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Original poster

I want to be a teacher. Guidance needed.

95 replies

Mumblecrumbs · 13/01/2020 13:44

I have been in a bit of a state the last few weeks trying to figure out what to do with my future. I have been a SAHM of three for over a decade and had health problems/mental health problems off and on during that time.
What I really want to do, what I've always wanted to do really, is be a History teacher in secondary.
The issue is I currently have no history degree (though am starting one full time via the OU in September) and no employment references etc for when the time comes to apply for a PGCE. I have tried to do some volunteering here and there but am always turned down as I have no suitable references that aren't family members. It also seems that even voluntary jobs these days are becoming increasingly competitive.

I just really need some guidance. I am lucky enough to have DH to support me whilst I try to build a career from myself but it seems like there is just obstacle after obstacle in my path that I won't be able to overcome.

OP posts:

nozbottheblue · 13/01/2020 15:43

Also like me, there are a good few librarians who have escaped from teaching. I love it and it is far less stressful; also far less well paid, nor do you usually need a degree.
Public library jobs will be advertised on your local CountyCouncil website (or the site of whoever runs your local library). They offer a lot of part time posts so you might find one that fits with your childcare responsibilities.
There are also University library jobs going, advertised on the University's website, but they would probably be looking for graduates.
High schools, particularly privately funded ones, will employ school librarians, but may want someone with library experience.
Hope this helps, but really you want to get a job, any job for now, for experience and references.

AvaSnowdrop · 13/01/2020 15:43

Teaching is a nightmare. It’s not family friendly and will exhaust you and destroy your mental health. The kids you teach won’t want to learn so if history is your passion you’ll find their disinterest upsetting. Most of your time won’t be spent teaching history anyway, it’ll be spent doing pointless paperwork and crowd control and trying to force reluctant kids to work. If you love history then get a job where that’s the main focus - archivist or museum worker or something.

Letseatgrandma · 13/01/2020 15:44

but had to drop out of university six months into a Theology degree due to becoming disabled

What has changed to make this unlikely to happen again?

I wouldn’t suggest touching teaching with a barge pole if you are young and in tip top health. With three children, a history of mental health problems and a physical disability, I would strongly advise against it.

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maddy68 · 13/01/2020 15:46

I have just left teaching after 16 years (please don't think I'm trying to put you off ) I want you to be realistic.

It's yes very rewarding at times but the way schools have been managed over the last 10 years is not somewhere that anyone who suffers with mental health issues needs to be.

I ended up working until midnight every night and the first thing I had to do was check email in the morning prior to morning meetings it's not the teaching that's awful (although that has its own pressures) it's everything else that goes with it. It's very target driven.

Please spend time in schools, before you commit, just observing lessons isn't enough really speak to teachers

I love what in doing now educational but not regularly teaching

piercedmyfootonaspike · 13/01/2020 15:50

Have you thought about volunteering for your local girl guides or youth club? That would give you some experience of working with teenagers if you're finding it hard to get experience in a school. You will have time during a history degree to volunteer as well and universities will be able to help you with this. But, I am in the be wary camp too I'm afraid! Teaching caused me to have a breakdown and it is no longer a family friendly job anymore in my opinion. That said, friends with strong mental health and lots of emotional support (and no kids) are all still working full time in the state sector. Unfortunately you don't always know if you're in a "good" or "bad" school until it's too late. Whatever you choose, good luck and good on you for trying to carve a career out for yourself after what sounds like tough circumstances

nozbottheblue · 13/01/2020 15:51

Seashells, if you think being a TA was hard, you will find teaching far harder and more stressful. Why do you think the teachers were miserable?!
Maybe take a TA job in a secondary school and talk to the teachers before committing yourself.

fedup21 · 13/01/2020 16:00

I've been looking for a new career for a few months now and this is honestly perfect. I once worked in a school as a HLTA and it was HARD and the teachers were miserable.

Can I ask why, if all the teachers were miserable, do you think that teaching is the perfect career?

Putapeonyinyourpocket · 13/01/2020 16:02

Op I am in my last year with the open uni and I plan to teach too. Before having my son I worked in a school and luckily my teacher was on his pgce, he survived just about! Our school is really well managed, great heads of departments. However, based in a very deprived area its the parents that cause the most problems. Some are plain vile and no matter how many times the police get involved they just do not care. I find it disgraceful they still expect a teacher to deliver outstanding practice under such pressure. Although I love the children, I plan to teach at college. I want to teach the childcare diploma (I use to manage a nursery) so I feel I have valuable experience and knowledge to pass on, plus I mentored students at my setting.
In reality really try to get some hands on experience, in my area they bite your hand off for free support.
Best of luck.

JazzyJelly · 13/01/2020 16:05

I was a history teacher. It nearly killed me. I seriously would not recommend it. Shadow a teacher for a week, not just during school hours, but all the time they're working before and after too.

lostsoulsunited · 13/01/2020 16:09

had health problems/mental health problems off and on during that time.

In all honesty I would not recommend you go near teaching with a very long barge pole if you've had mental health problems. The training is extremely demanding and there is little respite from the workload which is difficult in the pgce and even more in the nqt year. The dropout rate is huge.

Have you thought about doing some training in history and then looking for a job as a museum educator or similar ? They do lots of work with children without the stresses of a class to manage and plan for.

lostsoulsunited · 13/01/2020 16:12

A top up degree would cost £6k via OU and I haven't even checked QTS costs.

My student finance balance for my (wasted) PGCE is 24k.

numberonecook · 13/01/2020 16:12

Doing a degree with three kids is HARD, sitting the English and maths skills tests (that ALL teachers have to do) is HARD and the PGCE is HARD. The job is HARD too. I’ve done all of them and I’m now doing a masters degree to change careers because the hardest bit of all that is after all the HARD work the hours are shit, the money is shit and I get treat like shit. I thank god my degree is in a subject I can do something else with as many of my friends did a specialist subject or an education degree. Think very carefully before you proceed. It’s NOT a 9-3 job with lots of holidays. But the best bits? When you explain to a child a theory or fact and they finally understand, that look is priceless! The child who tells you they want to be a scientist (I teach science), the child who says you’re their best teacher, the parents who thank you for helping their child to love school and the kids who make you laugh every single day and don’t even realise they are funny. These are all great but are not worth the stress to me and my family :(

Original poster

Mumblecrumbs · 13/01/2020 16:12

Just to clarify I am over the worst of my mental health issues and I will need a walking stick soon but not a wheelchair for a long time.
I appreciate everyone trying to give me realistic advice though.

OP posts:

Original poster

Mumblecrumbs · 13/01/2020 16:16

My concern is I'll do nothing else with a history degree/won't be able to find a job so if not teaching I just don't know.

OP posts:

Letseatgrandma · 13/01/2020 16:20

Just to clarify I am over the worst of my mental health issues

Teaching causes mental health issues in people who didn’t have them before. For anyone that says they are ‘over the worst’ of their existing ones, please be very careful.

Don’t just do it because you fancy doing a history degree and don’t know what else to do with it.

Rastamousehat · 13/01/2020 16:20

I'm not sure what their actual job description would be but my DCs school often has people visit to do history workshops and presentations. They run half or 1 day sessions (albeit primary level - they may visit secondary schools, I dont know) ...which might be something that encompasses a passion for history without all the "extras" that teaching involves.

Letseatgrandma · 13/01/2020 16:21

@ Rastamousehat they are often called schools theatre groups. Ours are generally staffed by drama grads.

Dancingontheedge · 13/01/2020 16:22

One of the the challenges with recovery is trying to avoid circumstances, situations and demands that reboot the original illness.
Teaching is not good for your mental health, and trying to cope with its demands may cause you further distress. Many staff are on ADs or are functioning alcoholics.

Original poster

Mumblecrumbs · 13/01/2020 16:25

Isn't there the chance that there will be reforms to make it a better career to have? I probably sound really naive but it is possible that things might improve, it will take four years from now for me to even qualify,

OP posts:

toomanyleggings · 13/01/2020 16:28

You do realise that being a history teacher will involve very little actual history? It will be crowd control, paperwork and marking that involves you probably writing more in a child's book than they do themselves. It is also not family friendly during term time whatsoever.

lostsoulsunited · 13/01/2020 16:29

Just to clarify I am over the worst of my mental health issues and I will need a walking stick soon but not a wheelchair for a long time.

I'm sorry you have had m/h issues and physical disabilities. Even if you hadn't I'd still advise steering well clear of teaching, so many teachers I know are stressed and have developed m/h problems and want to leave the profession. I could teach but don't, I dodged a bullet there. There were so many rewarding moments but the disadvantages didn't come close to making the advantages worthwhile.

Letseatgrandma · 13/01/2020 16:30

isn't there the chance that there will be reforms to make it a better career to have? I probably sound really naive

Sorry, but yes you do.

I think it’s more likely that the requirement to have any form of teaching qualification is dropped completely and wages plummet accordingly, than reforms being made to make it a better career to have.

lostsoulsunited · 13/01/2020 16:31

Isn't there the chance that there will be reforms to make it a better career to have?

The reforms are likely to be more budget cuts, less teaching assistants and larger class sizes and a more rigorous OFSTED with new detailed subject inspections which will be horrendous, particularly for smaller schools.

AlaskaElfForGin · 13/01/2020 16:32

It will be crowd control, paperwork and marking that involves you probably writing more in a child's book than they do themselves.

This a hundred times over. I never had any mental health issues until I started teaching. I LOVE teaching (so do most of the teachers I know), but all the other shit that goes with it was unexpected and unwanted.

AvaSnowdrop · 13/01/2020 16:49

The reforms are likely to be more budget cuts, less teaching assistants and larger class sizes
I’ve already seen this happening and it’s one of the reasons I quit teaching. I had more pupils and even less support. Then they started hiring unqualified teachers on low wages and expecting qualified teachers to support them and fix their mistakes.

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