Teacher in need of new career, help please.

Hammyman

CFC wrote: »

Well they certainly don't work in the school in those times. It always used to be said that the first two years for a newly qualified teacher were tough, putting the lesson plans together - but after that it was easy because you just use the same ones.

And that's pretty much the experience of the four members of my immediate family who teach. I used to teach. Once you'd done the lesson plans and prep for the first course, you didn't need to do it again other than changing bits here and there as needed due to changes.

Person_one

I second the suggestion to look at private schools. They pay slightly less than the state system but the stress level is far far lower. Smaller classes, less box-ticking, fewer inspections and so on.

Its funny really, parents pay a small fortune thinking they're getting the best teaching money can buy when really a lot of the staff are ones who couldn't cope in the state system and are there for an easier ride!

Ignore Hammyman, he's got a serious chip on his shoulder regarding all public sector workers.

donquine

Some questions to reflect on, OP.

• For how long did you work as a teacher?
• What, if anything, did you enjoy about teaching?
• What was your first degree in?
• What is your idea of a 'decent' salary? (Posters here have wildly differing ideas of what equates to a decent salary, so you may need to be more specific.)
• Can you afford to retrain? E.g. do you live with a partner who can support you when you study, or do you live alone in a mortgaged property?

Something else to consider is that most jobs boil down to red tape and paperwork. This isn't a negative aspect specific to teaching.

As for stress - this is inherent in any managerial role. (Teaching may not be considered as such, but you essentially have to coax 30 odd kids into doing what you want them to, so it's the same principle.)

It may be that you're in the wrong career - or that you just need to work on managing stress better. It never goes away - you need to learn some coping strategies or any job will overwhelm you.

ILW

Checkout at Tesco is relatively stress free.

Mistral001

As far as I can see you have to do two difficult tasks. You have to wrench yourself away from this job, which has high status, fairly good pay, and has little moments (in among the tedious times) that make you love everything about it. Secondly you will have to find an employer who wants an ex-teacher. However I somehow think the first task will be the most difficult one - I know a lot of teachers.

Perhaps doing research into people who have done it sucessfully would help. The educational journals I would not imagine would be any good. Try googling "I used to be a teacher" for a start. Try finding ordinary people who have done it. Keep away from the celebs who have done it as often they have just been lucky.

Best wishes in your search.

mary1

Thank you to the positive information you have given. It has helped greatly and I have a separate degree to my pgce. I am willing to take a pay cut but not working in a job which does not stretch my brain cells.

As for the no it all about holidays and such I did work weekends and after school clubs and in the six weeks holidays and yes I was a teacher. This was to do with work to enhance their education without question. No, I am not a saint just believed in what I did. So I really think this person needs to get his facts right!!! It was all about school and no work and home balance.

Person_one

Hammyman wrote: »

...WHICH WAS ENTIRELY OF YOUR OWN MAKING.

You had no work and home balance because you decided to do all this extra curricular activity. And once you start to do it you'll find virtually impossible to get out of as it becomes "expected" of you as any fool knows. In short, you have created your own problems and were the master/mistress of your own downfall. No wonder education is going down the pan if the people doing the educating are too stupid to see such a simple thing.

Stop trying to make yet another thread all about you and your weird hostility. If you want to moan about teachers go to DT.

t0rt0ise

Most jobs have a poor home work life balance. I used to work at a uni and they went on and on about supporting the home life balance but in face did nothing. So along with everyone else in a job we left home at 8ish and got back home after 6 and took our 4 plus weeks holiday. Life is about work mostly so don't imagine that finding another career will be any different.

I should add that by saving up like mad I'm now able to work part time so my own balance is better.

dazza.mk

Hammyman wrote: »

Y
My brother is a secondary school teacher and due to one of the subjects he teaches, he has 500 students with 500 sets of coursework to mark, 500 reports to write etc.

(I'm not a teacher) but I'd have to pity your brother's students, assuming he spent 1 minute marking each (non coursework) piece of work he gives out then it would be over 8 hours solid marking. Given that you've pretty much stated that he doesn't even do that obviously his students must leave his classroom with a very poor grasp of the subject as I can't see how he can spend the time to correct their mistakes?

bevanuk

Education Recruitment. A company like Hays, Reed etc will offer £20k basic and uncapped commissions.
Monday - Friday, in normal working hours?
There is a sales aspect involved but it isn't a skill that can't be learnt.