Ask me a question about being a teacher

[sskillswitch]

yep!

This answer alone is making me rethink doing that teaching thong again lol. I dunno, still so torn...

 

[Billyhoyle]

This answer alone is making me rethink doing that teaching thong again lol. I dunno, still so torn...

You get used to it, some days I may not go till the end of the day! I'm also terrible at eating when at school, normally I work through my breaks.(Keep in mind I am in a leadership position)
I'm also lucky, I share a set of folding doors with another room, so if I did need to sneak out I could and the other teacher can watch my class.
Feel free to PM any other questions you want more specific answers to

 

[sskillswitch]

You get used to it, some days I may not go till the end of the day! I'm also terrible at eating when at school, normally I work through my breaks.(Keep in mind I am in a leadership position)
I'm also lucky, I share a set of folding doors with another room, so if I did need to sneak out I could and the other teacher can watch my class.
Feel free to PM any other questions you want more specific answers to

ahh, my year 6 teacher used to do that. Think he was a smoker too though lol.

Cheers mate, im really starting to rethink my career choices and am leaning towards studying, just gotta narrow down what it is...

 

[A_Iverson_I]

well you were annoying me by asking to go to the toilet!
You should have gone during recess or lunch and not interrupted your learning time

Harsh teacher!! haha

On another note, what happens these days when kids misbehave? Just detention? Back in my day at one of my primary schools we used to get the cane haha; one time I had a fight with a kid in the yard and I was shitting my pants I was gonna get the cane, but fortunately I didn't!

 

[Billyhoyle]

Harsh teacher!! haha

On another note, what happens these days when kids misbehave? Just detention? Back in my day at one of my primary schools we used to get the cane haha; one time I had a fight with a kid in the yard and I was s***ting my pants I was gonna get the cane, but fortunately I didn't!

No more cane unfortunately, those days are long gone.
We're really lucky, we have a really well behaved bunch of kids. The threat of trouble is often enough for them.
If there is serious trouble the children receive what we call a "Think Sheet", which gets them to reflect on their behaviour, what they did, what rule it broke, who it effected and what they should have done instead. This is then sent home and the parents have to sign it.
We keep kids in at lunch, of course the pc police say we are only allowed to keep them in for half of lunch as they need a break.

 

[KyleP]

I sometimes teach English to people from other countries (TESOL, IELTS etc.) The students are all adults and usually pretty good, i haven't come across many difficult or know it all students. It can be really rewarding.

One difficult thing though is that you will get advances from students which for a young single guy i guess would be amazing haha...though you've got to try and keep it somewhat professional. When i was training and observing classes and teaching some classes while the normal teacher observed one Korean girl told everyone i was her boyfriend and kept sitting next to me when i was observing...quite weird but funny. Some girls would flirt while i was teaching and it's kind of hard to deal with lol

 

[devo]

Haha….. teachers……without them where would we be? But with them they put “whinging pom” to the test. I mean teachers have more holidays per year than anyone else (but they’ll tell you there’re writing reports and planning classes etc.) and are the hardest working members of the community, just ask them!
I have a few good friends that are teachers and have been teachers and when you get them in a room together………… well……….. whinge fest 2012!
Don’t get me wrong, I couldn’t run a class of pre-pubescent kids or teach full stop. But the conditions (most) teachers work under are a lot cushier than the average job.

My question is: How do you feel your working conditions (hours worked per pay, safety and general rewards) compare to other professions of similar qualifications in Australia?

 

[Billyhoyle]

Like all jobs there are some that take advantage of the conditions and then there are the others. Whilst sounding like one of your aforementioned whingers, the public perception that we work from 9-3 everyday and get 12 weeks holidays a year is far from correct.

It's interesting you mention conditions - right now in Victoria we have none! Our agreement expired some time ago and the goverment is struggling to negotiate a new one with the union.

The biggest issue with pay, is that we (Teachers and the public) want the very best of people in front of classes. Unfortunately the pay and conditions is not enough to entice these people to teach, also the pressure coming from parents and the red tape that we see is coming more and mroe and is turning people away. The drop out rate in the first 5 years of teaching is something like 80%.

In terms of hours, I'm probably not the best example, and also in a leadership position, I work from 7-5 most days. Including taking stuff home and weekends. So if you figured out a per/hour amount - I'm not a very good example! The big issue that this raises is that most (a lot) jobs get overtime or at least time in leiu something which cannot be achieved in schools.

Safety is becoming a bigger issue for Australian schools, we're not at a point like the UK or US, but becoming more prevalent. Schools are putting intervention orders in place, restricting parents from setting foot on school sites due to physical attacks. I also think that there is a lack of respect for teachers, that once existed by both the students and general public. Don't get me wrong I tihnk the teachers could do a lot to improve this area too.

Not sure what you mean by general rewards - there is none! Of course there are the holidays but beyond that there isn't particularly many perks. Of course the holidays are great, but wish I could sometimes choose when I take them!

I think comparing to other jobs is difficult, of course the holidays is a massive perk, even if you work half of them it's still more than most jobs. The pay is not all that flash - many jobs are paid the same as the top of our salary scale by 2-4 years of experience.

As you said teachers are a funny bunch, I think we do work very hard, but so do most jobs, we get 12 weeks holidays, no other job does. There are many difficulties to our job, but so there are with every other job out there.

 

[skip20]

So what's your take on private v public schooling? Does spending tens of thousands a year really buy you a better education?

 

[Billyhoyle]

So what's your take on private v public schooling? Does spending tens of thousands a year really buy you a better education?

personally depending on the area nd the local government schools. I also don't think that is a huge advantage in primary years.Ultimately the teachers all come from the same universities, so ultimately the advantage of private schools is the facilities and smaller class sizes, which has a much bigger impact obviosuly in senior secondary.

The reason I say depending on area - looking at my school our facilities as good if not better than some privates. We have a full size stadium, a 400 seat perfoming arts centre as well as other buildings. We are in the process of putting in a TV and radio studio at the moment. It depends a lot on the Principal and their vision.

 

[skip20]

personally depending on the area nd the local government schools. I also don't think that is a huge advantage in primary years.Ultimately the teachers all come from the same universities, so ultimately the advantage of private schools is the facilities and smaller class sizes, which has a much bigger impact obviosuly in senior secondary.

The reason I say depending on area - looking at my school our facilities as good if not better than some privates. We have a full size stadium, a 400 seat perfoming arts centre as well as other buildings. We are in the process of putting in a TV and radio studio at the moment. It depends a lot on the Principal and their vision.

Radio studio for primary school? Things are different these days!

....and the pay is basically the same for the same work regardless if you work public or private?

 

[Billyhoyle]

Radio studio for primary school? Things are different these days!

....and the pay is basically the same for the same work regardless if you work public or private?

As a general (loose) guide privates are about 10% more.

Yeah things are very different in primary schools these days. My school is very technologically advanced. -
Prep to Year 2 - every child has their own iPad
Year 3 to Year 6 - every child has their own netbook

every room is equipped with a 70 inch touchscreen as well.

 

[Mr Paparazzi]

Damn teachers get paid better than I thought, and teachers whinge they dont get enough. 4 year uni for Graduate1?

 

[Billyhoyle]

Damn teachers get paid better than I thought, and teachers whinge they dont get enough. 4 year uni for Graduate1?

Yeah they bumped up the graduate salaries to try and entice people to enter the profession, that was part of the last agreement, for those that havent seen it the first year grad salary is $56,985

 

[Strop]

Not sure what you mean by general rewards - there is none! Of course there are the holidays but beyond that there isn't particularly many perks. Of course the holidays are great, but wish I could sometimes choose when I take them!

I think comparing to other jobs is difficult, of course the holidays is a massive perk, even if you work half of them it's still more than most jobs. The pay is not all that flash - many jobs are paid the same as the top of our salary scale by 2-4 years of experience.

As you said teachers are a funny bunch, I think we do work very hard, but so do most jobs, we get 12 weeks holidays, no other job does. There are many difficulties to our job, but so there are with every other job out there.

Don't forget that those 12 weeks are the most expensive and busy 12 weeks of the year for taking a holiday. So it does limit you some. I think Teachers today are so undervalued.

I don't have kids but I know it's a job I couldn't do, I have huge respect for you guys and girls!

 

[Rodman91]

Met any hot MILFS

As a primary teachers what hours do you usually start/finish work?

 

[Billyhoyle]

Met any hot MILFS

As a primary teachers what hours do you usually start/finish work?

Of course!

My hours are more than most, as i am in a leadership (Teaching) position. Hours also come and go.

I arrive pretty much every day between 7-7:15.
Tonight I left at 5:30, I'm now working on reports and should be for another 45-60 minutes.
Tomorrow night I have school council, I won't come home in between, so will be at school till arund 9:30pm
Wednesday night we have a meeting, which should finish around 5, I'll probably stay 45-60 minutes after that.
Thursday night I have nothing on! I'll probably stay till around 5, depending on what happens on the other days and how I feel on Thursday.
Friday night - POQ. Actually I'm coaching at 6:40 nearby to school so I'll probably stay at school till roughly 5:30-45
So roughly 50+ hours on site without work at home, answering emails etc.

 

[footypugs2011]

I'm starting uni next year and doing education but high school.

 

[Billyhoyle]

I'm starting uni next year and doing education but high school.

Good luck! I would not want to swap spots with you!

 

[carlton91]

Do you give the good kiddies cards??