A Lot To Think About

A Lot to think About

It's not really a secret that the education system is changing rapidly, and in my opinion not in a good way. Since leaving my job I've stayed in touch with colleagues at my school and those who have moved to other schools. I thought the issues at my school were just my school, however it seems as though the problems are more widespread than I thought. When I left, it wasn't because I didn't like my job, I loved it, but I loved it in spite of a lot of things. I had every intention of going back to the UK in a year or so and finding another job in teaching. However now with more and more friends and colleagues really struggling I'm thinking maybe there's a better option.

I hate ranting blogs and I try hard to make mine as positive as possible but I need to start by outlining the issues as I see them.

1. The new GCSE. It's too hard and expecting too much from students getting 12.5 % is demoralising even if it is a pass. There's no access to the very low ability or SEND. (I do actually like the new level system!)
   
2. Politics. I just want to teach! But now I have to make sure I'm proving that I'm teaching, have evidence and that all my students make progress, great in theory but these are students and why should I be penalised because they decided not to show up for the exam or don't care about school or have a home life that makes school nearly impossible. Why can't people remember these are humans first and foremost.
   
3. Behaviour. Ok this is a biggy, I thought this was just my school but I'm heading it's getting bad everywhere. It's harder to expel students and some schools are too lax, but I also feel like the attitude of students is that they'll be ok without good grades. Uni is too expensive and there's a lot of money in other careers like electricians or plumbers. More technology means dealing with phones and the problems they create. Social media means that issues don't stop at school. Students are getting booked and have less and less respect for staff. A friend recently had scissors thrown at her! Others have been threatened and sworn at and these kids are all still in their respective schools!
   

I honestly don't think I see it getting better anymore, with the changes being rolled out further and the staffing crisis getting worse, there will be more and more apply on non specialists teaching. There will be a big crash in my opinion and I don't want to be there when that happens! The are a lot of great staff who can control their classes really well and my classroom was a haven, but outside those doors it seems to be getting crazy.

I had an amazing opportunity last week to teach a lesson in a primary school in southern Drakensberg, south Africa. It was enlightening, aside from the obvious lack of technology, they do have the resources to teach: text book, exercise book etc. But what I was more interested in was the students attitude. I had assumed that they would all be as good as gold, silently having on to my every word. The students in the room we very focused and extremely respectful which was a major difference, however I kept losing students! I started with 12 and ended with 8. They would keep getting up and leaving, sometimes coming back and sometimes not. Of course I asked about this, it's very common for them to go toilet or get water and come back, others have chores they do during some lessons. As the teacher though, this want explained to me, likely because I only got to go one day. I did also tutor some local children at my hotel. Again they send just like any children back home, mostly focused but also chatty and wanted to play games more.

So I'm left with 2 things to think about.

1. Are all students essentially the same? Yes. But do the different systems of education impact on their behaviour greatly? I didn't see any fights or hear of any teachers having things thrown at them in Africa. But at it's root the teaching was the same.
   
2. If the systems vary greatly across the world and the UK is possibly not doing so well, should I go teach elsewhere? If so where? Canada (I do have the citizenship) or somewhere I can make more of a difference? Or do I come home and try to make a difference there? Maybe in a year it will be a whole different system. Maybe my view is too biased by a few teachers from a few schools and there is hope?
   

I guess it's just as well I have a year to think about these things before I have to decide. Again apologies for a pessimistic post but it's been bugging me the last couple weeks hearing such things from old colleagues and friends.