Many teachers are leaving education early on retirement why|?

Question

I am not a teacher and know that although they have an inflation proof pension it is heavily discounted (I refer to UK) if they retire early. Many of them are near or have a nervous breakdown or suffer stress illness, this is perhaps more so than many other professions. When are our so called politicians going to insist on an inquiry to discover the root course of the loss of experienced teachers especially as they are now rabbiting on about compulsory education until the age of 18>

Answer 1

For many older teachers, the job is no longer one that they wish to do. It has changed beyond all recognition from what it was.

We no longer have independence in the classroom: not only are we told what we are to teach, but also when, and how to teach it. This is particularly frustrating when the curriculum is not stuctured to the needs of the subject, and contains precious little that will be of any use to our pupils when they leave school.I`m talking about the national curriculum in maths.

We have no effective disiplinary procedures other than the force of our own personality, and it wears you down having to tolerate the incessant interuptions from those whose mission it is to continually disrupt your lesson.

The examination system has dissolved into farce: it`s become an achievement to fail G.C.S.E. now. It`s instructive to find the grade boundaries to achieve a grade C, B, or an A.

We are expected to be social workers as much as teachers and while this is an important part of the caring aspect of the profession, it is gradually taking over the work of teachers to the exclusion of high quality academic work.

The proposal to extend compulsory education to 18 has little to do with academic excellence, but more to do with keeping the unruly and unemployable elements of society off the streets and under some form of control.

These are just a few of the reasons why teachers are leaving the profession in droves, to seek the sanctuary of early retirement, or the better salaries and less stressful surroundings of another job.

Answer 2

Mainly because the laws and rules keep changing on teachers. They want to teach more, but with all the different types of personalities,the teachers are unable to enforce any type of punishment except for suspending or expulsion of students whom of which always act out in classes. Even the parents are easier to file law suits against a school or teacher, if the teacher reprimands a student vocally, they could unfortunately be slapped with a law suit from the parents or parent. In other words the teacher is constantly stressed out over this and tries to teach the ones that he or she can, and is being forced into that situation by society. This is not right in any means but it happened to my father-in-law. He retired 6 yrs before his retirement was actually in affect.

Answer 3

well you face unemployment more then other teachers as they are cutting electives out. They say you get the summer off which is a lie because you.spend it preparing for next year, continue education at college at your expense. You spend the weekends making sure lesson plans are in order. you can't be a coach unless you get an extra certificate in that. Those are all the draw backs.

Answer 4

Teachers today are now subject completely to the whims of administration. Our teacher evaluation system is a simple popularity contest. If the principal likes you, you get a glowing evaluation...if the principal doesn t like you, they mark you partially proficient with nothing to back it up. Once your eval is "in the system" you have no recourse. They say you have 7 days, but that s not true. Even when you (the teacher) provide the evidence to the contrary, once it s in, it s in. Heels dug in, no changes allowed. Too much power in one persons hands. Where not paid enough to have yet another ridiculous mandate on our plates!

Answer 5

If the UK is anything like the US, a great deal of the problem comes from the fact that we don't really get any support from many of the parents or the politicians. The fact that the students know this makes it that much worse.

Answer 6

Its hard to find fully certified teachers in the USA. Most quit after five years. So, they now have quick fix permits, and many schools offer bonuses... which is a joke. If the top administrator likes you, you get a bonus. If not, tough luck. Education really isnt important to our politicians. All of their kids go to private schools.

Answer 7

I thought teachers/professors etc are better paid than what is happening in most of the third world countries. Here in my part of the world (India, Pakistan), one tries for a cushy job and if he/she fails, he/she will opt for teaching, last choice, which is lowest-paid. I guess the same fate the teachers in UK are also meeting. Really heart-wrenching global situation.

Answer 8

I think that the problem is that you have people that have never been teachers or former teachers who have forgotten what it is like on the front lines trying to tell us what is the best way to teach. So, teachers get frustrated and they leave.

Answer 9

may be worn out.They talked too much,Did the opposite wrong thing ( go back to YA Q&A for more on them).

Answer 10

they're probably sick to the teeth of trying to teach unruly brats with no proper rearing