Messages

Farrandeelin, best of luck to you. I was too late to apply for the primary course but would have preferred it, looking back I should have waited a year and gone for it, but sure I'm happy enough doing what I'm doing these days.

Good point about jobs. Most of my classmates from the pgce course are out of work, temping, getting a day subbing here or there, working at something else, or gone to England. Very few jobs here. Some of them are still applying and going for interviews and we graduated a few years ago. I think you need to get into a school as a sub or a temp and excel at your work, then when they advertise you're earmarked.

Jack, I'd still really try to get experience of some sort somehow, even if its taking a day off work here and there to sit in on classes or something, many teachers would be happy to help you out.

Teaching is definitely not for everybody, J70 is quite right. But then you can be well suited in many ways and have difficulty in one area and it messes things up. I was good at teaching, when I got to teach, my downfall was discipline. I had a tough school with some behavioural problems and that probably wasnt a good start, put me off for life I fear! But then, a stronger person might have kept going and got on top of all that and held sway over the class. Certainly no compliment to me that I couldnt handle it. Looking back I went in assuming kids couldnt be that bad, unfortunately, they can be, and I wasnt hard headed enough to deal with that.

It was secondary English Farrandeelin, in a high school out near bangor. With media studies, computing (??) and a few other subjects thrown in for good measure.

And yes, classes after break and lunch are madness, all high on colours and E numbers, add those lovely ingredients to a few kids with ADHD who wont take their medication and you have an interesting time.

A good lesson bouys you up, thats true, I miss that, but I have no regrets.

No no no! Not about which dress to wear, we're hopeless at that. That and 'where shall we go' 'what shall we order' etc etc Hopeless. But some women have an ability to step into a work persona, they are quick and professional at work, and to them, refereeing brings out the same professional side.

I agree, some women would be hopeless, I'm certainly not putting myself forward for it! Just that I think we could all be surprised.

My personal hope, would be that however good a lady ref might be, she wouldnt forget she's a woman. Get mucky and dirty and look butch on the field, and do your job as it should be done, but then go clean up and make an effort afterward, none of this arse-out-trousers-lady for off duty refs please!

I suppose theres women who would be better at this than men... just like some women are good drivers and some men arent.

Also, points were made about decision making skills. I find women are actually better at making split deicions than men, they sum up quicker, take things in at a glance and come to an instant decision based part on the suming up and part on instinct. Men like to ruminate, sit and smoke a pipe, go through all the logical steps to get them to the point of the decision, perhaps it makes them feel better to know they followed a route. When you need a quick decision though, a woman can often be faster. Especially when under pressure. They can also prove more oservant.

Theres no rules on it, gender is less important than just having the right gifts.

Heya Jack

A good profession, worthy of more respect than it gets these days, from management, kids, parents or government.

All I'd say is go in with your eyes open. I went in for teaching wanting quite simply to teach. In my eyes that was imparting knowledge that was interesting, useful, and accessible to kids.

Unfortunately, imparting knowledge for the improvement of the child, to give a little kowledge and to increase their desire to learn(which is the best expression I can think of to sum up what I wanted to do, even though it sounds silly) is a minor part of the job. Paperwork, teaching to the test, and discipline are the major part of the job. All three took the heart out of me so make sure you're tough, without preconcieved notions which arent accurate in todays world, organised, and can manage little people - harder in my opinion than managing adults, though possibly not as ignorant as adults sometimes. The worst part of the job is low level misbehaviour - not the kid whos climbing the curtains, thats grand you can deal with that, but the kid who constantly constantly constantly undermines your authority in minor ways, too small to punish harshly, but so constant that it is wearing. That was the worst.

My best advice would be to try a little sub teaching or classroom assistant for even a short time, just to make sure its for you. if it is, go for it and good luck.

No specific advice I can give on the Hdip as that wasnt my route.