To Teach or not to Teach...

[Mr Jones]

I know a few teachers who recently qualified and despite there being a shortage of teachers it is extremely difficult to get a full time post as the education boards are totally strapped.

As there are some regulations as to how long you employ a supply teacher before having to offer them a job (12months iirc) the common practice at the moment is to take someone on for supply for 10/11 months then let them go and replace them later as they can't afford to employ full time staff.

Now that's interesting - now I've got to worry about being a supply teacher for life? BTW, what were these teachers teaching? I know there is a definite shortage of science teachers (it'll be hard to just jump into teaching A-Levels so I personally don't mind putting in a couple of years of hard work in secondary before going up a level.

Don't teach.

We had a thread here the other day, guy forced out of his job because of unfounded rumour/allegations.

My dad taught for 30 years, perfect record. He was accused of assaulting (physically) a yr 8 student, in front of the whole class. A sensible school would have dismissed it out of hand, due to having 20 witnesses. Instead he was suspended for over 6 months whilst it was investigated, and he never taught another lesson in his life.

It's a rubbish profession, the children have 100% complete total and utter power over the teachers, and if you upset one of them you can kiss your job goodbye. I'd rather be on the dole.

What the guy above said.

You have to be crazy to become a teacher in modern britain. One little lie by a stupid kid can ruin your life forever.

Dont do it

Tell me about it.
I came over to the UK since I was 15 (23 now). The 2 secondary years in Mayfield was dire - perhaps it's culture shock but the way teachers are treated in schools as such is just ridiculous.
In Singapore, there are students acting like muppets but the teachers still get respected - I mean, there's even an annual Teachers Day (1st September) to celebrate their contribution.
But I'm not getting into teaching for that.
I want a job that will give me job satisfaction. I feel teaching can give me that. My college years was my most fond memories in education - I went to a good college thanks to my GCSE but I know not all colleges are that good however, the students taking up any science are more than likely there because they chose it rather than pushed into it by the national curriculum - which in my opinion, don't fit everyone. Not everyone can do science, much like not everyone can do music / art.

I'm a primary school teacher currently doing supply. Job starting in January. Personally I love it however you have to put crazy hours in. My friends who are doing their NQT year are doing 12 hour days mon - fri and work for most of the weekend. If you add it up it's probably minimum wage or below.

Two things annoy me about teaching:
a) everyone has an opinion that we get too many holidays and work easy hours. The better teachers don't as we have to put the effort in.
b) Teachers (particularly secondary) are subjected to verbal and physical abuse and receive little support from this. How many banks, dentists or shops donyou walk into and there's a sign explaining that the staff will not tolerate abusive behaviour.

Totally agree with the annoyance you've pointed out.
I understand there will be a lot of out of school hours needed - I mean, how in the world can teachers mark e.g. 3 class of 20 student's work within the working hours and still prepare for the next lessons or prepare exam questions e.t.c.?

It's the second point of annoyance that is putting me off secondary school teaching - I've even seen flying donuts thrown across the corridor specifically targeting a supply teacher.

I understand there is a big difference between teaching Primary and Secondary schools? Have you any personal experience to share?

You may as well take the teaching offer during your final year for your project as that will give you an idea if it's what you want to do - you cannot teach successfully unless you are 100% committed.

That is also one of the key point why I want to do it.
If it's not for me, it's 8 weeks worth of 'lesson learnt' but it is at a price of sacrificing a lab based final year project :/

 

[Dracata]

Whilst I can't comment from personal experience, 3 of my close friends are teachers.

One one them hates her job. My other two friends work in primary/secondary schools and the enjoyment they get from their job is purely from helping the children, because they are very children-oriented. I get the feeling that unless you have a strong urge to help, this is a nightmare profession.

 

[Dinomania]

Aye, I think you need that strong urge to try and do the best for the kids.

I plan to start a Physics PGCE next year - I realise it's a LOT of hard work. I've been fairly workshy throughout my years in work, but not when I've been out doing things in my free time involving people (volunteering on Tall Ships Youth Trust voyages, organising/helping with dance events, helping mates out etc.) - I can work really hard to help a person, but find it hard to work hard for a corporation.

I hope I can translate that into working hard for the kids, because I certainly won't be doing it for the good of the government.

Bottom line is whether you're happy in the idea of going into science as a career and think you'll def need the lab experience. If you're dithering, and considering teaching - this seems like an ideal opportunity to find out exactly how you feel about it.

TBH it's a tough world and yes it does seem there are a lot of little scrotes out there who like to wind the world around their fingers... BUT if someone actively wants to give teaching a go, for goodness sake DON'T PUT THEM OFF, let us try! What're you trying to do, risk even less quality teachers getting through?

 

[square_imp]

Instead of taking advice from a forum, go and shadow some teachers in a secondary school and see for yourself. I have just started my PGCE (Physics) in Sept and so far so good. Pretty much any job will have haters but the best way is to go and get some first hand experience.

 

[Dinomania]

Instead of taking advice from a forum, go and shadow some teachers in a secondary school and see for yourself. I have just started my PGCE (Physics) in Sept and so far so good. Pretty much any job will have haters but the best way is to go and get some first hand experience.

Oooh. Maybe I should talk to you - how was your interview?

 

[Tummy]

If you want **** management, that will set you amazingly unrealistic goals, working long hours, working at home at the weekend, working at home after work, putting up with abuse from children, having to lesson plan for your own class only for it to be stolen by management, been put down by management for no reason, the list goes on Teaching isn't easy.

All the **** is well worth it when you get to see them develope and know that you played a part in them growing up and their understanding of the world, helping them achieve and overachieve and get to do what they wanted to do. These more then make up for the bad parts.

You only teach because you want to help children.

 

[NickK]

My parents are both retired secondary science & maths teachers. Both my sister and I have vowed never to go into teaching.

My sister lectures at university and I still hold true to never going near education.

The abuse you get, the 24/7 working as you'll end up working the time when you should be using that time to sort out the marking.

 

[Nitefly]

I can't give any first hand advice, but a good friend recently completed her PGCE at University of Bristol and she put in a crazy amount of hours into it. It wasn't necesarily demanding work, rather there was just lots and lots of it, apparently.

She is now a NQ secondary school science teacher in london (£26k PA). She gets into work at 7.30, and usually gets back at 8-9 (including the commute). Sure she gets a wonderful 13 weeks holiday, but she works very hard. Most importantly though, she really loves it.

My impressions are that it is far more time consuming than people imagine, but highly rewarding. Also, since my mother is a teacher, abeilt a primary school one, I get the impression a lot of the stress comes from internal politics between the staff and neck breathing from headmasters who can seemingly never be pleased. However, she is now a supply teacher so can work as and when she likes without planning lessons, which is an awesome arrangement when you are a bit older

 

[edscdk]

You only teach because you want to help children.

or if you are a pedo and want to get close to kids...

 

[Tummy]

I get the impression a lot of the stress comes from internal politics between the staff and neck breathing from headmasters who can seemingly never be pleased.

This. In a nut shell is all the problems you will have as a teacher.

Other staff, normally nice and good people.

Management just fail at every level. It's depressing. They will abuse power to such a extreme extent.

A school I know, the staff don't use the staff room anymore, because of the management who will wait in there to "talk" to everyone, so they've all started having lunch together in random class rooms.

 

[Tummy]

or if you are a pedo and want to get close to kids...

 

[Egon]

I'm fortunate enough to teach in a very good sixth form college. I love my job. It can be very rewarding. I would never teach in a secondary school however as my OH does. The daily stories I hear regarding student behaviour is horrendous. At least in a college I can actually teach and I'm not just on crowd control, the majority of students are here by choice and appreciate what you are doing.

The holidays and time off might seem like great perks, but I usually have work to do every night and most holidays. If you manage your time effectively however it is possible to take advantage of some if not most of these, but that usually means a lot of time devoted to the job at home. This isn't always easy if you have a growing family to support.

I agree that the starting salaries are not fantastic. However you do start at the bottom of a 6 point scale and work your way up 1 point each year. By the time you hit the top you may be ready for middle management positions where salaries are quite attractive.

As far as I am concerned (and I run the risk of sounding very clichéd), you get out of teaching what you put in. It can be very rewarding if you are willing to put in the work, but as has already been pointed out, there are too many teachers who pay the job lip service. They do themselves and the students no favours. The students are very good at recognising who the good and bad teachers are and they respond accordingly.

It's a difficult decision, but if you are serious about it and you honestly believe you could commit yourself to it then go for it.