The New Lives of Teachers by Christopher Day & Qing Gu

Author:Christopher Day & Qing Gu
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Education
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Published: 2010-05-24T00:00:00+00:00

Story 3: still committed but about to disengage – managing work–life tensions

I can’t imagine why a young person would want to come into teaching quite frankly. That’s why they’re leaving – they come and they see and they try. It’s not me … It’s the attitude of children and things you have to do. No child of mine would ever teach. Over my dead body.

(Faith)

In Faith, we see an example of how the effects of changes – in this case, changes in the nature of ‘accountability’ and ‘trust’ environments and the attitudes and behaviours of pupils – may test the capacity of teachers to sustain their commitment over a lifetime of teaching. Despite this, the teacher continued to gain her satisfaction from her classroom teaching – why she came into teaching in the first place – and the support of close colleagues.

Faith had taught for 31 years in a Roman Catholic school with 1,000+ pupils, set in a semi-rural area in the North of England. She described herself as working in ‘a very caring school and environment’ where she could turn to any member of staff and be supported. She enjoyed working in her department, in which people worked together well – ‘there is a lot of work and expectation of high standards, but you’re supported as well’. Her head of department was ‘fantastic’, ‘very supportive’ and ‘efficient’ and this was ‘very encouraging’ and ‘motivating’ for her. Although Faith had maintained her commitment, she had become tired and frequently stressed.

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