To expect teachers to be clever?

[CJ2010]

I was visiting a friend, who has a 12 year old DC and she was telling me how unhappy she was about the school and her DC's education, or lack of. She showed me her child's workbook that contained comments from the teacher. My friend is getting really concerned because her DC's spelling and grammar mistakes are not being picked up by the teacher. She then told me to have a read through and to take a close look at the teachers comments, I did, and they were littered with spelling errors and poor grammar.

It got me thinking. I know a couple of teachers; we all went to school together and are still mates now. One is a primary school teacher, the other secondary. Both teachers only managed to get a Grade C for Maths at GCSE. One of them also got a few Grade D's in other subjects (not English or Science). IMO, GCSE's are a basic qualification and being taught up to GCSE level only really gives a broad, general knowledge of a subject. If they are only coming out as average / or below at this level, regardless of subject, are they really qualified to educate the next generation? They are not very clever are they?

I fear, that this this average educational ability amongst techers is quite common and wide spread. My DC's have yet to start school, but it is worrying for the future. AIBU?

*I expect teachers to be qualified for their job.

By virtue of the fact that they are teachers, they must be qualified.*

Not necessarily, when I was a (primary) teacher we had a fair few non-qualified teaching full-time, most we doing their initial qualifications through an employment based route called RTP. In the case of secondary, the body at the top of the room can be a teacher or a cover supervisor.

Some primaries have cover supervisors too.

must check work before I hand it in.

Feenie, I didn't know that. I've only encountered them at second level.

THis is a bit of an aside:
LittleWaveyLines that timetable is not allowed. We've had a case of it in our school and the management have had it pointed out to them that you have to employ teachers in full sessions, ie all morning or all afternoon, and can't have trapped unpaid time like that. Ask your union and get it sorted out - it might help your child care issues.

Good advice cardi.

LRDtheFeministDragon Fri 29-Jun-12 11:30:08
"cory, I think the school ought to make reasonable adjustments too, no? I think that's the law, IIRC.

I take your basic point though, that some jobs just won't work with some disabilities. But teaching and dyslexia? Really?

Loads of teachers are dyslexic - it's a pretty common motivation IME."

Yes, but some of the responsibility has to be taken by the actual teacher= the adult who has made the decision to take the job.

If you know you struggle with spelling, you should check the spelling lists you give out against a dictionary or the computer, or ask somebody else to check them for you.

Schools, like other workplaces, are required to make Reasonable Adjustment for disability- that means providing the means for the disabled person to do their job well (e.g. a spell check on the computer). They are not required to ignore whether the job gets done or not, just because the employee is disabled.

(As the mother of two disabled children, who will be choosing careers within the next few years, I have looked into this matter and given it a certain amount of thought)

Cardi re part time teaching - are you sure this applies to secondary?

And as "morning" is P1 - P4, and after lunch is only P5: then do you mean that any day when I have been allocated a morning lesson I should be paid for the whole morning, and anytime I have been allocated a P5 and a morning lesson I should be paid for the whole day? I think the school would have a fit as there are loads of part timers in our school - most to try to get some work-life balance as they get all marking/prep done in the trapped hours.

(Sorry for OT post)

"I'm constantly shocked by the fact that most teachers are not actually very bright"

Boggler I'd love to see the intricate research upon which this statement is based. Seeing as only the academically elite are worth listening to, I presume you would never make extreme speculative statements based upon no evidence. After all, I am always teaching my pupils to support all their points using evidence in their GCSE English exam.

Can't wait to hear back.

I'm a very part time supply teacher and am constantly appalled by the bad grammar and dreadful spelling used by many many teachers. I blame the qualifications - some BEd courses used to have very low entry requirements. Dd1 was only in Y3 when the teacher asked her not to correct her spellings in front of the class because it was embarrassing! Apostrophes are a particular bugbear of mine - they are not difficult, we just have such low standards. In a recent moderators' meeting, I was shocked how many teachers had marked work with "you could of improved this by....". Ouch. There are plenty of Y6 teachers around not up to teaching maths to the most able.

My daughters at grammar school have also complained (rightly) about the poor grammar of teachers at AS level in humanities subjects.

Of course, there are lots of fantastic teachers around too.

This coming week, I will be doing 8 - 8 three days and 8 - 10 another day. Might come home on time on Friday, if I am lucky.

Another question then to teachers...

Did you go into teaching wanting to be a teacher at a young age or did you 'fall' into it?

Well i have straight As at A'level and have a maths degree...so i'm hardly stupid..well not in an academic sense anyway! Oh, and i'm a high school maths teacher, always wanted to teach and love it :)

'Another question then to teachers...

Did you go into teaching wanting to be a teacher at a young age or did you 'fall' into it?'

I always wanted to be a kept woman with a house in North Oxford and a garden leading down to the Cherwell. 4 children and a Don. Ahhh yes, I remember that plan.
Didn't work out exactly, but if I had to work for a living, then teaching was my choice back before the paperwork swamped the learning and teaching parts.

Mega, after I finished my Masters in Economics I got a job in finance. I hated every single second of it. I felt that I wanted a job with purpose. I wanted to help people achieve their full potential. That's why I became a teacher. I love it. It's the most rewarding job I could ever have.

I didn't fall into teaching. I chose to become a teacher.

After my science degree I became an accountant. Hated it - wanted meaning like MammaB.

I chose to become a teacher.

I actively chose to be a teacher. I tried other things first because I listen to people around me moaning about pay, status etc. But I have always wanted to teach, I may not always want to do it in the future, but right now it is the job for me.

fallen, I too was always advised to marry a rich fat old man... Alas!

That's wonderful. To love what you do. I suppose you have to, to be able to cope with teenage hormones, toddler tantrums etc and I am referring to the parents !
I think the country needs to stop the teacher bashing.
The government needs to do better for the professions that are moulding our next generation.
You guys cannot even hide behind a desk if you are having an off day. You cannot be moody, or judgemental. I think it takes a lot to be a teacher. Specially a secondary school teacher. At least preschoolers are cute! I think it is very noble.
I also think that a lot of parents as well as teachers have become extra sensitive to any sort of constructive criticism (either way) and that has to change to enable a better dialogue. Or am I reading too many threads on mumsnet which can be disproportionate?

Mega

You cannot be moody
Oh yes I can !

"You cannot be moody
Oh yes I can!" Me too! Just ask my tutor group!

I think I need to get out more!