“I know a teacher, and the amount of stress that she has from the classroom is enormous. I would never want to be a teacher. You seem to forget that they have to plan lessons and mark homework as well as doing the actual job of teaching.”

“Teachers may work hard and have a lot of things to contend with but they do work less. I can only think of secretaries who actually don't have a lot to contend with.”

“"pupils are not the most brightest of people these days, it don't take a lot of working out why."
Fail! Lol.”

“It is just a job - so make the most while you have one.”

“honslknjklyt, do you have any experience of being either a secretary or a teacher? If not, how do you know that they have an easy life? By 'work' I suspect that you mean physical labour, in which case builders and ground workers are some the hardest working members of society. However, there are many other aspects of a job. I note that you believe that teacher training is the same as time off - wrong.”

“Sorry, that last sentence was supposed to be addressed to cheltenham20.”

“FreeRadical1
Few little points, after a 7 week summer break, and 3 days back in school is it realy nesseserry to have a 2 day closure of the school for teacher training, perhaps the long break caused then to lose there brain cells, Less than 5 weeks later they have another weeks break, then on there return they close the school again for another 2 days training... From the summer break, the teachers have been in non teaching mode for a total of 59 days and teaching mode for a total of 25 days... I understand teachers making a case for themselves... but its time a line was drawn under this stupidity.... If they think they are so hard done by then get a proper job...”

“Training days are not extra days off for the students.... The school year consists of so many days pre-determined by the powers that be, training days for staff are on the days designated as student holidays, students do not get extra holiday. Our local high school chooses to have some of their training days in the evening. Its not difficult for parents to find out if their children are attending the required amount of days per year.”

“I once rented a room in a house owned by a teacher. She worked hard on planning lessons and marking and correcting homework. She also had to rent out rooms in her house in order to make ends meet. In what way is teaching not a 'proper job'? Who else is going to teach children? Most parents clearly aren't up to the task.”