Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

As sweet as they come is this one :)

Fwiw I agree, and it's the 'spoilt' ones that oft bring that sense of self entitlement and selfishness to their "adult" :zzz: ways. Lessons in discipline and giving are priceless imho.

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

I rest my case. :rofl:

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

Possibly?

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

I thought the point of charging kids board to stay at home was to make them leave.

What person over the age of 18 wants to live with their parents anyway?

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

Well yeah. I left when I was 17. That said, if my Dad wanted to come and live with me and HID, the only thing I'd make him pay for would be his round.

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

Ok, semi-serious question. If your dad or any other adult did come to live with you, would you seriously not welcome an offer of $$ to dent the increased costs of food, bills, etc?

Someone visiting or staying with you for a short visit is fine. A fully grown adult who is capable of earning their keep is a drain on resources, and if they can contribute, they should, in whatever way is acceptable - be that cold hard cash or some other "chores" to make themselves useful. (I'm not talking an elderly helpless relative here, I'm talking a technically functional and useful adult).

My plan is to actually downsize so the kids have to move out (or can't move back in :sneaky:) but if in the future I have my 23 year old offspring, still at home for whatever reason, they will be expected to contribute in some shape or form.

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

:goodpost:
Again, I agree. :zzz:

On the off topic, I was talking with my mum this afternoon and I found a new career for myself - teaching. Its about the easiest job in the world with good pay, benefits, and a good pension. I also would have enough holidays to go back to Malta 3 times a year. Summer, Xmas and March break. Better yet, if you stay as a LTO (Long Term Occasional) / Supply teacher all you really have to do is babysit the kids whilst teaching the basics of the lessons until the teacher comes back from leave.

Not bad.:thumbup:

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

You just have to watch an episode of 'Made in Chelsea' to back up your point :D

This is also a massive trait with children in care IMO (at least in the UK and where I work) "they have had a hard life but we will just chuck money and materialistic items at them to make up for it" :thumbsup:

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

:rofl:

Good one.

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

Umm...where did you get that information from? I'm going to emphasise the "easiest" part of your post. As an Ex-TEFL teacher here (which is meant to be much easier then being in mainstream education). I'm going to inform you now - your in for one hell of a shock!

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

LTO / Supply teaching is pretty easy IMO. Having experienced first hand, supply / LTO teachers coming into my class and basically doing nothing... I've had one who played "Flappy Bird" on his iPad for about a week whilst my teacher was home sick. Another who brought in his laptop and mucked around on there while just giving us busy work.

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

Good choice and I agree, it is a pretty easy job. You work 8 months of the year and once you've got some seniority, you'll be making an okay salary although you won't get rich. Plus, it's once you have a degree, its just a one year programme in most places and half that is taken up with photocopying for your sponsor teacher on your practicum. The hardest part is continually moaning about paperwork and having to occasionally account for your practice. :)

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

:)Thanks Oink

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

Be prepared to work hard then at uni and expect competition for jobs. I'm not sure what the deal is with Canada but in the UK it takes 3 years with a BA and then 1 year QTS (qualified teacher status). Expect a real variety of kids - the ones in private schools are just posh and obnoxious, schools in deprived areas- expect a random chair to be chucked at you periodically

Good luck with it!

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

Who are you calling a plain bastion? :rofl:

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

Teaching is only easy if you don't do it well.

Supply teaching: no guaranteed income, no pension, no benefits.

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

Its a degree (which is usually four years unless you get your finger out and max out credits per term or do a defensible thesis as they can eat up lots of credits) then a one year teacher training/education with a heavy emphasis on student "teaching" which as I suggested earlier, often means photocopying or reading to the class while the teacher pops out for a fag. :)

To gozowhatsisnads, I'd try and concentrate on intermediate grades, you won't be babysitting like primary and unlike high school, you won't need to know much more content than what's contained in the average Christmas cracker.

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

I must tell my step-son this, obviously he has been doing everything wrong as he often works many hours in the evenings, after school and on weekends preparing lessons, marking, running after school activities etc., as a high school teacher. (As did my former husband) Dealing with obnoxious parents who threaten you when their kid isn't on the team, dealing with hormonal teenagers and out of control kids who threaten you, swear at you and disrupt the class (they don't care because all that happens is they get a reprimand and a suspension) hmmm yes, it's a really easy job... NOT.

Sigh... you really need to think before you make statements like that.

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

Ah, such cynicism. I'm not saying you're wrong of course.

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

Hmm, sounds like either a time management issue or lack on content knowledge. Even at the higher grades in high school one shouldn't have work much past 5pm and unless there's some sort of project fair, ever on weekends. And as for parents, its simple, insist on them making an appointment, preferably in school time and on your prep periods) so you make it as inconvenient for them as possible.

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

Almost appears that you should consider teaching in BC;)

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

No, neither of those suggestions. He runs several sports teams and is required to work after school ends.. because of that he has to do lesson plan creation and marking in the evenings. The weekends he often has to do practice or matches from time to time.

Parents attend the matches and practices - he has been physically threatened and harassed by parents when he has refused to allow someone to play due to their behaviour - it's not a case of appointments.

I guess it really depends on what you teach and where you teach.

;)

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

Only towards the braying malcontented adults in the system. Teaching sixth graders Platonic political theory and rhetoric as a graduate student and them being excited by it, was a magnificent experience. Dodgeball was also fun. :thumbup:

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

I derive the same pleasure from boggling the minds of 3rd year undergraduates with a few simple parables about waves, particles, the uncertainty principle and such. It really is a pleasure to have reconfirmed, year after year, how moribund the Canadian education system has become.

I blame folk like you actually.

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

I taught in an American system. And in a system where we aligned competencies and core knowledge expectations with university faculty so no catch up was necessary when they attended HE, stopped most of their moaning. :p

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

I can't go to Australia on a WHV as I am indeed too old, I unfortunately came from a country where WH's are not as common or talked about, so by the time I knew they existed, I was too old...

Also correct on the US part, not to mention it would be financial suicide to move to a country without a healthcare system one can access without large sums of money.

Let me point out I went bankrupt in 2004 after failing to negotiate an agreement with a hospital I spent a week in that was fair and affordable. I wasn't even seriously ill, and the total bill was slightly over 30,000. 33,000 or so if I recall correctly, the hospital was pretty difficult to work with, and frankly, I just gave up and filed for protection under bankruptcy because their collection tactics were very aggressive.

Prior to that, I had no debt at the time, 100% of the bankruptcy was medical bills from that hospital stay, and oh I had insurance at the time, but the insurance company found every possible way to not pay, so even with insurance, its not a slam dunk the bills will be paid.

Now my girlfriend is fairly healthy, but does have a significant health issue that has her on disability (although she does work part-time when she is able) and she needs access to a doctor. If we were in the US, she would lose her disability benefits for one, and like I said, would be a financial drain on us from medical bills, and I don't know anyone in their right mind who would move to a country with health issues when said country (US) has a pay per use medical system.

If I were single, I'd consider it, but one also has to remember 2 things about the US:

1. Wages for lower level jobs tend to be a good chunk lower when compared to Canada.

2. Healthcare costs can easily be more then the higher taxes in Canada, and higher cost for goods. Not to mention there is virtually no safety net, and making 7 or 8/hr nowhere in the US is a wage you can live on, even with the lower costs of living in the US. My position in most of the US would pay between 7.25/hr to 9.00/hr depending on what city and state you are in. Pay in Canada is generally 11-15/hr depending on where you are, and how big the hotel is. Larger hotels pay more, smaller ones pay less.

Yes things cost less in the US to a Canadian, but living there on the lower wages you will earn, well its a different story.

The US is not the place you want to be if low income, its actually a rather unpleasant country to live in when in the lower income spectrum.

Despite the challenges, I am better off in Canada, and I enjoy living here, and I frankly see no net benefit in returning to the US, but there is net benefit to staying where I am.

At 20 I would have flown the coop so to speak, but at 35, stability is most important thing for me, and I have that now in BC, and I am not willing to give it up when I know full well moving will not be a net gain for me, I know the jobs I get at my current level, regardless of where they are, will not be any higher pay elsewhere for the most part, even at the height of the boom in Alberta, wages in my industry were not any higher then I make now, and looking at jobs in Edmonton for example, the pay there is not of any significance to justify spending the money to move.

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

Ah thats the thing though - you work hard in uni then have an easier job in the end... Sounds like a "win" in the end to me anyways. And its only 4 years in the UK? It could take up to 6 here. :thumbdown:


Exactly.:thumbup:

Yep. My teachers are usually out the door by 3:30 PM LATEST 4pm in exam/report card time.

Yeah he obviously has, my grandparents are retired teachers, they didn't do that, they spend their weekends + hols spending time with my dad and just relaxing.

The sports teams. Thats why he is staying so late after school. I never said I would run any sports teams/after school clubs. ;)

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

Your mum is pretty smart, she's talked you into studying for a degree by appealing to your lazy side.

:p

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

Mmm. She does know me well ;)

The holidays for going home are also very appealing. Economically, Malta is not viable. Staying in Canada but having the opportunity to spend 3 months a year in Malta is.

Not many other jobs in Canada or the UK can compete with that sort of hols.

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

The maturity is coming along nicely, Gozo. :thumbup:

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

Slowly but surely. ;)

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

Mediocrity is definitely the bastion of the majority, but where's the enjoyment in that?

If one wants to be a pretty crappy teacher, I can imagine that is indeed pretty 'easy', pending job performance reviews, and objective eyes. Satisfying? Probably not? Responsible? Definitely not. Ordinary? Sure. :)

As for cynicism, it's like a dredge pit of mud, trying to pull others in with its imagined self-protectionism, but is a pretty closed and sad life IMHO :)

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

That is what will make you a better teacher, when you are prepared to participate in after school activities. As a supply teacher you probably won't have to.

It sounds like Siouxie's step-son works hard and is dedicated to his job where it's not just about standing in front of a class of kids and teaching (or setting them work and playing 'angry birds' on an iPad or whatever it was) it's about building confidence and relationships with the students. These are the teachers that get more respect, at least these were the teachers I respected when I was at school.

I never respected supply teachers, they were useless and never knew what they were doing or how to control a class and never around long enough. I used to have one in primary school that came in periodically and only ever did work with us (every time) on Beaufort scale (yawn!) - he also had that disgusting white stuff that some people get at the edge of their mouths :thumbdown:

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

I never respected teachers who allowed their class to give supply/substitute teachers a hard time. The good teachers were the ones who had either an explicit or tacit understanding with the children how to behave respectfully towards guest teachers and to get on quietly with their outstanding work if none had been formally set.

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

Disrespecting supply teachers is disgusting, IMO.

If a teacher is absent, s/he is supposed to leave a lesson plan with what is meant to be covered for the day. If the teacher either doesn't leave one or leaves a sh*t one, then what do you expect the supply to do? Make it up? They'll do the best they can, but the class should still respect the person who is in the room as they are the ones in charge.

Your complaint is that the supply "is never around long enough"... err... that's kind of the point?

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

Granted I went to school in California, and I am assuming supply teacher means substitute teacher here, but we always did work with a sub teacher, not always what we were learning with the teacher as the teacher or school would leave a different lesson plan for the sub, but the sub just did what the lesson plan left said to do, they were not there to completely change the lesson plan left.

Plus in California being a sub is pretty much essential to getting a permanent job, few if any teachers there make it into the profession without being a sub first to work their way into a permanent position.

Subs are also fully qualified teachers, and generally either young and new to the profession and not yet been hired to a permanent position, or older and semi-retired from the profession, but it was not and is not generally a position one seeks as permanent due to the inconsistent work and no stable income.

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

The same in Ontario (well, Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board anyway) - just about the only way to get a more permanent job is to go on the supply list. My step-son knows people who trained at the same time as him who still haven't managed to get a permanent position - 8 years later.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...ticle12542791/

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

Erm yeah... Rubbish lesson plan...don't engage the class...can't control class = no respect

Bare in mind I did say this was primary education (5-12 years old)!!!! Your having a pop at me with regards to something that happened when I was a child and getting offended by it! Why?

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

Well even if you are a "better" teacher, you don't need to run 4 sports teams. Help out if asked... I definitely wouldn't want to spend my whole day at the school whilst the other teachers go on out at 3.30, but I was slightly exaggerating when I said I "never" would run anything after school or to integrate with the school culture. And depending on the grade you teach, if you are good at teaching (I am always told I am when teaching computer issues; I could become a computer teacher at a high school level and it would be easy stuff for me.) , it isn't that hard to make up lesson plans and such.

Neither do I... Alot of them get on my nerves when they think they can come in and just run the place. No, we have our class rules and procedures, and what our teachers allows us to do or not do, and you aren't going to change that. Especially at the elementary level. At the H.S level, if I have a problem with a sub that's that bad, i'll leave the room.

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

I don't recall my schools ever having supply teachers. On the rare occasions a teacher was sick we were given work to do and a prefect sat at the desk. But that was in olden tymes.