PME course length being shortened?

I think people on the outside really don't get how utterly draining the contact hours can be, nevermind the "volunteer/voluntold" elemnt and the extra admin etc etc...its always dismissed as whinging mainly by people that really don't have a clue it seems (and I suspect wouldnt be able to do the job at all regardless of their qualifications or what training they were given)....you were always on ...its nothing like any job ive done before or since in terms of that constant stress throughout the working day (theres a reason why actuaries have teachers at a lot lower on the life expectancy tables than a hell of a lot of other professionals) .....when you went in the door up to when you left and the time between those events seemed to continuously extend you were constantly vigilant and ..well on....then stuff like not having long enough for lunch and constantly having it interrupted used to utterly depress me, wolfing down a sandwich without bothering to chew maybe 10 mins total ....it got to me because I felt there was no real way to fight against it without getting a rep or hurting chances of promotion etc etc but it really should be a basic condition of work that's sacrosanct,....not to mention days you might not have one as you are supervising across lunch.....used to make my blood boil tbh...there were countless other irritations like this.....But you mainly felt let down by the people around you that they didn't have the spine to put their foot down and insist lunch = lunch....not lunch = a **** speed eating competition with random lucky dip interruptions and admin

I felt we were our own worst enemies that we couldn't collectively put our foot down and insist on things like lunches are lunches instead of entering a race to the bottom but the rot sets in when it's not a collective effort and people accepting things like that seem to get ahead while everyone else is left with the long term fall out and you can't blame them.....the standard needs to be set from the top on such issues...most groups of people eventually sink to lower and lower levels when it's clear from the set up that all that matters is the result + who can blame someone on a temporary contract just in the door afraid of their own shadow....they need the job etc and the system likes it that way imo.....in the end it will be counterproductive too imo

It amused me at the time when wellbeing was the flavour du jour and seemingly everyone was talking about how unfair the points race was etc etc every move made was contributing to teaching becoming a rat race...I was going to say glorified rat race but somehow the glorified didn't seem appropriate.....

I work in an area that's much more demanding on paper now but in reality while there's more hours involved etc I understand exactly what you are saying.......I do work longer and its demanding in a different way but its not affecting quality of life or health and its been very beneficial in terms of mental health etc etc....I too have weekends back, a better balance and evenings where I not physically and mentally worn out and frustrated/depressed/bitter on occasion.

The lunch issue is really raring its head in our place. We are looking at designating one day each week on a rolling basis where absolutely no meetings can take place.

A few weeks ago I worked through a day without any break as i did S&S class and small break and then at lunchtime was required to attend z lunchtime meeting for L2LP planning. Now the meeting for the L2LP planning was mot part of any croke park hours or any other such mechanism, just told to be there because I happen to have a student in my class on the program.

There are so many initiatives taking place, a week for X another day for Y etc anc its "voluntary" effort to get them up and running. Is there any other profession where its expected?

Anf then there is CPD. The education centres run a huge amount of great courses now, but its all on our own time in the evenings or even at the weekend. A colleague who recently left after 15 years remarked how in his new profession all CPD was part of his working hours, not being done on top of his working week.

This seems to be making headlines lately.. what are peoples taughts?

That does not really apply to this .. over restrictive It was 1 year until 2014 anf then masters was introduced. 2 year is too long after a 4 year degree. 6 years to become a teacher

@glut22 If the job is well paid and he wants more time with kids go part time. You will be down a tax bracket or two depending on income. This also depends if they can cut back on costs and afford the mortgage but changing career and starting at the basic salary would be similar plus two years out of work doing a masters paying fees, Then once qualified as a teacher being flexible location wise to find a job.

Going part time is a better option in my opinion if finances allow.

Wouldn't one think some questions should be asked regarding what the driving forces behind lengthening them in the first place? 😇

Anyone who has been through the 'visual' halls of Hibernia can tell you the answer to that.

Money.

It may be shortened but Hibernia will still charge you 15750.

That 2000 for NQT just offered in the budget will also be swallowed up - some way or other - by Hibernia.

The main reason it was doubled to begin with was a massive oversupply of teachers (and to make every teacher a 'Master ' so they could stop paying allowances )

Doubt it - it's a great money spinner for the universities - 2nd year students spend the majority of the school year on placement and still pay fees.

How many teaching hours do second years have roughly? Is it easier than 1st year if based in school most of the year

Couldn't agree more with everything said. The standard of PME and new teachers has absolutely plummeted. I'm also an English teacher and particularly noticeable is the lack of basic grammar, I seen, I done, no apostrophe use etc. The points need to be risen substantially. Imagine the calibre of student in Mary I Arts degree with 280 points requirement who will be teaching our young. Education has been destroyed in this country. The 2 year PME is just a money racket, absolutely not needed. The entry requirements is the problem.

Maybe Im being unrealistic thinking theres a shortgage of teachers?? my subject area which is art,craft and design but I saw a lot of jobs advertised for the subject for this year with most being full hours....investing two years into it seems more daunting than one. Yes if training was paid it would be good. I could be viewing teaching career with unrealistic expectations but one year would be worth it...two just seems too long. Say it is fulfulling career but pressure of state exams with students could be a lot. But I would be willing to do it if it was one year