Is it hard to get going in teaching now?

F

Frank Underwood

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Hi All,

I’m considering training to be a teacher. It’s something I have been thinking about for about ten years. I meet all the requirements for the Hibernia course and I can afford the fees. I’m at home at the moment and if I do the course my two children will be doing the ecce and will stay on for an hour or two in the playschool. Would I have enough time to study from 9.30 to 1.30 every day and the evenings? I would be able to do 4-5 hours on a Saturday aswell. I’m going to do the UCC preparatory Irish course and I will get some time in a classroom aswell. Is it hard to get a place on the course and is it hard to get a job? I just turned 40. Any advice would be much appreciated.
P.s. my husband has a very well paid job so I have no financial pressure. I’m more worried about my capacity to Juggle the course and my children etc. My husband is fully supportive of me doing the course. I have a 2.1 degree So I’m able to study hard etc.
 
Are you looking at primary school teaching or second level.

I did the H. Dip as a mature student and the study aspect was much less challenging than I expected. I think this is simply due to maturity. The project work involved might be more time consuming.

For second level teachers there is plenty of work, that is not quite the same as getting a job, a proper permanent "post". I think the same is true for primary teachers.

If you want to do it, go for it, don't worry too much about the job prospects for now. Good luck, I suspect it may be the very best thing you ever do.
 
I know someone who completed the Hibernia course recently after deciding the first career wasn't for them. It's a LOT of work with lots of lesson plans and supplementary materials to be prepared overnight.

Once qualified you will be starting on the bottom rung, competing with those straight from college. Availability of work may vary across the country, but in Dublin there seems to be plenty of temp work and maternity back fills, but far fewer permanent jobs.
 
Cremeegg, thanks for your encouragement, I take it you are enjoying teaching. It’s primary teaching I would do.

Thanks clueless, I have been keeping an eye on this website.

Thanks Leo, yes it’s a very full on course. I’m prepared for that. I suppose you don’t get a masters without a lot of effort. I earn nothing at the moment so I would be very happy to start at the entry point. I’m doing this more for the job than for the money. I want a proper career and a challenging job.
 
One thing's for sure is, you'll find that teaching doesn't start at 9 and finish at 3. The greatest myth of all time, never mind if you have a more senior position.
 
Thanks for the reply no problem, my own children will be in primary school when I will be teaching. When I say I’m doing this for the job I don’t mean that I think it’s a cushy number, the opposite really. I think teaching is a challenging, noble profession and I want a job that’s challenging. Completing the masters will be a huge effort on my part. But teaching is an opportunity for me to have a 20 year career once I qualify. It will also afford me a chance to be off when my children are off. And when they don’t need me as much I will have my own life outside the home. I’m very happy to be at home for these years but I am not interested in never working again or working in a job that I would find boring. What would you say is a normal working day for a primary teacher in terms of hours? Are you a teacher yourself. I worked in a very demanding role until a few years ago, so I have no problem with extra work outside of 9 to 3.
 
My sister's a Primary School Principal, 6 teacher school and also 3 special needs. Along with all the responsibilities of being the principal she's also teaching. She is in the school at 7.45am, arrives home usually at 5pm each evening having dealt with parents, etc. The amount of paperwork she has to complete is frightening, bullying issues, administration, supervision, discipline, child issues, eg, academic progression, etc to discuss with parent/parents, plus a million other issues, dealing with reps calling, maintenance of school building, security, organising work for same, dealing with sub teachers, sick leave, student teachers for their practice, inspections, paperwork, lesson prep, etc, etc, etc. I've often called to her and she'll be either doing paperwork, answering some parents question, dealing with the dept until all hours. Yes, their holidays are good but for principals the holidays give some breathing space to deal with school repair issues, grant applications, plus everything else you can imagine. Of course every mum and dad thing their Mary and Johnny would never do anything wrong so that seems to be an ongoing seriously mental time for her, along with all the paperwork and parents and we know they're always right :(. Now, that's a synopsis of some of her week, you don't want to know the rest, believe me. Oh, I did say she teaches a full class along with all that, didn't I? She has just passed her 60th birthday and i'd imagine she's had enough after this summer ends and for that to happen she would have had to let the appropriate authorities know of her plans already. So, go ahead and enjoy your new vocation. Teaching just ain't teaching anymore.
 
I am a primary school teacher for the last 15 years so feel free to ask any questions. I think the best advice I can offer is to get into a school and see what you think with some real hands on experience. You will have to be garda vetted to get into any school so keep that in mind. As for hours well there is a serious amount of paperwork expected from teachers there are a lot of subjects; Irish, English, maths, history, geography, science, art, drama, music, PE, SPHE, religion. You must have a yearly plan for these. Then every fortnight you must have a more detailed plan of what you will teach and then every month you must write a report on all you have taught. You must also assess all your children and keep records of these. You must have individual education plans for any child with special needs. You will spend a lot of time correcting copies and tests and preparing for lessons. You must teach your lessons to the average ability but also have extra supports for children who need it and you must also challenge the stronger children. You should use a variety of teaching methods and styles to suit all types of learners. You must be a disciplinarian to keep 30 children under control but yet not so strict that you should hinder their development. You must learn to go to the toilet during breaks only. You will have approx 5 minutes for little break and 20 minutes for lunch(if you're lucky) if you're not on yard duty. You will spend a ridiculous amount of your own money in pound shops on pritt sticks, blu tack, stickers and other school supplies.
 
No problem, thanks for your very honest post. I have a close friend a first cousin who are principals and it does seem to be a poisoned chalice for a lot of people. I have heard that they are starting to struggle to fill posts due to what you describe. God love your sister, I would not be interested in that to be honest. I had a very high pressure job in my past life, so I have some insight into the constant pressure and very long days with only 24 holidays. Teaching a class and all that goes with it would be enough for me going forward. I suppose all the new paperwork is very trying for people who taught when there was less, but I will know no different.
Random10, thanks for your advice. Do teachers do a lot of this planning for the year during their summer holidays? Regards having to plan ahead and do teaching plans, I am a ridiculously organised person so all of that would actually suit me down to the ground. I was onto the teaching council yesterday, I will fill out the Garda vetting forms in the next few days and send them off. I have observation set up in three schools in the coming academic year. I have approached the primary schools in my home parish regards tp. I’m starting a 20 week course in UCC this autumn to improve my Irish, it’s geared at the interview for the Hibernia course.
Is there anything else I should be doing?
I suppose my biggest concern is will I have the art of teaching. Will I be able to do all the things you outline in your post random10? But I suppose that’s what the course and TP is for. In my previous career it was all about making profits for a big company, pure capitalism. So I would love that I would be helping children as a teacher and making a positive difference in their lives. Random10, what do you think are the real hours for a teacher? I will be very busy for the first few years as I get into my stride so I suppose I will be busier than you are now, would that be fair to say? Do you enjoy your career Random10
 
Frank Underwood said:
Do teachers do a lot of this planning for the year during their summer holidays?
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I'm always tipping away at it but it doesn't enroach on my holidays if I don't want it to. Be aware also you'll probably be teaching a double class so you'll have two Maths' programmes to deal with at the very least. It's quite a rewarding job but there are lots of challenges.

You never get away from the job... there's always something to be done.
 
Thanks Paddy, I wouldn’t mind doing some work during the summer. Would feed into my obsession with being very organised.

2-3 hours is a nice bit, but if you can do it at home later when you have had a few hours break from work it’s ok.
 
Frank Underwood said:
2-3 hours is a nice bit, but if you can do it at home later when you have had a few hours break from work it’s ok.
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I tend to get busy at 10.00 p.m. and could keep going until 1.00 a.m. I always seem to do my best work at that hour of the night.

If you are a good organiser, you'll do well. Being organised rubs off on the class too, so they'll pick up good habits.

My classroom is free of clutter and we do a clean up first thing before we start in the morning. Great for the class to organise themselves for the day.
 
You sound a bit like me Paddy, I don’t like clutter. I get my two year old twins to clean up their toys every evening!! You are a night owl so. Are you long teaching? Are you enjoying being off? I had 24 days holidays in my last job. It’s fine when you are younger and have more energy but it’s not a lot when you have small children etc. my husband has a lot of holidays and can buy an extra weeks holidays which he does every year. So when I’m qualified and I’m a bit established we should have a nice work life balance and good opportunities for time together and travel, it all helps to broaden the mind. Having time out of the workplace has given me a lot of clarity about the type of life I want. It’s hard to make life changing decisions when you are on the hamster wheel.
 
Frank Underwood said:
I suppose my biggest concern is will I have the art of teaching.
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Some people are just naturals, most people can learn the art. A few people it is true, never manage to cope with 30ish kids looking at them.

Unfortunately in my experience it is often people who are too in love with teaching that never generate the distance needed to teach successfully.
 
Frank Underwood said:
Are you long teaching? Are you enjoying being off?
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I reckon I've got about 10 years max. left in me teaching... sometimes I'd love to go tomorrow as I find the job very exhausting now and I often find it frustrating trying to get things done when circumstances mitigate against me... two steps forward and one step back (or is it one step forward and two steps back!) and all that.

Am I enjoying being off? Only just finished a summer course so holidays haven't kicked in yet. I enjoy the holidays but I'm always mulling school work over etc.
 
Do I enjoy my career? For the most part yes I do and it is a privilege to teach young children and impact on their lives but the job can be very frustrating, there are a lot of boxes to be ticked for the sake of it and to cover your ass basically and not actually for the educational benefit of children, I am spending a lot of time during the summer at plans but that is my choice, it will make life easier for me in September and I have two young children so will be under pressure to be organised. There are always new initiatives being introduced at the moment there is a new language curriculum and a new maths curriculum is on its way. Every school has to plan for digital learning now too. Aistear came into infants in the last few years, a new stay safe programme came in recently. I suppose my point is you never feel settled or on top of things you will always have a to do list that never gets completed. Schools are under pressure to have green flags, active flags, and yellow flags. A lot of teachers give of their spare time to do after school activities but it is an enjoyable job. I feel like I would like a job where I can switch off you are always thinking of lessons or children in your class. You become very attached to the children and genuinely care about their welfare. I have spent many a waking hour thinking about ways to help a child struggling with reading or making friends or their family situations.
 
Cremeegg, I don't think I would fall Into the category you describe. At least I hope not!

Paddy, what would you do if you left teaching? Would you take a year out to refresh yourself?

Looking back I was at a real crossroads 10 years ago and I was strongly considering teaching then. I'm sorry I didn't take time out to think about it properly. But I was earning brilliant money and I really wanted to buy a house. So I stayed put. I was nervous about making such a big change. I have been at home 2 years and boy do I miss the stimulation of work and the socialisation of it. There's no job without pros and cons. All going well I won't have had a job in five years when I qualify so I will be very fresh coming to it versus a 44 year old with 22 years teaching.

Random10 you sound like a fantastic teacher from what you say in your last post. Is it that you can't switch off because you are so conscientious? You sound very dedicated. In my past career a lot of things changed after the crash, there was a lot more box ticking and form filling/auditing to cover yourself so I understand how annoying that is.
 
Frank Underwood said:
I have been at home 2 years and boy do I miss the stimulation of work and the socialisation of it.
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I hope there is also a positive attraction to teaching.

The work socialisation involved with teaching is very different from most jobs, better in my opinion, but different.
 
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