I am absolutely livid!

Marking books every 4 or 5 weeks?

I mark books every 2 lessons! Without fail! 4 or 5 weeks would be a dream!! I'm working 14 hours per day during term time though. It helps justify the long holidays teachers get

 

It is a fair point. Maybe we were looking at sloppy leadership? If the schools not regarded as failing then there is no incentive to keep on top of individuals?

I'm pleased to hear that. Not the fourteen hours bit, more the diligence on your part.

As I said, there'll be nothing speedy about it.

 

This is the key to good health care so im fully chuffed you are finally getting it

I hope the recovery is nice and steady and the consultant continues to be as helpful, open and honest :-)

 

Apology accepted, just be wary of taking your own experiences as what the rest of a profession is like...

Yes I am a teacher (not sure what made you assume otherwise, genuinely), at a primary school in a very troubled area.

The school is fantastic and the kids do really well. It's hard work but I can't imagine myself doing anything else as I love it so much.

Edited to add: Sorry for taking this thread off track- sending best wishes to your OH.

 

Hmm I stepped on my own foot there I meant speedy in terms of faster recovery than normal. Anyway, all the best to you both.


@CharlieBot I had no idea about what your job is. I was just excited to spot a fellow teacher

 

Never apologise for saying what you think

 

there is nothing to apologise for.

I think there is a general dumbing down of our youth. I see it in America and bits and pieces of other countries.

 

Lordy, I was going to leave this alone. So I'll lay out my thoughts as an employer;

The youth of today are no less intelligent than youth ever was. I would go as far as to say that their ability to recite facts, figures and formula is far better than in the past.
As an employer the problems that we have are twofold - they can no longer think problems through and what they have considered good enough no longer cuts the mustard in the real world. Sadly they are now a year to two years behind in terms of being able to work autonomously.
Of the last nine apprentices that we took on just two have been retained or stuck at it. We may be responsible for that as we were too focused on results in science, English and maths instead of trying to gauge attitude.

I know that this sounds harsh - it is not intended to be, I'm just being honest.

 

Afraid I have to agree with you @longk. I used to run my own small business and had god's own trouble trying to find school leavers who would understand 99% right wasn't good enough for the job they were being employed to do. They also were completely unused to being told they weren't wonderful and it was expected that they would keep their desks tidy as there wasn't some poor cleaner who would being cleaning up their mess on a daily basis. They also seemed to think it was perfectly acceptable for me to literally get my hands dirty but they were above any sort of manual work. I gave up on looking to give school leavers a chance to gain some work experience and took on 2 semi retired people who were delighted to get the jobs.
I certainly don't put the whole blame for bad attitude at the door of teachers, more likely "culprits" are darling Mummy and Daddy!

 

Despite what it may sound like I also have sympathy for teachers. They are shackled by the key stage testing culture.

 

Firstly I am not really that old, but I remember when I first started work that there was more emphasis on manpower than machines. This resulted with young 'uns joining the workforce alongside many adult men and woman, who as well as training them their given trade, knocked the edgy corners off the kids socialising them and helping to make them more aware of what is expected of them as mature adults, both in the workplace and out of it.
In this day and age many kids are joining sparce work forces (often as cheap labour) and their immaturity is more exposed. There is also not many opportunities for them to hold down Saturday jobs and paper rounds, to help introduce them to the world of work.
It's not the fault of educators in schools or the workplace in my opinion, it's really just that the changing workplace has outpaced us a little at the moment. Given time things will level out. Most of the young people I am in contact with (and they are many) have worked hard at school etc. and are desperate to do well and earn enough to be independent.
Hopefully some of them will get to be the doctors and nurses that will look after us. Best wishes to LongKs spouse for her continued steadily progressive healing.