Teacher training tests
Discussion
The Government has decided that those people wishing to train to be teachers should undergo a tougher entrance exam than is currently the case. The new proposals for the exam, which includes elements of mathematics and english amongst other things have been drawn up by a committee of head teachers. Candidates will be allowed a limited number of failed attempts.
That strikes me as reasonable. After all, if our teachers cannot read, write and add up correctly how can we expect them to teach a class of kids (some of whom may actually know more than the teacher!)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-20083249
However, looking at some of the comments on the BBC website, you'd think the proposal was for trainee teachers to have to give their left nipple in order to be accepted. The lady from the NUT on Radio 4 this morning was falling over herself to find fault with this. Can somebody explain the hostility?
That strikes me as reasonable. After all, if our teachers cannot read, write and add up correctly how can we expect them to teach a class of kids (some of whom may actually know more than the teacher!)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-20083249
However, looking at some of the comments on the BBC website, you'd think the proposal was for trainee teachers to have to give their left nipple in order to be accepted. The lady from the NUT on Radio 4 this morning was falling over herself to find fault with this. Can somebody explain the hostility?
BOR said:
I completely agree with Andymadmak that we should increase teachers' pay to attract high quality applicants and use entry tests to justify that increase in pay.
Um, I didn't say that. But I agree with it. So, I agree with what you said I said, even though I didn't say it, but I would have said it if had I thought about it, which I didn't because if I had thought about it then I would have said it so that you could agree with it, and then I could have agreed with you agreeing with me, which of course I did. And have, but didn't. I think that clarifies things nicely
I suppose all that's really going on is they're looking to reduce the number of people applying.
In recessions loads more people apply to be teachers plus the raising of the retirement age and restrictions on leaving early mean there won't be the same numbers leaving until things balance out, and school rolls are falling in most areas - so they're raising the bar to take the edge off the number of applicants.
In recessions loads more people apply to be teachers plus the raising of the retirement age and restrictions on leaving early mean there won't be the same numbers leaving until things balance out, and school rolls are falling in most areas - so they're raising the bar to take the edge off the number of applicants.
Teaching has IMO been the default career for people who don't know what to do, don't care what they do or aren't capable of getting another job. I'm not saying that's all of them but it's IMO too many of them.
In these times of job shortage it looks eminently sensible to weed out some of the losers before they get to the starting line.
In these times of job shortage it looks eminently sensible to weed out some of the losers before they get to the starting line.
andymadmak said:
Um, I didn't say that. But I agree with it. So, I agree with what you said I said, even though I didn't say it, but I would have said it if had I thought about it, which I didn't because if I had thought about it then I would have said it so that you could agree with it, and then I could have agreed with you agreeing with me, which of course I did. And have, but didn't.
I think that clarifies things nicely
Which school do you teach at? I think that clarifies things nicely
XCP said:
I thought one had to have a degree to be a teacher, never mind GCSE standard Maths and literacy!
There was that report a while ago where primary school teachers sat the 11+ maths paper. Something daft like <10% got 100% and more than half failed.I almost always have to go over my 9 year old's maths work as it seems the way they teach the subject is such that it is very difficult for 9 year old's to understand.
I think half the problem is that teaching is so underpaid and under appreciated that people with the skills and experience to do other stuff, do.
Which is a shame as, and i'm only guessing, most people would like their kids to be taught by experts in their chosen fields.
It's a tough job and i wouldn't do it. But that doesn't mean that we should let any old person do it either.
The other point is that with some levels of primary school, you don't need to have a degree in maths to be a good teacher across the board.
It's a toughie, i think.
Which is a shame as, and i'm only guessing, most people would like their kids to be taught by experts in their chosen fields.
It's a tough job and i wouldn't do it. But that doesn't mean that we should let any old person do it either.
The other point is that with some levels of primary school, you don't need to have a degree in maths to be a good teacher across the board.
It's a toughie, i think.
aw51 121565 said:
And how many hours a week does a reasonable teacher work during those 'limited weeks'? 
Unless they are working at least 12 hours a day every day - which is just a teeny tad unlikely - they're still well behind the rest of us. Then add in all the "travel to work" time that other people still undertake during the teachers' 3 months extra holiday and you see a very clear picture. Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff