Primary teaching or Home.ec

Catherine12345

Hi, i am thinking of either doing primary teaching in mary i next year or home.ec and religion in st angelas. I cant make up my mind which one, does anyone have any advice on which would be a better course and career.

byhookorbycrook

Have you some experience in observing at either level?

Catherine12345

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

Have you some experience in observing at either level?

Yeah i did a week in a primary school and i loved it, but im worried about the irish part of the course. And home.ec is my favourite subject in school.

brónaim cád??

Why don't you take a year out after school to decide. You could shadow a teacher in various settings for a while. If you then decide on primary you could use the remainder of the year learning Irish or doing science or culinary classes if you decide on the latter.

Catherine12345

brónaim cád?? wrote: »

Why don't you take a year out after school to decide. You could shadow a teacher in various settings for a while. If you then decide on primary you could use the remainder of the year learning Irish or doing science or culinary classes if you decide on the latter.

I think i would prefer to just go straight into college. I know what home.ec classes are like as im in one nearly everyday. Im just wondering if anyone has any advice on which course would be considered harder, much bigger work load etc. and which would be easier to get a job in.

seavill

Catherine12345 wrote: »

I think i would prefer to just go straight into college. I know what home.ec classes are like as im in one nearly everyday. Im just wondering if anyone has any advice on which course would be considered harder, much bigger work load etc. and which would be easier to get a job in.

This for me should not even come into the equation when picking a career for the next 40 years, you can survive a bigger workload for 4 years to spend the rest of your life doing the one you want to do.

You need to make this decision based on nothing but what you want to do for the rest of your life, do you do any work with younger teenagers, coaching, youth club etc. How do you find this, how do you handle them? Is it as enjoyable to you as working with a 5 or 6 year old.

Would you like to teach Junior and Senior Infants for the next 10 years - would you enjoy this or would you prefer the older classes like 6th class.

These are the considerations for me that would help you make the decision

crazyjav101

The competition for primary jobs are fierce. I'm a 22 year old guy. I've applied for 400 jobs since last December, got 50 replies and no interview. I'm considering doing secondary teaching if I get nothing between now and next May

Moody_mona

Secondary is no better. You may find it easier to find a job, but it won't be for full hours, you could quite likely end up on less than half a salary. There is also no panel system in secondary to gain permanency like there currently is in primary, but I say currently because that may not last long in primary either.

crazyjav101

At least in secondary you can get your foot in the door. Plus, with secondary you have your "dip" done, I did the 3 year course in Mary I and it's impossible to find a job if you haven't your probation done. That being said, the new 4 year course in mary I eliminates that problem

Moody_mona

Secondary teachers have a probation too, it's only awarded after 300 hours signed off by a principal. A lot easier than primary inspections I'll admit, but it is there.

I don't agree that secondary is any easier to get your foot in the door of.

crazyjav101

we have 100 days in the one school or 50 days in two separate schools. If you're a guy that doesn't play gaa, it it a big disadvantage. I am big into athletics and do a lot of coaching but if it is not GAA, but they don't care. The 1st question I get asked when I walk in the gate looking for a subbing, "Do you play Hurling ?" Unless, you have somebody belonging to you as a primary teacher, it should be avoided. Everyone I knew from mary I, who had someone belonging to them a teacher(immediate family), got a job straight away. Do you think a masters is a help in getting work for a person coming out of college ?

Moody_mona

I understand the primary probation, my mum is a primary principal, but I presume from your comment that's the only reason I have a job.

A masters or some further education could be a good idea. Maybe consider a part time one so you are still available to sub, but if there's a quiet period with subbing you can put more effort into your thesis etc. If would recommend filling your time bettering your CV whether it be through education or volunteering, but you need to put yourself in a better job seeking position next year. Maternity and sick leaves will continue to be advertised all throughout the year.

crazyjav101

Sorry, I didn't mean to be snotty, my sister is a secondary teacher. If it wasn't for her I wouldn't have got my school for teaching practice. The year before I tried 14 schools and got one eventually. If you have connections, you have to use them, simple as. It shouldn't have to be that way but unfortunately it is. I know a girl who got into her old school where her father was on the interview team... I agree but is a masters worth it for a person coming out of college ?

Moody_mona

If you're considering returning to study to do secondary teaching or masters, I think masters would serve you better. Have you chosen a masters? If you avoid a general education one hopefully there won't be much repetition from your under grad. Is there an area you're interested in? Special needs, asd, the arts in the classroom, deis schools. Something that will genuinely interest you and enhance your teaching. It doesn't need to be a taught masters, a research masters under a supervisor from your undergraduate could be an option.

I didn't use my connections to get a job. I know I could have but I didn't want to be associated with that practice. I used my Irish name on all job applications and didn't mention any links. I only got one interview as an NQT, got that job and am about to start my third year there. I'm not denying that nepotism is present or indeed prevalent, but I think the worst thing you can do is focus on it. Try to remain positive.

crazyjav101

Sorry if my frustration has vented through my messages, but it is highly frustrating after 400 jobs applications, not to get any interviews. Not even one...Even more frustrating, when it is not a level playing field. The masters I got is a general one. It is a part-time but I am worried about the work-load considering when my future is so up in the air and so uncertain..

Moody_mona

Completely understand your frustration and don't think your posts are snotty, don't worry

Have you had anyone look at your CV, SAF or cover letter? One of things you should try with positions over the year and next summer is personalising applications and tailoring them to each job, but only applying for a a fraction of positions. State specifically what it is about this job you like, mention something from their website, their result in a soccer final, their prize for education blogs and how it's something you'd aspire to b involved in. Make them want you and make them realise that you want them, their school, and not just a salary for the year.

I think a part time masters is a good idea for now since its a good way to fill time but I don't think the workload should be excessive if you get subbing. Try to take advantage of the quiet periods and get as much college work done as possible. A masters will also show that you were not disheartened by the job situation and you kept your enthusiasm for education as your priority.

crazyjav101

I got my cv professionally done. I try to mention something like that when I can. I think I worry will schools come and say I am over-qualified ?? Also, I think I look at secondary teaching like far away hills are green. I think for this girl who started this thread. It is convert from home ec teaching to primary teaching if she realised it was primary she wanted rather than the opposite way around.

dory

crazyjav101 wrote: »

It is a part-time but I am worried about the work-load considering when my future is so up in the air and so uncertain..

I really wouldn't worry about the workload. I'd worry about it if you had a full time job. If you're occasionally subbing you'll be fine. I'm a secondary teacher who is studying part time for another subject. I'm not on full hours so I fill the remaining hours with study.

You're definitely looking at secondary teaching with that green hills attitude. I have many friends who graduated around 2008/2009. All the primary ones now have permanent jobs - none of the secondary ones do. It's tough for everyone right now. And I know you said you got the CV professionally done but I would still get another opinion, especially with the cover letter.

Lastly, you're afraid of being over qualified? That has to do with someone with a business masters taking on a job at a cash register. Clearly they will move on and the boss will have to rehire. You're a primary teacher with an education masters - where else do they think you could fly away to??

crazyjav101

Do you mind me asking what are your subjects ? I think my route "if" I were to go to secondary teaching, would to do a dip(is there any place that does it in a year ?) I did an extra semester of Irish to bring it up to 60 ECTS credits so I have the equivalent of a full B.A. If I did a full-time year in German in UCC that would do for my 2nd subject. Does it matter what order the dip and the german were done ?
I suppose it won't hurt to get a 2nd opinion.
I don't mean to be sexist but I get the idea that men are not wanted if the principal is a woman, because they are afraid they will take over(I have been told this) and that a masters would make this worse...
I think to be honest I would have preferred secondary teaching but the main reasons I choose primary instead were that the smaller children were easier to discipline and that jobs would be plentiful for men but this doesn't seem to be the case....

whiteandlight

crazyjav101 wrote: »

I got my cv professionally done. I try to mention something like that when I can. I think I worry will schools come and say I am over-qualified ?? Also, I think I look at secondary teaching like far away hills are green. I think for this girl who started this thread. It is convert from home ec teaching to primary teaching if she realised it was primary she wanted rather than the opposite way around.

Do you mind if I ask have you had a principal or teacher look at it? A teaching CV is pretty different to mainstream CV's. I have my LC results and a whole section detailing every extra curricular/skill I have that can be used in the classroom that you would never include on a CV for anything else. It has been commented by all interview panels.