Vodka with fruit squash is the elixir of my life.Yup, after Tuberculosis in joints my Dad had knee plus some bone either side removed & fused. Then years later bones removed from feet.
Physio still told him he could bend leg if he tried
Still walked, albeit very unevenly! Hence falling through a floor in front of our now King.
Good old Whiskey eh?! They used to give it in hospitals.
Brandy my tipple of choice.
Retirement
- Thread starter Med Sci
- Start date
Don't want to be Dolly Downer to anyone starting out as tech, or who works in lovely place, but after 23 years I am fed up with same old crap different day. I loved job in early days. But when tech team, conditions, teachers, etc all change. It gets very wearing.
Posts like this always make me sad. I don't like to see others feeling crap in their jobs especially when a lot of it is down to other people rather than the role. There are some amazing people working as techs who go above and beyond and would be an asset to many technician teams, but the wrong school can really wear people down and make them want to leave the profession.
Technician Q
(she/her)
Left my original career of IT support in school because of bad school culture. No trust financially - couldn't even buy floppy disks without three quotes - was never listened to on areas I was being employed to be the expert in - such as internet security - and my "office" was an ex-projection room with rubbish lighting. And they didn't want me to take term time holidays (understandable to a point) or holiday time holidays (because who else would do the updates and installing all the new tech they bought without consulting their in house expert?)
Seriously - if the job is getting you down it might not be the work that's the problem!
I left my previous school because we got a new senior tech who was horrible to me. She really didn't like me for some reason, and it was badly affecting my mental health. Here, I'm the only tech so it's a lot better. I still have problems with some of the teachers sometimes, but generally it's better. I am on a bit of a downer mentally atm, but I think that's just my brain being wonky (it does that from time to time ), it'll right itself soon, I'm sure.
), it'll right itself soon, I'm sure.
Oh, you were IT too? Ditto, 14 years here, many in previous schools.
Technician Q
(she/her)
Not since around 2000. Left the school, and decided to do a masters, got a research assistant job then moved abroad. By the time we returned we had a family!
Very true. I wouldn't say it's the job per se. For me it's the physicality too. Up & downstairs many, many times a day. I literally can't sometimes.
It's also the other techs. Not having a friendly team has definitely worn me down recently. I'm not a social butterfly but i like a laugh & joke, a chat over a cuppa. I cannot remember the last time I laughed in science dept. Let alone had a cuppa & chat.
The team you have as techs, or with teachers if you are a lone tech, is more important than many realise I think after recent experience.
Emil Tac 2
Roller of Sleeves
Agreed.
It's easy to forget how isolating our job can be. Outside of fellow techs, we really are in a "cupboard" most of the time with limited social interaction. I think the popularity of this forum is partly evidence of this.
Teachers forget this and don't know what it's like since they have the other extreme of the situation where they never shut down from social interactions; be it from students to fellow staff and parents. So when they see techs sitting and having a chat, they see "lazy techs" not working, when instead they should be seeing human beings trying to maintain a good level of mental health.
Heck why not join the conversation? Might do them some good for their mental health not talking about work/kids all the bloody time.
100% agree with this. My colleague is on maternity leave at the moment and I miss her terribly. We could talk to each other about anything and would always have a laugh about things. I desperately hope she comes back as I feel quite lonely and miserable here lately. The teachers are all nice enough, but they keep themselves to themselves for the most part and our prep room is quite small, so it's not a hub for the department like it was in other schools I have worked in.
Totally agree Puds. We are all social beings, when we go home we don't think " I had a nice day because I saw a sunrise or sunset or some other pretty thing." it's all about our interactions with people. If someone is good or bad it effects us, such a shame that some people don't care.
We had a wellbeing lecture recently, delivered to the whole school. It was all about how to convince your subconscious that everything is fine after difficult confrontations. All I thought was that the people who cause all these problems are also in this room, why don't you teach them how to conduct themselves better when interacting with people, so the victims don't go away upset and stressed. Victim blaming again because it can't be managements fault.
We had a wellbeing lecture recently, delivered to the whole school. It was all about how to convince your subconscious that everything is fine after difficult confrontations. All I thought was that the people who cause all these problems are also in this room, why don't you teach them how to conduct themselves better when interacting with people, so the victims don't go away upset and stressed. Victim blaming again because it can't be managements fault.
Emil Tac 2
Roller of Sleeves
This. But sadly no matter how much training or pedagogy is given with regards to this issue, there is always one winner: The person paid to give the session who's just reading from a PowerPoint slide.
It is true. I have worked in departments previously where the chips were down but we were all on the same side, and we had a laugh, and even a social life.
I recognise what has been said about difficult colleagues - they can be the difference between a good workplace and an intolerable one.
I retire in 3 weeks so this will probably be last entry.
Slightly sad to go. 33 years is a long time in one school.
Lots of great teachers over the years, some not so. No different from when I worked in industry. And that trade is all but gone.
The job itself? A sad decline I'm afraid. Poor money. Little or no promotion. Training spotty at best. Terrible discipline well, you all know the story.
The powers that be know why they can't retain/recruite people. They simply can't admit they got it wrong. A common fault in local authorities/politicians.
A worrying trend is the (very) slow drift away from practical work. You tube you have a lot to answer for.
I'm not in the worst school area by far. But, some of the tales I have read on here about Techs, or Technical Officers they call us here, are horrific.
So I wish all of you the best in the coming years. Who knows maybe the politicians etc. will waken up. I doubt it but, it's nice to think it might happen.
And for those of you who speak Gaelic "Cha till Mi Tuille"
Goodbye and good luck.
Slightly sad to go. 33 years is a long time in one school.
Lots of great teachers over the years, some not so. No different from when I worked in industry. And that trade is all but gone.
The job itself? A sad decline I'm afraid. Poor money. Little or no promotion. Training spotty at best. Terrible discipline well, you all know the story.
The powers that be know why they can't retain/recruite people. They simply can't admit they got it wrong. A common fault in local authorities/politicians.
A worrying trend is the (very) slow drift away from practical work. You tube you have a lot to answer for.
I'm not in the worst school area by far. But, some of the tales I have read on here about Techs, or Technical Officers they call us here, are horrific.
So I wish all of you the best in the coming years. Who knows maybe the politicians etc. will waken up. I doubt it but, it's nice to think it might happen.
And for those of you who speak Gaelic "Cha till Mi Tuille"
Goodbye and good luck.
All the best
Enjoy your retirement and all the best . I am down to 4 days a week and planning my retirement asap
You can talk to us !! I know not the same but we will try our best !!
Thank you. I actually find this forum a place of sanctuary! It's nice to know I'm not alone, theoretically at least!
I would retire today if I could but I have to wait until 67 (could not manage on limited pension before then)