TAFE courses and babies!??

[Butterfly_Princess]

Hey

Im just looking for info about TAFE courses and babies. Im unsure at this moment if im going to be applying for next year or the year after, it all depends on various outcomes really, but the info is good to have.

The course im looking at applying for is very demanding (Advanced Diploma of Interior Design) and I was just wondering if TAFE take into consideration babies and/or children?
Obviously Ben would help me out a lot while im studying, but worse case scenario, what if Isabell were to get ill, and i were unable to complete an assignment in time? Ok, once they may understand, and help me out by extending the due date, but what if for some reason it happened more than once??

Of course this is worse case scenario and we would try everything in our power to avoid this situation, and im probably overthinking it or something, but im pretty panicy about this as i did start the course before and i dont want to have to leave or drop out again.

Any info regarding this, even if its personal experience, would be great

[AnyDream]

I attended TAFE fulltime for a couple of years with an older daughter, while my DH was frequently travelling away. I found the lecturers to be very fair and understanding when family issues arose (sick child, whatever). I'm sure there were a couple of occasions where I had more than one extension.

The TAFE system is very much about encouraging ppl who might otherwise be limited in their access to education, and women with young children fall into that category. Also, unlike the uni system, which funds based on how many students are enrolled at the start of the course, the TAFE system is funded by how many students complete each semester, so they have an added vested interest in getting as many students sucessfully through their courses. If you're worried, have a chat to the course coordinator, they will be able to give you an idea of how flexible or not the course/teachers are.

Good luck with it!

[~Raven~]

Ooooh that one is full on! I studied Building Design and Drafting so spent a bit of time hanging out with the Interior Design students.

I'd say it depends on the teachers but I think you'll find that once you prove yourself as a good student then they will cut you some slack if something happens close to a hand in date and you need an extension or special consideration.

[Butterfly_Princess]

Yeah i know its full on lol...which is why im pretty stressed about it, its what i really want to do, and i know i can, but i just worry that they might not be lenient enough and understand that i have a baby and then kick me out or fail me lol..itll be in a rural college too as we are moving (eventually!!) so im hoping this will make them even more lenient? or is that expecting too much

I would have a little head start i think, i completed one term of this course, although they have changed the course since so id still have some elements to do but im sure they will take into consideration the work that i did do.

I feel a bit more confident about this now...but id still be interested to hear more feed back.

[Epacris]

Hi, I'm a full-time TAFE teacher. This is how it works with me.

As a teacher I absolutely recognise and totally respect that students have lives. Hey, students are people too, and so are teachers for that matter. When students have "issues" the key for me as a teacher to working through them is the student taking responsibility for their own learning and keeping lines of communication open, prompt and efficient.

For example: If you miss a lesson, give you teacher a quick phone call or email just to let them know you won't be in and when you think you'll be back. Remember it is your responsibly to organise to catch-up on any work you have missed, see your teacher as soon as you can. If you need an extension for something ask for it BEFORE the due date, not on the day it's due.

Your teacher will probably have quite strict policies about assessment that should be thoroughly explained to you at the beginning of your course. They may or may not strictly enforce the policy. For me, the more a student shows that are dedicated, proactive and communicative, the more flexible I am. It's when students hardly ever turn up with no explanation and constantly hand things in late with no explanation that I bring out the big guns (TAFE policy) and say, nope, not acceptable.

In my class at the moment I have a student that is taking 5 weeks holiday and missing a huge amount of class time and about 6 different assessment events. But, he has been incredibly organised and proactive and we have worked out an arrangement where he is attending some lessons with another class and sitting some special one-off resits for the assessments. So, anything can be organised if you give your teacher as much notice as you can and work with them on finding solutions.

Also, as a teacher I absolutely don't want to know any personal details about the situation. That is your business only, none of mine, and totally private.

All TAFEs have a counseling unit, so if things are getting really hectic and you're not coping, go and see them. Not only will they help you but they can let your teacher know that you've been to see them (no details) and ask you teacher to be flexible (if they're not being flexible already).

I hope that helps. I wish you all the very, very best for your studies. Good Luck! How exciting!

[Butterfly_Princess]

Thank you SO much Epacris!!! This is how i was hoping most teachers would approach these sorts of situations.

For me, the more a student shows that are dedicated, proactive and communicative, the more flexible I am. It?s when students hardly ever turn up with no explanation and constantly hand things in late with no explanation that I bring out the big guns (TAFE policy) and say, nope, not acceptable.

I totally agree with that too!!

*Breathes a sigh of relief* Now all we need to do is move!!!

[Lulu]

I wish you all the luck in the world for your studies hun, it really is a great thing to do for you and your family.

xoxoxoxoxo

[luna moth]

The teachers at my TAFE were flexible to the point of being ridiculous. A classmate's dad had cancer. She used it as a constant excuse for not doing her work. yes, it was very sad that her dad was ill, but she and I were good mates, and I saw her able to spend two hours on her hair every day, and out partying four nights a week, and I knew that her dad's illness had nothing to do with her inability to hand in assignments. That year it really annoyed me, because I was working so hard to get everything done, and she was hardly working, her parents basically supported her living out of home (paid her rent and bills AND gave her $100 a week) and she was studying part-time. So it really irked me that the teachers were letting her get away with 4 month extensions on two page assignments. But you know what? In the end, they never got handed in. She dropped out and didn't finish the course.
I think the teachers knew that anyone who was really keen would find a way, which was the case with several students in my class. There were mums with 4 kids, mums with young kids, an older woman running two businesses, all sorts of people who made it work because they loved it.

So go forth! Good luck!