Turned down teaching my subjects to teach resource

Dickie10

Hi I am an NQT, I was casually subbing in my last PME school and getting around 20 hours per week and getting great money but I wanted to get my Droichead hours done which meant I needed 200 hours by the end of the school year. I was also applying for jobs / maternity etc as I was subbing to try and get hours to get Droichead done. I wanted it done in case a nice job in a decent school near me came up as I know my first placement school might be coming up in next year or so with a job.

Anyway the same week the school gave me Droichead hours in resource, I got parachuted into a job with just a very informal meeting in another school about 50 mins drive away. I basically asked a teacher I knew in the school what the story was with the job I seen advertised, she passed my number on to the principal who rang me later that evening and I asked me to meet him the next day. when I went in he had a timetable already done out and all. I got on very well with him and told him I would have an answer for him within 3 days. when I went back to ny school and told the DP he was very very anxious I stay there and gave me enough hours in resource to do Droichead.

I mulled it over and told him I would stay, I get on very well with both students and teachers and my co-operating teachers were very happy with my teaching in their classes (I heard this on the grapevine, from a senior teacher that I wasn't working with) so I am happy that I am capable enough teaching my subjects.
anyway just wondering was I mad to give up the chance to teach <snip> at leaving cert level in the other school just for loyalty sake and working ten mins drive away.? will teaching resource reflect badly on me in an interview?

mtoutlemonde

Dickie10 wrote: »

Hi I am an NQT, I was casually subbing in my last PME school and getting around 20 hours per week and getting great money but I wanted to get my Droichead hours done which meant I needed 200 hours by the end of the school year. I was also applying for jobs / maternity etc as I was subbing to try and get hours to get Droichead done. I wanted it done in case a nice job in a decent school near me came up as I know my first placement school might be coming up in next year or so with a job.

Anyway the same week the school gave me Droichead hours in resource, I got parachuted into a job with just a very informal meeting in another school about 50 mins drive away. I basically asked a teacher I knew in the school what the story was with the job I seen advertised, she passed my number on to the principal who rang me later that evening and I asked me to meet him the next day. when I went in he had a timetable already done out and all. I got on very well with him and told him I would have an answer for him within 3 days. when I went back to ny school and told the DP he was very very anxious I stay there and gave me enough hours in resource to do Droichead.

I mulled it over and told him I would stay, I get on very well with both students and teachers and my co-operating teachers were very happy with my teaching in their classes (I heard this on the grapevine, from a senior teacher that I wasn't working with) so I am happy that I am capable enough teaching my subjects.
anyway just wondering was I mad to give up the chance to teach geography at leaving cert level in the other school just for loyalty sake and working ten mins drive away.? will teaching resource reflect badly on me in an interview?

Firstly, the job in the second school - is it to cover for maternity/sick leave or your own hours? <snip> is a very popular subject so you are extremely lucky to be offered hours on your first year out!! If it is an RPT - you will be paid for the summer as it is before the November deadline - which if it is - to answer your question - you would be mad to turn that down.

Secondly, the resource hours in the school you're in - are they sustainable? i.e. will there be hours next year? I'd be very wary of this - you are an NQT so you haven't the experience of being messed around by principals. It could happen next September when a job comes up and you are either not called for interview or/are unsuccessful and the relationship you had been bonding will be gone.

Thirdly, yes teaching your subject would be more important than teaching resource or are you happy enough with resource? Teaching experience will be necessary in interviews - as the interviewer may ask you - 'how would you teach x and y to fifth years?' - you will be able to recall your experience in the classroom.

Finally, I would think long and hard about your decision and decide what is better for you in the long term - are either schools offering you RPT hours/what are the chances of work next year/which school has the better reputation - there is no point being in a school where you are unable to cope and the management won't back you up - ask the teacher in the other school what it's like exactly - a long time serving teacher may be negative so don't take it all for gospel - take your own interpretation.

If the offer for the second school is an RPT - don't turn that down - the opportunity may not come again - read some of the threads here with teachers struggling to get interviews/subbing let alone job offers.

Good luck with your decision!

Note: It may be a good idea to take away your subject area as you may be identified - some principals here. Also if you want to PM me -fire away!

Dickie10

oh thanks for the tip! No it wasnt RPT, it was just maternity until May. I have decided to take the resource and get Droichead finsished and worry about next year when I get there. Yea all my friends who are mostly English, History, and Geography have all gotten some form of hours with there subjects. Its all maternity so far but still good to get the work. I am happy enough just doing resource in my local school this year and then seeing what happens come May. Im not totally reliant on teaching as I farm fairly intensively as well so going on a subbing list wont bother me too much. If the right job comes up though I would love to teach my subjects with my own hours even 10 hours a week would be great in the right school. I would be open to subbing, job sharing etc. Dont think I would be bothered being in one of these Deis schools from hell I hear being described here though I couldnt do with that stress!

mtoutlemonde

Dickie10 wrote: »

oh thanks for the tip! No it wasnt RPT, it was just maternity until May. I have decided to take the resource and get Droichead finsished and worry about next year when I get there. Yea all my friends who are mostly English, History, and Geography have all gotten some form of hours with there subjects. Its all maternity so far but still good to get the work. I am happy enough just doing resource in my local school this year and then seeing what happens come May. Im not totally reliant on teaching as I farm fairly intensively as well so going on a subbing list wont bother me too much. If the right job comes up though I would love to teach my subjects with my own hours even 10 hours a week would be great in the right school. I would be open to subbing, job sharing etc. Dont think I would be bothered being in one of these Deis schools from hell I hear being described here though I couldnt do with that stress!

Are those resource hours an RPT contract? See if they could and you would be getting summer pay also. Well at the end of the day, you do whatever makes you happy.

Not every DEIS school is a rough school - you could be surprised that some 'good' schools could be the toughest you work in. The 'good' school may not have good management teams where students can do what they feel like as they can get away with it. And as for stress ... you have forty years of that to come especially with the decimation of our education system with the introduction of this silly Junior Cycle.

Anyway you have your decision made so best of luck with the rest of the year.