To think that I would be a good candidate to work as classroom volunteer

[TennisandTea]

I'm a qualified secondary school teacher with 10 years or so experience thinking of switching to primary as love teaching year 7's.

Also got other education related qualifications, good references etc.

Currently (for last 18 months) a SAHM.

Thought it would be good idea to get some experience in Year 5/6 class.

But, local primary school didn't want my voluntary help in classroom for 2 mornings a week because they had enough helpers already.

Took 2 emails and a phone call to get this answer btw - they didn't bother answering emails and when I phoned Mrs Wigglebottom in the office was really rude and made the decision herself that they didn't need or want my skills or experience.

I asked for direct email for person responsible for recruitment and emailed her, but she didn't bother replying either (2 days later) so I quite angrily emailed the headteacher who emailed me back telling me that my anger was inappropriate, they didn't want any old Tom, Dick or Harry volunteering, they had parent helpers from within the school community and no thanks.

Have since emailed seven other local schools and have only had one positive response - one other said OK but you'll have to pay your own CRB check
and five not a dicky bird!

AIBU to think this is a bit poor?

YABU and very pushy.

Year 7 is senior school by the way...Primary stops at year 6.

If they don't need a helper then they don't need a helper to be fair.

I think it's incredible that the schools in your area are so well-provided with volunteers for those year groups.

I work with Year 6, and I don't think we've had a single parent in to help this year. It starts really positively in Year 3 (Junior school) and then trails off.

they might be put off by the qualifications daft as it seems, i've volunteered in schools before and i've rung them up or just called at the office and asked them.

They could have handled it better and much more politely.

They obviously do have enough people they know and work with as volunteers, and if they are anything like my primary, we are continuously bombarded with requests from work experience, 6th form students, teaching degree placements and anyone and everyone who fancies seeing if they would like to be a primary teacher or a TA.
Dozens of requests a term.
Each one requiring induction and training of one sort or another, and for the staff and children to form relationships with.
I'm sorry that you don't feel appreciated.

YABU. Why on earth should they get rid of the helpers they already have just to accomodate you?

If I had received an e-mail from you written in the same tone as the OP, I would have ignored it too.

Most parent helpers at my DS's Primary (actually all of them really) are selected by the staff.

It's for a very good reason too...they've got to 'know' them and can take a guess at their suitability.

Do your children attend school yet, or are they too young? This could be a good starting point.
Or, what about the school you attended yourself?

I'm sorry you've had a poor response. I'd imagine you look a bit overqualified (and therefore a tad threatening) on paper.

Over-qualified wouldn't bother anyone in our school, or the surrounding schools. We've got a lot of very qualified staff and parents and the like, it's one of the things that makes our helpers so useful and diverse.
But you have to feel that the volunteer is someone you could work with in a small community. What subject did you teach at secondary level, OP?

YANBU to think that you would be a good candidate as a volunteer, but you sound a bit unreasonable in your reaction to the school. The secretary told you (correctly) that they didn't need your help. You didn't accept this, and contacted someone else. You then sent an angry e-mail to the head after just two days? I would agree that your anger is inappropriate.

Could it be your attitude that is putting people off?

Oh, and you do realise that local heads in primary talk to each other too, far more often than secondary heads? Annoy one and they all know why.

Did you contact them recently? It is almost SATs week, they will not be wanting to introduce anyone new into the classroom I wouldn't think.

I help in class, and now do run small groups on my own and so forth, but this worked up gradually after they trusted me, trained me, and knew my personality and skill set. For the first couple of years, I did filing, laminating and cutting fruit! So if they didn't feel you were prepared to do that kind of thing it might be offputting.

Also, did you present it as experience for you or help for them?

Would you have recruited someone into your secondary classroom in the way you are hoping they will recruit you?

And actually no I don't think you'd be a good candidate for a volunteer because volunteers aren't there to teach.

Therefore, the fact you're a qualified teacher has no baring whatsoever IYSWIM.

I imagine you'd find it quite difficult to listen to children reading/read a story to them/wash paint pots etc...without the urge to actually teach them.

Thanks for your views.

It's possible Jinsei that I sounded too angry, but I just think it's courteous really to reply to an email, that's what made me angry. If it's a "no" then fair enough, but a "no" from the person to whom the email is addressed would be better too.

FallenCaryatid I taught RE mostly.

Popoozle I am not an egomaniac who thinks that others already there should make way FGS, I was thinking more along the lines of there's always room for one more.

But you have no way of knowing if there is room for one more, do you?

Last week at our school there were (that I know of) three teacher trainees, three TA trainees, four parent helpers and two work experience students. Plus several parents recruited for different school trips.

That is probably quite enough for any school at any one time!

But there isn't always room for one more, really not.
You were arguing against a decision that had already been taken because you didn't like it, and they hadn't handled their initial response very well.
It is a poor response, but perhaps you could volunteer in your local secondary to support Y7 in transition instead.

My class can cope with up to 4 adults, including me and a TA. More than that really doesn't work well.

Exactly. The class I was in last week had four: Teacher, trainee teacher, observer of trainee teacher, me. We were tripping over each other as it was.

It is the tyranny of modern life that people expect instant answers to emails.

If your last email to the school was as angry and ranty as even you imply, it's not surprising that they considered you unsuitable as a classroom volunteer. They don't need teaching qualifications from their volunteers, but they do need calmness, the ability to work with others harmoniously and other interpersonal skills.

ImaginateMum I would start in September if that suited them but unfortunately it was a flat no and a conversation about when is a good time to start didn't even happen, and I take your point about needing to know and trust me which would be a gradual process.

WorraLiberty I'm not sure that I agree that being a qualified teacher has no bearing whatsoever. Volunteers might be there to teach. That would be up to the school really depending on what they asked me to do and what would benefit them most. I'd happily listen to a child read and read to them and would it be a bad thing if I guided them?

Yes it would be a bad thing if all the school wanted you to do was to hear them read.

You see, they might feel as though you're blurring the boundaries.

They also might be wondering what your motives are if you don't have a child in the school.

Would you expect them to provide a reference when/if you decide to return to work?

Would you be looking at adding 'hearing children read' to your CV?

Perhaps that and the pushy behaviour rang alarm bells for them?

Remember the tone of an email can sometimes be taken as worse than intended. If someone got cross at me about not replying to an email in two days, I would not assume they were happy to wait four months for a placement.

yes - also know it's very annoying to have too many adults in classroom.

ComeIntoTheGardenMaud - not an instant reply, but a reply.

Thanks for your replies.

Are you qualified to teach reading at a primary level though? One of my best parents for supporting readers has no qualifications past 16, but has four children and a huge amount of patience.
I don't see the connection between being a secondary teacher and being better than the average helper in primary.

This is the thing.

If you'd emailed them and said you are a patient and friendly person with some time on your hands. You have an interest in children and education and you're willing to pay for your own CRB check so you can pop in and help out now and then, they might have been more receptive.

Worra - If I overstepped their mark then yes of course its a bad thing. I'd try to do what they asked me to do.