中文版  |  English

Wuhan

City change

Categories

Answers >> Wuhan >> Teaching & Leaming

Email address or surname:

Password:

Forget password?

 Join now!

Recent Popular

Top Users

  • Rosa
    Points:97
    (0)
    (1)

    'Clever' teachers don’t work long hours, says former government adviser

    A former government adviser believes that teachers should stop talking about working long hours because they are not setting a good example to trainees. Sir Andrew Carter said that “clever people” do not have to work long hours if they work smartly. Workload management should be a main feature in teacher training, and Sir Andrew believes that school leaders can help teachers maintain a work-life balance with effective planning initiatives to prevent staff from leaving the profession.

    What do you think about Sir Andrew’s views?
    8 years agoin Teaching & Leaming-Wuhan
    Report Abues
    Answers(5) Comments(0)
  • Portch
    Points:47
    Add Comment
    (0)
    (0)
    1. To be really honest, I have ordered a review of our course to assess workload of trainees and to see if they are doing too much for us or for schools. If we want trainees to stay in the profession then they need a work life balance from day one of the teacher training course. We aren't a desirable well paid profession with generous pension and good holidays any more. We need to compete with other industries and careers and they offer a work life balance and the same pay without the bullying culture from ofsted.
    8 years ago
    Report Abuse
  • Portch
    Points:47
    Add Comment
    (0)
    (0)
    I think it presently depends on which subject you teach. For example, at the moment I am trying to get to grips with a new A level syllabus (not my choice) for which there is no textbook, an entirely inadequate scheme of work, a level of support from the examination board bordering on pathetic, and far too much content, a good deal of which is unfamiliar.

    This is partly the result of the specification having been approved late and Gove's desire to toughen up the qualification. The situation I am in is analogous to, say, knowing Shakespeare's tragedies but not the comedies or the sonnets, and having to get through books by specified literary critics on the relevant texts who do not happen to be authors with whom I have some prior acquaintance, even though I am pretty well-read.

    Considerable background research is therefore required in order to produce 2 or 3 page summaries of the type that one usually finds in a decent 'A' 'level textbook.

    This is in addition to teaching a new GCSE syllabus and a heavy timetable together with all the admin and number crunching that is demanded of the average classroom teacher these days.

    Even before these changes I was working about 55 hours a week. And I am pretty adept at cutting corners, more so than some of my colleagues.

    Plus, I have already read and implemented some time-management strategies detailed in popular publications that are about working 'smartly'.

    Overall, my impression is therefore that Carter is completely out of touch with the day to day realities of teaching and possibly even attempting to absolve the government of its responsibility to implement genuine measures to reduce workload.

    And I also reckon he would stand no chance of getting through the work I do in under 60 hours, even if he was already in possession of my subject knowledge and experience.
    8 years ago
    Report Abuse
  • Navratil
    Points:38
    Add Comment
    (0)
    (1)
    I can believe it happened. You have had a major shock. Should things not be dealt with to your satisfaction, consult your Union.

    Your other students no doubt were spectators to this? This type of behaviour could increase if students think that there are no consequences.

    I can believe it happened. You have had a major shock. Should things not be dealt with to your satisfaction, consult your Union.

    Your other students no doubt were spectators to this? This type of behaviour could increase if students think that there are no consequences.

    8 years ago
    Report Abuse
  • Navratil
    Points:38
    Add Comment
    (0)
    (1)
    I must say that I agree, there has always been a certain level of martyrdom in teaching and especially in teacher training, but things are getting out of hand...
    What I suspect were once flippant asides 'I was up until 3am getting ready...' are now seen as fact and expected. Stories of staff pulling 'all nighters' before inspections terrify me, how on earth is anyone fit to walk and talk, let alone teach, after a whole night in school?
    I have offered to speak to university trainees about the importance of a 'work life balance' but have been roundly ignored.
    You CAN work sensible hours and do a good job. Everyone needs to remember that.

    I must say that I agree, there has always been a certain level of martyrdom in teaching and especially in teacher training, but things are getting out of hand...
    What I suspect were once flippant asides 'I was up until 3am getting ready...' are now seen as fact and expected. Stories of staff pulling 'all nighters' before inspections terrify me, how on earth is anyone fit to walk and talk, let alone teach, after a whole night in school?
    I have offered to speak to university trainees about the importance of a 'work life balance' but have been roundly ignored.
    You CAN work sensible hours and do a good job. Everyone needs to remember that.

    8 years ago
    Report Abuse
  • Rosa
    Points:97
    Add Comment
    (1)
    (0)
    I think he might descend from his ivory tower and spend a couple of terms as a classroom teacher.

    Nobody needs telling that long hours are unreasonable: politicians and SLTs need to stop the need for them.

    I think he might descend from his ivory tower and spend a couple of terms as a classroom teacher.

    Nobody needs telling that long hours are unreasonable: politicians and SLTs need to stop the need for them.

    8 years ago
    Report Abuse

Know the answers?


Scan to follow us on wechat
  • Consulting questions online
  • Apply for positions at any time

Need to hire an expat for a job?

Or want to apply our jobs in China and receive offers,it's free to sign up

Log In Sign Up