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moni
i do remember you very well indeed, actually. why did you think i didn't? puzzled expression on face. just a quick word on the nazi topic - i used the term in connection with j**** because he is one, and if i were too, i wouldn't object to being referred to as such. anyway, having got that sorted, i think it's great that you've decided to go into a councelling role? in england, it depends what school you attend as the levels of interest/potential problems that are encountered by teachers. my elder son goes to a very nice school as is currently studying for his 'A' levels. he eventually wants to join the police force for some bizarre reason - just hope he never 'busts' me! (how very embarassing) i find his friends are willing to debate and learn, but i never treat them like teenagers - more as mates while retaining a certain air of 'no nonsense after 4.pm. please, young man'. i suppose, like you, i believe that children need to have more teachers who don't behave like officers and tend towards a more respectful and tolerant attitude towards their backgrounds and problems. i intend to teach teenagers as i find them interesting and my
own exp of being at school was v. bad and negative. it's only a recent desire and it's not something i would want to do forever. but a couple of years' teaching would, i think, be a valuable experience for me and the puplils!
in england, you have to be a graduate and then take a post graduate certificate of eduation in order to qualify to teach. there is a huge shortage here at the moment, probably because it's a stressful occupation with lots of red tape and beaurocracy. however, i do think it's worthwhile and although quite a few ex-teachers have tried to dissuade me since i 'came out' i'll ignore the negative flack and enroll quite soon on a pgce. i also think that we're at a good age to enter teaching in whatever form as i'm 36 and happy with who i am, therefore i doubt i'll be struggling to control a class. i can be very stern indeed!
actually, here, there are a number of inner city schools that are dire with high levels of pupil violence and abuse. few teachers want to enter their gates, strangely, i'm more attracted by 'problem' children as i have a handle on why they behave the way they do - i was suspended from school a couple of times and remember how hard it was to concentrate or be interested in the subjects.... i did very badly at school and failed all of my exams. later on though, i went to college for 2 years' and then to university for a further 3 and did extremely well in both. i was written off, i suppose, as a child who would always be 'bad' and 'stupid' - how wrong they were! i too, would like to offer children like me the opportunity to excel or simply to achieve something - have a goal or ambition and have it taken seriously and be genuinely encouraged on a daily basis to get there. too many teachers just give up and fall into a rut themselves. councellors are very important in that role. they give children time to think and reflect and develop in ways that are not copies of their parents'. when do you intend to start on your road? mine will probably be in january 2002. i get the feeling we're going to needs lots of encouragement and support.
yorick
music eh? nice. my friend matt teaches music and drama to children who've been expelled (excluded) from mainstream schools. he says it's bloody hard work. mind you, after, 5 years' he's moving on to head a music dept. in a normal school - he's currently breathing huge sighs of relief and looking foreward to entering a school building without the fear of physical violence. i'm assuming your position is a bit nicer. i hope so. it sounds really lovely. it must be wonderful to teach a subject that you love - i gather you do recording and stuff too? is this a spare time activity/hobby or something closer to your heart? and do you record for other people or yourself?
i'm with you on the friendly rapport front - children loathe controlling and manipulative teacher's. in fact, when i was at school, it was the shouters that got the most flack from us. they were so easy to wind up, it was almost cruel. still, i've got a huge amount to learn, so information and/or advice would be most lovely.
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