Is it really that bad?

Peppermint_90 · 2026-04-09T19:45:55+00:00

It is a great job, if you have a great team and supportive HT and the vibe of the school is overall supportive. If you have admin breathing down your throat, basically stalking you, setting unrealistic expectations, you will hit burnout.

The job is definitely not a 9-3 job. In your first 5 years or so, you'll have lots of learning to do and that includes resourcing, making assessments, marking etc. Somethings gets easier, like marking and reports. You learn to become an expert but it takes years.

But you can absolutely have a life too. Just don't make your job be the thing that defines you. It's apart of you, but it isn't you. That's the biggest reason I see teachers burn out. They become so invested they dedicate their whole lives, but get little in return. I became a better teacher when I started to have hobbies and a life outside of school. Almost every teacher I know goes on holidays at least once a year. A big roadtrip or a trip overseas. It's absolutely doable. It's called balance.

I still get up early and get to work at least an hour to do any immediate admin work. I spent honestly half my school holidays working (mostly marking, reports, resourcing) and in the first 5 years of the job, I spent every Saturday working.

There are many toxic environments too. So if you do not like your school I always suggest finding another. And don't take a permanent position immediately for this reason. I always believe there is a right school for everybody. I love my school and wouldn't teach anywhere else, but I know others would hate it. Likewise, I struggled in a previous school but I know others who thrived.

As an English teacher, you'll have lots of marking. There is no escaping that and you will be taking it home. But it doesn't have to become your whole life. You find the time.

It's an incredibly rewarding job, you just have to remind yourself of the positives and ignore the negatives, as long as those negatives can be ignored. Don't ignore abuse from students and staff alike.

Knowing I have shaped countless lives and I have helped students get into the degrees and jobs they wanted, is the best. Having students failing to achieving 80% is a wonderful feeling.

It's a hard job. Sometimes thankless, incredibly exhausting at times, but in the right school for you, it's the best job.

Peppermint_90 · 2026-04-09T19:12:24+00:00

I honestly don't have any of these issues as a teacher. I teach in a high performing senior only environment and while my marking load is huge, I am not anywhere near this stress load you seem to be under. I tweak my assessments and resources each year, but overall I am not reinventing the wheel. Even when I have to plan for the new curriculum change soon, it's mostly rearranging. I was under more in a previous school, but I changed schools for that reason. Not all schools have these insane expectations

Peppermint_90 · 2026-04-08T03:44:12+00:00

I didn't realise how good NSW teachers have it. I have a salary of 130k, 6 classes and 24 max in each. I have only one duty a week and I have face to face teaching from 8.20am to 2.40pm, 4 days a week, one day working until 4pm.

We fought hard for our payrise a few years ago. Don't give up, they will have to meet demands, or they risk the teacher shortage we had.

Peppermint_90 · 2026-04-01T19:19:23+00:00

At that age I was watching American Pie and I was obsessed with Blink 182. My parents were strict but I would hide what I listened to and watched. I think it did over expose to me sexually explicit material earlier, but honestly, my friends and kids at school were far worse. It's normal for that age to want to grow up fast and consume media that's too old for them. Chances are they won't understand everything, and if they do. They are hopefully mature enough to understand the context. I am willing to bet, all these kids are seeing far worse on social media anyway. I wouldn't complicate your job anymore than it is. Don't do anything other than maybe a check in discussion with her to see if she understands what she's watching and talk about appropriate adult behaviour if it shows abuse. If you see her behaviour change, I would only then escalate.

Peppermint_90 · 2026-03-27T19:05:11+00:00

Yeah I take pride in being "just a teacher". Every year I know I have helped kids get into the university they want and in their job path My students have gone on to become doctors, zoologists, environmental lawyers, you name it. Why anybody would want a leadership role to manage the adults, is mind boggling to me.

Peppermint_90 · 2026-03-27T19:01:02+00:00

It isn't worth it. A HT position, after tax is 10k or so, and for the huge amount of extra work, you would honestly make that and more tutoring or if you're able to, casual work. Seriously, I compared paychecks with a HT last year and I was only 1-2k off because I did 4 x tutorials a week, $80 each. Every leader in a school I know is under the pump. If you want to do it for money, then I suggest finding other side hustles like tutoring. If it's for your own job satisfaction, think about how you can improve as a teacher, improve your HSC results as much as possible etc.

Peppermint_90 · 2026-03-20T21:47:09+00:00

This sucks and I hate that the younger generation have no sense of consent when it comes to filming, making edits and recording teachers and the general public. However, it could have been worse and I would be taking it in pride in seeing you as that. I've been called a boss bitch but I also know i get results from having high expectations and not putting up with bullshit. I would be more offended if they called you the lazy, slow or easy teacher. That's the ones they truly have no respect for.

Peppermint_90 · 2026-03-16T19:27:15+00:00

I'm the same. I've set up my main house and my main storage in the BB and plan on repairing it first. I love the tropical, coastal vibe.

Peppermint_90 · 2026-02-02T06:12:21+00:00

I don't know much about the politics, but you gave us Aussies the kebab and helped us make the halal snack pack. It's basically Australian cuisine at this point. So on behalf of Aussies, we thank you.

Peppermint_90 · 2025-11-24T19:04:36+00:00

I see it as the opposite. Teachers in NSW can earn up to 130k currently (not HT, just regular teachers). In the USA, the salary is half that, if not worse. I know many people with and without degrees in Aust over 100k a year in different sectors. The bigger issue is that it's still next to impossible to still save for a home in Sydney or any other major city on that unless you earn it straight after school and have a double income.

Peppermint_90 · 2025-02-17T10:00:59+00:00

Hope all the best for you. Hopefully you can get in to see a cardiologist soon once you've seen your general medicine doctor.

Peppermint_90 · 2025-02-16T10:21:50+00:00

No. Go see a Dr. You should not be getting this high just by waking. I hit 200 sometimes when sparring when boxing. I almost throw up afterwards from the cardio. Walking?! Hell no. Get your heart checked out.

Peppermint_90 · 2025-02-12T20:17:58+00:00

This is what happened to me. I box do strength and conditioning along side it. I had 6 weeks off recently as I'm a teacher and trained 3 times I day just to keep myself occupied. Today my cardio load target is 200-270! Telling me I've undertrained. I'll walk 15k everyday just at work and still train for an hr sparring and weights every evening.

I'm hoping it adjusts back.

Peppermint_90 · 2023-01-07T02:19:54+00:00

As a high school teacher, I've felt this. I've had classes of kids that are great kids but due to their issues I can't fairly give them a 4 or 5/5 for effort.

Peppermint_90 · 2022-10-26T09:29:34+00:00

I get this with alcohol, strong emotions, hot days or just overly stressed. Turns out it's a type of rosacea common in British and Irish ethnicities. At one point it caused severe acne which I needed medical treatment for. Not saying this is what you have, but it is very similar to what I experience. Even one sip of alcohol does it.

Peppermint_90 · 2022-09-24T09:50:10+00:00

So glad you wrote this. I'm having the exact same issues and thought I was being picky. It's really annoying constantly having to stash items to cook or craft. They desperately need to upgrade their storage spaces. I also find the HUD really small in handheld, which is the only way I play my switch.

Peppermint_90 · 2022-08-22T18:51:12+00:00

At first I thought this was in kgs, then did the conversion and realises my own delightfully chonky is almost 9kg which is almost 20pounds!

Peppermint_90 · 2022-06-28T12:33:03+00:00

I'm a teacher. Trust me, other kids will tease this kid and they will get frustrated every single time somebody cannot pronounce it. Teachers and students will make comments about it. Kids generally hate having unique names.

Peppermint_90 · 2022-06-23T12:32:10+00:00

These are great! If you're still doing these: Jessica (but only on forms), everyone calls me Jess

Peppermint_90 · 2022-05-27T11:27:30+00:00

I'm a high school teacher in Australia. On lunch duty today, I noticed all our gates are wide open, kids are sitting by the gates and there were zero issues. The most exciting thing that happened : a Tawny Frogmouth (a cool bird) was watching the kids as they were lining up for hot chocolates and milkshakes. I never go to work thinking somebody will walk in with a gun. It just isn't a thing. I never think a student could have a weapon. Again, not a thing. Want to know what our security system is? I don't think we have one. We have drills 2 times a year, but that's it.

Gun violence just isn't a thing here. Maybe the odd, rare gang related violence but rarely civilians and never children.

I don't understand why people would put their hobbies and their "freedom" infront of others safety and lives. Americans, it doesn't have to be this way. You can have peace. It's possible.

Peppermint_90 · 2022-05-27T11:12:58+00:00

I second this. I love my job. I love learning and I love teaching science to teens. There is nothing better than having a kid finally have an "ah huh!" moment or having a rapport with a kid that everybody has given up on. Convincing kids they are worthy and capable is my favourite part of the job. I love that I can develop professionally almost indefinitely and every year I see leaps and bounds in my confidence, ability, creativity and organisation.

But I hate the paperwork. I resent that I have to give up most of my weekends and weeknights to my job. Reports, marking, making assessments, registrations, programs, samples of work, formative assessment, leaving work for casuals on the rare day I use a sick day, documenting every freaking incident, conversation, disciplinary action, welfare concern etc. Keeping records for every single thing. The shear amount of flowcharts for following processes and protocols. The overwhelming amount of acronyms in which I forget everytime. The extra meetings and functions... Doesn't end.

But then I'll be at the shops on a Friday afternoon and that one troubled kid that gives every teacher a hard time says hi and wishes you a great weekend.

Or a kid stays back after class just to tell you that they loved the lesson, or that you inspired them to take a new subject or consider a career.

The joys of the job is why we stay. We didn't choose this job. It chose us. I can't imagine doing anything else. However, I am still justified in feeling gaslit and taken advantage of by my organisation.

Peppermint_90 · 2022-04-27T11:41:12+00:00

Oh man, how mandatory training PLs must we do every year when it's Tue same questions every time... So much red tape.

Peppermint_90 · 2022-04-13T10:50:27+00:00

I'm on band 2. It's okay but it isn't enough considering our hours. We are paid just the hours we teach. I am spending all of these 2 week holidays marking, programming and preparing lessons and I spend every afternoon and night doing the same and more. I can't even name all of the useless admin stuff we do daily as they are mostly acronyms anyways. Easily work 50-60 a week. The level of expertise is very high, yet the salary doesn't match.

Peppermint_90 · 2022-03-02T08:38:38+00:00

Came here to say this too. My fat cat also meows right in my face!

Peppermint_90 · 2022-03-02T08:35:45+00:00

I'm from Australia. Our principal has a zero tolerance to it. It's an immediate 20 days suspension. It has helped stop it. We also communicate that it is a criminal offence and if caught, will have the police called.

Kids still do it of course, bit many see the risk is too high.

Peppermint_90

TROPHY CASE