Primary Teacher or not?!

bouli73

folks

I would be grateful for any views.

I am 38, married with 3 children. I have a reasonably good job in the public sector, also have a BA in history and english plus a number of work related post grads. However, always have had a desire to become a primary teacher and my current work, whilst paying the bills, is not floating my boat. I enjoying working with children and do some local voluntary work at the moment.

Firstly, is is possible to hold down a full time job and do the hibernia course? I know there is a requirement for teaching practice etc but i think i could swing this part with work.

Secondly, how did people find the hibernia course?

Secondly, what are the job prospects like upon completion? This would be important to me based on my family committments and age.

Lastly and perhaps most importantly, am i mad considering this route considering my age and family committments?

Honesty appreciated !!

Thanks in advance.

BrianBoru00

IF your in a public sector job already - You are probably permanent and pensionable.
I don't think it would be prudent to take it up .

1. Yes it is possible to hold down a job and do hibernia - tough work but doable if you are disciplined.

2. Job prospects are poor. There are a lot of fully qualified and St Pats / Mary I trained teachers who do not have jobs. Most are getting some subbing and maternity leaves - these do not get paid for the summer. In addition, Most jobs will not consider you until you have the DIP done - the first year of "inspected" employ. Most teacher now are relying on maternity leaves to try and get this completed.

3. The reason I mention Pats / MaryI is that the level of training in these colleges appears to by far superior to the Hibernia Training.
I have discussed this with 4 primary principals who have said that all things being equal - the would give a job to St. Pats /Mary I before they would employ a Hibernia graduate - purely on the basis of the quality of degree.

4. Regarding the Hibernia degree - I decided not to do it for some of the reasons above. I have close experience of family members and friends doing hibernia as well as Pats & Mary I. You do need to work hard , but Hibernia Teaching practice is less stressful as there are no unannounced visits from inspectors - your given the day the inspector will call...

My recommendation would be not to consider leaving your job. The recent wage cuts for new entrants mean that newly qualified teachers qualify for a council house. You would be starting on he bottom of the payscale. However I wouldn't rule out completing the course anyhow in the hope that prospects improve in a few years time - I know of a 42 year old who returned 3 years ago via Hibernia and managed to get a permanent job in January.

About 8 years ago - there was a severe shortfall in teachers which meant that permanent jobs were filled by people straight out of college - but Hibernia along with postgras in the TT colleges led to a saturation of teachers which leaves the amount of available jobs relatively small.

byhookorbycrook

As you have a family, you will be limited by the area you can work in-presuming you will need to be close to home. Jobs ,even subbing jobs, are almost non-existent. If you have a permanent job at the moment, I'd be loathe to leave it, to be honest.

raglan

Hi,
I completed a Hibernia course a couple of years ago, and am going to correct a few things BrianBoru said. Each school principal has their preference, I have found some principals favour Hibernia students as they have previous degrees that may be off value (as do all postgrads) and have really good information technology skills due to online factor of course. Parts of the course are innovative compared to others, but also parts could've worked on. As regards teaching practice being easier , this isn't right. The first visit of all teaching practice blocks are announced but you get at least a second visit on each block totally unannounced, also you could get visits from grade moderators , department inspectors etc. some colleges you do your first teaching practice with a partner but you are on your own with the class teacher.
With the current job situation I would stay where you are as I assume you are permanent. A very lucky few land permanent jobs straight from college, most are hunting permanent jobs for years or even just a job to allow them together their dip done. People are spending a fortune applying for jobs that are most likely gone and the schools are going through the motions but as I said some are lucky but that's the chance you take.

BrianBoru00

Raglan, your implying that teachers from established TT colleges do not have the same level of IT skills as those in Hibernia.

This is untrue as IT forms key a key part of those training courses.
I
n addition, I would question whether any principal will favour Hibernian over the others all things being equal. In my own experience, they won't.


To compare - Hibernia is 1 1/2 years part time.
Post grad in Mary I is 1 1/2 years full time where they try to get the entire 3 year course done in half the time.
The Mary I 3 year course is very intensive as it is without trying to do it in half the time. Standards are far higher - you fail TP - you fail the year for example. St. Pats is also intensive, but slightly less so.

Now to compare Hibernia to any of those three courses, there is no way you could get the same amount of work covered in the Hibernia course.

It was originally brought in to alleviate the shortfall in qualified teachers. Realistically it should be phased out now as it has served its initial need.

At the end of the day, you are either going to be a good teacher or not and there are of course teachers from Hibernia who every bit as good and better than TTC qualifed teachers but the fact is that those Courses are superior.

Regarding the Teaching Practice - I'm basing this on close friends who both did the Hibernia course in the last two years and both of them were aware of the dates of all of their inspectors - It may not be official policy but they were prepared.

magnus500

bouli73 wrote: »

folks

I would be grateful for any views.

I am 38, married with 3 children. I have a reasonably good job in the public sector, also have a BA in history and english plus a number of work related post grads. However, always have had a desire to become a primary teacher and my current work, whilst paying the bills, is not floating my boat. I enjoying working with children and do some local voluntary work at the moment.

Firstly, is is possible to hold down a full time job and do the hibernia course? I know there is a requirement for teaching practice etc but i think i could swing this part with work.

Secondly, how did people find the hibernia course?

Secondly, what are the job prospects like upon completion? This would be important to me based on my family committments and age.

Lastly and perhaps most importantly, am i mad considering this route considering my age and family committments?

Honesty appreciated !!

Thanks in advance.

I understand that family commitments and all are important but if you are 38 you are going to be working for potentially another 25 years. Do you really want to stick at something for quarter of a century that doesn't really float your boat or do you at least try the opportunity to experience something that helps you feel fulfilled?

Yes you will start on a lower wage than many other people of your age in the profession and there is no guarantee of work but if this is a dream of yours then surely you owe it to yourself, the pupils who will learn from a dedicated and determined teacher and your own children who will be inspired by a parent who didn't just play it safe but who took a chance to discover their purpose in life.

There are always reasons to play it safe but courage comes after the event. Get clear though. Is this a path you REALLY want to follow? If so dedicate yourself to achieving this. However, it is ok too if you can get that sense of fulfilment incorporating working with children in to your existing set up.

Teaching can be very challenging but also very rewarding. You will regret far more the things you don't do than the things you do. You mention the need for a change so staying the same will only result in stagnation and frustration. Just get clear on why you want to do it and you can achieve anything.

evolving_doors

Ya i'd echo the consideration of location. If you are tied down with kids then I would presume you wouldn't be considering moving schools to get work elsewhere. Then again you might be city based so your possibilities are better. Although just thinking about that, you might have originally come from a rural area so could it be a possibility to 'return home' , I would always suspect that you have a good shot if you have gone to the school you are applying to (even if it was 30 years ago the 'ethos' will still be in you!!).

How about the Honours Irish? I don;t know but maybe you might have to spend some time in the gaeltacht during the summer,,, just another childcare consideration to think about there.

Any qualms about teaching religion or preparing classes for communion/confirmation? You don;t have to answer that here but just something to consider ... more-so if you deap beliefs against organised religion etc. There are non-denominational/educate together schools (using the term loosely) that wouldn't require you to be practicing a religion.

Also if subbing work does come up after graduating, would you be ok with being prepared to take it at short notice. (childcare logistics again)...

There is something about transferring public service pensions across (HERE) so at least that might help.. although if there is a break in service between when you leave your job to when you start teaching then you might be bumped out of the scheme and classed as a new entrant.

I know of a friend in the public service who took leave of absence of some sort for over 6 months (unpaid), I don;t know the ins and outs but it might also be worth exploring... that might bridge the gap when you graduate so at least if there's nothing happening you would have a job to go back to... although i don;t know if you can work during a leave of absence (maybe give your own union a ring).

You could also be a bit 'forward' and suss out any family members who might know a principal. Not to 'get you a job' but more to sound them out... perhaps they look for young and hungry teachers willing to give a lot of after-school time to extra curricular or planning. And hey, they might be after someone exactly like you too.. parent/experience with kids/variety of education qualifications etc..

As you already work with young people then you are on to a good start anyway..

Maybe a sideways move or promotion in your job (when things improve in the public service!) might revitalise you. Are you looking for more interaction with the public, are there any education roles within your department.

Pinkycharm

BrianBoru00 wrote: »

Raglan, your implying that teachers from established TT colleges do not have the same level of IT skills as those in Hibernia.

This is untrue as IT forms key a key part of those training courses.
I
n addition, I would question whether any principal will favour Hibernian over the others all things being equal. In my own experience, they won't.


To compare - Hibernia is 1 1/2 years part time.
Post grad in Mary I is 1 1/2 years full time where they try to get the entire 3 year course done in half the time.
The Mary I 3 year course is very intensive as it is without trying to do it in half the time. Standards are far higher - you fail TP - you fail the year for example. St. Pats is also intensive, but slightly less so.

Now to compare Hibernia to any of those three courses, there is no way you could get the same amount of work covered in the Hibernia course.

It was originally brought in to alleviate the shortfall in qualified teachers. Realistically it should be phased out now as it has served its initial need.

At the end of the day, you are either going to be a good teacher or not and there are of course teachers from Hibernia who every bit as good and better than TTC qualifed teachers but the fact is that those Courses are superior.

Regarding the Teaching Practice - I'm basing this on close friends who both did the Hibernia course in the last two years and both of them were aware of the dates of all of their inspectors - It may not be official policy but they were prepared.

As a Hibernia Graduate I can 100% tell you that there are unannounced inspectors and that the student teachers and as someone who has a parent as a principal and lots of family in the education sector- hibernia students rank very high at primary and post primary level.