Would you become a teacher?

JenCo · February 2020

We all know there's a shortage of teachers across the UK and there are some great incentives for people to get started in teaching.
How inclusive do you think these incentives are?
Do you think enough is being done to encourage disabled people to get into teaching?
And.. once they're in, is enough being done to make sure they can stay in teaching?

Some interesting thoughts have been expressed on the DfE (Department for Education)'s attempts to recruit more teachers. They aren't targeting older candidates or disabled candidates.... Why?

I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Seanchai · February 2020

My grandaughter is studying at uni to become a teacher ... and....I was a teacher ( of sorts) I was a driving instructor . I loved the job but my health let me down . Being a teacher I believe is more of a Vocation than a job in my opinion . It's not everybody who could be a teacher .

laura222 · February 2020

I don't know, I don't know if it's for me.

I used to work in a university that was terribly inaccessible and they weren't very supportive at all unfortunately. I wasn't teaching staff though but from that experience, and my memories of the difficulties from school/college/university, I don't feel very warm towards educational facilities and don't have much faith in their awareness of accessibility. Of course this is only a very small sample.

I can't say that I've ever noticed the ads for teaching being targeted towards people with disabilities, but I've never really looked into it. As always I think that disability and disability representation is so very valuable for younger people, both those with disabilities and those without. The greater the number of differences that are visible to society, the better!

Are you thinking of getting into teaching?

janer1967 · February 2020

Yes, I'd love to become a teacher.

I would love to be a teacher, but feel it would prove too difficult to get over the barriers for disabled people. I have a physical disability eg amputee and also visually impaired, however I have a very active brain and educated to post grad degree level, I know I could transition this degree to just a years teaching course. But its about not being able to get out easily eg. dependant on taxi and being able to self propel wheelchair once at destination. If it was easier I would do it

Ails · February 2020

Yes, I'd love to become a teacher.

I did teacher training at uni to become a Secondary School Teacher and did various placements as part of my degree, but when I finished my course I decided the age group I was teaching wasn't for me and would have preferred to have done Primary School Teaching. I did think about doing a Post Graduate course after that, but I had got fed up with studying by then and just wanted to get out and work again. I look back sometimes and wonder if I made the right decision, but it was right for me at the time. When I was doing my course, I was the only disabled person there and had been the first disabled person to study teacher training at my uni. The support wasn't brilliant when I was there, but I managed through it ok, but hopefully things have improved since then for disabled people wishing to become teachers.

Thanks for the poll @JenCo.

JenCo · February 2020

@laura222
I was a TEFL teacher for years and I absolutely loved it. I worked primarily in Kindergartens where most classes were loud and exciting and game-based. As my hearing got worse I had to give it up. My hearing aid wasn't really enough anymore and I moved to an office job. It was shockingly quiet and really drove home how my hearing was going.

Now I love what I do. I'm an accessibility champion in my office, I'm trying to make the web generally more accessible for everyone and this is something I'd love to focus on full-time. currently working with an education specialist job board site and I firmly believe there's not enough being done to encourage ALL people into teaching.

This poll is so helpful, thanks everyone. I absolutely loved teaching and I'm starting to love what I'm doing now.

pollyanna1052 · March 2020

Interesting poll and comments.

I`ve never wanted to be a teacher in general education...but during my working years, I trained many people up and got such a huge reward, seeing how someone had blossomed from a nervous raw newbie, to someone confident and happy in their work.

Teaching on any level is amazing! I currently have young and foreign carers, who I love to teach about things which have happened in my 67 years.

About disabled teachers leaving or not applying for jobs due to access difficulties..........don't they qualify for a helper ie a PA on Direct Payments...or some equivalent in education? Sounds such a simple answer to me....

I`d like to know your thoughts on this please.
xx

woodbine · March 2020

No way, I wouldn't want to be a teacher.

I answered no, but as above during my career I trained many people, including new to the company managers, and during my time in retail did ongoing training, which was great.

Chloe_Scope · March 2020

Yes, I'd love to become a teacher.

When I started university, the aim was to become a psychology teacher or a SENCo...

It's still something I am really interested in but I do feel it would be a hard job to sustain with my health needs.

JenCo · March 2020

Thank you everyone for your answers and insights. This is really interesting.

@pollyanna1052 When you say "About disabled teachers leaving or not applying for jobs due to access difficulties..........don't they qualify for a helper ie a PA on Direct Payments...or some equivalent in education?" I guess it depends on case by case.

Can you imagine what a difference it would make to young kids to see a teacher "just like them" in charge and doing well? It's something I'm very happy to be helping the education and recruitment sector work towards. Teaching opportunities should be available to all... and their PAs if the case may be

April2018mom · March 2020

I am a teacher already and I love it! :)

My answer is maybe. My kids are still quite young so I teach them instead.

Would you become a teacher?

Would you become a teacher? 8 votes

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