Leaving a secure job to try get into a HDip secondary teaching

zraselle

Hello,

So I currently have a comfy secure recession-proof job, I may be mad to be thinking about leaving it but I have always thought about teaching and two years on from college and I'm still seriously thinking about it. So I am going to go for it or i'll regret it!

So a bit of advise please!! When do you need to apply to get into the secondary Hdip in Trinity? I don't have any real teaching experience either how much of a problem would that be? I could probably get some easy enough if I quit my job as my mum is a teacher.... So if you apply when do you find out if you got in? I am probably too late this year....?

Any general avise on how best to approach this is verrry much appreciated!

ytareh

Sorry but in my opinion you ARE mad.Could be a decade before you had another permanent job...or full time job even the way things are ...not to mention general abuse taken by teachers...Does your current job pay more than teaching?Can you afford to be unpaid for the next 4 or 5 years ?This seems like a decision to be taken in better financial climate and even then very carefully...I can assure you its far from Dead Poets Society out there !Off the top of my head 5% rewarding ,30% neutral ,65% (probably more ) head wrecking if not soul destroying ...and all the 'perks' of the job -pension/hols etc are being eroded fast ...

dory

Yes, you are late for this. Applications will be taken next autum again for entry in September 2011.
As to whether or not you're mad? Well, that depends on your subjects and how much you want this. I would wait a year or two to see if the job situation picks up. In the meantime, get some experience at the weekends with young people.

TheDriver

Apply anyways for Sept 12 months but yes, you are mad becasue there are little or no jobs out there and if you have secure employment, I wouldn't be throwing that away at the moment.

implausible

zraselle wrote: »

I don't have any real teaching experience either how much of a problem would that be? I could probably get some easy enough if I quit my job as my mum is a teacher....

If you can get some experience that easily, then take a week or two off work and do some. At least then you'll have a better idea if it's for you before you do something as drastic as quitting a secure job.

donnyd

I would say dont be encouraged if you really feel it is what you want to do. Definitely get experience first and consider maybe applying for a VEC. At least then you would be working with adults and would'nt have to deal with the discipline of secondary schools.
It will be hard and you will have to make sacrifices but at least in that line of work there are still some opportunities and if you get in you are relatively secure again.

implausible

donnyd wrote: »

I would say dont be encouraged if you really feel it is what you want to do. Definitely get experience first and consider maybe applying for a VEC. At least then you would be working with adults and would'nt have to deal with the discipline of secondary schools.

What? VECs run secondary schools too...

Do you mean that you're recommending that the OP get into adult education? If so, OP, you will find some threads on here about it.

donnyd

yes, i am aware of this. but you dont necessarily have to teach in the secondary schools. there are other oppotunities teaching Fetac course etc is there not?

implausible

donnyd wrote: »

yes, i am aware of this. but you dont necessarily have to teach in the secondary schools. there are other oppotunities teaching Fetac course etc is there not?

Yeah, you're right, the VECs also run FETAC courses, Adult Ed, Youthreach etc. Your post was a little confusing as it sounded like VECs were only for FETAC etc and the OP specified secondary teaching.

donnyd

Yes.I guess i was trying to point out that if you get a Hdip in secondary school teaching you have the opportunity to work in Secondary schools per se, secondary schools under the VEC system or teach FETAC to adults under the VEC system. The latter may be particularly appealing for someone coming out of a regular job situation who has had no prior experience of teaching. They would get the opportunity to teach, not having to worry as much about discipline problems and being in an environment which approximates more to a half-way house between school and industry (where their previous experience lies). Do you work in this sector? Do you have more information you could share? I am interested in this area myself.

drusk

ytareh wrote: »

Off the top of my head 5% rewarding ,30% neutral ,65% (probably more ) head wrecking if not soul destroying ...and all the 'perks' of the job -pension/hols etc are being eroded fast ...

It sounds to me like teaching is not for you. Sounds like you need a career change too.

donnyd

It sounds to me like you should not always rely on what things sound like without knowing any facts Actually, am undergoing a career change and am really happy with my new direction. Of course, you have no idea what I did before or what I will do.

drusk

donnyd, I wasn't referring to you in my post.

donnyd

No worries. I see who you were referring to now. Yes. If you have that many complaints I guess you need a change. It is becoming increasingly difficult in current climate though which is unfortunate.

implausible

donnyd wrote: »

Do you work in this sector? Do you have more information you could share? I am interested in this area myself.

I teach both secondary and FETAC and there's a world of difference. I would consider my FETAC work as delivering the material rather than teaching. There are no discipline issues, no regular homework (assignments instead), and everything is far more up to the student. There is more paperwork and admin. In this capacity, I would consider myself a tutor, not a teacher. Many of my colleagues doing this work have no H.Dip and no job security.

KMeade

Hey Zrasselle, Did you make a decision? I am in exactly the same position, and would love a chat about it.