always get continuity. I know some of these teachers might only get one day off a term so really they are full time employees and they tend to put them in the same year level. DD's class had a bad start to the year as her teacher had a death in the family but they had the same relief teacher and DD still loves her.
Wow, that's pretty crazy. My grade 1 teacher is STILL teaching grade 1 at the same school. Even in high school we didn't have anything like that. Only had one teacher leave but that was because she was useless so we petitioned for her to be removed.