Who here is a teacher?

HugsHeal said:
She used to get comments about teaching when we were out sometimes and just always responded 'If teaching is so easy why don't you become a teacher then?' Seemed to shut them up fairly quickly.
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Personally, I don't perceive teaching to be particularly easy and would never make such a comment; however, I don't buy that as an argument. Just because something is easy, doesn't mean to say everyone would want it as a profession - they might get more satisfaction or pay from their current employment. Arguably one could turn that one on its head - "if teaching is so hard why don't you change jobs then?".
 
Xordium said:
You are competing with a number of other people. The overwhelming majority of candidates who get on are either 1st or 2:1 not all as I acknowledged.

There is a big difference between the bare minimum stipulated criteria and what you would actually need to actually get on the course. As it stands now if you want to get on you need a 2:1 or a 1st - I know as that was the first thing they wanted to know from me when I was exploring this profession as a possibility.
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Strange because when I looked at this it was simply a 2:2 they wanted...Warwick University right now only want a 2:1 if the (degree) subject is English, History or Drama and in other subjects any pass will do. So I would say that your anecdote may be true for your experience but extrapolating that into the majority is pushing it somewhat.

Also, in any occupation (these days) you are competing with an increase number of people, this is not exclusive to Teaching. In fact recruitment drives for teachers, particularly outside of the major urban areas are still under-subscribed, hence the increased incentives to train.

Xordium said:
And if value is defined by the benefit to society then why have the wages of binmen been reduced?
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What have the wages got to do with Value to Society? simply because a profession is poorly paid doesn't mean it has no or lesser value to society than a profession that is better paid.
 
Castiel said:
Strange because when I looked at this it was simply a 2:2 they wanted...Warwick University right now only want a 2:1 if the (degree) subject is English, History or Drama and in other subjects any pass will do. So I would say that your anecdote may be true for your experience but extrapolating that into the majority is pushing it somewhat.

Also, in any occupation (these days) you are competing with an increase number of people, this is not exclusive to Teaching. In fact recruitment drives for teachers, particularly outside of the major urban areas are still under-subscribed, hence the increased incentives to train.



What have the wages got to do with Value to Society? simply because a profession is poorly paid doesn't mean it has no or lesser value to society than a profession that is better paid.
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Yea sure you can apply to warwick with less than 2:1, but expect to be refused as they already have enough candidates with a 2:1 or above in line. That's how it is unfortunately
 
Diagro said:
Yea sure you can apply to warwick with less than 2:1, but expect to be refused as they already have enough candidates with a 2:1 or above in line. That's how it is unfortunately
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I only know this because my neighbours daughter is going to Warwick doing a PCGE and she has a 2:2 in Biology. Universities do more than simply look at the applicants Undergrad grade these days, far more.

Beside there are other routes than University to a QTS.
 
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Well if she is going for a teaching role in that subject then that's a different story. Dont forget I'm using primary teaching as my examples.
 
Diagro said:
Well if she is going for a teaching role in that subject then that's a different story. Dont forget I'm using primary teaching as my examples.
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That is the point I am trying to make, not all routes to a QTS are the same, also the subject matter really makes a difference as well.

Another example is the Troops to Teaching scheme...that requires no formal degree qualification at all.
 
Diagro said:
Didn't mean it like that, I just wouldn't want someone who had been violent to others near my kids. Never know if the chap or chapet is scared by war and breaking point any moment. Like in the films :rolleyes:
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What a totally stupid thing to say you do realise that a great number of the armies senior medical staff work or have worked at Great Ormond Street.
 
Xordium said:
What a totally stupid thing to say you do realise that a great number of the armies senior medical staff work or have worked at Great Ormond Street.
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Plus, have you never seen Kindergarten Cop?

Would much rather have someone like John Kimble in the classroom should a terrorist plot unfold in the building.



EDIT: Wait... that was meant to be humourous, but it actually ends up reading like a real-world American right-wing train of thought. Depressing. :(
 
Diagro said:
Its very hard to find a job as a teacher

Also if you deny them the ability to strike would it not be impossible for them to stop the Government removing their pension?
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Why should teachers get special treatment over the rest of the school staff? Compare to the rest of the staff teachers have it easy. I am not saying its easy being a teacher but they have it no harder then the rest of us so why do they complain more?

I find there are two common types of teachers (with exceptions) you have teachers who have always been in education and teachers who have had other jobs. There tends to be noticeable difference between them and Attitudes of the two types.
 
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I am a teacher in a primary school and have just recently moved year groups. I went into teaching under no illusions - it was what I wanted to do and I enjoy my job.

In terms of working hours; I get to work at 7.15 every day and I don't leave until 5pm onwards at least, later when I have staff meetings or governor meetings which don't end until 9pm, get home, eat tea, then work for another 2 hours or so.

Teaching itself is not a difficult job, the politics and paperwork that come with it are a pain though. I also believe that experiences differ depending on your catchment area and children's backgrounds.

In my personal opinion, I don't agree with striking as it takes time away from the children and that, afterall, is what we are there for. Teachers get a bad rep from a lot of people, with all the holidays we get - the moaning we do is in retaliation to all of the criticism we receive.

The new pay structure and appraisal system coming into force in September 2014 will help to combat 'bad' teachers as they are not allowed to move up on the pay scale until they can prove they deserve it.

I post under no illusions, teaching is not a hard job, the workload and hours however, are long and difficult. I most certainly appreciate that many people have more stressful, manual, and exhausting jobs than teaching, however teachers are a necessity and we don't all deserve the bad press!
 
I'm a teacher in Huddersfield too Sparklebox and am wondering if you have named yourself after the useful teaching resources website! (And also wondering which school you are at - though obviously you can't say - but what if you are one of my colleagues? That would be weird ;))
 
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