All good points. It's not just the money to be fair. I know teachers whinge, but it's emotionally draining and I don't know how much more I can take. And you can't actually do much with your holidays... You're not paid enough. I keep myself entertained, but you're just off work, not really on holiday. And yes, I work a huge amount of hours. Then you turn up and the same mentally unstable kid needs restraining again (yes, it is like that) and all you want to do is quit.
Anyhow, thanks for the advice. I need to balance everything and think about how long it will take to build a business again.
I know how stressful it can be...I went out with a high school teacher for 5 years...she was constantly working even in the so called holidays,red tape and constant new curriculums plus you couldn't physically hit the kids with the cane,etc....
You have my respect mate,they reckon teaching is one of the most stressful jobs you can do....
Ironically window cleaning is probably one of the least stressful and well paid(for hours worked)
Good luck
That's an interesting take on teaching .....
Darran
In my school days, the cane was another way of opening most kids ears - I speak from personal experience, Darran.
All teachers could use the cane on boys and the ruler on girls in Africa. It was only in later high school years that the school's Headmaster was the one entrusted to cane us lads. He was the one to decide how many strokes you got. Friday afternoon detention was dished out more and more. One lad in our class was booked into detention for the remaining 4 years of his high school attendance. (High school was 5 years in Northern Rhodesia back then.) He was a rather naughty boy. Back in our day our parents generally supported the school discipline procedure. We didn't dare tell our parents we got "dorks" (the cane) or we would get another hiding from them as well.
We have a few teachers on the round. They are all finding the job very stressful. Pressure comes from all directions - unruly children, unruly parents and Ofsted.
My advice to Viscount would be to start using the longer daylight hours to start to build a small round while still being a teacher. This is going to take commitment from not only yourself but your family as well and be very exhausting.
I would also be doing some soul-searching and asking myself why I left off window cleaning to become a teacher in the first place. When we look back over our past, we often only remember the good times. Was it having to work outside in all weathers? My wife works in an office, and in winter I frequently wish I could also work all day in a warm environment.
Building a successful round isn't as easy as it was 15 years ago. There is a lot more competition and customer's perception of what window cleaning should cost has changed much in 10 years - or at least that's my experience in our area in the North East.