Former teacher

mj84

Is there anyone out there who once worked as a teacher but gave it up? i tried it but knew almost straight away it wasn't for me for various reasons, just wondering if this is common and if anyone did give it up why so?

drvantramp

How long since you gave it up?
You posted a lot of questions on this previously, perhaps really you are still interested?

mj84

4 years ago, I taught for a year and it was prob the worst year of my life, I was just wondering am I a bit of a one off in this regard or whether there are others like me out there?

smallgarden

mj84 wrote: »

4 years ago, I taught for a year and it was prob the worst year of my life, I was just wondering am I a bit of a one off in this regard or whether there are others like me out there?

Often the school/students/staff can have a massive positive/negative effect on a working year.Id be reluctant to rule it out based on one experience.

evolving_doors

First year was hell for me... Would have thought everyones' first year would be hard enough though especially if your on a busy timetable... depends on the subject/extra curricular demands too...and pupil profile..and staff support...you could have a completely different experience in another school..

Wyldwood

I taught foreign languages for a number of years after graduation, many years ago. I never enjoyed it so took time out when I had my first son. Several years later, when I was looking to go back to work, I was offered a job with a French tour operator so I took it. Pay was less & no long summer holidays but I got to travel all over France (at no expense to me) many, many times. I loved it and had no regrets about the change of career. However, times were different and jobs easier to come by so think long and hard about what else you could do instead of teach.

Seanchai

smallgarden wrote: »

Often the school/students/staff can have a massive positive/negative effect on a working year.Id be reluctant to rule it out based on one experience.

This, 100%. My first full hours after the dip were hell. Now, years later, I can honestly say most of the problem rested with the school management (I blamed myself much more, then), a management which constantly changed room numbers (there was school reconstruction and I, as the rookie, was the softest target to move around) and put me in science labs with 30 students for approximately half of my classes (different labs) making the first 20 minutes revolve around what room everyone had to be in, getting the extra seats and then asserting authority over a class which saw you were being pissed upon by management. They were also resolutely unwilling to take action against known troublemakers because they were afraid of the parents taking legal action against the school.

I went for the job for permanency but my heart was not in it. I just wanted to get out of that environment, which was a 120km round trip from my home. I left with positive memories of one relevant staff member, the year head. He was absolutely solid and did his best. But the management were more concerned with VEC politics - they even called all students "clients" ffs - than with running a school. "Clients". Who in the name of Jesus comes up with this horrendous ráiméis?

The biggest benefit from it all for me was when I went to an interview for a school in my local area shortly afterwards and I was absolutely fearless. I was extremely frank, said in a nice but firm way what I would be willing to take, asked would I have a classroom of my own (huge issue) and would they be able to secure new technology (a big issue), and much else. I felt brilliant leaving that interview. But I was sure I didn't get it because I had been straight up about conditions of work (and everything else), even though I was in no position to be like that. They rang me a couple of hours later and offered me the job. I'm still there and it's a great school with a brilliant team spirit and management. I can honestly say not a day has passed when I haven't laughed. The more I deal with troubled kids and get kids to pass their LC who would formerly have been termed as having a "mild mental handicap", the more I believe in myself as a teacher. Conditions of work are crucial in bringing out the best in us all so when you're evaluating yourself be honest with yourself about the context of your working (and personal) life at that point in your life.

annamarie2013

Well said.

dingding

Seanchai wrote: »

This, 100%. My first full hours after the dip were hell. Now, years later, I can honestly say most of the problem rested with the school management (I blamed myself much more, then), a management which constantly changed room numbers (there was school reconstruction and I, as the rookie, was the softest target to move around) and put me in science labs with 30 students for approximately half of my classes (different labs) making the first 20 minutes revolve around what room everyone had to be in, getting the extra seats and then asserting authority over a class which saw you were being pissed upon by management. They were also resolutely unwilling to take action against known troublemakers because they were afraid of the parents taking legal action against the school.

I went for the job for permanency but my heart was not in it. I just wanted to get out of that environment, which was a 120km round trip from my home. I left with positive memories of one relevant staff member, the year head. He was absolutely solid and did his best. But the management were more concerned with VEC politics - they even called all students "clients" ffs - than with running a school. "Clients". Who in the name of Jesus comes up with this horrendous ráiméis?

The biggest benefit from it all for me was when I went to an interview for a school in my local area shortly afterwards and I was absolutely fearless. I was extremely frank, said in a nice but firm way what I would be willing to take, asked would I have a classroom of my own (huge issue) and would they be able to secure new technology (a big issue), and much else. I felt brilliant leaving that interview. But I was sure I didn't get it because I had been straight up about conditions of work (and everything else), even though I was in no position to be like that. They rang me a couple of hours later and offered me the job. I'm still there and it's a great school with a brilliant team spirit and management. I can honestly say not a day has passed when I haven't laughed. The more I deal with troubled kids and get kids to pass their LC who would formerly have been termed as having a "mild mental handicap", the more I believe in myself as a teacher. Conditions of work are crucial in bringing out the best in us all so when you're evaluating yourself be honest with yourself about the context of your working (and personal) life at that point in your life.

Your students are very lucky to have you as their teacher. You show great empathy for students and their circumstances and that is critical.