QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

Ok, so I'm in my 13th year of Primary Teaching, and I'm not going to deny it, it's killing me. I'm exhausted, fed up with having to put in so much extra work, all of it! I'm in at 7am most mornings, sometimes not leaving until late into the afternoon, working at home in the evenings, and well, I have a one day weekend. (I AM NOT WANTING TO DEBATE ABOUT HOW EASY US TEACHERS GET IT, BECAUSE WE DON'T, SO PLEASE!)

I just need help trying to find a new direction, my health is suffering, and my life, well it could be so much better. I'd love a job where I can leave work, in work, anyone got any tips on where I could possibly start?

Jen xo

(PS I become an Australia Citizen on the 23rd May, so that might broaden the possibilities?! I also have 5 years experience as a part-time police officer, from when I lived back in Northern Ireland.)

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

You have to start by deciding what you want to do - what do you fancy trying?

Is there some career you've always wanted to do?

What are your skill sets?

Once you've decided on at least a general career direction, then you can start to look more closely - will you need to retrain? Will you need to go back to uni? Can you relate your current skills to the new career or are you starting afresh?

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

I've a book called 'WHAT COLOUR IS YOUR PARACHUTE?' which is apparently fab in helping you to choose a new direction, I just haven't had much time to read it yet! :blink:

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

You're still a young chick so anything is possible - what do you WANT to do ( try the magic wand trick) then work from there to achieving it - what further skills will you need? If you decide to try for public service type positions you could see if you can get into admin via your current teaching position - go into policy or something like that in education. Your PR status will only be an issue for federal positions and as you become a citizen at the end of the month that's a non issue!

I second the "What colour is your parachute" suggestion, it's a good book! But you do need time and having had one lifetime in education, you have my sympathies! Mind you, I never did find an alternative which met your requirements! I moved out of education into the NFP sector and ended up doing weekends and evenings just the same LOL - but at least I used o be able to accrue enough TOIL time to take an star holiday every year!

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

As a former university lecturer, I know what you mean entirely about the extra work, unpaid, and the stress of the classroom, albeit it a different kind from primary school! I don't know about teachers, but university lecturers work all through the holidays, and many was the year I was marking papers all over Christmas. One year I was doing it on Christmas Eve. Unpaid, obviously.

Can't help with future direction, but good luck in your new choice!

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

Well, there is always business type training - execs, PMs, etc.

Admittedly they are slightly less mature than what you are used to, but there is a distinct lack of homework to mark....

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

This is not strictly true, as you are paid a salary to cover this, rather than being on a wage and being paid overtime.

As an ex teacher, I sympathise with the feeling that you are not paid for working long hours to do the work that someone with a conscience feels they have to do. I got out of teaching, but it sucked me back in at a pre-school/special needs level. Now I have no job due to MS, and having been a teacher for 25 years with just a little break for maternity leave, I really don't know what I can do either, so good luck with your decision Jen and I hope it all works out.

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

Your hours are contractually set, like anyone else's. Working all over Christmas is outside of your hours and therefore unpaid. It does depend on how you choose to view it, as you point out. For me, this was a small problem compared with other issues closely associated with the education sector like stress, disrespect, depressed colleagues, poor treatment by support staff and, in my case, being surrounded by radical Marxists night and day...

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

I quit teaching when I left the UK in 2006 - I vowed I would never set foot in another class room again, and so far I have managed it. I had a good look at what my existing skills and experience could be used to leverage off of, and ended up doing a short course in Technical Writing. That in itself is pretty dull, but it certainly opened up doors to other potential careers - in particular industry based training and assessment. From there I've moved into Project Management and I am now doing my Change Management certification.

It's not easy, but the key is to identify what you can already do, and then try and find something allied to that to move forward with. Perhaps a Cert IV in Training and Assessment would be a good start. I did mine several years ago, and it was a walk in the park for a qualified teacher.



Love that comment :)


S

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

This is good advice, indeed.


Seriously, have you ever tried to make a Marxist laugh?

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

How many Marxists does it take to screw in a light bulb?
None. The bulb contains the seed of its own revolution.


:getcoat:

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

I think when work is affecting your health something has to give! You just have to step back and think about what work you would see yourself enjoying? Would you still work with children? I wish you luck in finding something. :fingerscrossed:

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

Yeah, they wouldn't laugh at that...

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

You should have worn the ubiquitous Communist Party T-Shirt...


S

Re: QUITTING TEACHING - Where do I start?
 

What about CRT work? You could do permanent part time in a different career and a couple of days CRT? The ones we have come to our school love the freedom and that there's no meetings, planning etc.
I'm in a similar boat as an ES wanting to retrain and earn a decent crust!! Good luck Jen x x