Not my ideal first post…
Posted by John on September 5, 2008
I created this blog a few months ago, just before the summer holidays, inspired by John Johnston, John Connell and a plethora of others, whose blog feeds I subscribe to. I thought it would be worth my while chipping in my tuppence-worth to the number of Scottish teachers and educators, sharing ideas and thoughts and generally contributing to the hive mind.
I had hoped that my first post would be of some swell project I had started that would push back the boundaries, and in my own small way, revolutionise the education profession (there’s no point in thinking small!)
It is with no small amount of disappointment then, that my first post is going to be a gripe about the horrendous job situation that me, and thousands of new teachers are experiencing at the moment. I must confess that I’ve been a good deal luckier than many of my cohorts – an illness at my probation school has meant that I’ve been able to get 3 weeks supply out of them. For many, however, even getting one day is manna from heaven. One girl I spoke to today (in her third year out of college) was chuffed, because 3 weeks into the new term, she’s worked the princely sum of four days.
Knowing that as of Thursday, when my supply runs out, I’ve got that to look forward to is a devastating thought. The drive for new teachers and the continuing high numbers being admitted into Scottish teaching colleges mean that this situation isn’t going to abate any time soon.
So: no jobs, ludicrous numbers of teachers coming through their Initial Teacher Education, and an ageing – but alas, not yet aged – teaching community. What’s going to give? And when?
John Connell said
Maybe not your ideal post, John, but a worthy one nonetheless. Tough times, indeed – sounds more and more like the situation I came out of college to face in the early 80s.
DLTBGYD!
John
John Connell » Blog Archive » Dark Days Return said
[...] John Daly, a newly qualified teacher, recently wrote a post to open his blog – but, as he says, it was not the post he would have preferred to write – Not My Ideal First Post. [...]
Jaye Richards said
Don’t give up- the work will come. You probably have a sense already that it can be a case of whoyou know rather than what you know. So for what it’s worth, my advice would be to work your contacts. Put yourself about, talk to people you know about yourself particularly in your placement and probation authority.
Good luck with the job hunt – what subject are you and where are you, by the way ?
Ms Barrowman said
Hi John, it’s Katie (Neil & Gill’s Masterclass co-conspirator).
I was going to say I hope you’re well, but, well….
I agree with Jaye that contacts and self-promotion play a huge part in getting where you need to be, and from what I know of you, your dedication, intelligence, professionalism and enthusiasm will do the rest of the work. Really great teachers are always in demand, even at times when jobs are in short supply, and I don’t think you’ll be looking for too long.
Good luck, and say hi to Gill
Kt
John said
Thanks, everyone, for your kind words. It’s a strange comfort to know that it’s not just me or my generation who’ve faced this sort of problem in the past. For what it’s worth, Jaye, I’m a primary teacher based in Glasgow.