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Let's talk about Teachers!

(177 Posts)
FannyCornforth Sun 10-Jan-21 13:10:45

Hello Everyone!

I always knew that there were a lot of Teachers and retired Teachers on here.

However, having just read Gelisagan's 'What don't you miss?' thread (which could just have easily have been titled 'What don't you miss, Miss?') I am even more surprised at the disproportionately large number of teaching staff on here.

So, are you a Teacher, ex-Teacher, Teaching Assistant etc?

And - do you have a theory as to why there are so many of us on here?

(Also - a little background information on age-group subject specialism etc would be marvellous - just because it's interesting really!smile)

Thank you! flowers brew cupcake

(Cake from the staff-room - don't worry - a kid didn't make it!)

Grandmabatty Sun 10-Jan-21 13:23:20

I am a retired teacher of English language and literature. I suppose teachers like to communicate and this network is about just that. Engaging with others and sharing ideas.

PECS Sun 10-Jan-21 13:24:43

Yes.. I am a teacher. Teachers are often people who seek to communicate... they are used to working in teams.... they sometimes like the sound of their own voice too much... as a group they have a wide range of interests & opinions and most like kids so take to grandparenting with enthusiastiasm. Of course all this can apply to anybody so not sure why it feels,as if there is a disproportionate number of education professionals on GN!!grin

PECS Sun 10-Jan-21 13:25:45

Not sure why enthusiasm has an extra syllable confused

FannyCornforth Sun 10-Jan-21 13:29:45

You must be overenthusiastic PECS

Jaxjacky Sun 10-Jan-21 13:30:37

Not a teacher, I was a Project Manager. Initially software, then a major housing estate of 3,000 houses and ancillary facilities.

Riverwalk Sun 10-Jan-21 13:31:50

Most of us on GN are women of a certain age i.e. over 55, and back in the day young women were encouraged into teaching, nursing & the civil service.

I don't think teachers as such are particularly attracted to GN, just that there's a lot of them around!

Ashcombe Sun 10-Jan-21 13:32:35

I’m a retired teacher who began as a music specialist in high schools then retrained for primary teaching when there was a shortage of teachers for that age group. I mostly taught Y6 and enjoyed involvement in the performing arts as an escape for children and staff! I miss the interaction with youngsters and the camaraderie with colleagues but not the admin!

Greenfinch Sun 10-Jan-21 13:34:56

I am a retired teacher of English for Speakers of other Languages and before that of Religious Studies. Our job was/is to make students think for themselves and we had to do that too which I guess is why there are so many teachers on here ready to share their thoughts though of course many here are not teachers and do the same.

Lucca Sun 10-Jan-21 13:41:28

I taught MFL. I didn’t start teaching until I was 40 after working as a classroom assistant in my children’s village primary and being told I was good at teaching. I had a road to Damascus moment found and got started on a marvellous training scheme much to my (now ex) husbands fury ( he thought I should be at home making soup and ironing his shirts, which I continued to do at the same time)a hard couple of years followed but I then taught for 16 years.

Lisagran Sun 10-Jan-21 13:51:46

Started as a Primary teacher in London (1969), then when I returned to work after having children, I moved to the Behaviour Support Service. Working mainly with suspended / excluded teenagers was frustrating, (it felt like closing the stable door after the horse had bolted) so I became involved in setting up more holistic support for younger children experiencing difficulties in school, with support programmes involving the child, parents, teachers and other professionals

BBbevan Sun 10-Jan-21 13:56:15

Yes I am an ex art teacher and then infant teacher. I think teachers just like knowing and talking about anything and everything which is why they like GN. Learning new stuff too. Like one big staff room .

TwiceAsNice Sun 10-Jan-21 14:02:35

Not a teacher but when I left school I trained as a nursery nurse gaining anNNEB. I then went back to university and got a masters in counselling and now still work part time in an independent senior school as a counsellor, doing this at home by phone at the moment, the same as last lockdown. I love my work and at 67 intend to continue for some years yet.

trisher Sun 10-Jan-21 14:06:54

Yes I'm a retired primary teacher. When I trained it was the accepted thing for working class girls to do. University was a step too far. Teacher training college meant you would always have a job.I think most of us just like communicating and discussing, oh and pontificating of course. My retired pursuits of local history talks and walks are not available just now of course, so I'm probbly on GN more.

boheminan Sun 10-Jan-21 14:07:10

This thread to me feels rather elitist. I'm not and never have been a teacher.

However, I did spend a few years nursing, cleaning, being a mum, then gran, with lots of other things in between. Does that make me less worthy?

Lisagran Sun 10-Jan-21 14:26:55

No, bohemian, definitely not less worthy - all really valuable occupations

HAZBEEN Sun 10-Jan-21 14:35:00

I am a sort of ex teacher! I was an Adult Vocational Trainer and NVQ Assessor. I also home schooled my daughter from the age of 12 to 17. She has home schooled her son from 12 to 18.

FannyCornforth Sun 10-Jan-21 14:35:11

boheminan

This thread to me feels rather elitist. I'm not and never have been a teacher.

However, I did spend a few years nursing, cleaning, being a mum, then gran, with lots of other things in between. Does that make me less worthy?

I don't believe it...
Shall I ask for it be removed?

Riverwalk Sun 10-Jan-21 14:35:29

Nothing elitist about a thread discussing teachers!

Sofa Sun 10-Jan-21 14:35:39

I’m a retired primary school teacher. Teachers love to communicate so GN is an obvious choice.

Elegran Sun 10-Jan-21 14:38:45

Who mentioned worthy, Boheminan? No-one. We were asked if we were teachers, and a bit on background, and several posters responded.

Lucca Sun 10-Jan-21 14:40:40

Oh please no. Not another thread disrupted with people reading hidden meanings in where they don’t exist. What is elitist about being a teacher ?!
Who mentioned being worthy ?
FannyCornforth has a perfectly valid point. There do seem to be a lot teachers in her however Fanny maybe only in the threads you look at ? Are there some you don’t visit ? I’m just trying to make this into a nice Sunday afternoon waffle chat !

Lucca Sun 10-Jan-21 14:43:02

Twiceasnice. Yours was an interesting post, and a very necessary role at the moment I’d imagine.

Teacheranne Sun 10-Jan-21 14:47:33

I trained as a teacher when a mature student, started my first teaching job at age 38. I was qualified to teach in a Junior School but have always taught the bottom sets in a Secondary School as in the year I qualified the education system in my area changed and the vacancies were reserved for teachers from schools that were closing down.

I loved my job though and ended up as a Special Needs Coordinator and Deputy Head Teacher in the Midlands before moving back to my roots in Manchester and dropping the leadership role. My proudest moment was being nominated for an award as Best Special Needs Teacher by an autistic pupil that I had helped through his GCSEs and winning it! OK, it was only a local award for schools in Greater Manchester but I did win £500 of books for our school library.

I retired three years ago once my pensions kicked in, I had a very good pension from my first job as well so had enough income for my fairly modest needs.

Lucca Sun 10-Jan-21 14:52:06

Wow! Great to have an award. Someone I taught alongside was Teacher of the year . I am in awe!