What are people's views on Teaching Assistants?

Some people actually believe this?? Really?

Meaning what exactly?


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What do you mean by that?


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My mum is a teaching assistant and it's easier in that you don't have to do much preparation or paperwork. But the work itself is not easy, especially if you're at a school filled with children with severe behaviour problems. My mum gets given all those delightful pupils to work with and has to substantially improve their literacy/ numeracy ability.

Honestly it's not only me who has come across bad TAs. Me, my brother, uncles, cousins and many other students all have and will always think TAs are useless.

I'm not saying all TAs are like this but majority are and that's why they are seen so negatively by most people.

In my college some TAs (bless them) tried to teach us after college but they weren't respected at all and some students even said "who the f*ck is she. She's nothing"

Unless TAs all become hard working and show a difference people will never see them as they see teachers (some don't even respect teachers).


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As a trainee primary school teacher, I have to say that TAs are invaluable when used (sorry for the term!) properly.

There is only so much time in the day and they help support learners who may take up a disprortionate amount of the teachers time otherwise, and help them to attain the best they can.

That, and the small stuff (making displays, laminating, photocopying) would otherwise take up a lot of time so I'm so glad to have someone to do it.

You get people like this in all jobs though! There are good teachers and bad teachers, good doctors and bad doctors, good managers and bad managers, good police officers and bad police officers etc. It does not mean that it is okay to tar them all with the same brush.


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A homeopath says that he is treating illness by active ingredients (not placebo) even though statistically there are no active ingredients in his remedies.

Here it is being said that teaching assistants are doing good in circumstances where that good cannot be statistically detected or can only be detected to such a small degree that the cost is not worth the effort. You say, "although statistics cannot show that we are doing good, our experiences tells us that we are doing good". So does the homeopath's experience.

You'll sadly find several TSR threads full of people who pretty much say that.

Never has anyone ever said to me "that TA has helped me so much"

Honestly if TAs are as dedicated as you seem I would of liked to have one but I feel like your the only TA I know who has taken their job seriously

Most TAs often become TAs because the salary is better then dinner ladies and also do nothing.


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Oh god. That's incredibly condescending. Is it just TSR though? TSR is notorious for being really snobby.

In primary school the TAs were lazy and terrible. I don't think any of them even had A Levels, they were basically students' mums who just favourited their child and just helped and chatted to their kids and brought them extra food and stuff. If you asked for one of theirs helo they would either ignore you or tell ypu to figure it out. One tried to lead the lesson once when I was in Y2 (age 6) and I corrected her spelling on the board. TA's should have to be qualified.

At Secondary I rarely have TAs as I'm in all top sets. But I did have one who has a degree in French and English who was excellent, she really pushed me further in the crappy Foundation class I'd been dumped in for French because I took it in Y9, and I managed to get an A. The others I have had are soooooo bad when I put my hand up I have to wait until the teacher is closer than they are.


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IStatistics, when manipulated in a certain way can make anything look good (or bad!) in any circumstance.

Of course I agree that statistics can be manipulated but I suspect the overweight diva might be practising her scales for the current army of teaching assistants.

Please explain what you mean by this?


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I totally agree with you! I don't think this makes you biased. Just that you have an insight into exactly what TAs do. I believe that not all questions can be answered with stats, but are better answered with experience.


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"The show isn't over until the fat lady sings"

I think the show might soon be over for teaching assistants


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2334853/Army-teaching-assistants-faces-axe-Education-department-attempts-save-4billion-cost-year.html

This is polemic but wait until after the election.

I have no opinion on the topic matter, but this statement is ridiculous.

Experience is very valuable, and statistics can be manipulated, but experience is specific to one situation and one person, whereas statistics apply to a large group.

If one TA made an enormous difference to one student, but overall TA's have negative effects on performance then TA's aren't worthwhile, despite the benefits they can have (Note: I'm not saying TA's have a postive or negative impact on students' abilities).