Okay, I'll tell you about an amazing teacher.
I know this one personally. She didn't teach me at school; I was one of her friends as she worked hard on her exams, researched different education strategies, studied basics in all subjects and went beyond in her specialisation. I watched her apply for training, volunteer to work at local schools and laugh and cry over the abilities of the kids there. I listened to her tell me about the kids she was teaching- not the brightest, not the most motivated, but incredible kids. And I saw her find people she really wanted to teach- people who she could connect with. People with severe learning disabilities.

Last year, she started working with a girl who cannot vocally communicate at all, and is wheelchair bound. My friend played the piano to her, with the girl sitting next to her. After a month of dedicated work, talking to her and encouraging her, the girl put her hand on the piano and played one note. After another few weeks, the girl would take her turn- not playing tunes, but simply using the piano to make sounds. She also started interacting after a few more weeks, putting her hand over the keys when she didn't like what my friend was playing, and smiling when she did.

I find this teacher truly inspirational.

I also find it difficult to tell this story. After working so hard, my friend was rejected from any PGCE courses that would let her train for professional work in the field. The courses look for older people, with their own professional experience, and naturally the funding for any course is low at the moment. She can't qualify, and the fact that she's been so rejected has utterly disheartened her.

The best teacher I know will never qualify.

I'd be less depressed by this if I thought this was a unique case, but I know it's happening to so, so many people at the moment.




...also, please don't reply offering advice; I think I've made this sound much more simplistic than it is, and she really has tried everything.
(Sivvus trolley collision in the fruit aisle led to a jam, Thu 17 Mar 2011, 16:13, 3 replies)

A possible solution?
Emmigrate?
The UK's on a downward spiral and this government seems to be carrying on the destructive work.
English as a second language in any given country should pay OK.
This country doesn't want talent or intelligence -- it just needs more robots to support the corporations which sponsor it.
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Thu 17 Mar 2011, 18:22, closed)

This makes me so sad
I know several people who have become teachers in the last five years, every single one of them is a complete moron with less intelligence, knowledge, compassion and passion for learning than most Daily Mail readers. They are all highly proficient at passing exams and jumping through hoops, and their lack of critical faculties means that they themselves aren't appalled at the process.

I know a secondary school history teacher who can't spell the word 'beginning', and who doesn't think it is a huge problem.
I know a primary school teacher who said "I know we are all supposed to be 70% water, I just don't get where it's all supposed to be stored"
Another primary school teacher who said "I think I've got an autistic in my class - they've all got the same face, don't they?"
and countless more examples of total fuckwittery.

All these people actually sicken me, especially when I see stuff like this. Pity the next generation.
(leviticus no longer likes the cut of your gib on, Fri 18 Mar 2011, 12:48, closed)

I don't get it
How can she get rejected? Sorry about my ignorance, but don't you just sign up, pay the fees and go to college in the UK?
(TDub Nunc id vides, nunc ne vides on, Thu 24 Mar 2011, 0:10, closed)