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Teaching in Inner City Disadvantaged Schools

  • 08-06-2008 10:16pm
    #1
    sitstill
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,380 ✭✭✭


    Hey guys, I'm just wondering whats it like to teach in a disadvantaged inner city school? I went to, and did my dip in a "posh" southside school. So I want to hear people's experiences of working in the above type. I have applied for a number of jobs in schools in town because I think I'd like the challenge it would be.


Comments

  • #2
    spurious
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 27,316 CMod ✭✭✭✭spurious


    To a certain extent, teaching is teaching.

    I have taught in inner-city vocational schools all my career. Since we don't have the luxury of rejecting kids who do not meet 'entrance standards', every year we have a number of children who come to us unable to read and who we are expected to get through a Junior Cert.. We manage it, but it's bloody hard work. We are often battling against years of damage done to a child's self-esteem by repeated failures in primary school. Levels of non-attendance can be high. It's amazing some of them come in at all considering what a bad experience school has been for them.

    It's sometimes disheartening to teach bright children that you know will not consider college, but there is never a dull moment. The inequity in the Irish education system makes me very angry sometimes, but we try to work on that one child at a time. There are kids who go on to college of course, but the amount of untapped talent is shocking.

    I wouldn't teach anywhere else.


  • #3
    sitstill
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,380 ✭✭✭sitstill


    Ok thanks. I had an interview today in one of the schools. I think I may get the job, but I'm very nervous about working there.


  • #4
    Black Swan
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 47,537 CMod ✭✭✭✭Black Swan


    Well, be glad you are not teaching in the Los Angeles inner city schools. Yes, they are in dire need of good teachers, but teachers should receive combat pay given the level gang violence.


  • #5
    Fast_Mover
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,619 ✭✭✭Fast_Mover


    I did my first TP in Southhill, Limerick.
    Tbh I nearly died when I found out, was so jealous of everybody else getting 'normal' schools. But you know what looking back on it, I had a great time! When the bus used to pick up all the student teachers after school..we were the ones who would get on crying with laughter from all the funny stories we had from our day..everybody else just looked bored. As spurious said there was never a dull moment! Yes, it was tough at times..but the small numbers helped..had 20 in my class (as opposed to the 33 I had on my Home TP) And teaching aint easy at the best of times anyway. It's very rewarding in the longrun I'd imagine tho..I mean a teacher is in a minority of cases for the children their only stable figure, someone they can trust etc.

    Best of luck! :)


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