I see. The problem was my mother. That would explain a lot.

Thanks, Tom. [/quote]

Lol! Markos, he didn't say the problem was your mother. He said your mom prob. didn't like her coworkers. I can relate to this in a way. A vast majority of the teachers I work with are much older and I have nothing in common with and do not wish to socialize. There's 5 of us at the school that are guys that are around hte same age that have similar interests adn we occassionally get together.

But I can relate in that if most of the teachers decided to get together, I would def. not be going.

Teambuilding and moral building is what it is called at our school. I believe many many schools use this. We are encouraged to spend time together after work. Our school (just like most others) has a social committee that sets up things to be done at school together and even outside of school together. Now some of the bigger things involve spouses, but Friday happy hours, which occur every payday friday (very common among school teachers), those are often just the teachers. Sometimes people hang around and spouses show up.
Again, these types of things are encouraged by most schools that I know. Last year, our social committee set up a trip to Magic Mountain for the teachers (teachers had to pay, but it was discounted group rate), I couldnt go because of a prior commitment, but heard that it was a really good trip.
TeamBuilding!

I think a lot of people never complain about these work socials because they're too afraid of being seen as controlling. If you tell your spouse that you're not happy about it, then they, and their co-workers, see you as a controlling, needy B.

Some people will put themselves through ANYTHING just have the favorable opinion of others.

"Everybody's doing it!" is the lamest reason ever to do anything.

As said maybe, I don't know. I don't like everyone I work with. There are some people at work who don't interact with other teachers on a personal level at all. I wasn't saying it was something bad about your mom.

I wonder how their marriages are going?

So I take it that you don't enjoy work socials?

No idea, since I have not been able to get to know them very well.

Not sure how many schools are like that, Tom. I've worked at a couple and the only gatherings we had were monthly Tuesday meetings. Now we do usually have one decent sized gathering on the last day of school at a pub and a lot of the spouses will come if they are off work.

Other than that the coaches will usually get together at one of our houses to have a barbeque intermittently through the year. But usually the spouses and kiddos come. It's a pretty coordinated effort so everyone can be there.

I did, until I had a husband and children to come home to.

Then I quit working, lol.

But no, still...I was at a conference a couple of years ago where I won some awards. The kids were very little, so H stayed at our rental cabin with them during the dinner and ceremony. Afterwards, everyone was heading out to a bar on the island to socialize. I went back to the cabin, because my H was the person I wanted to be with. Yes, I took my $$$ and ran home!

It may be good for workplace team building, but its bad for marriages. I know which one I prioritise and which I'm glad my husband also prioritises.

If there is a work function and I'm not invited, he doesn't go.

And yes, it was my one and only out-of-town 'work' trip, and I took my H and all my kids with me, I would not have had it any other way.

Well teachers don't usually have out of town type social gatherings. Some social things happen at the school, some at peoples homes, others at restaurants. the Magic Mountain trip was a rare thing actually.

Yeah, but I thought it'd make a pretty zippy comeback. :P

I can see how some schools wouldn't be like that. It just depends on the teachers and admin. Some places it is encouraged, some don't seem to care. Most of the people at our school like it that way. They say it makes it more enjoyable to work there. Which, I would agree, it does do that. Most people are happy when at work.

Yes it did Markos

Did you read the link that Markos posted?

Yes I read through most of it. I agree that it is important for people to be happy at work. For teachers in this economy with budget cuts it is not easy. We have seen many teacher friends lose their jobs, not a fun environment. So we do other things to make sure we are happy at work (affairs not included).

Ok Tom, this is actually an area of expertise for me. Work satisfaction is not about co-workers friendships, work satisfaction comes from getting enough feedback, having adequate training and skills to do your job well, fair work policies, and being recognized for successes and achievements. Hanging out with the teacher across the hall after work does not make you like teaching more,, it makes you like her more.

The discussion had gone to spending time with the teachers as a whole, as a big group, or in smaller groups. This was not about spending time with one person.