Leaving Cert Higher Level Experience Essential

aunt aggie

Hi, I'm a maths teacher and currently job hunting. More and more jobs seems to want teachers with leaving cert HL experience. I have no previous experience of teaching at this level but a brilliant degree, experience of adapting to different schemes of work and I'd love the opportunity to teach at higher level.Do I have anything to lose by applying?

Also does this raise issues about equal opportunities?

I recently saw a maths position advertised and it was stated that PGDE was desirable. Are these inconsistencies just down to different management?

Boober Fraggle

I don't think you have anything to lose by applying, but I can't imagine many people would have LCHL experience early on in their career, unless they had covered a maternity leave. It's not something that principals tend to give to people who are in on a one year contract!

The cynic in me would wonder if the job was already gone.

seavill

Every type of job can look for experienced people it's nothing to do with equal opportunities.

There was one today looking for a chef with at least 5 years experience. Heard a funny one also looking for "experienced newly qualified teachers (or nurses can't remember exactly)" now how you can be experienced and newly qualified at the same time is interesting. I'm sure that wasn't proof read before being read on the radio, someone missed an "or" in the middle there.

I would apply either way, what have you got to lose, even if you don't get the job you are getting interview experience which is vital. Also even without the experience you may still be the best candidate to apply, imagine if everyone who applied was in the same boat they still need to employ someone.

aunt aggie

seavill wrote: »

I would apply either way, what have you got to lose, even if you don't get the job you are getting interview experience which is vital. Also even without the experience you may still be the best candidate to apply, imagine if everyone who applied was in the same boat they still need to employ someone.

Excellent point! I'm just in a position where I'm applying for jobs while still living abroad and looking at advertisements wondering if I'm qualified enough isn't encouraging. Doesn't help that I might not be able to attend interviews even if I am successful.

gaiscioch

aunt aggie wrote: »

Hi, I'm a maths teacher and currently job hunting. More and more jobs seems to want teachers with leaving cert HL experience. I have no previous experience of teaching at this level but a brilliant degree, experience of adapting to different schemes of work and I'd love the opportunity to teach at higher level.Do I have anything to lose by applying?

Also does this raise issues about equal opportunities?

I recently saw a maths position advertised and it was stated that PGDE was desirable. Are these inconsistencies just down to different management?

I'd apply for everything regardless of what it says (as long as they don't expect you to fill out reams of pages in a form unique to their school). However, this is just a thought but perhaps you could arrange with a local principal to teach LC students in after school classes for free? That way you get the experience without too much effort and it wouldn't impact upon any paid employment you get. (our school would be very grateful if in particular a Maths or Irish teacher offered their knowledge to students for free.)

f3232

gaiscioch wrote: »

I'd apply for everything regardless of what it says (as long as they don't expect you to fill out reams of pages in a form unique to their school). However, this is just a thought but perhaps you could arrange with a local principal to teach LC students in after school classes for free? That way you get the experience without too much effort and it wouldn't impact upon any paid employment you get. (our school would be very grateful if in particular a Maths or Irish teacher offered their knowledge to students for free.)

Why would you encourage a teacher to work for free?

It's no wonder our professionals is being undermined when we are encouraging stuff like this.

"Our school would be grateful if someone worked for free"

EH....... no thanks.

gaiscioch

f3232 wrote: »

Why would you encourage a teacher to work for free?

It's no wonder our professionals is being undermined when we are encouraging stuff like this.

"Our school would be grateful if someone worked for free"

EH....... no thanks.

If somebody can't get a job without experience, then it's better that they get the experience if necessary by offering extra help to LC students than sit at home doing nothing. What has he/she to lose if they set the terms for their offer of free work?

Practically every professional gives free work during their life in specific cases if they believe it will benefit them in the long term. Barristers call it "pro bono" work, for the public good. Medical consultants and many others do it if the circumstances suit them, while other professionals don't charge for certain work due to the "mitigating circumstances" of the client. Teachers should not be above this awareness that all work situations are not black and white. No professional is demeaned in this. Quite the contrary, I suggest.

f3232

gaiscioch wrote: »

If somebody can't get a job without experience, then it's better that they get the experience if necessary by offering extra help to LC students than sit at home doing nothing.What has he/she to lose if they set the terms for their offer of free work?

There are better ways to get experience after 4 years of study than to work for free.

In the context of the a casualisation of the teaching profession and the attact on young teachers pay and conditions over the last number of years, the very last thing I would be suggestion is for young teachers to work for free.

gaiscioch wrote: »

Practically every professional gives free work during their life in specific cases if they believe it will benefit them in the long term. Barristers call it "pro bono" work, for the public good. Medical consultants and many others do it if the circumstances suit them, while other professionals don't charge for certain work due to the "mitigating circumstances" of the client. Teachers should not be above this awareness that all work situations are not black and white. No professional is demeaned in this. Quite the contrary, I suggest.

There is a considerable difference between a highly paid barrister or medical consultant doing "pro bono" work and a unemployed teacher offering to work for free.

aunt aggie

I wouldn't dismiss advice to take on voluntary work. I know a teacher who worked in an after school programme for disadvantaged students on a voluntary basis. It wasn't associated with any school but looked good on the CV. The teacher in question got a job with her own hours within two months and stopped doing voluntary work because they just didn't have the time anymore. I realise its not a very common situation.

I doubt many schools would accept this offer though. What if the teacher working voluntarily hasn't undergone garda vetting recently? It seems a bit dodgy for a number of reasons.

f3232

aunt aggie wrote: »

I wouldn't dismiss advice to take on voluntary work. I know a teacher who worked in an after school programme for disadvantaged students on a voluntary basis.

And neither would I dismiss doing such worthy volunteering, I wouild caution against giving free higher level maths class to students in a conventional school or grinds setting to gain experience.

I doubt many schools would accept this offer though. What if the teacher working voluntarily hasn't undergone garda vetting recently? It seems a bit dodgy for a number of reasons.

Agreed