A
female
age
51-59,
anonymous
writes:Thank you to all who respond. I know people are busy but the responses to thd questions I see here are really good.I am a high school spec ed teacher and as my students are high needs and could not do remote learning I was in person in my classrooms this year. I am a full time itinerent teacher which means I support a number of teachers in two high schools. I program, assess and evaluate. I really enjoy my job.This year has been interesting walking into empty schools to teach my students. Most other staff and students did remote learning.Although at greater risk for covid particularly back in January I enjoyed the year.I am studying for additional qualification in teaching french this summer but have stopped telling people I am a teacher because of some of the comments I get. People do not know I was one of a handful of teachers in the schools and tell me what an easy job I have teaching from home. Although I did not teach from home I do not think it was easy at all for the people who didThese have been hard times for many. I know many people have had their lives shattered by covid and that teachers have good job security compared to many but why is this profession so disliked? In my teaching career I have had mostly colleagues who cared deeply, put in countless hours with extracirticular activities and dealt with large classes with behaviour challenges.Why do so many dislike teachers? Reply to this Question
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (7 July 2021): My son has autism and spec ed teachers are much appreciated by parents like me. They work hard to support our special kids. And they are special people themselves to do this job. But I think it is the bad apples who complain about their job who give all teachers a bad reputation. I have a few friends from high school who went on to become teachers and all they do is post on Facebook about how hard done by they are. In actuality, they are not. Why go through university and getting an education to become a teacher to turn around and always bitch about it? How sad that they get a pension, summers off and a pretty good salary.
A
female
reader, Youcannotbeserious  +, writes (5 July 2021):
 Sadly I think it is down to sheer ignorance, nothing more. I don't think the profession is disliked as such but I do think is that few people understand what it involves. Ask 100 people on the street "what do you think about school teachers" and I am willing to bet that a large percentage of them will mention "long holidays". The holidays are all some people seem to know about the teaching profession.
I have a work colleague whose wife is a teacher and she has actually worked much harder over the past year than ever before, preparing lessons, doing one-to-one video sessions with pupils, etc. Even before the current situation, he used to often mention how late she had sat up, marking assignments and preparing lessons. Your average person on the street thinks teaching entails a few hours in the classroom with lovely well-behaved hard-working pupils (because they all are, right?) and having loads of holidays in between.
You don't need to justify yourself to anyone but you can let their ill-informed comments and assumptions roll off you. You know what you contribute to children's education. That is all that matters.
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A
female
reader, RubyBirtle +, writes (5 July 2021):
I don't think the profession is hated. I know loads of teachers and they're lovely. I respect them very much.
But I do think that many people don't really understand the profession which leads to a lot of misconceptions. And these misconceptions can lead to a few thoughtless comments and the odd snide remark. (Some people just love one-downmanship.) And, in most situations I think it's perfectly acceptable to gently correct them. Such as....
Fallacy No.1: "Oh, it must be lovely to finish work at 3pm" Answer: "Yeah. But in reality I'm lucky if I'm home before xxx time. There's always an after school club, or a meeting or something after lessons finish."
Fallacy No.2: "It must be nice never to have to work weekends." Answer: "Yeah, most of my weekends are free but I have to do quite a lot of lesson planning and marking at the weekend. And in the summer term there are often extra curricular activities that the teachers need to supervise."
Fallacy No.3: "Wow, such long holidays! Answer: "It is nice but the summer is usually filled up with marking exam papers and preparing lessons for the next term. And we have training days. I'd love to be able to take a trip away during low season for once but the price hotels and travel doubles as soon as school closes.
There are probably many more fallacies but I'm sure you can think up similar replies in the same vein that are much better.
And once again, I don't think people hate teachers. I think they don't understand everything it entails. And I think teachers are great.
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A
female
reader, Honeypie  +, writes (5 July 2021):
 Why do so many dislike teachers?
Who knows? I'd ASK whoever acts negatively towards you and your job directly for a direct answer?
I have a lot of respect for most teachers. I have, however, NOT been very happy about some of the BS that is being pushed in schools these days but I understand that often time teachers do not get to pick and choose what to teach.
I would prefer people in professions such as teachers to be "apolitical" while teaching. Not political and often very one-sided. That doesn't mean I treat teachers with disrespect or scorn. I have been super glad for the teachers my kids have had, and have expressed that to them directly.
So maybe that explains why SOME people are not the biggest fans of teachers these days? Maybe it comes down to all the repugnant political infighting?
Consider how a police officer who is wanting to do the BEST job he can to serve and protect and instead gets people calling him a killer...
People can be judgemental asshats.
I can imagine it is frustrating to deal with. At the same time... It also shows you quite clearly WHO to avoid.
You are doing a thankless underpaid job. I for one (regardless of politics) have the utmost respect for what you and the other teachers do EVERy day.
So thank you.
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