Renovations and Repayments.

kelpie35

Sorry to hear you are having doubts about your new career move.

It is very difficult to work full time and care for your family in the manner you were used to.

Only you know what is best for your future.

I do hope you find time to enjoy family time with what is left of the weekend.

Take care.

Karmacat

It's a very tough industry these days, and no mistake

I hesitate to say this, but you don't have to work in it for the rest of your life, even if you get your qualification. There's full time paid work, part time too, whether state or private, and there's also private tuition, which has a decent rate of pay per hour, and fits really well into the life of someone who has other streams of income going on as well.

Just something to think about.

Take care, Alex.

Suffolk_lass

My husband undertook teacher training as a graduate in his mid forties. He found the "wisdom" regarding research that had not been revisited for close to fifty years, with more and more theories layered on top, combined with a need to blindly accept that this was how it must be done, very frustrating. He bit his tongue, put his head down and got through it. He loves teaching, despite the downsides and has no regrets, but he wanted to quit at several points.

So don't feel you are alone Alex. My husband did not have a plan B so he stuck with it, but it called his very desire to teach into question. I feel for you. It is a dilemma.

maman

Suffolk_lass wrote: »

My husband undertook teacher training as a graduate in his mid forties. He found the "wisdom" regarding research that had not been revisited for close to fifty years, with more and more theories layered on top, combined with a need to blindly accept that this was how it must be done, very frustrating. He bit his tongue, put his head down and got through it. He loves teaching, despite the downsides and has not regrets, but he wanted to quit at several points.

So don't feel you are alone Alex. My husband did not have a plan B so he stuck with it, but it called his very desire to teach into question. I fell for you. It is a dilemma.

It is a dilemma. It's sad that being used as a political football by successive governments has had such an adverse effect. Alex is just what the profession needs: a teacher who thinks! Too many these days just follow, not helped by teaching to the tests. Unfortunately it's necessary to work with the system to get the piece of paper.

AlexLK

kelpie35 wrote: »

Sorry to hear you are having doubts about your new career move.

It is very difficult to work full time and care for your family in the manner you were used to.

Only you know what is best for your future.

I do hope you find time to enjoy family time with what is left of the weekend.

Take care.

Thank you, kelpie.

We've had a good, if quiet weekend. I'm starting to see the potential in things I had somewhat dismissed beforehand. Finding being "employed" (well, sort of) very difficult and am throwing myself into the potential property project during my (few) spare hours. My wife is spending more time on it than I and seems to have found herself in my parents' good book. :rotfl:

Karmacat wrote: »

It's a very tough industry these days, and no mistake

I hesitate to say this, but you don't have to work in it for the rest of your life, even if you get your qualification. There's full time paid work, part time too, whether state or private, and there's also private tuition, which has a decent rate of pay per hour, and fits really well into the life of someone who has other streams of income going on as well.

Just something to think about.

Take care, Alex.

Thank you, karmacat.

I am seeing a different side to it now I am a part of it, rather than a volunteer or someone who teaches pupils how to play the violin (seen as being non-essential, I suppose). I think some of the problem is having other commitments, both familial and business.

Suffolk_lass wrote: »

My husband undertook teacher training as a graduate in his mid forties. He found the "wisdom" regarding research that had not been revisited for close to fifty years, with more and more theories layered on top, combined with a need to blindly accept that this was how it must be done, very frustrating. He bit his tongue, put his head down and got through it. He loves teaching, despite the downsides and has not regrets, but he wanted to quit at several points.

So don't feel you are alone Alex. My husband did not have a plan B so he stuck with it, but it called his very desire to teach into question. I fell for you. It is a dilemma.

It doesn't seem things are much different now, SL. There seems A LOT of mindless, repetitive paperwork and tasks which seem to be little about educating pupils. From what I've seen it doesn't seem to change all that much post qualification, either. That doesn't concern me so much as the blame and guilt placed upon us. There seems an expectation of us to give an awful lot of time at the expense of our own families / other commitments which I am not willing to give. I care about giving my pupils an education but not at the expense of my wellbeing.

AlexLK

maman wrote: »

It is a dilemma. It's sad that being used as a political football by successive governments has had such an adverse effect. Alex is just what the profession needs: a teacher who thinks! Too many these days just follow, not helped by teaching to the tests. Unfortunately it's necessary to work with the system to get the piece of paper.

What the government wants seems to play a vast role which I hadn't quite anticipated. I suppose that was not helped by my own background. A lot do seem to follow and to be honest I have come across ones that do not seem to be articulated or educated professionals.

AlexLK

Start as I mean to go on with ... Organise end of month treat ... Going to speak to Mrs. K. about this tomorrow evening.
Overpayment: Make one even if it is only £50. On track to make a £100 overpayment.
Food budget: £300 / £400.
Meat free days: 5 / 10.
No work weekends: 2 / 3.
15 minutes piano practise each morning: 20 / 33.
At least 10,000 steps per day: 11,000 today.
10 minutes exercise (not inc. walking): 2 / 34. :rotfl: Completely forgot about this target. Should update more.
A/F school nights: This has been much better over this week, not even had wine with our evening meals.
but most importantly ... Get through the month!:eek:

Karmacat

AlexLK wrote: »

There seems an expectation of us to give an awful lot of time at the expense of our own families / other commitments which I am not willing to give. I care about giving my pupils an education but not at the expense of my wellbeing.

Thats absolutely the thing to keep in mind as you go forward.

Save

Red-Squirrel_2

Karmacat wrote: »

It's a very tough industry these days, and no mistake

I hesitate to say this, but you don't have to work in it for the rest of your life, even if you get your qualification. There's full time paid work, part time too, whether state or private, and there's also private tuition, which has a decent rate of pay per hour, and fits really well into the life of someone who has other streams of income going on as well.

Just something to think about.

Take care, Alex.

This is very true. If you get through the training and get your qualified teacher status, there will be other doors open besides full time school positions.

A very good friend of mine was ambitious when she started her teaching career, was head of department within 5 years, but was getting burned out and exhausted.

Then she dropped to two days a week after having her first child, and she's never looked back. Two days allows her to get back to basics and just enjoy teaching while also having plenty of time with her young family.

I do hope you can get some decent rest soon and start to feel more on top of things, and I am delighted to hear that your wife and your cousin are supporting you and coming through for you.

heartbreak_star

Alex, may I pick your brains regarding a musical issue? It's a bit silly but you might be able to help...

HBS x