as a teacher in the past
in some ...lets just say interesting schools i can tell you that every job is different. based on school culture staffing and catchment area
i taught mainly is schools that would be considered as failing in areas where i personally wouldn't want to live (but sometimes did)
why failing? i don't know because we specialized in taking all comers, the majority of which had been through some god awful war, genocide or serious abuse who couldn't read or write English and didn't see the value of doing so, by the time they left they could. (and they had seen cells and knew why a candle burned, why a tonne of lead and a tonne of feathers have the same mass etc).
we had a bloody good time
and i was one of the few staff who still parked on site
teach science and maths to kids that can't speak English never mind the language of science and maths and life is interesting.
yup I'd do it again couldn't afford to now as to pay the mortgage I'd need to go in as head of something and i don't have the experience but if ever unemployed I'll be back on the supply list.
best bet as a male these days is primary
1) as a male you will be pretty in demand as primary education has few males willing to put up with the scrutiny* and hence few male role models in the system. *mainly due to attitude, a male in a role with access to small children must be odd.
2) kids at that age are in general nice little beings even the ones who behave badly, you would be hard pushed to find one with 666 on its head. By the time they get to their teens you have 10-20 years of learned attitude and behavior that you are now trying to mold into whatever structure the school says is reasonable. polite. safe.
in general you could trace any behavior that wasn't acceptable back to the parents because the same behavior was displayed by them at parents evening
there is a middle ground
in secondary you get the most troubled kids if the catchment area is generally poor in financial terms and urban or exceedingly well off.
the latter is odd but loadsa money doesn't always mean happy family
"our Au pair earns more than you sir" certainly helps you warm to the little angels. " have you seen my new car sir better than your heap of Bananarama!" etc NICE
Inner London secondary schools take on classroom assistants who's duties range from being a second teacher in the room to an assistant that is assigned to a pupil that has some kind of special need be it learning or behavioral
this is a way into secondary education, i knew 2 who job shared at a school i worked at and did PGCEs in design and tech PE/sports edu on half week day release.
oh yeah
1 bit of advice that was drilled into me
never be alone in a room with a female pupil if you put her on detention put her mate on detention as well.
Always keep the door open in this situation if it isn't go and do it ASAP.
if they need assistance with work try to organize a group activity or meet in a busy place like the library, avoid at all costs visits before or after hours when the school is empty/quiet.
Why??male teacher........easy target, and streetwise kids know exactly how to get you suspended.
no that is not why i'm no longer a teacher.
I.T. pays better..... but with longer hours and a lot more stress
Dave
(quite apt really)
