Seemingly trivial things that elicit an emotional response of some kind

[First Aspect]

Fewer.

 

[BoldonLad]

Nowhere else to put this, but I just learnt that all state school teachers are paid the same irrespective of the subject they teach. There is a widespread shortage of maths teachers. Presumably trying to pay maths teachers more will cause problems, so they have opted for not having any. This is an intriguing mess.

Daughter No2 is a Maths teacher. I forget the terminology, but, there are ways and means to "adjust" pay.

 

[AuroraSaab]

They often find extra stuff for people to do if they want to retain them and pay them an extra half point on the scale. This can be big stuff or minor stuff. It would be pretty bad for staff morale if a school paid a Maths teacher and a Geography teacher very different salaries for the same job.

 

[First Aspect]

They often find extra stuff for people to do if they want to retain them and pay them an extra half point on the scale. This can be big stuff or minor stuff. It would be pretty bad for staff morale if a school paid a Maths teacher and a Geography teacher very different salaries for the same job.

Is teaching maths and geography the same job? I think pretty much any teacher can teach geography, but I think you need more specialist knowledge to teach maths. I don't think so, and more than teaching 5 year olds is the same job as teaching 15 year olds.

 

[PurplePenguin]

Is teaching maths and geography the same job? I think pretty much any teacher can teach geography, but I think you need more specialist knowledge to teach maths. I don't think so, and more than teaching 5 year olds is the same job as teaching 15 year olds.

It leads to the intriguing situation where jobs are the same, but fewer people want to do one of the same jobs.

I don't think there is that much specialist knowledge required to teach GCSE maths, but further maths at A-level would require a bit more understanding.

 

[C R]

It leads to the intriguing situation where jobs are the same, but fewer people want to do one of the same jobs.

I don't think there is that much specialist knowledge required to teach GCSE maths, but further maths at A-level would require a bit more understanding.

But so would teaching geography at the same level. Teaching any subject properly is equally as hard.

 

[AuroraSaab]

Is teaching maths and geography the same job? I think pretty much any teacher can teach geography, but I think you need more specialist knowledge to teach maths. I don't think so, and more than teaching 5 year olds is the same job as teaching 15 year olds.

Yes, pretty much. Lesson prep, marking, writing schemes of work, setting exams, classroom management, pastoral care, parents evenings. You need specialist knowledge in every subject above a certain level. I don't think primary school teachers should be paid less than secondary teachers just because for example there are fewer discipline problems in primary classrooms. Their challenges are different.

There's is a shortage because stem graduates can get more lucrative, less stressful jobs elsewhere and the salary gulf is such that it would require a supplement of several thousand pounds a year, every year, to make up that difference. Schools can't afford that and it would undermine staff cohesion to pay it.

 

[First Aspect]

But so would teaching geography at the same level. Teaching any subject properly is equally as hard.

No, it isn't.

 

[BoldonLad]

Yes, pretty much. Lesson prep, marking, writing schemes of work, setting exams, classroom management, pastoral care, parents evenings. You need specialist knowledge in every subject above a certain level. I don't think primary school teachers should be paid less than secondary teachers just because for example there are fewer discipline problems in primary classrooms. Their challenges are different.

There's is a shortage because stem graduates can get more lucrative, less stressful jobs elsewhere and the salary gulf is such that it would require a supplement of several thousand pounds a year, every year, to make up that difference. Schools can't afford that and it would undermine staff cohesion to pay it.

I would guess... you are a teacher, or, were? 😊

 

[First Aspect]

Yes, pretty much. Lesson prep, marking, writing schemes of work, setting exams, classroom management, pastoral care, parents evenings. You need specialist knowledge in every subject above a certain level. I don't think primary school teachers should be paid less than secondary teachers just because for example there are fewer discipline problems in primary classrooms. Their challenges are different.

There's is a shortage because stem graduates can get more lucrative, less stressful jobs elsewhere and the salary gulf is such that it would require a supplement of several thousand pounds a year, every year, to make up that difference. Schools can't afford that and it would undermine staff cohesion to pay it.

I think it is probably just one of those disparities people know exists but dare not say.

As regards competition with other professions, at least at graduate level teaching is very competitive indeed, with far far better pensions and ta and cs than most of the private sector.

It also compares fairly well in overall stress I would say, particularly given the amount of recovery time you get between stress periods, which is vastly better than pretty much any "stressful" job, I would say.

But one person's stress for a given task isn't the same as someone else's, and some people, a lot of people, couldnt teach at all, regardless of their knowledge levels. Same could be said if lots of other jobs though.

 

[C R]

No, it isn't.

I'd hazard a guess that you have no experience in teaching. I have a PhD in physics, so STEM through and through, but I never bought into the conceit that humanities are somehow easier.

 

[Rusty Nails]

They often find extra stuff for people to do if they want to retain them and pay them an extra half point on the scale. This can be big stuff or minor stuff. It would be pretty bad for staff morale if a school paid a Maths teacher and a Geography teacher very different salaries for the same job.

I believe you may be confusing the academic subject "geography" with the "geography" subject on quiz programmes.

 

[Pross]

No, it isn't.

Why? You need to have a background knowledge of your subject matter. Would a maths graduate have advanced knowledge of rock formations or land uses? This is just your snobbery in relation to STEM subjects raising its head again. I would be able to make a better fist of teaching maths or physics than I would of English or history.

 

[First Aspect]

Why? You need to have a background knowledge of your subject matter. Would a maths graduate have advanced knowledge of rock formations or land uses? This is just your snobbery in relation to STEM subjects raising its head again. I would be able to make a better fist of teaching maths or physics than I would of English or history.

Sure, but I only need a crayon to teach geography.

 

[PurplePenguin]

In a market economy, it doesn't really matter if the job is technically equal, if no one wants to do it, you have to pay more, because the market says it's a different job.