Then they should take a closer look at why they are under-performing.

A lot of teachers are working under conditions no-one should have to put up with. My sister-in-law teaches in a large inner city comprehensive and she is on the point of burn-out, with governments changing the curriculum every five minutes, unrealistic expectations from parents who think their little angels can do no wrong, students bringing knives and guns into school and having to be searched at the gate, deputy heads breathing down their necks concerned more with their league tables than what's good for the students ...

I wouldn't do it for any amount of money.

[QUOTE=MoonBaby;10364261]I didn't say working all hours was a working class thing. Again, read properly. I said the view that not working 40+ hours a week means you're lazy (a view expressed by several posters here) is something I find very working class. My grandparents used to have this view when they were a bit younger. This idea of 'grafting'. Why on earth would you do that when you could have a better quality of life working far fewer hours? Working long hours doesn't make you a better person. It doesn't mean you're contributing more to society. It doesn't mean you're living in the real world. It means you've chosen a job where you have to work long hours. Your choice. I think some people are both envious and have a martyr complex. Good for you if you choose to work 50 hours a week. I've chosen to work less because I can and because it's better for my health. I still contribute the same or more in taxes and have time to give back to society in the form of charity work.
QUOTE

Well good for you! Medal on the way. People make choices in a free country don't they? Your choice isn't better just different.

Your grandparents view may not have been typical.

That's as maybe, but you said bad teachers don't last long, I'm saying it's difficult, if not impossible to get rid of them. We have a deputy head of a large boy's secondary modern in the family, I'm well aware of the hours and dedicated work that some put in, but as in any other profession there will be those that under perform, those that are just happy to turn up and take the money. Especially if they know the chances of them being sacked is almost zero.

I'm very happy with my life in Spain. I've got enough to be able to have a decent lifestyle but no different to my UK life just more sun.
No need to work no dependants and speak reasonably fluent Spanish.
So life is good.
Would I think of relocating if I had kids and needed work for me and wife, no Spanish, no job lined up? No way Jose.
That's not being negative or whatever it's telling it like it is.
Lots of Brits I know want to go back, got no job or failing business, trapped in houses on sale for years now at half the price they paid.
That's reality. Sun and cheap booze don't make a good life when you've no job or prospects and money is running out..no welfare state safety net as in UK.

So if thats not generalising what is? When we state an opinion we are only ever drawing from our own experience, from what we have read and from the opinions of others. That does not necessarily mean we are correct as all that information may be distorted but when it comes to talking about teachers I feel I have enough experience to say what I do say about them. Most are NOT dedicated and if they are suffering from stress then they are not doing the job proplerly with the right support.
Working with young people is tiring as they often have twice as much energy as adults but it is in a very different environment than the world outisde the educational establishment. It is more controlled and therefore more stable.
As far as paying their way..just read this
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20157878

We all can remember the good and the bad teachers in our lives but how many is that from the total we have met..very few!

I would say that isn't exclusive to Spain, applies to most countries around the world. There will always be people who drag the kids off to a foreign land on a whim then wonder why they havent carried out the preparation, the kids hate it because they left their friends behind and have difficulty making new ones. The parents haven't got jobs, think it will be a doddle cos they think they have so much to offer these "backward" countries.
Then when it goes pear shaped they blame everyone else but themselves, struggle to get home and live bitter lives ever after.

The reality is that Spain doesn't have the sun 365, it has been raining here almost continuously for about 2 weeks or so with plenty more forecast. And it will be hitting lows of down to -10 in a month or so. The day/night temp changes can be 15degs or more.
Yes the booze is cheap, but some of the spirits here are rubbish or an odd acquired taste.
The rules of living are different here, but then it isn't England, even if you do fly the flag from your balcony.

Great Post

This is so true. We are moving end of next year..pension, income sorted, funds in the bank, will own property. If we had to work had kids etc there is no way i would go.

[QUOTE=Domino;10366436]I would say that isn't exclusive to Spain, applies to most countries around the world. There will always be people who drag the kids off to a foreign land on a whim then wonder why they havent carried out the preparation, the kids hate it because they left their friends behind and have difficulty making new ones. The parents haven't got jobs, think it will be a doddle cos they think they have so much to offer these "backward" countries.
Then when it goes pear shaped they blame everyone else but themselves, struggle to get home and live bitter lives ever after.
]The reality is that Spain doesn't have the sun 365, it has been raining here almost continuously for about 2 weeks or so with plenty more forecast. And it will be hitting lows of down to -10 in a month or so. The day/night temp changes can be 15degs or more

[COLOR="Red"]Yep one of the things we are focusing on is the cost of heating in the winter, although I want to live in the mountains husband is saying about these costs.[/COLOR

The rules of living are different here, but then it isn't England, even if you do fly the flag from your balcony.

LOL Thank god for that... one of the main reasons for moving is to experience something different.. if I want the UK I would stay here

[QUOTE=mogsmum;10366474]Great Post

This is so true. We are moving end of next year..pension, income sorted, funds in the bank, will own property. If we had to work had kids etc there is no way i would go.

Yes, heating is a big problem, believe even Malaga had frost last winter. The Canaries it ain't. Based on our experiences from 3 years in rentals I would suggest people look at their overall energy policy, with the electricity being expensive, mains gas not being something obtainable in most places here in Andalucia, although I believe some parts of Granada have it. But butano is something that is regulated and its €16 something for a bottle, which we find lasts us for about 10 days in the middle of winter
But the house construction gives us hot in summer cold in winter, primarily due to the design as much as the construction.
Problem is we tend to be less concerned with energy saving in the UK but here it has to be.

As to living up a mountain, we had that near the top of the list - but now at the bottom. Having visited houses where the recent rains mean we had difficulty getting up or down a 45deg mud track, the wells seem "iffy" at times, especially as there is no mains water as a backup. Electricity - well we have had at least one mains trip or voltage drop a day every day for the last 2 weeks. I am now buying a UPS to protect the computer, another additional cost. But then if you are really off the grid and have photovoltaic - just remember they are a "must" to local and non-local thieves, and at around €25k for a new system not a small item.

hth

You came to this forum to ask questions and advice primarily,but you don't want to hear the truth!,so YOU are thick in that regards!,if you do not listen to the many who have given their time/advice,and acting in a childish and immature behaviour and response to me is very SAD!,you show your true colours,you will FAIL for sure with your attitude.
To pick you up on the point I was not being BEING rude but HONEST,truth sometimes hurts,cuts deep,people are starving,homeless,without jobs,and without little help,and you BRAG about having millions in the bank,GROW UP get a life and stop wasting peoples time and advice here!.
I work for 3 charities and give my time free and help disadvantaged kids who have been abandoned and treated badly,what do you intend to do when you come here?,NOTHING by the sounds of it!,as for "a relaxed, worry-free life",get real their is NO SUCH THING!

AS FOR ME FAILING BEEN HERE 6 YEARS DOING VERY WELL,I'LL LEAVE THAT TO YOU - YOU'LL SURELY SUCCEED AT IT VERY WELL!:WITH YOUR ROSE TINTEN GLASSES!

That is pretty hypocritical

So you say that everyone is doing badly, starving, abandoing children etc... except you?

If you can do well, then why can't the OP?

You are giving just one side of Spain, yes, there is a big problem at the moment with unemployment and people losing their homes. But that doesnt go to say that everyone lives like that. Most people are going along just fine

Firstly in reply to YOU if you read the post properly,i did not say everyone is doing badly except me,so get your facts straight please!,hypocritical is an incorrect statement!.

Again you did not read my post did you?,i did NOT give just one side of spain,I also gave positive aspects of spain living here if you bothered to read my other posting to madlass (apt name!).

I have worked hard to relocate here to spain,made sacrifices,been without work and in,lost a son to lukemia,things have gone bad/wrong like everywhere you live its just here it can be harder to sort things out,thats reality.

Quote:"If you can do well, then why can't the OP? ",...because 2012 is a different ball game NOW!,i think anyone coming here now faces more difficulties than before,especially work wise financially.

Quote:" Most people are going along just fine"...so who are all these people?..you perhaps?,my neighbour just lost his home after 10 years of paying for it he's spanish,had a good job,the bank officials and baliff and police were waiting to get him his wife and 2 kids out of the property at 8.30 am,he now only gets only 400 euros a month him his wife and kids now,he's not going along so fine is he?,he's HOMELESS,i think maybe YOUR circle of friends are going along just fine eh?.

A lot has changed from moving here in 2006 as you must know as you live here,thats why i say it how it is,for the comfy well off,for the expat pensioners with a good pension/s from working hard all their lives fair play.

I don't for a minute doubt they are,.....in your own little parallel universe.