Chemistry teachers

Saabster

Hey all,

I've just finished a degree that qualifies me to teach chemistry to leaving cert. level and I'm thinking about applying for the HDip. next year - I keep reading however about fewer and fewer students studying chemistry and I'm wondering does that translate into less demand for chemistry teachers?

Also, I'm thinking of doing a masters or another HDip. this September - I have a 2.1, but based on this year's points, and assuming they will probably be higher next year, I'll need extra points to be accepted. Would anyone care to hazzard a guess what the minimum points will be?

spurious

If you were a Chemistry teacher you would also be able to take Science and/or Maths (depending on the subjects you took).

Only about 7,500 took Chemistry for LC last year. It would be just above Physics (c. 7,000) in terms of popularity and WAY behind Biology (c. 28,000).

c. 48,000 took Science at Junior Cert..
c. 54,500 took Maths at Junior Cert..
c. 52,000 took Maths for Leaving Cert..

Any job teaching Chemistry (unless it's just a few part-time hours to cover Chemistry alone) would involve a larger amount of Maths and/or Science hours.

I can't comment on the points requirements for the PGDE, it always seemed to me to be a ludicrous way of selecting people for teacher training and in all honesty, the standard of some of the 'Dippers' we've had over the years would seem to back me up.

Being good at doing something yourself has very little relevance to how good you will be at teaching it.

TheDriver

ditto to all that, Maths is by far your friend but with the TC, you are a bit screwed as 10 years ago, once you said you were willing to teach x, y, and z, then the boss was delighted. Now its all a bit different.
You will end up teachng science for 1st few years, probably to lower stream classes who don't care about chemistry or whatever. Make sure you know what your getting yourself into!

Saabster

I agree - I think there are better ways of determining who should be offered a place - an interview seems to be central to applications for the PGCE in the UK - and for Trinity College.

And I know from my own experience that knowing a subject well does not necessarily make a good teacher. I had a lecturer in college who was regarded by all as a very talented scientist but could not teach to save his life!

helenwalks65

Personally, speaking as a ex-practising chemist I'd advise people to not work in chemistry - unless they really love it.

It's really not valued in industry anymore with increasing "outsourcing" of services and the resulting cuts in terms and conditions.

The analytical skills you learn on chemistry/phisics degree are invaluable in the world - but, actual working in science! No.

Helen.

mrboswell

helenwalks65 wrote: »

Personally, speaking as a ex-practising chemist I'd advise people to not work in chemistry - unless they really love it.

It's really not valued in industry anymore with increasing "outsourcing" of services and the resulting cuts in terms and conditions.

The analytical skills you learn on chemistry/phisics degree are invaluable in the world - but, actual working in science! No.

Helen.

Just what we need to boost numbers taking up Chemistry!

As an ex-practicing chemist maybe it wasn't for you.

As an ex-practicing, I loved both the routine analysis and research that I did. I just wanted to be a teacher more.

I don't know how you can say Chemistry is not valued in industry anymore. Despite the economic down turn there are a LOT of chemists employed in this country.

Our universities can not attract the worlds elite chemists (for organic chemistry anyway) due to funding etc so its no surprise that most drug development is not done here - its too expensive.
We are however currently competing in manufacturing and I suspect that it will continue.

Wow - I really hope you are not a Chemistry teacher Helen...

Best of luck saabster.

Saabster

Thanks mrboswell - I'm thinking now about doing the PGCE in England. I'll apply for Irish colleges as well next year but I expect the points to go up again and as I have a middle-of-the-road 2:1, I'm not particularly optimistic about my chances. Whereas in England, academic attainment appears almost to be a secondary consideration as long as one meets their academic requirements - 2:2 generally I believe.

mrboswell

Saabster wrote: »

Thanks mrboswell - I'm thinking now about doing the PGCE in England. I'll apply for Irish colleges as well next year but I expect the points to go up again and as I have a middle-of-the-road 2:1, I'm not particularly optimistic about my chances. Whereas in England, academic attainment appears almost to be a secondary consideration as long as one meets their academic requirements - 2:2 generally I believe.

Also consider the fact that in the uk, as far as I know, you get a golden handshake in the form of a few 1000 if you stay on to teach there for a year or so.

You might be right about the points but I think the most important thing is that where ever you do it, try to gain as much experience as you can. It will be priceless when looking for a job, especially when you come back here (if you do go to the UK).