Are you thinking of now re-training as a teacher?

Teacher2301

The government has suggested new teachers could have an accelerated training programme of 6 months before they enter teaching. Does this tempt anyone into a teaching career and the teaching profession?

Is anyone considering a change of career to teaching from a financial institution/ redundacy package? If so what are your reasons (if any)?

Does the adage 'those who cant do, teach!' really mean that?

What do you expect teaching to be like when you train and when you get your first job?

When the recession is over will you give up teaching and return to previous employment?

jcaan

Sorry for sounding a bit naive but are you a teacher by trade? I've often thought about becoming a teacher as I've always had an interest in education and learning, however often get put off by the thoughts of having to plan and mark at home as well as the unpredictable nature of the students.

What's it like in real life?

hieveryone

I think training someone for 6 months and expecting them to be a teacher is absolutey shocking. Not least in Scotland where there is no jobs anyway!

Being a teacher in real life is no picnic and 'glamourising' it like this is just likely to lead to a very high turnover of staff in a short period of time, not doing the profession or the children any good at all.

A terrible terrible idea IMO.

emma396

jcaan wrote: »

What's it like in real life?

Sometimes hell, sometimes amazing! depends on the kids u have to teach. it's fairly difficult getting yr 11 kids who are predicted E,F and G's motivated, purely because they don't want to even be in school.

JemJam

I taught for 3 years in a college but taught ages 12+, and belieeeeeeeve me it's no easy ride. People think that cos you get so many weeks "holiday" a year that its cushty but its not. For me it was long hours (10 on a good day), not the best wage, a consistently immense amount of paper work, and obviously some nice and some not so nice students!

I fell into teaching mind it wasn't something I was looking to do - right place right time - and though I still did my PGCE cos i thought "I'm teaching I may as well", it wasn't what I wanted to do so at the end of my last term I tied up all the ends and gave it up!

Best decision I made - less stress, no longer felt like I was only giving students half of my brainpower cos i was snowed under doing 45+ hour weeks not including all the home work I had for myself plus studying.

3 other friends who studied to be primary and secondary school teachers in uni are also no longer teaching, they found it wasn't for them and one left because of stress (and she was only 23 at the time!!).

In my experience it's not something anyone should jump into without seriously thinking about it! But then when times are hard and your really hard up and need a new direction, not to mention money(!), maybe this is the only option to take??

callow

After I gained a science degree I thought that I may want to be a science teacher at some stage, but I had young kids.

I changed my mind after being a learning support assistant in a reasonably good secondary school. I know I couldn't cope with the constant discipline and deriding remarks. There are however some people who love teaching teenagers.

I would recommend that any one who wants to be a teacher spend time in a secondary school. Not just an open day when you only get to see the best pupils on a good day, but at least 2 weeks over all subjects and ages.

I am very glad I didn't make the wrong decision.

fran-o

not a fan of this new move by government - can you imagine them halving training time for other jobs - policemen or doctors or air traffic controllers -just to get more into the job?
Teachers don't get a great deal in this country - they get blamed for most of societies problems and despite being such an important job (educating the next generation) its often trivialized.

Ok, rant over! PS - I'm not a teacher but have two in my close family!

max2009

Govt ploy to distort the unemployment list.

b-b-b

I'll only consider doing this if the government reverse the law on beating the children. If you become a teacher and you're allowed to beat the children I'm in, definitely! :rotfl: They may as well, they make up all sorts of other pointless things to 'help'.

silvercar

Some people can teach.

Some people can be taught to teach.

Some people can't teach.

Shortening the training course only effects the middle group.

Teacher2301

Thanks to everyone so far - some great comments and some great thoughts. Yes I am a teacher, a Head of department and looking for senior leadership at the moment. Although what most people say is true, yes some pupils are very difficult, gone are the days of 'beating them' (thanks b-b-b - lol) you actuallt get to know the pupils much better. One day they can be real pains but the next, absolutely inspirational. I chose to be a teacher and for the last 12 years have had my ups and downs like any profession. The toughest was when I taught in a school and was bullied by the head! (before anyone asks, she was a tyrrant and a very poor model for headship but bloody cunning so she won't get caught out - quote NUT rep at that school!!)

Soon left that school to go to my current post and haven't looked back- I've raised GCSE grades by 14% in three years in an 'average' comprehensive school and worked very hard. In process of gaining a Masters degree in education and completed a headship qualification as well (plus raise two children with a very supportive wife - bless her).

Holidays are very welcome...Steve Sinnot (NUT gen sectary - now deceased) said - teachers work just as hard as any other profession its just squeezed in to 9 months of the year. So what Jem-Jam says is true.