To ask if anyone became a teacher for the holidays?

[DamnYeToHell]

Because I know two people who are planning on doing this. I've had to NC as my other posts make me identifiable and a lot of people know I use MN.

My MIL told me that SIL is planning on doing a PGCE as she has just had her first child and thinks becoming a teacher would solve future childcare issues. A friend of mine is planning on doing the same. Neither has much interest in their chosen subject nor any real desire to impart knowledge. They have admitted as much.

Yes I know it's none of my business. Am I being naive about the reasons people teach? My other SIL is a teacher and she loves it and works hard. She has said the holidays are a bonus now she is a mother but was not a reason in the first place.

I certainly remember a big difference between the teachers who genuinely wanted to be there and those who were, quite frankly, a bit shite.

I'm romanticising aren't I?

I'll get my own hard hat

I wouldn't cos if the govt gets it way there won't be the nice long summer holidays much longer!!!

What makes them think that they'll even get accepted on a PGCE course?

I want to become a teacher, not for the holidays though, they would be a huge bonus. I want to be a teacher as I love working with Children. Surely that would be the first reason?

I think it's safe to assume that most PGCE places are so sought after that those without any real passion or interest in teaching will not get in!

Very naive on their parts though - all very well to do the training, but securing employment is no walk in the park. Just tell them to look on the TES website forums - in the jobseeking/unemployed teachers sections. It's fairly depressing!

If they don't have much interest in their specialist subject, then they are in for a rough ride. Their lack of interest WILL be noticed by others/pupils/tutors etc and they have to consider whether they can spend a working lifetime planning this specialist subject....

They'll be shit teachers. They'll hate it.

hahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahaahahaha

I became a teacher because I loved History. Still do. Quite like most kids as well!

She won't last long then.

They're both assuming they'll be accepted because of their subjects - maths and French.

Apparently with maths you get some kind of 'golden hello'?

If that's true, they won't last. Probably won't even make it through the PGCE, if they get accepted.

ROFL! If that's the reason boy are shocks ahead! Almost all teachers work during the holidays - both in school and at home.

I'm rather pleased people seem to agree with me [smug ]

Hah!

Does she have any idea about how much time outside the classroom that teachers spend working? Lesson prep, etc.?

And bear in mind that as a teacher, you will be in your school at work when your DC have their assemblies, sports days, prizegivings etc in their school. And you won't get time off for them.

AND you won't be able to pick your child up from their school at knocking off time because you'll be at your school supervising other children.

Tell them to train as dinner ladies instead :o

The holidays were certainly a factor in my becoming and remaining a teacher.

My inlaws did. Absoloutely. Both got good degrees and then chose teaching for the holidays. Used every penny they could get to buy a tiny flat in Spain and used to drive there every summer, Easter and Christmas.
They don't like children much. Certainly dh annoyed the shit out of them and they didn't see the dc for 9 years.

Both teachers their whole careers.

Weird.

I also do not work in the holidays

stargirl that's pretty much what teacher SIL has said.

If you really don't want to do it, first day alone in the classroom with a bunch of loud lads and very bitchy teenage girls will see you running for the hills. Especially when you spend about 3 days planning every inch of your lesson and then they ask you the most obscure question possible.

Me: 'So what do you think then, does the evidence suggest Cromwell was more hero or villain?'
Year 8 boy: 'When were foxes invented?'
Year 8 girl: 'Why've you got curly hair?'

Question for all the teachers then - do I assume that if you're a float along type of teacher, perhaps it is easy to have holidays and weekends to yourself, but if you're ambitious (like in any arena), it takes over a bit more?

at Pagwatch's ILs

I'm not ambitious, but I would never want to be in a classroom unprepared. Kids smell weakness, lack of prep, disinterest etc. SLT and Ofsted expect perfection. You cannot do this job properly and not work evenings, weekends and holidays. Not all of them, but a good proportion of them.

I know many teachers who pay a fortune in childcare... especially for the pre-school-opening hours (i.e. before 8am). And hate the fact that they miss the important nativities etc.

Between my DH's hours (teacher) and mine (nurse) childcare was almost impossible!

Not really as there is heaps of pressure nowadays, I think the ones who don't do much extra work are probably the older end or work in "better" schools.

whathasthecat you've pretty much summed up why I couldn't be a teacher.

NiceHam I presume you had other reasons for wanting to teach though? I accept that it is a tempting part of the package.

I'd love to be a teacher for the holidays.

Just the holidays, that is :o

Seriously, those two people you know, OP, are going to have a shock to the system. You'll find that once they find out what teaching is really like, they'll be the first to tell you about it!