With widespread statistics revealing the huge number of teachers quitting the profession, it has become ever more important that before on embarking on a teaching career, you know exactly what demands are made of teachers, and exactly how you can make a logical decision on the matter. This book has been written as a form of guidance to those who are unsure whether a career in teaching is for them. Specifically, the book is catered towards those who:
•Are deciding whether to take a teacher training course.
•Have a close relation with someone deciding whether to take a teacher training course.
•Are on a teacher training course and want to quit the course.
•Are on a teacher training course and are unsure on whether to get a teaching job at the end of it.
•NQT’s or experienced teachers who are thinking about leaving the profession.
•Are just interested in teaching and might give it a go one day.
If you fit into any of these categories, then this short book will undoubtedly set you in the right direction to making such a big decision. A decision that has big implications for your future through its ties to your career, finances and most importantly, your happiness.
Why am I writing this book?
As a qualified teacher myself, there have been highs and lows, struggles and doubts. At university I completed a three-year degree in Primary Education (with Qualified Teacher Status), and after the first year had passed, and the voyage into the more treacherous grounds of later school placements occurred, I stumbled though times of unease and worry, whilst also experiencing joy and happiness at times. I looked around at my peers, and noted that I certainly wasn’t the only one feeling the heat; left, right and centre friends and fellow peers were dropping out of school placements, the course or just failing them altogether. Whilst this disarray occurred, there were still a large force of fellow trainee teachers who were enjoying themselves, the classroom, the experience, and the thought of one day having their own class. So I thought to myself, where has this all gone wrong for so many people? And why is my own experience so sporadic?
That question led me to the beginning, the point in which people decide to commit to a teacher training course. Do they know, and I mean really know, what the job entails? Do they have adequate experience to help inform a decision? Are they picking it for the right or wrong reasons? In my personal journey, I knew I could be good at teaching, and I knew there were aspects of which I enjoyed, but when it came down to it, could I really make a happy life from teaching and did I really make an informed decision on starting it? As I unpacked and unravelled the ever growing conundrum I questioned the guidance I received at my time of choosing the career and at my time of doubting the career. My only conclusion was that the guidance I received was only ever from either:
•Parents who knew little about the profession and what it entailed. Who also (without maybe knowing it) loved the idea of me having a very secure job with opportunity for progression.
•Teachers, who whilst are great sources of information, also hold an undeniable bias towards the job and would probably not be to comfortable admitting the reality and adversity they have faced.
•Loud mouth opinionated others who actually know little about the teaching profession.
•University staff who just want you to cross the line.
Ultimately this guidance was insufficient. Where was the middle man, the shining light of reason without agenda or bias? Where was this book? Well look no further, I am here to fill that void. I want to encourage the right people to join teaching, and for those who are unsure whether teaching is for them, I want to accurately inform.
•Are deciding whether to take a teacher training course.
•Have a close relation with someone deciding whether to take a teacher training course.
•Are on a teacher training course and want to quit the course.
•Are on a teacher training course and are unsure on whether to get a teaching job at the end of it.
•NQT’s or experienced teachers who are thinking about leaving the profession.
•Are just interested in teaching and might give it a go one day.
If you fit into any of these categories, then this short book will undoubtedly set you in the right direction to making such a big decision. A decision that has big implications for your future through its ties to your career, finances and most importantly, your happiness.
Why am I writing this book?
As a qualified teacher myself, there have been highs and lows, struggles and doubts. At university I completed a three-year degree in Primary Education (with Qualified Teacher Status), and after the first year had passed, and the voyage into the more treacherous grounds of later school placements occurred, I stumbled though times of unease and worry, whilst also experiencing joy and happiness at times. I looked around at my peers, and noted that I certainly wasn’t the only one feeling the heat; left, right and centre friends and fellow peers were dropping out of school placements, the course or just failing them altogether. Whilst this disarray occurred, there were still a large force of fellow trainee teachers who were enjoying themselves, the classroom, the experience, and the thought of one day having their own class. So I thought to myself, where has this all gone wrong for so many people? And why is my own experience so sporadic?
That question led me to the beginning, the point in which people decide to commit to a teacher training course. Do they know, and I mean really know, what the job entails? Do they have adequate experience to help inform a decision? Are they picking it for the right or wrong reasons? In my personal journey, I knew I could be good at teaching, and I knew there were aspects of which I enjoyed, but when it came down to it, could I really make a happy life from teaching and did I really make an informed decision on starting it? As I unpacked and unravelled the ever growing conundrum I questioned the guidance I received at my time of choosing the career and at my time of doubting the career. My only conclusion was that the guidance I received was only ever from either:
•Parents who knew little about the profession and what it entailed. Who also (without maybe knowing it) loved the idea of me having a very secure job with opportunity for progression.
•Teachers, who whilst are great sources of information, also hold an undeniable bias towards the job and would probably not be to comfortable admitting the reality and adversity they have faced.
•Loud mouth opinionated others who actually know little about the teaching profession.
•University staff who just want you to cross the line.
Ultimately this guidance was insufficient. Where was the middle man, the shining light of reason without agenda or bias? Where was this book? Well look no further, I am here to fill that void. I want to encourage the right people to join teaching, and for those who are unsure whether teaching is for them, I want to accurately inform.
