BS: Getting out of teaching

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 15 Apr 08 - 12:42 PM

'We were recently subjected to a review of our marking by our link inspector'

Now that just shows how little some idiot who devised this, knows about teaching. If you apply the same criteria to every classbook that you mark, you would make a right bollocks of the task of teaching.

Some children need endless praise and encouragement to even make a start at classwork.

How can an outsider who doesn't know your relationship with the pupil, possibly gauge the effect you are hoping to achieve with the way you mark the book? The whole point is to motivate, as best you can, with what you have.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Apr 08 - 10:34 AM

"Is there anyone here who really loves teaching?"

Teachers tend to love TEACHING-- not substitute parenting, substitute administrating, and/or substitute policing. If they loved those things, they'd have gone into childcare, administration, or police/corrections work. When the thing one loves is no longer possible, the healthy response is to seek opportunties where one CAN use one's gifts and talents responsibly.

Some teaching skills are transferable to other venues, where they can be put to use effectively.


I didn't learn this in teaching, but I did learn it in a burnout situation-- you can accomplish a lot more, and far more positively, with less cost to self, without doing uphill work that drains the self)-- 99% of the time. The guilt over leaving an untenable situation in favor of better allocation of effort often has been installed by the institution profiting from the guilt. Guilt robs effectiveness toward goals.

One of the first things any "agent of change" in any setting must learn (and practice despite pressure) is committed, resolute stewardship over one's personal, internal resources. If the work is important, it's important to be at one's best to do it-- not ragged around the edges AND inside.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 15 Apr 08 - 08:25 AM

Ah - but did he get a bollocking from the Dean of Faculty, like I did ?

Five quid says he didn't.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: Thompson
Date: 14 Apr 08 - 04:00 PM

Meself, yes, I caught the title of the thread.

And I asked *what* exactly was all the admin that people were straining to keep up with, but no one answered.

The tape recorder story - there was a lecturer in Trinity College, Dublin, who came in every day to find some of the students replaced by whirring cassette recorders. Finally one day he came in to find *only* cassette recorders.

The next day, the students came in to find that their cassette recorders were recording - his cassette recorder.

They got the idea, and started attending the lectures again.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: meself
Date: 11 Apr 08 - 07:05 PM

"Is there anyone here who really loves teaching?"

Um - did you catch the title of the thread?

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: Acorn4
Date: 11 Apr 08 - 03:44 PM

Dianavan has hit on two very important points here - guilt and goodwill.

I changed from Secondary to Primary teaching in mid career, because there was less paperwork and crap -it had followed me within three years, when Tony Blair decided he had to wear Maggie Thatcher's knickers. At that point there was still the notion of "goodwill" - the unpaid work you do above and beyond the call of duty that most teachers did because they felt what they were doing was worthwhile. Nowadays the goodwill is taken for granted as part of the job.
Of course you want to work until midnight every day and weekends!

And of course the guilt -that pile of marking that has been staring at you for two weeks! The whole system relies on this guilt.

I remember well that black cloud that started gathering above my head on Sunday afternoon. Music helped me to cope plus getting drunk into oblivion on Friday night.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: Alice
Date: 11 Apr 08 - 02:56 PM

Dan, I moved into sales in my 50's. I am 56 now. My job does involve travel, but if you are in an urban area, you may not have to leave home the way I do. I have health insurance, a retirment fund matched by the company, and great coworkers. I am building up my client list, as this is only my second year with the company.
Selling is a lot like teaching and performing. It is all about listening and communicating, helping someone else get what they need from what you have to offer them.

By the way, lunch with my co workers yesterday became a discussion of how the environment of schools has degraded so that kids act like The Lord of the Flies. One among us is a former teacher who will never go back with the conditions in schools today.

good luck

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: GUEST,A regular
Date: 11 Apr 08 - 02:53 PM

It's called 'constructive dismissal'. It is in the economic interest of school divisions to get rid of teachers who are past a dozen or so years experience because they are then top of the scale and for the cost of two at the top you can get three at the bottom of the scale and STILL have 30 kids in a room.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: GUEST,dianavan
Date: 11 Apr 08 - 02:44 PM

"Is there anyone here who really loves teaching? Who gains from it? Who feels that this daily work adds to the sum of goodness in the world?"

Yes, but I try not to dwell on it because then I feel guilty for leaving.

I love teaching and my relationships with students and their parents have nurtured me for many years. I do believe, however, that I will be replaced by a younger, more energetic teacher, eager and willing to kiss ass. Eventually, that teacher will also burn out and be replaced. Unfortunately, this results in an unstable staff with little or no experience who gladly does what is ordered without question.

This, of course, creates a system that that is always starting over from scratch. Experienced teachers know which methods work best but young teachers are still experimenting. If anything, the older you get, the more efficient you become. The more efficient you become, the more extra responsibility you are expected to shoulder. In other words, the older you get, the more you do.

Once you reach a point where you start cutting back on the amount of volunteer work you do (as a matter of self-preservation) the more you are viewed as 'dead weight' by the administration. I said no more phone calls at home, no more e-mails, no more unnecessary staff meetings and no more coaching and sponsoring. The principal (I believe) decided that I was a bad example for the younger teachers. I was also known to ask too many questions. She has made my job unbearable.

My lessons were tried and true so I didn't have to experiment to know how my students learned best. I've already thrown out the material that was useless and boring. I can leave the building at 3:30 because I know what I will be doing tomorrow. Young teachers stay until 6:00 (this looks very good to admin.) because they are still trying to put their lessons and materials together.

Basically, there is absolutely no respect for experience or creativity. The administration just wants little worker bees who do what they are told, regardless of educational rationale.

I've decided I've given enough of my life to a bloodless system who rewards only superficial teachers. Those who are passionate about education (teaching and learning) will not be supported or valued by hyper-vigilant, micro-managers. In fact, they will take all the joy out of your chosen profession.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: Bobert
Date: 11 Apr 08 - 07:26 AM

Well, well, well...

First of all, it's been 36 yerars since me last teaching job so for all of youn folks who have are resigning there is life after teaching...

Secondly, sorry, buty all you folks who are giving up your teaching jobs are fonna find out that you can give up the "job" but you will still be teachers???

(Huh, Boberdz???)

Okay, for you newbee retireee, you may not get it now but...

...you will...

Trust me...

B;~)

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: Acorn4
Date: 11 Apr 08 - 06:47 AM

Follow up post:-

Kick in the Proverbials

We don't need no education,
We don't need no self control
There's really nothing you can teach us,
Cos we already know it all.

Hey, kids,
Leave those teachers alone
Hey, kids
Leave those teachers alone
All in all it's just another
Kick in the b***s

Forms, initiatives and targets,
Inspectors never satisfied,
Monitored, assessed, evaluated,
Graded, jaded, crucified

Hey, kids,
Leave those teachers alone..

They're all headed for the burnout,
Hollow eyed, no life no fun,
No sense of humour allowed in the staffroom,
Po faced daleks everyone

Hey, kids,
Leave those teachers alone..

They can speak but we won't listen,
Fart and belch and answer back,
Attention span of a daddy longlegs,
Just give us Nintendo and mindless clack.

Hey, kids,
Leave those teachers alone...

You can't confiscate our mobiles,
We got our rights, you can't do nowt,
Tell us off and we will sue you,
Or get our dads to sort you out.

Hey, kids,
Leave those teachers alone...

Except that in the case of my wife's old school substitute "mums" for "dads"

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: Acorn4
Date: 11 Apr 08 - 06:37 AM

To Dan, the originator of the thread - late thirties is still young. One of the effects of teaching is to make you feel about a decade or so older than you really are.

To those who favour "conspiracy" theories, is the plan "get a lot of young teachers who will throw themselves at the job for ten years then burn out so we can avoid having to pay pensions"?

I had a "burn out" when I was fifty three due to all the factors discussed in this thread -this was because of insomnia caused by the job. Stress will always find your weak point whatever that is -my wife met her nemesis about a year later than me with high blood pressure.

A "burn out" isn't just the same as being knackered -teachers are perpetually knackered -it's more like prsssing the accelerator on your car and nothing happening.

I had had two days off ill in 25 years and then ended up having seven weeks off -that gave time to think -this raises an important point that teachers often cannot think clearly because of the stess they are under.

I'd kept on good terms with the Primary School that I worked at, and would advise anyone thinking of a change to do this. My burnout happened in May, and It gave me the summer holidays to think about what to do -to retire then would have meant a virtually non existent pension. I decided to do supply work at the school that I worked at plus a couple of others close by -as a previous poster said supply work can be ghastly, but you don't have to go back to schools you had a bad experience with. Schools like to have a regular supply teacher they know is reliable to avoid paying agencies through the nose -often a teacher knows in advance when they are absent and you can go in primed and ready, although you do need to expect some of those phone calls at twenty to eight! The stress of supply work is different, but I was able to do it for four and a half years, and then retire at fifty eight.

I probably worked three days a week on average and spent the other two trying other things. I was lucky to get a job with a company that makes learning journeys for schools by researching suitable websites. This can be fitted in as and when.

I started to teach guitar lessons - just put a postcard in the local shop windows to get started - you can transfer your teaching skills to areas like this - I invigilate exams at the local secondary school -these don't just take place in the summer these days - I do exams marking History for OCR in the Summer - I also lecture for the WEA -teaching adults, mainly retired, who want to learn purely for the sake of learning. I do all this, except one WEA lecture a week without the use of a car and we've actually managed on a single car between us for the past 20 years as I worked at a school within walking distance, or within range of a trusty, cheap to run and ecologically sound pushbike.

I got my bus pass a month ago ,and feel younger than when I was fifty. I have loads of time for my hobby, music, have made four CDs,we go to folk clubs and festivals regularly, and we get paid gigs every now and then. Recently I decided to go back into my old school to help with an IT group and teach recorder. I like this patchwork existence (I think the modern jargon calls it a "Portfolio")

I think it's such a shame when teachers reach fiftysomething, colapse in a heap and say "I never want to step inside a school again". It's so depressing after spending most of your working life doing a job to come to that point. Also, when you're longing for the end of the day, week, term att the time you're wishing your life away!

Everyone's situation is individual, and your situation, Dan, is a bit different to mine- your age means you've got a long time to make an alternative career viable, and this is a point in your favour. Obviously it depends on what you've got in terms of family, mortgage committments, etc.

How about:-

Do an assessment of your finances and work out how you can make any savings.Could you downsize housewise -this would get your mortgage paid off quicker? We actually downsized and are now upsizing again having paid off our mortgage.

Could you go part time? -this would guarantee some income and if you did , say, three days you would have four days, if you include the weekend, to dabble in other things which might/might not take off?

Could you do supply? -you might have some horrific experiences at first but try to establish a relationship with school where your face fits - I managed this with just two or three local schools using a pushbike, so if you've got a car available even better. The paper work seems to be the thing you hate most and supply cuts most of this. If you can think on your feet, supply is ideal, and even if you can't, a lot of supply is booked well in advance when people are on courses. Could you do it at your own school? Mangement are the way they are mainly because everyone is on the same treadmill.

I'm going to post a little parody I did after this.

Also, could we perhaps have a thread "funny things that happened in school" as a counter. Most people who make the escape attempt to succeed in the end and don't regret it.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 11 Apr 08 - 05:12 AM

The motto in the Senior Common Room was "We're always in the shit - only the depth varies".

I saw too many of my colleagues' marriages collapse, against the 'Rocks of Academe'.

If your marriage didn't fuck up, your mind did - and on what "They" were paying me as a SL, they could, and did, pay two L2s.

I went in as a blue-eyed optimist, and came out the world's greatest cynic. Bolshie students - sorry ! - clients - weren't the least of it.

Give you an example : in my Tutorial, a student - oh, shit ! I mean, a client, threw something on the deck.

"What's that ?" asks Bryn.

"A tape-recorder" comes the reply.

"Pick it up, switch it off and put it away" says Bryn.

"Why ?" comes the answer.

"You didn't ask my permission to use it" says Bryn.

"Other tutors let me use it", says the client.

"D'you see them here ?" asks Bryn.

"Anyway, I,m not going to switch it off" says the client.

"You may then explain to your fellow students [sic] why this tutorial is cancelled" says Bryn, walking out of his own study. Fifteen minutes later I was up before the Dean of Faculty on a disciplinary, and got a verbal warning for cancelling a tutorial without reason. I wasn't given time to involve my NATFHE rep.

Those who can, teach ; those who can't teach become Head Teachers, or Heads of Faculty. To whose detriment ?

I'm still working. Life is good. The only teaching I do today is the Morris to the kids at my grandsons' school.

Worthwhile ? You bet your arse it is !

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: Thompson
Date: 11 Apr 08 - 05:02 AM

Is there anyone here who really loves teaching? Who gains from it? Who feels that this daily work adds to the sum of goodness in the world?

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: meself
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 10:38 PM

"the shit isn't BAD shit"

The only kind of shit I know that isn't BAD shit, is the kind you use to self-medicate after a day of "the same old shit".

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: Jeri
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 07:11 PM

There is shit to put up with in every job. I think you have to consider whether the good you do the kids and yourself when you KNOW you've helped someone isn't enough to mitigate the harm the kids and you suffer. At some point, maybe you decide it's just time for a change because the shit isn't BAD shit, but it IS the same old shit.

I work with so many teachers who became frustrated. One by one, the good ones jump ship until the kids are left with teachers who either need the money or are hopeless idealists. The really weak and the really strong. I don't know that I'd hang in, but I have to admire those who know they don't want to do something and stop or know they do and never give up. I hope most of the ones left behind are the dreamers and believers.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: Acorn4
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 06:44 PM

I've never met anyone who's got out of teaching who has regretted it.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 04:11 PM

And remember why. :~)

You may curse me on the day you do it if that will help you hold your tongue in cheek. :~) More likely you will just be feeling badly on that day for the people left behind. I think a lot of us have had that experience in some job or other.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: GUEST,A regular
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 01:22 PM

Thank you to both Susan and Steve who gave very good advice. You are correct, of course. However, I will THINK it as I hand in the resignation.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: Acorn4
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 01:20 PM

Some time ago, there was a discussion on teaching on the "Jimmy Young Show" - one listener emailed:-

"Teachers don't have holidays, they convalesce!"

I think that about sums it up.

I managed to escape in me fifties -will email details when I've read all the thread and have a bit more time.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: Lowden Jameswright
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 12:07 PM

Leave the straight-line thinking and endless box-ticking, mindless multi-choice testing, pseudo management-speak mumbo-jumbos to the colourless epsilon-minus semi-morons that now govern the world of "teaching" to their own devices. You're young enough to get another life (or, more accurately, get your own life back).

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: Schantieman
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 07:34 AM

You don't need to say anything in your resignation except that you hereby resign from the staff of xxx school wef 31st August. OWTTE.

I agree about burning bridges - I agree about the way education, and the school's gone in the last 20 years but I might need a supply job back there sometime, so I'm keeping my opinions to myself as far as they're concerned. IF you want my advice, do the same. Or not. Up to you really!

Steve
(57 more days)

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: ard mhacha
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 05:08 PM

I have many friends who are teachers and also a few who took early retirement, the problems with teaching is the unruly children.
The main problem according to all of the teachers is the near impossible task of teaching teenagers, these youngsters now have free rein to do whatever they please, no wonder my teacher friends have opted out early.

I am in complete agreement with the teachers, when I see the vast majority of our children staggering around the streets under the influence of drugs and drink, all of todays teachers have my sympathy.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: bet
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 03:31 PM

At age 30, you are still a spring chicken! I retired from teaching when I was 62. I agree things have changed a great deal in this field. The fun is gone. We have so many skills that are necessary for the job. I now spend my time in retail. At my age, and I'm 62++++ it's a good area.    I'm sure with all your developed skills you will make it to an area that you can enjoy.
Good luck!!!!! bet

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 01:40 PM

I will be saying that in my resignation.

Your career, dead. Really want to burn a bridge (and contacts) you may need to cross again someday?

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: GUEST,A regular.
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 01:38 PM

I too will leave teaching this year. I will like being free of work at the end of the day, not having to use weekends to mark and prepare, not having to put up with administrations that care more about how they look to the public than what the kids learn. Education has become a world in which government statistics mean more than children, teachers are expected to do more and more with less and less until they try to do everything with nothing: it's time to say 'screw this'. I will be saying that in my resignation. There are other things to do with life, and being bled by a 'system' that doesn't care about its employees isn't it in my opinion. For those leaving, there is a better world ahead.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: Jeanie
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 04:05 AM

Funny that this thread has returned this week: Just yesterday I posted my letter of resignation from my only remaining and very part-time permanent teaching job. (I'm already doing and enjoying lots of other freelance work).

I used to love this particular job in this particular school, but since the new headteacher has arrived, things have changed in much the same way that others have described in this thread. The new breed of headteachers and their management style - borrowed from "big business" - as described so well by Diana and Dianavan, seems to be spreading at an alarming rate.

My school no longer has staff meetings where people can put forward suggestions and air their views, knowing that their views will be listened to and respected, even if not actually followed. They are called "staff briefings". Headteachers are becoming the type of manager who delegates everything to the point that they, themselves, do precious little except swan around in an expensive designer suit, checking that their ideas, however unproven, impractical and outlandish, are fulfilled to the letter....that is, unless they are unavailable, out of the building, at some mysterious and unspecified "meeting". It is a management style, whatever the business might be, which suits the manager, but nobody else !

I feel very sorry indeed for full-time teachers who are having to adjust to working under such conditions. I am lucky, my job is so part-time that I have been able to leave it as soon as I saw the writing on the wall.

Very best wishes to you, Schantieman and Dianavan, and all other departing teachers, as we all embark on new adventures.

- jeanie

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: Thompson
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 03:30 AM

Just curious: what *is* all this paperwork and admin? What do you have to do each week?

(And if there's a lot of 'paperwork', would you make your fortune by writing a program to automate it and selling the program to a million schools - or getting together with a programmer to do so?)

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: Rowan
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 03:08 AM

so if anyone wants someone to teach dinghy sailing, powerboating or yachting; or navigation and related skills in the classroom; or to run workshops on various aspects of folk (especially shanties) - or indded to sing in a club or festival, I'm available!

Schantieman, you remind me of an emergency teacher (the equivalent to "casual" and "supply" teachers elewhere) my school used to have available. I used to teach in Lynall Hall Community School; very "alternative" but part of the Victorian Education Dept and a leader in innovation until Kennet "Jeffed" it and the 10 other similar schools in the system.

The teacher I'm thinking of ran an art studio/shop (with his partner) called "Kites, Art and Penguins Dusted". The Penguins Dusted bit came from a line in a Ginsberg poem that mentioned "a pint of penguin dust"; people were invited to bring in a penguin (toy, picture, story etc concerning penguins) and he'd pull out a brush and gently dust it into an old glass pint milk bottle. He had it about 1/4 full at the time I noticed it.

His qualifications were really in art but he'd worked up a whole series of lessons involving kites. If he were required to teach "Science" he'd teach a series of classes centred on the science of kites. If he were required to teach "History" or Geography" he'd teach a series of classes centred on the history or geography of kites. "English"? Write some essays or analyse some texts on kites. "Art"? Make some kites. "PE"? Out into the yard and fly some kites.

Of course, the kids loved him and the teachers were pretty happy with him too; he was very popular and very sought after. Although he did a lot of work in Melbourne's northern suburbs he really got into his element when the regular art teacher on our staff took Long Service Leave; we snapped this guy up, but that leads into quite another (and positive) story.

He could well be an example for others to note.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: GUEST,diana
Date: 08 Apr 08 - 10:04 PM

I don't think its a matter of wanting control over your work environment. For me, at least, its a matter of professional decisions (within curriculum guidelines). My principal seems to think that the only thing that matters is that we do it her way and to acknowledge that she is (right or wrong) the boss. She also pits teachers against parents and teachers against teachers.   

I have always worked as a member of a team. Her top-down management style is suffocating us all. I wish she would stick to administrative duties and leave the teaching to us. She siezes on every petty, little error and blows it all out of proportion. She's a power freak.

I could change schools and start over but after 15 years, I think it will be easier to retire.

Yes, I have a union. Unfortunately, the principal does nothing that she isn't allowed to do. Its just that most principals choose not to exercise their power and authority unless absolutely necessary. She doesn't have to be so hyper-vigilant. I think she has a personality disorder but there is nothing I can do about it except stay away from her. She has actually forced me into retirement.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 08 Apr 08 - 03:53 PM

Altho' this began over a year ago, this is my first visit to it. I am not, nor ever was, a teacher--I do think I would have been good at it, for reasons not germaine here. My heart goes out to all of you who have lost the fire for teaching, often for reasons outside of your control. I wish you all the happiness, satisfaction and serenity you have not been finding in your chosen profession

I have read that folks in law, medicine, sales (my former profession) and other professions, experience similar unhappiness over time. The less a professional is able to control his/her work environment, the more the unhappiness.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: SINSULL
Date: 08 Apr 08 - 03:31 PM

LOL lEarn.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: SINSULL
Date: 08 Apr 08 - 03:31 PM

Where do you live, Hopeless? In any major city you can tie into a lucrative sales position if you are willing to train for 3-6 months. PM me for details. I am not talking used car sales or door to door magazines. Run fast and far from pyramis schemes. Large corporations need people for business to business sales and your ability to speak in front of a group transfers to phone, internet and outside sales. Your local newspaper needs advertising sales people for phone and outside work. Lots of opportunites if you are willing to lern.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: GUEST,dianavan
Date: 08 Apr 08 - 03:02 PM

I'm getting out of teaching, too.

It's a bit sad because I will really miss my students and the relationship I have with their parents and the community.

I will not miss the new principal who micro-manages the school and stifles creativity. I will not miss watching young, eager, talented teachers become stressed and cynical in a short period of time. I will not miss teachers who cater to administrative demands at the expense of their staff and students.

Education is much more than being able to pass a standardized test. Gone are the days when each teacher brought their own, unique interests and experience into the classroom and helped to create a socially responsible school where everyone was valued.

I'm still adjusting and beginning to create a new life. This period of transition is not going to be easy but I am looking forward to being free of the social pressure, the alarm clock and a hyper-vigilant boss who expects you to be a teacher 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: Cats
Date: 08 Apr 08 - 02:39 PM

Now this isn't exactly getting out of teaching but as from September I am going to do two days a week for the union from home, Mondays and Fridays, and go into school on Tues, Wed and Thurs. I expect I'll get quite a few people out of teaching with a reasonable package over the next few years in those 2 days!

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: Schantieman
Date: 08 Apr 08 - 06:51 AM

Well, I have officially resigned, and they've appointed my replacement so there's no going back.

As from 1st September I shall be officially unemployed, so if anyone wants someone to teach dinghy sailing, powerboating or yachting; or navigation and related skills in the classroom; or to run workshops on various aspects of folk (especially shanties) - or indded to sing in a club or festival, I'm available! Reasonable rates. (Advert mode off)

AND - it's an enormous weight off my shoulders and I'm much happier now :-)

Steve

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 08 Apr 08 - 06:02 AM

I was in Higher Education - Senior Lecturer in Law at one of the "new Universities" - former Polytechnics.

All the fun went out of teaching. You can find 2:1 degrees in a Lucky Bag, today.

'They' did a trawl for early retirement.

I couldn't get me hand up quick enough.

Today, I get paid for two loves - gardening and Law, so, whatever else it might be, it can't be work.

When I first went into Academe, students would ask 'How do I get into HE Teaching ?', and I'd advise them. Towards the end, they got a one-word answer - 'DON'T'.

On my experience alone, there is life after teaching - and a bloody sight a better one than in Education. Good luck. Follow your dream.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: GUEST,Lost Hope
Date: 08 Apr 08 - 02:57 AM

I have been teaching for 21 years. Over the last few years, it has become more and more difficult to go back into the classroom. I used to have fun with my classes. Enjoyed seeing what the students were going to come up with for the day. Now....I just want out. By moving to a new school district, I ended up spending thousands to update my 1985 diploma. I could beat myself. Why didn't I spend those thousands on getting a different profession. I want out of the teaching field. But what should I do with my talents? I don't know, but I will keep looking. Or else, I will go back and spend thousands more and get a different profession that I can actually face each day.

I miss being a master teacher and only being a teacher. I just lack the energy and drive that was there for the first 18 years. Now, I just want to get them to learn something....PLEASE.... I would love to throw every iPod, telephone, and other electronic gizmo out the window. Put NCLB in the equation and school has become a chore for the student as well as for the teacher.

I am tired and without hope,
Teacher/Lost Soul

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: Peace
Date: 22 Nov 07 - 06:49 PM

" New teacher drop-out rate concern
Media Release, Wednesday 19 February 2003


An innovative professional development program for new Victorian teachers is hoping to combat the woeful attrition rate of beginning teachers in Victorian schools.

"Teacher shortages and the cost of educating them is set to become a major concern to those planning for the future of the sector," says Julie White, of Melbourne's Department of Learning and Education Development.

US studies into attrition show that nearly one-third of new US teachers drop out in their first year and that education authorities there have poured millions of dollars into induction programs to deal with the problem hoping to retain more teachers to work in the already under-resourced education sector."

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: Schantieman
Date: 22 Nov 07 - 03:54 PM

I've been doing this job for over 27 years, the last 23 in the same place - a very-well-thought-of boys' independent school in the suburbs of a big city.

During my teaching practice and my early career I was frequently delighted and rewarded by seeing that little light come on in the kids' heads when they 'got it'. This now happens rarely. Instead, my bright teenage boys, who are motivated to succeed partly by their own ambition and partly by the expectations of parents (who are paying) and staff (who are paid) to get these kids to succeed, have the stuffing knocked out of them by the exam boards, directed by the government, who insist on test, test, and test again.

The apparent necessity to test them at every opportunity interferes with actually teaching them. There's not time to branch off and pursue some interesting topic that comes up in discussion - even if it would be of great benefit to their understanding of the subject and how it works - as it would interfere with the great god 'Syllabus'. They ask 'Is it on the syllabus?' 'Do we need to know this?' 'Will it be in the exam?' when what I want them to ask is 'Why does that happen?' How do we know?' 'What if it's like this.....?'   And when they do we can't spend long enough discussing it because.....    well, you get the picture.

So that's why I'm getting out.   It's completely knocked the stuffing out of me, made me depressed and ruined my life. I wouldn't recommend anyone to go into teaching at the moment and am full of admiration and trepidation for some of the new, young and very capable staff we've recently taken on.

What will I do? Sail. Sing. Sweep roads. Dig gardens. Anything that will buy me food to eat. NOT teach in a school.


Rant over. Now, what have I got in the morning.......?



Steve

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: GUEST,dianavan
Date: 22 Nov 07 - 12:18 AM

Exactly!

I spend more time being 'accountable' than teaching.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: GUEST,Paula t
Date: 21 Nov 07 - 08:43 AM

Teaching is extremely rewarding , as I said in an earlier posting.
I sometimes feel that the children ,with their unique and fascinating opinions, are the ones keeping me sane!
I think most long- in- the- tooth teachers have a wealth of stories about "those special moments".We could all write a book (if we had the time!)
It is the politics and ridiculous bureaucracy which are exhausting and demoralising.   

e.g:

We were recently subjected to a review of our marking by our link inspector. We all had to provide a cross section of our class books for "scrutiny" Fair enough.
However, she then got out a check list of points she was looking for.(which no-one had ever seen or heard of before).By ticking boxes she came up with a theory of how well the children were progressing - which bore no resemblance to reality.If we now follow the way she wants us to mark and comment,we will be filling the workbooks with our own writing, rather than the child's.(write a comment about how the learning objective was achieved, write a "next step comment" and pose a further question, comment on handwriting and presentation, then comment after the next session on how the pupil attempted that extension question............).The children only want to know if they "did their work right".No credit is given to us for discussing the work with the child unless we write it down in the book and date it.
There are 33 children in my mixed age group class. Every activity has to be differentiated for individual children in many subjects.This has to be written onto each teaching plan and then at the end of each lesson we have to note which individuals achieve,exceed ,or fail to achieve the learning objective.
I could go on and on. The list is endless.There is obviously a need for record keeping,assessment and careful planning and marking-but it would also be nice to be trusted to get on with the job once in a while.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 21 Nov 07 - 05:05 AM

What the Mr Phinn never says is that by and large Inspectors don't really add much to the gaiety of nations. I would be hard pressed to think of a single time they have actually improved matters by their interventions - though I supose it must have happened.

By and large, headmasters who had any sense, kept them away from the trouble areas - munching tea and biscuits in the Headmasters office as long as possible.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: JeZeBeL
Date: 21 Nov 07 - 03:55 AM

Paula t, he quite freely admitted that it can be a god awful profession, but that if you want to do it you should still give it ago.

It's about helping to change children's lives at the end of the day isn't it???

But as I've said before, I can totally understand why people want to get out of it....and I wish the guest that wants to get out of it, well in the future career they choose.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: GUEST,Paula t
Date: 20 Nov 07 - 04:30 PM

JeZeBel,I think you might bear in mind that Gervaise Phinn actually got out of teaching and became an inspector!
He speaks with great warmth and humour- but some of that humour comes from the knowledge that he sometimes had little idea of the reality of the situation for the staff and pupils at the school he was inspecting.
You'd hardly expect an inspector to tell a prospective candidate not to enter the profession!
Forewarned is forearmed!
I wish you every success.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: Riginslinger
Date: 20 Nov 07 - 01:38 PM

wld - "Supply Teaching," the way you describe it, sounds like substitute teaching in the states.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: Donuel
Date: 20 Nov 07 - 11:55 AM

Spring Chicken?

You are at the height of your powers!

I hope that is not too depressing.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 20 Nov 07 - 11:53 AM

Supply teaching is quite a rough optoion in many schools. Senior teachers frequently can't be arsed to support you - they see no real advantage to themselves. Why expend effort on someone you may not see again....? Easier to hang them out to dry.

Some teachers can't be arsed to set lessons for when they are absent. One place I went to, the kids had been working on bits of paper, which later went straight into the bin at the end of each lesson, for the last three months. the teacher had buggered off three months previously to have her breakdown, without leaving the keys for the cupboard with their books in. And no one (kids included) were too bothered about getting into the cupboard, Admittedly a 'sump' class - but it was apretty mindblowing situation to walk into.

One morning I got a phone call at 9.15 - could I come in and take a class - like in ten minutes. So I broke the speed limit and got there - local school, not a good place to offend.
It was a GCSE Chemistry class - due to take their exams in three months time. I walked in and said to the HOD - okay, where's the work?
He went balistic, WHAT did you say...?
I said, Where is the lesson you wish me to attempt to teach with these children?
He just walked off.

Ten minutes later, he walked into the classroom where I was attempting to put something together - still shaking with rage and said between clenched teeth, I am not OBLIGED to set lessons in these circumstances you know......

Actually you could write a book.

Supply teachin...tell me about it. No don't, on second thoughts.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 20 Nov 07 - 08:25 AM

Best of luck JeZeBeL with finishing your degree and a career in teaching.

I agree that teaching can be very rewarding and it does take a very special type of person to make a subject interesting and fun for students to want to learn. It take a special kind of person to be a teacher. I didn't complete my NQT year because I knew it wasn't for me. I take my hat off to anyone that is still in the profession and those that want to go into it. I also sympathise and respect those who feel they need to come out of it too.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting out of teaching
From: GUEST,Fibula at work
Date: 20 Nov 07 - 06:19 AM

I think I need to jump ship to the OU...