Why Is It So Difficult To Get Teachers These Days?

[ToraToraTora]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-45341734

[Kromovaracun]

Jim

Not strictly on-topic, but you come across like an extremely patient person and you've demonstrated multiple times that you are good at explaining complicated ideas in straightforward and engaging language. For what little it's worth, as one internet stranger to another, I get the impression you'd be an outstanding teacher.

[fiction-factory]

>They have to stick to sibelius

Is Beethoven not on the syllabus now then? Actually I've covered music a few times and classical music hasn't featured at all.

[margarettom]

I was a teacher and, until I was reaching retirement age, I always enjoyed it. In the end I was glad to leave. What I found hard to deal with was constant changes in syllabuses and working practices, due to government interference. For most of my career I was treated as a professional person and allowed to get on with my job. As I taught in an Upper Secondary school (14-18) my performance was judged on exam results and lack of complaints from either parents or students. Towards the end, there was endless tick boxing and target setting and other puerile exercises, that simply added to the work load. Also, constant tinkering with the exam syllabuses meant one was endlessly updating work schemes etc. So it wasn't unruly students, bolshie parents etc. that spoilt the job for me, but bureaucrasy.

[emmie]

who would want to teach in this day and age, parental control out the window, unruly, disruptive pupils. and an ever increasing lack of respect, i wouldn't do the job in a million years.

[jim360]

How in blazes did we end up with answers removed from this thread, of all places?

Anyway, thanks also Kromo and spath -- I do try. The challenge is when working with children who are, to put it mildly, less keen on learning to start with. Engaging such is something I've yet to try.

[Mamyalynne]

I've never taught but have had family who did - right up to Head Teacher level and they tend to take the same tone as Teachers who have commented here today.

Endless red tape, masses of targets and ever changing guidelines to adhere to -always dancing to a tune but at the same time loving the job and the reward they get when pupils succeed against the odds.

[Khandro]

It may be similar to the problems Germany is facing; teachers are leaving the profession in droves, there are at present 30,000 vacancies and alarmingly, 10,000 jobs are being filled by untrained people, retired people who are being dragged back from retirement and students.
The pressure of trying to teach pupils who cannot speak the language and those who are unwilling to learn society's values seems to be the main reasons.

[hereIam]

I totally agree with emmie at 16:42.

[jourdain2]

ff ... I worked as a Supply teacher for many years when my children were young - it was, I thought, the hardest job in the world... and, yes, the famed '6 wks' holiday condensed to 2. Then, before I retired, the beaurocracy came in. My lesson plans used to consist of a few notes in my files per class - I knew what I was doing and not only had no complaints from parents and school, but was highly praised and very effective. I still often worked until midnight.

Suddenly I was faced with having to write, at some length, aims and objectives of every lesson, detail resources I would need and assess effectiveness of said lesson (7 per day!!). I was relieved to quit.

I now volunteer one morning a week in a local comp. and help slower readers to catch up Wonderful! - great rapport with the kids and very satisfying as I see them make up 2 years or more on their reading ages. I feel so desperately sorry for the teachers. Business systems do not sit with the creativity and interaction needed. 'My' school is losing almost all it's 'English' staff and a huge percentage of others. I'll be happy to go in just to be a familiar face in the corridors for the kids to latch on to.

Education is not an industry - it is dealing with children - and to apply industrial standards is to kill the vocation and the joy.

Jim ----- I also think you would make an excellent teacher.


My teachers' pension is just over £3,500 a year.


Think that covers most of it. :)



.

[jim360]

Thanks to you too, jourdain :)

[Baldric]

// They have to stick to sibelius //

https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/Sibelius

[Mamyalynne]

I echo the chorus for you to pass on knowledge Jim, though not an easy task I feel you'd be ideal for the job.

Go for it.

[sherrardk]

If any of my children wanted to be a secondary school teacher I would try to put them off the idea.

[Prudie]

So would I. You have to be as tough as old boots for starters these days.

[sherrardk]

Prudie, my eldest son toyed with the idea but now he's set on going in the Royal Marines which I think is a much better plan.

[Prudie]

I think he will look back and think he made the right decision (I hope). It's the kind of experience he will be proud of all his life. I think the days of teachers retiring after 40 odd years of a rewarding career are long gone sadly.