Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.

[Ohdesireer]

Is this saying still relevant?
I only ask because I’ve wanted to be a nurse all my life, I never got my GCSE’S and didn’t think I was clever enough.

I’m now mid 20s with two DC (3&4)
I decided at the start of this year I was going follow my dream.
I’m halfway into my GCSE maths, if I pass this then onto an access course for a year then uni.

But I’m put off, I got myself a job in a care setting to gain experience for my application. It’s shift work and my partner also does shift work, he’s the main earner so his takes priority and probably always will.
Trying to figure out shifts is a nightmare, I also narrowly escaped having to work Christmas Day (some CF was going to call in “sick” and I would be the next person in)
The thought of missing out on Christmas Day with my kids is daunting. I know people do it, but they know they have to do it and still choose to work in that job.
I don’t know if I want to be the mum who isn’t home for Christmas.

As my partner already works shifts and weekends, I want the DC to have some stability and a parent who is there on weekends.

I think getting into teaching would be the best option for me, maybe a primary school teacher.

My partners mum is a teacher at a blind college.
She leaves at 8:30am and is home by 5pm Mon - Fri.
Once in a blue moon goes into work at the weekend and even then it’s not a must.
And obviously has half term off.

I’ve looked a lot into nursing and the further I look the more I’m put off. I live in a small city (I’m not even exaggerating when I say, most people think it’s a town) so jobs in nursing are hard to come by unless it’s with the NHS.

I’ve heard the saying “those who can, do; those who can’t, teach”
I haven’t looked much into teaching yet, I’d just like advice if people still think this.

I’m not saying I believe it, I just want to know if others honestly do.

My family never expected anything of me.
My mum always said to me, I’m going to end up pregnant at 18, live in a council house and aspire to nothing. She was correct, this indeed did happen. But I now own my own home. (Nothing wrong with living in a council house, but 90% of them in my area are filled with druggies so not the best environment to bring up kids in)

I feel like if I go into teaching, my family will still think I’ve amounted to nothing. Yes I overthink, but the quote is just stuck on loop in my head and I think I need someone to snap me out of it.

I don’t mean to offend anyone, this is just what has been drilled into my head for years.

AIBU?

probably

“He who can does; he who cannot, teaches.”
It's from George Bernard Shaw's Maxims for Revolutionists.

The saying is not inferring teaching is something of a secondary profession, one that those who can't do anything else end up doing, for goodness sake!

Also, FYI, nursing isn't always shift work and working weekends and bank holidays. There are hundreds of different nursing roles, some of which are term-time only school hours, or office hours Monday to Friday. Plus most NHS Trust do family friendly shift patterns for those with children.

Do some flipping research!

Those that know, do. those that understand, teach.

When you understand that, perhaps you might think about teaching!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3456494-to-think-there-is-something-seriously-wrong-with-our-education-system

Take a lot at this thread from earlier this week. Then come back and tell us teaching is an easy option, working 8.30 to 5 and getting all holidays off.

Aristotle was quite good on education!

Those who educate children well are more to be honored than they who produce them; for these only gave them life, those the art of living well.
Aristotle

In my experience those who can teach, those who can't get out of the classroom pronto into senior management and start telling the teachers how to do the job they couldn't do when they were classroom teachers.

It was true for the rubbish teachers at my secondary school, most of them wouldn't have lasted in the real world.

The best teachers I have encountered have been the ones that have always been teachers and that is all they have ever wanted to do, don't be a teacher just for the pension, holidays etc you will just let the kids down!

My son is a secondary maths teacher. He has a first in Mathematics and philosophy from a RG uni and a PGCE from another RG uni. He's a talented mathematician and a fantastic teacher. He works bloody hard and is dedicated to his students.

He can both do AND teach...

I have a good Oxbridge degree. I arguably could have gone into any industry i chose. I used to be an analyst, travelled the world, stayed in posh hotels, gave keynotes at conferences, presented to board-level meetings, etc. These days, I teach functional skills (English and maths), creative writing and history in a male prison. I earn RUBBISH money, compared to teachers on MPS, or what i used to earn.

However, I absolutely love my job. I look forward to every day going to work, and even welcome OFSTED coming in. How many teachers can truthfully say that? If you think your 0.5 GCSE can match me, please, bring it on!

I don’t think you sound mature enough to decide which career path you wish to follow.
Take another year or two.
Do some growing up.
Read/research into the professions you are considering.
Consider trying to get work experience.
And perhaps with time you will gain some insight and develop the skill to ask someone about their life choices and occupation without coming across as offensive and obtuse.
Teaching is not an easy option.
Good luck. Unless you do some growing up, I have a feeling you may need it.

The best teachers I have encountered have been the ones that have always been teachers and that is all they have ever wanted to do

How do you know that? I know a lot of career changers (myself included!) whose previous life experience is a huge asset to their teaching.

I had a vague idea of being a teacher after graduating but it’s not for me. It’s not an ‘easy’ job OP. it’s incredibly high-pressured, I have anxiety and know I couldn’t take Ofsted inspections for one thing.

It’s not a 9 to 5 job that will fit around your husband’s job. I think your partner’s mum’s job in an FE College is not really representative of a Primary. There are parent’s evenings and meetings for a start. Think of all the planning, marking and prep and what about the expectation to run after-school clubs and extracurricular activities.

I used to “do” a professional job, now I am a lecturer and teach people how to do it. I finished work for a fortnight yesterday, and am currently lying on the living room floor marking reports so I can get them out of the way before Christmas Day. Seeing my students graduate, and knowing how well they do in their careers is hugely rewarding, but it is absolutely not an easy option. I had a far better work/life balance working in industry, and am actually going down to four days a week in the new year to try and claw it back a bit. Your OP both made me laugh, and hugely offends.

I am a teacher and can most definitely do...
I’m also confident enough in my life choices to not give a damn when people suggest I’m somehow less than or not able due to my career choice. I work at least twelve hours a day Monday to Friday and some of every holiday. There is always something that needs doing. I love my job and that is the only thing that gets me through. It is not family friendly other than being at home during school holidays.

You are going to need a gcse or equivalent in English and Science as well as Maths to teach in a Primary. It would be better to be working on all three at the same time.

You haven’t come back so I don’t believe this is real.

I spent 7 years at university.

How hard are you finding that gcse..?

I’m a qualified secondary teacher.

I currently do pupil interventions at a primary school.

We don’t trust the academic attainment of the youngest people in our society to the untrained and uneducated

I don’t think you are going to make a good teacher, maybe another line of work would suit you better.

If this is genuine, then I would be very concerned at your naivety, your lack of self awareness and your apparent inability to make decisions for yourself. Have you not seen the quantities of threads about teaching, about the stress, workload, teacher retention, working conditions?

Please, please don’t consider teaching or nursing. You are years away from being able to do that anyway. If maths is the only GCSE you’re doing, you’ll need to have English as well. You’ll beexpected to have some experience in the classroom, then you’ll have to apply for university, do a degree and a PGCE, then hope you can get a job.

I’m really sorry I’ve offended you all.
I was looking for advice, which some people gave nicely.

I do have my English gcse.
I’m asking now as I want a career and to do this I need to plan what route I want to go down. So when I do pass my maths the following year I will do an access course, now if I choose nursing and hate it, that’s time wasted. So I want to plan ahead.

It’s really hurtful when people laugh at you for your lack of GCSE’s. I have ADHD and learning difficulties that weren’t discovered until a couple of years ago, I didn’t get the help that I needed at the time.

I’m doing very well in my maths now.

I think teachers are amazing people, who do a great job.

I’m only now getting out from under the grips of my mum, who was always knocking me down.
I thought if I got perspective from other people, it would help. But honestly, most people have been horrible.

The title is only a quote as to what the post is about.
I’m not saying I believe this anymore, I’m just asking if other people do.

I’ve given you a snippet of my life. But I’m working damn hard now to get a career. I’m volunteering, whilst working, studying and looking after my DC for something that may not be fitted for me.

I don’t want to go to university to find I’ve chosen the wrong path.

Honestly, I don’t think I will ever ask for advice on here. You don’t know what someone is going through or has been through and to be so mean is uncalled for.

I’m not lying about my partners mum for those who think I am, she may have worked her socks off for those hours, I’m not sure. This is where she is now.

And for the person who asked about the blind college, it’s the royal national college for the blind.

DH and I are shift working nurses. It's amazing for childcare, we use none. One of us is always available for our kids. They are very secure. Goady much!

DH is working Christmas this year and society should be very grateful that he's willing to. Our boys will grow up understanding how a community works.

I know plenty of teachers and they work tirelessly. A passion for the job is a must. Same with nursing. And neither are academically easy.

Enjoy your maths GCSE and work on your interpersonal skills alongside it.

Why don’t you approach a local school and ask to do some volunteering? Your kids’ own school is a good place to start. Spend some time reading with pupils or helping out in a classroom environment and see if it suits you. If you love it then you could do evening classes and work towards completing your GCSEs. Then perhaps consider doing a Teaching Assistant course and work as a TA for a few years. I think TA work would be amazing for you, easy school hours, no work to take home and school holidays with your own DCs. If you’re a good TA and aspire to be a teacher then your school will spot this quickly and support you with further study.

Well.

Nursing and teaching are both hardcore professions, hard work, long hours, and require passion for the job, serious dedication, and a strong work ethic.
I think our sick and our kids deserve the best and I have utmost respect for those who slog their hearts out to fulfill these vocations. Thank you all.

If your main aim is to be at home on Christmas Day, I don’t think these jobs are for you.

Why not look into a 9-5 kind of job where the office closes over Christmas if you want a more predictable / stable routine.

I think you need to not worry about what others inc your mother may think and do what you want. Both are tough careers and I think unless you have some passion for whichever you choose you will be miserable.

I worked in academia for some time among people who were at the forefront of their subject in terms of knowledge and understanding, some were passionate about teaching and very good at it, others hated it and struggled to do it well. They were teaching students who were adults who should at least have well developed subject knowledge and study skills already, teaching younger students is arguably more difficult.

Teaching is a skill in and of itself - it requires a minimum level of subject knowledge and understanding yes but it also requires many other skills beyond that. We all know how to talk - that doesn't mean we're capable of becoming speech therapists.

I think people have been unnecessarily harsh on you - but I think that’s partly because teachers have to put up with a lot of judgement and rudeness so they can be a bit defensive.

I think trying to get work as a teaching assistant so you can see how well working with young children suits you might be a good start.