In 5 years time......
Discussion
I thought about posting this on my existing thread about change of career etc, but the situation's changed since last week.
The bottom line is that i've got 5 years to find something else to do and maybe earn enough to buy my dream muscle car orb even retire comfortably! I was called to a meeting with the school head last Monday and told my teaching hours were being cut from September and with it a drop in salary ( for the 2nd year running). That will mean a net wage cut of 25% compared to 2 years ago! The state educational teachers get salary increases based on their length of service, but the others all get a pay cut. The school is oversubscribed with a long waiting list, but all non state teachers and school assistants will get pay cuts!
Do i put my kids first or my own future? My son's finished top of his class in the lycée, speaks 4 languages fluently, will take his bac exams soon and has offers from several top Paris universities. My daughter's in year 8,has outstanding school results, speaks 2 languages fluently, and has loads of friends at the school. I pay the school fees but i get a reduction for the European section and the extra language lessons since i teach at the school. I'm divorced and because they both go the school where i teach i see them every day ( even with the 50/50 custody). The problem is the head of the European section 'prefers' certain teachers to others and therefore hands out the teaching hours accordingly. She believes i should set up lunch time clubs to attract more students. ( but unpaid!!)
The school head is her friend and 'parachuted' her into the post. They both play golf at the same club, live in the same village, and holiday together. Both are married but childless.
I was bluntly told by the school head that i could either stay in the school, accept a wage cut but my daughter will get an excellent education and i'll get to see her everyday, or i could as she put it ' follow my professional instincts and choose another career path away from the school'. When i mentioned that the school is a private establishment with outstanding educational results priding itself on it's core values of respect, humanity, generosity and tolerance towards others, the school head reminded me that the school was firstly a business, and secondly if i wanted to get on career wise i should study for a French teaching degree. She did acknowledge that British ex pats in France have a tough time in the job market but that it wasn't her fault.
In the 12 years i've been teaching there i've obtained a 100% pass rate every year for the English/history bac exams, more than 95% of my students obtain high level EFL exams, and i've never once had a complaint from any parent.
I'm going to stay where i am for the next 5 years for my daughter's sake ( state schools where we live are terrible with bad exam results). That means another 5 years. All the other local private schools can only offer me short term contracts!
I have a time frame of 5 years to work out something for when i leave the job ( no point in hanging around after my daughter's passed her bac). The problem is finding something that will enable me to earn more, and maybe buy the car of my dreams.
I know it's a bit of a long shot but i'm prepared to put in the hard work to get it.
I don't have any option but to put up with my current job situation and wait out the next 5 years. Despite what i've been through in the past 2-3 years i've still got a lot of hope and pride left.
Any ideas?
The bottom line is that i've got 5 years to find something else to do and maybe earn enough to buy my dream muscle car orb even retire comfortably! I was called to a meeting with the school head last Monday and told my teaching hours were being cut from September and with it a drop in salary ( for the 2nd year running). That will mean a net wage cut of 25% compared to 2 years ago! The state educational teachers get salary increases based on their length of service, but the others all get a pay cut. The school is oversubscribed with a long waiting list, but all non state teachers and school assistants will get pay cuts!
Do i put my kids first or my own future? My son's finished top of his class in the lycée, speaks 4 languages fluently, will take his bac exams soon and has offers from several top Paris universities. My daughter's in year 8,has outstanding school results, speaks 2 languages fluently, and has loads of friends at the school. I pay the school fees but i get a reduction for the European section and the extra language lessons since i teach at the school. I'm divorced and because they both go the school where i teach i see them every day ( even with the 50/50 custody). The problem is the head of the European section 'prefers' certain teachers to others and therefore hands out the teaching hours accordingly. She believes i should set up lunch time clubs to attract more students. ( but unpaid!!)
The school head is her friend and 'parachuted' her into the post. They both play golf at the same club, live in the same village, and holiday together. Both are married but childless.
I was bluntly told by the school head that i could either stay in the school, accept a wage cut but my daughter will get an excellent education and i'll get to see her everyday, or i could as she put it ' follow my professional instincts and choose another career path away from the school'. When i mentioned that the school is a private establishment with outstanding educational results priding itself on it's core values of respect, humanity, generosity and tolerance towards others, the school head reminded me that the school was firstly a business, and secondly if i wanted to get on career wise i should study for a French teaching degree. She did acknowledge that British ex pats in France have a tough time in the job market but that it wasn't her fault.
In the 12 years i've been teaching there i've obtained a 100% pass rate every year for the English/history bac exams, more than 95% of my students obtain high level EFL exams, and i've never once had a complaint from any parent.
I'm going to stay where i am for the next 5 years for my daughter's sake ( state schools where we live are terrible with bad exam results). That means another 5 years. All the other local private schools can only offer me short term contracts!
I have a time frame of 5 years to work out something for when i leave the job ( no point in hanging around after my daughter's passed her bac). The problem is finding something that will enable me to earn more, and maybe buy the car of my dreams.
I know it's a bit of a long shot but i'm prepared to put in the hard work to get it.
I don't have any option but to put up with my current job situation and wait out the next 5 years. Despite what i've been through in the past 2-3 years i've still got a lot of hope and pride left.
Any ideas?
Edited by rosbif77 on Sunday 5th June 15:20
The blatant racism is everywhere but 'hidden'. Every native born English speaker i've worked with over the past 19 years here has told me the same things. The extra loops to jump through to climb up the job ladder, the 'if you don't like the way your being treated here p
s off back to where you came from' type of attitude, the ridiculous paperwork to fill in, or the cold shouldering from colleagues who think that because your foreign born you have no right to reach their professional level. A lot of these people treat any foreigner, not just Anglo-Saxons, in the same way!!!
It's a real shame because having lived here for a while France has a lot of positives. The food, the wonderful scenery and different landscapes, the quality of education, the health system, even public transport which is pretty cheap compared to most places.
Unfortunately, the job market seems to be stuck in some sort of time lapse!
s off back to where you came from' type of attitude, the ridiculous paperwork to fill in, or the cold shouldering from colleagues who think that because your foreign born you have no right to reach their professional level. A lot of these people treat any foreigner, not just Anglo-Saxons, in the same way!!!It's a real shame because having lived here for a while France has a lot of positives. The food, the wonderful scenery and different landscapes, the quality of education, the health system, even public transport which is pretty cheap compared to most places.
Unfortunately, the job market seems to be stuck in some sort of time lapse!
I realised that last year when they first cut my salary. They know that i actually see my children more than my ex because i teach in the same school as them.
It was my choice to keep them there because they've got and are going to continue to get an excellent education.
I made the choice during the divorce to put my children's quality of life and education first.
I decided there and then not to relocate, and therefore have my kids move to a lower quality school. In my catchment area the state schools are all ZEP, à French version of 'sink estate schools'!
It was my choice to keep them there because they've got and are going to continue to get an excellent education.
I made the choice during the divorce to put my children's quality of life and education first.
I decided there and then not to relocate, and therefore have my kids move to a lower quality school. In my catchment area the state schools are all ZEP, à French version of 'sink estate schools'!
xjay1337 said:
But you are now 25% salary down.
The only benefit is a discount you get for teaching there for your kids and the fact you get to see your kids.
I don't think your kids would suffer at school if you weren't there, surely your contact with them at school has to be limited professionally.
Sounds like you are being discriminated against.
I fought tooth and nail and went through hell to have my rights as a father respected!The only benefit is a discount you get for teaching there for your kids and the fact you get to see your kids.
I don't think your kids would suffer at school if you weren't there, surely your contact with them at school has to be limited professionally.
Sounds like you are being discriminated against.
I made a promise to my children to always be there for them. When i see the emotional, psychological and even physical effects of a parental break up on teenagers i teach, i know my children have been relatively lucky!
xjay1337 said:
Wait till you see the effects on your kids when you hate your job, are worse off and cant afford what you want.
Id rather see my dad a few times a week and he be happy and what not than every day and be miserable.
Plenty of divorced relationship' kids grow up fine.
Me for example.
You'll put a front on for the kids but that will fade quickly.
I love teaching the baccalauréat, enjoy working with the students, and have an excellent relationship with the parents.Id rather see my dad a few times a week and he be happy and what not than every day and be miserable.
Plenty of divorced relationship' kids grow up fine.
Me for example.
You'll put a front on for the kids but that will fade quickly.
My kids know and appreciate how much i've sacrificed for them over the years, and they definitely don't want me to move elsewhere.
Unfortunately, life doesn't always work out the way you hoped it would. I'm not going to give up on my children, and with the lack of a full time/better paid job locally, i realise i'm going to have to stick it out, hence the reason for starting this thread.
Edited by rosbif77 on Wednesday 8th June 05:57
DoubleTime said:
In your other thread you pretty much said no to anything entrepreneurial based on you not having any idea where to start.
Some have the mindset for it, some don't. No biggie. So maybe better to focus on an area that has a higher chance of producing tangible results such as a degree to take you in a different direction.
Or as previously mentioned, teaching in a different country.
One idea that i'm mulling over is to do a masters degree. I thought about it years ago but family commitments led me to drop it. Now i've got a lot more free time, both at school and at home. Costs about 500 euros /year in France. (Distance learning study fees)Some have the mindset for it, some don't. No biggie. So maybe better to focus on an area that has a higher chance of producing tangible results such as a degree to take you in a different direction.
Or as previously mentioned, teaching in a different country.
Nezquick said:
Interesting. I've spent a bit of time in Malta over the past few years (leisure, not business) and would never have guessed that would be true.
Malta and France don't have the same attitudes towards work. Once you've lived in the country for a while you get a totally different atmosphere compared to your summer holiday on the beach. It's the everyday hidden things that after many years become 'visible' and suck the energy out of you.Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff