Comments on: Become a primary school teacher, online

By: rosie

rosie — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 00:43:25 +0000

would yous all stop being sooo rude…at the end of the day we all want one thing out of it and it is to teach children in the classroom, using our own skills and expertise..all the heartless people above…you call urself teachers??nice example your setting!!….

By: Esther

Esther — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 21:38:11 +0000

@Jennifer
Well said Jennifer. Is it any wonder that the government is bringing the teachers working for free scheme?

@A Parent
Of course people may want to change their career. However, like every other profession, a person who decides to change their career and do teaching should have to get the proper training i.e. a b.ed degree. In no other profession do you see a “short cut” like hibernia.

@Shannon
I do agree with you that intelligence doesn’t make a good teacher. However, it is my opinion that a teacher does need a certain level of intelligence.
I also agree that all prospective student teachers should do an interview. There should be an interview with the b.ed. However, from my experience of a b.ed degree, you find out fairly quickly whether or not you are meant to be a teacher. The TP inspectors don’t be long telling you it’s not for you. (Unlike the Hibernia inspectors Mary I/St. Pats inspectors are not paid by the students and therefore can be as honest as needed). You will not survive the 3 years if you are not a good teacher.

I dispute the comment “I do not believe that a good teacher is a result of learning how to be a teacher, I believe that a person is born to be a teacher as a result of their personality.” Are doctors/nurses/lawyers just born as doctor/nurses etc? Yes, they may have a good personality for their profession, however they must go through rigorous training in order to learn their profession. It’s the same with teaching. Without doubt good personality for teaching is required. However, you are not fully qualified as a teacher without adequate training in philosophy, psychology, sociology, pedagogy etc. Otherwise teaching can no longer be classed as a profession.

This is my last comment on this blog. I have nothing personal against Hibernia students/teachers. In fact I have good friends currently doing the course. If the course is available people are going to avail of it. It’s with the government/teaching council/INTO I am annoyed with for not doing something about it.

By: M

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 21:36:22 +0000

@Esther

As someone who has just been accepted onto the next Hibernia course I hope that I will be in a position, on qualifying, to teach my future pupils the correct use of an apostrophe, a skill, which unfortunately, you did not seem to acquire during your B.Ed.

Perhaps you could ask Hibernia whether or not they do any refresher courses on English punctuation so that you can ensure that you are, as you state, ready for any every class and every possible situation.

Regards.

By: A Parent

A Parent — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:33:03 +0000

Jennifer, a few questions,
Have you ever worked in another job/ have you any experience of life/work outside the classroom?
Have you ever considered that a person may wish to change their career path?
Do you believe that “mothers”-(you manage to make this word sound like an insult) have a right to work? -without mums you wouldn’t have a job!!!!
Are you so insulting to shop workers to their face or does your on-line”status” protect you?
I have no affiliation with the Dept of Education, I’m just a casual browser. I find your tone supercilious and your superiority nauseating. If you are the calibre of the typical principal in this country you hardly recommend the profession .

By: Shannon

Shannon — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 01:17:34 +0000

Hello to all,
I am 24 years of age and also a mother. I agree and disagree with some of the above comments. I have a certificate and MA in Accounting (Thesis is education), a certificate in TAS/Business Flight Simulator, HNS Degree in Business Studies, JEB qualification, all with Class 1 results and have been considering a post-grad Dip for teaching secondary level, which Hibernia is developing at present. I have voluntarily substituted in primary and secondary schools along with grinds and I a youth reach leader, all for the past two years. I do not believe that any of this matters as such for teaching. From my experience, some teachers from primary, secondary, and third level schools were intelligent but lacked the ability to teach their intelligence and some were not so intelligent although were excellent at teaching in a manner which I at the various stages of life understood. Regardless of where you study, that does not make you a GOOD teacher and that is what is important for the children to get the education they deserve for their future, forget about finances and hours of lectures, TP and the Gaeltacht. In fact I live in the Gaeltacht, and have done so my whole life, and to be honest, there are not many houses that speak fluent Irish on a continuing basis and indeed I dont believe that student’s learn a great deal for their weeks in the Gaeltacht. Also, having looked at the Post Grad Dip from both perspectives, I have found that Hibernia actually spend 3 weeks more than the college route in regards to lectures and the same amount of time in TP and the Gaeltacht. I do believe that prospective students should be interviewed for teaching as I have said, just because a person is intelligent, that does not make them good mentors and teachers. I, as a mother do feel that being a mother does help in teaching, as I have learned alot through doing homework with my child attempting various methods in learning my child, as I believe each child is different and so has different learning abilities which requires various methods to be adopted to suit that child. This is something that is difficult to understand until you have children of your own. In regards to who is the best, I think you are being petty and have moved away from what is important, the children. Actually, at secondary school, I had an Irish teacher for a year who merely had a degree and, honestly, she was the best teacher I had in all my time at school/college and in all subjects. I do not believe that a good teacher is a result of learning how to be a teacher, I believe that a person is born to be a teacher as a result of their personality. That is not something you can learn at any college. I do agree some get into it for the wrong reason. I always wanted to be a teacher, although, did not feel at the age of 16 that I would be the best teacher, and so decided not to as I wanted what was best for the future children, even If that meant me not pursuing my dream. Later, through helping my little brother and sister who are 12 and 14 years my junior and doing homework with my daughter, I realised, from their experience, that I would be a good teacher. Although, I spent 5 years at College (Full-Time) and then a further year doing professional exams, I do not regard this as a waste of time, as I have gained a vast amount of knowledge on the subject criteria I may be teaching, although, I may not have a qualification in teaching, that does not mean I am not a good teacher. Do not get me wrong, I will get a qualification in teaching as I hope it will make me a better teacher, but I will not let that get to my ego. I do believe interviews would be a good idea for Hibernia as an interview can tell alot about one’s personality, however, I would never put down Hibernia. I am substitute teaching and If I do Hibernia, I will continue to teach, thus I will have 2 years of substitute teaching while gaining the qualification, how is that inferior??? Perhaps at other universities, you learn more theory on how to teach, perhaps I am wrong, but my experience is that practical experience is where a person can learn more rapidly. I am not putting the traditional methods down, it is just that Hibernia seems to be getting the “push around” here. And I do realise that in my particular case (secondary school teaching, where the knowledge needed is larger and more subject specific), the Hibernia course may be perceived as “up to scratch”. And I do understand where you are all coming from as I have recently confronted the local School Board, where my child attends, as they had a substitute teacher, who had a certificate in arts and crafts teaching 6th class, although the particular individual did not know how to do one of the maths questions, not at all good for my little brother. For primary school teaching, I do consider Irish important, although, completing a degree in Irish does not mean you can fluently speak it or know everything about it, as alot of people do without gaining any degree. I think that as long as a person has Irish, is capable of teaching from a personality perspective, then they probably are good teachers. I am not knocking qualifications, but they do not speak the volumes that some of you may consider. I just cannot understand why you are all so furious about this, it is not the type of qualification or the where you gain your qualification that is the problem. If you have a problem with the education system being knocked, cuts, etc and are really worried about our children and the future of this economy, it is the Government that is the problem, it is them that is providing the system and putting cuts in place and the people of Ireland are as much to blame. I have seen people and heard them complain, however, they do not try hard enough in unity to stop this from happening. Yes, there are strikes for pay cuts, but not for increased class size, which I believe is more important than teachers getting pay cuts. Teachers do get paid well, perhaps, not enough for the role involved at times, although you are working for public service, the beneift of helping children is a pay in itself, it is the best gift you can possibly give a child. I as an accountant have earned twice what teachers earn, however, I want to be a teacher as I believe it is more meaningful and feel reward in believing that I have helped a child become more sucessful in their future ambitions, made them enjoy their school years and give them the confidence they need to sustain life. That to me is much more important than financial aspects. Yes the holidays is great, it means that I have a great balance for work and being a mother. I do not see what is wrong with that. I am not suggesting that any of you are tainting each person with the one brush, although, you are when it comes to Hibernia. If I get my qualification with Hibernia, would you hold that against me aswell????

By: jennifer

jennifer — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:40:13 +0000

As I said I am actually on the go at the moment so any typing, spacing, reversal of letters errors are due to my current circumstances- so I do apologise in advance.

By: jennifer

jennifer — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:33:35 +0000

P.S. I apologise in advance of any typing, spacing errors I may have amde in my last posting- I am in a rush and these are casual postings.

By: jennifer

jennifer — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:30:49 +0000

I am not surprised by many of the comments I have read on this sitein the last half an hour. It is obvious that thsoe who have taken the traditional route of training to become a primary school taecher through the BEd. will be opposed to those who have opted for the Hibernia course and vice-versa. However the truth is that the Hibernia course was designed to under cut the salaries and status of the Irish primary school taecher. It was introduced in 2003 during the peak of the Celtic Tiger and was afore-runner to the savage pay-cuts we experienced between 2008-2009. This was also supported by the huge ‘teacher-bashing’ campaign orchestraed by the media and supported by the government in the last two years (which has quietened down recently). The introduction of the Hibernia course, the anti-teacher media camapaign and the pay-cuts are all directly interconnected. The are all leading to the down grading of the primary school teacher’s professional status. That is why so many principals and teachers qualified through the traditinal route are so angry. I am a principal myself. I understand why people choose to complete the Hibernia course myself and I cannot say that all of the people who embark on the course are not worthy of becoming a primary school teacher , some are quite talented and have the right temperament for working with children. I also know many a primary school teacher qualified the traditional Bed route that do not have such a teamperament and should not be working with children. But on the whole I believe a lot of people out there want to be primary school teachers for the wrong reasons and the Hibernia course facilitates this move- they perceive it as a ‘handy job’, ‘long holidays, short hours, easy number dealing with children, good pay for short hours, bit of staus attached. It is only when they are in the profession they realise that not everything is as easy as they may have previously assumed. the comments posted on this site by aspiring, current and past Hibernia students supports my theory. Mothers awnting to go back and become primary school teachers, people who are aeking do you need Gaeilge or what are the requirements to get onto the course. It just apperas as though they see it as a ‘handy number’ and are not embarssed by the fact that they may not have the right qualifications for the occupation- they see a chance to get in the door and trying to grab it, with very little thought as to what it will entail and what they have personally to offer. I know that peolpe have mortgagaes to pay and families to rear which makes full time education very difficult and therefore the Hibernia is an easier option. But if that is the case you should have chosen this career when you were younger, straight out of school. or at least be prepared to make the sacrifice and undertake full-time study if you believe you only got your ‘calling’ to teaching at an older age. The truth is you do not want to make that sacrifice because you didn’t get any ‘calling’ to become a teacher at an older age- you just see teaching as ahandy number offering a very safe and permanent position. Most of these graduates chased the money jobs in the earlire days and when it didn’t go to their liking decide to go into teaching. And AS for the mothers many young teachers put being a mother on hold while they train full- time to become a teacher, then they start a family later on down the line. Most of these mothers only want to be teachers now because they see the local primary school teacher at the gate of the school welcoming in her class and say to themselves that job would suit me- short hours, can bring the kids to work, long holidays, ‘good pay’, status. They assume it is an easy job , that anybody can do it properly, including them, especially because they are a mother. They want to enter the profession for all the wrong reasons , that is why they did not receive their ‘calling’ at an earlier age. I think there is a lot of jealousy out there concerning thsoe that entered the profession the traditional way. The Hibernia course has been used to undercut the pay and staus of the profession. I do not view thsoe who have completed the 18 month full time pstgraduate course in primary school teaching at the recognised Irish training colleges who hold Arts, Music, Science, language degrees. As these graduates could of become secondary school teachers, their degrees offer something to the primary school child . And the 18 month full time course is extremely intensive and Gaeilge is covered in a full time capacity. In fact these students are interviewed on the basis of personality as well as qualifications to see are suitable for the profession and are they entering it for the right reasons. That is why so many are turned down and it is so hard to gain a place on the course.the interviewers see that many of teh applicants are trying to get onto the course for the wrong reasons and have not the personality for the job. My gripe is taht these applicants with ‘unsuitable’ personalities who are turned down then apply to Hibernia and are accepted. Because Hibernia wants to make as much money as possible and does have as a high a standard. Obviously there will always be the exception to the rule and I undersatnd how thsoe on teh course may resent such a view. bUT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT FROM AN OBJECTIVE VIEW POINT. It is undercutting the status of our profession . Originally Hibernia graduates were not to be put on the same pay scale point as fill time graduates because they were part of a part-time course. That in itself highlights how the government viewed the status of Hibernia graduates and the course they had completed. This is not to be taken personally. But i do think a lot of Hibernia grduates entered the course for the ‘wrong reasons’ as outlined above. I will be attacked for saying so but I believe it is the truth. And Hibernia was the beginning of the end , five years after its introduction , we experienced massive public attack as a profession followed by pay-cuts and possibly future down-grading of working conditions. It is all part of a plan to bring primary school teaching down to the same status as working in a shop- ’sure anybody can do it’. Where does that leave the children? , the innocent victims in this cost cutting campaign!

By: Mara

Mara — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 09:40:00 +0000

Ellie,
Just a few things you may find helpful in cutting the cost of studying. I applied to my local Institute of Technology library and could study there, borrow a lot of the course books and use the net(which was poor where I lived)-all for 25 euros a year.I also worked in a temp position because I had to financially and although this was a huge strain it is doable. Before each period of T.P. I spent considerable time gathering resources(a lot of which were in the back of dusty school cupboards)and planning/printing/uploading all non-core classes in advance so that I’ d have breathing space to concentrate on Gael.Eng and Math during the 13 weeks of teaching practice .
I have no idea of the workload in any other college but I should give you a word of warning regarding Hibernia. In the 18 months of study, I rarely socialised and couldn’t commit to go to any family events as I genuinely did not do anything other than my 4 half days of work, study,assignments, and on weekends/holidays attend on-sites.I was lucky in that my husband looked after our little boy constantly while I was busy. I found it really tough but very worthwhile.
I hope you succeed in whatever course you choose.Best of luck

By: Ellie

Ellie — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:58:53 +0000

aw thanks mara.. I really apprieciate your opinion.. I think the hibernia is a great choice for people who are not able to go to full time college even though i m sure it feels like full time when doing hibernia also!! I hear it is tough going and I think fair play to anyone who does it and it really shows determination and as you say at the end of the day all the qualifications are the same.. its great to hear your working and got thru the course while working and raising a family.. thats dedication to the profession! I cant wait to be where you are now .. it wont be too long hopefully.. and I will enjoy the learning process:) best wishes and thanks again