The FastDay Forum

I've been teaching 19 years now. The first 4 years I spent teaching in outback NSW. Now I'm on the Northern Tablelands, which I think is as close to public school teaching paradise as you'll get in NSW. I teach History, Geography and am the Teacher Librarian (high school).

I love my job, my school and I love working with adolescents - they never cease to amaze me.

OH is a teacher too - Social Science.

Thanks for putting up the tent!

I would love to come into this tent please.

I work in Key Stage 4 that's with years 10 and 11 (14 to 16 year olds).

I am not a teacher and don't work in the classroom. My job is to help support the students with whatever problems they are having. I love working with this age group and my job is very rewarding.

Half term next week. Thank goodness. What a long term this has been!! I need the rest to recharge my batteries.

Hello teachers. I was once a teacher and loved teaching my littlies to read, love stories, do maths, have fun. Then along came National Curriculum, Ofsted, paperwork before pupils and it all went boring and turned into a stressful ghastly job. I went to teach in the local prison for a while and that was definitely different! These days I run my vet lab and B&B, love working for myself.
To anyone still in the UK so called education system, good luck you deserve a medal.

I would like to come in please. I'm a teaching assistant in year 2. I'm looking forward to half term. Roll on Friday afternoon!

Hello teachers. I was once a teacher and loved teaching my littlies to read, love stories, do maths, have fun. Then along came National Curriculum, Ofsted, paperwork before pupils and it all went boring and turned into a stressful ghastly job. I went to teach in the local prison for a while and that was definitely different! These days I run my vet lab and B&B, love working for myself.
To anyone still in the UK so called education system, good luck you deserve a medal.

Sadly, this sounds just like the US system. My daughter, a first year teacher of 9 to 11 year olds in the inner city, said just yesterday, "I'm not doing this for the principal or the curriculum committee or the people running the "training seminars", I'm doing it for the kids, who need me." I'm so proud of her!

I'll slink away from this tent. I Home Educated my youngest from the age of 10, so could be seen as in opposition.

I'll slink away from this tent. I Home Educated my youngest from the age of 10, so could be seen as in opposition.

As I understand it from a limited reading of your posts, Julie, the school system was (probably) failing him, so it was actually wonderful that you could step up and take over.

I had such a bad day at work today that I'm afraid if I start to write about it I will swear, which is most unteacherly and inappropriate! And I can't even have a stiff drink as I am fasting.

It is exceedingly appropriate to swear, as long as it isn't in front of any kids or anyone who pays you or evaluates you. So go ahead, you have our blessing...

Hope tomorrow goes much better! And that you get your stiff drink tomorrow (which is also appropriate, as long as the kiddies aren't watching).

[carieoates]

I don't work Fridays so my half term starts after school today. Woo hoo.
Gillb a vet lab? Is it what I think it is? I used to work in Clinical Pathology Veterinay Haematology. Am hoping to get back to it when my youngest can be left after school.

Hello teachers. I went to teach in the local prison for a while and that was definitely different! These days I run my vet lab and B&B, love working for myself.
To anyone still in the UK so called education system, good luck you deserve a medal.

Hi Gillb, I taught French in a men's open prison for a year which, as you say, was different! I agree too that if I had my time again I probably wouldn't consider teaching as a career now, it's certainly not the job I knew and loved.

Um, I have been taught ... Several of my relations are/were teachers ... I greatly respect and admire anyone who attempts to educate the young of today, with their access to whizzy technology. My nine year old grandson just received a seven-inch tablet for his birthday and is away looking up everything and anything (within parental controls) but is also happy to share his discoveries too. I marvel at his capacity to learn and his desire to forward technology himself. Wish I'd had it at his age! :0)

Carie this is our lab http://www.westgatelabs.co.uk We advise owners on their horse worming programmes too.
Sad that teaching is not the wonderful, exciting adventure that it once was.

Hello teachers! I've recently become one myself I teach english to infants in Japan - while I slowly learn Japanese myself. I find this line of work works really well with the 5:2 ways as I can always rely on my schedule and know exactly when I get to eat next, plus endless coffee. I recently cracked my way into the 69's but at 69 I still have 10 more kg to lose. Nice to meet you. Matilda

My daughter sent me a question from the test that her district will be giving to all 5th graders (10 and 11 year olds). I won't copy it here, as confidentiality rules prevented me from seeing it in the first place. But it consisted of a sentence with a few clauses in it, and an instruction to identify the verb in the sentence, choosing from four possible answers. NONE of the four was correct. And no, there wasn't a "none of the above" response.

As she put it, "why do I bother teaching them when this is how they are tested?"