My name’s Dan. I’m a secondary school teacher in the North of England, and I’ve been doing this job for ten years. My wife is a teacher too, and together we have two young kids – they’re 6 and 4. Our eldest is autistic, but she’s in mainstream education and doing well – she has her moments, but we all do.
Right now, I find myself experiencing education from a variety of perspectives: as a teacher, a parent, a partner and as an advocate of SEND provision (or lack thereof). I’ll talk more about these different roles in future posts. But first, let me rewind a bit.
Before anything else, I was a teacher – a decent one, I think. I’m not especially organised. I’m rubbish at paperwork. And don’t come to me for insightful tech advice (which, let’s be honest, is probably just another way of saying I’m disorganised). But what I am good at is people. I genuinely care about them.
In my younger years, that came from a desire to please everyone – but over time, it’s grown into something more grounded. I’ve learned how to build rapport with all sorts of people, and I pride myself on leaving someone feeling just a tiny bit better than when I met them. At least, that’s the aim.
But recently, something’s shifted.
Most mornings, I wake up and try to get myself and the kids ready for the day. And then – like clockwork – the ‘schedule send’ emails arrive. Always at 7:30am. Someone, somewhere, once sat around a table and decided that 7:30am is the official start of our working day.
Those emails hit, and I feel it – a surge of frustration. Not aimed at anyone in particular, but at the system, maybe? Or just… how dare you email me now? I’m already forcing Cheerios into my kids while realising I haven’t ironed my shirt or made my wife’s packed lunch like I said I would.
Is this a me problem?
Most mornings follow a strict routine (my eldest needs it), but I still somehow manage to sabotage things with my trademark tardiness and shambolic household admin. By the time we’re out the door, I’m already in a bit of a negative headspace. But then – as always – I’m proven wrong.
It’s like going to see a film you didn’t want to watch. Your mates are buzzing about it, but you were hoping for the big-budget action flick with that actress from the perfume advert. Instead, you end up watching a rom-com where Jack Black is the romantic lead, and before you know it, you’re crying into your popcorn thinking, what a way to spend Christmas. (Totally made-up example, by the way.)
That’s what teaching feels like most days.
I think I hate it. I really do. There are definitely parts of the job I can’t stand. But as the day goes on – as I spend more time with the kids (who, for the most part, are actually amazing) – I feel myself getting happier, more energised.
So… do I secretly love a job I outwardly complain about? Or am I just clinging to the good bits, trying to balance them against the weight of a profession that doesn’t seem to be valued by many of the people who should care most?
I’m not sure yet.
But I think that’s why I’m writing this blog. SO, please like and subscribe – join us for the Detention Diaries podcast where we will be discussing all things education and have a little bit of fun while we’re at it.
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