Teaching

[midagetrolop]

My son is thinking of going on a teachers training course - he has a degree in pharmacology -so sciences would be his subject. He is wavering because he has been put off by some friends. Any teachers out there - please try and give him an unbiased opinion?

[grumpy80]

I am not a teacher but I too am thinking of going into it. The best routes are to contact a University about doing a PGCE and I think in science it is a 2 year course, plus a golden handshake. The other is to do a graduate teacher training course, you get paid to do it as well but it is better pay than the PGCE. Look at the following website for more information: www.tda.gov.uk for more advice!

[factor-fiction]

Yes, look at the TDA website. I'm not sure about the rest of the info given by grumpy80 but he's right about TDA

[midagetrolop]

Thanks, but we know all this. What do you think about teaching as a career - that is the question I asked?

[derrynoose]

I retired in 2000 after 34 years in teaching and enjoyed the job immensely. It proved very satisfying as a career, helped, I feel, by my working in Further Education with well motivated students of all ages(over 15). I'm not so sure that it would be as enjoyable nowadays. I'm told that many students are less well motivated and administrative/business structuring and financial decision making take precedence over academic need. With a Science Degree, however, your son can afford to be selective about the type of institution in which he wants to work. If I were starting again I would probably head for a School witha strong religious affiliation, where my impression is that attendance by students, application to work and study, and general behaviour issues are positively addressed.

[pingping]

a close friend is a teacher and hated teaching in her local comprehensive so much, that she considered changing careers. she has since moved into a post in a private school and says the differences in the experiences are profound. In the local school none of the kids wanted to be there, had no interest in the subject, were rude and unc-operative, and were often threatening. In contrast the proviate school kids are polite, a joy ot work with and have a desire to learn.

While teaching can be an amazing career (both my parents were career teachers) I think these days that it is becoming harder to just teach and not get dragged down by the admin/politics involved.

I wish your son all the best though in whatever he decides!

[phoenixx9000]

I'm not a teacher but I work in a school in a support role so I can maybe give you an objective opinion. The comments above about rude / uncooperative kids in comprehensives is spot on. Kids think nothing of answering back to teachers. Basically the difference between good and bad teachers - those who enjoy it / don't id dependent on their authority / ability to control the class. If you feel confident in your ability to control a class of 30 rowdy 14/15 yr olds then you will suceed. If you cant control kids behavior, you cant teach them! This is the biggest problem in schools today IMO. The teachers I know who hate the job are the ones who the kids see as a pushover so you need to be a strong / authoritative type of person to enjoy a teaching career.

[Bloss]

I have been teaching for twenty years. I am actually considering leaving, but mostly because I need a change.

Other than the subject skills, your son would need to be enthusiastic about his subject, enjoy being with young people, self-confident, determined, hard-working and (absolutely necessary) have a personality.

Things have changed a lot in schools over the years, perhaps even since your son was at school. I would suggest he contacts a local school(s) and ask if he can visit for a day. This will give him an opportunity to experience a classroom (other than as a pupil) and talk to a number of teachers. I know this happens because I have hosted a number of people who have been considering teaching as a career.

I hope this helps and wish your son all the best in his career choice.

[midagetrolop]

Thanks to all of you - very interesting. He has spent sometime visiting a local schools science department and maths department. He still seems to be interested. Thanks again.