Greg of Sydney, Reader's Comment, 'Toxic teacher' warning as debate rages on lifting uni entry marks, Catherine Armitage, Rachel Browne, 3 October 2012: http://www.smh.com.au/national/tertiary-education/toxic-teacher-warning-as-debate-rages-on-lifting-uni-entry-marks-20121002-26xi5.html Historical link preserved from the original page.
Mother of Sydney high school teacher: teachers do a lot of work in the evenings and at weekends.
My son had an HSC around 98 % mark but went on to study for a BA and Diploma of Education.
He has been a high school teacher for over six years now.
My regular advice to him is to get out of teaching and take on another professional position where his talent, qualifications, skills and energy displayed are appreciated.
I never knew much about a teacher's work-load but I have seen the hours he has to put in at school and after school.
8.00am to to 5.00 or 5.30pm are just the hours he spends at the school.
When he gets home and on week ends, that is when a lot of the work gets done.
For example marking 50 HSC trial essays on the weekend is just one of those tasks.
Organising and supervising a weekend camp isn't paid by the hour either, it is expected that it is done as part of the normal work load.
Marking essays, writing assessment, writing reports, preparing what has to be taught the next day, parent interviews, school excursions and professional development courses - all are done in the evening and on weekends ( I know all this because often I drive him to those courses and collect him afterwards).
That's why I keep telling him don't burn yourself out for people who don't appreciate your efforts.
The way the education system is going, I am confident that he will accept my advice within a few years.