Primary Teachers - your thoughts?

[Freya]

On your job?

Im still tossing up whether to go back to nursing degree or keep with my switch to primary teaching. While midwifery is still my dream career, general nursing just doesnt seem to be a good fit for me and primary teaching was always the second career choice. Im not likely to be able to do midwifery for quite a few years or more so I thought I could do my teaching degree and be able to start working alot sooner than I would be able to if I wait to study when I finally (ever) get the chance to do the midwifery degree.

So if your a primary teacher, what do you find are the pro's and con's of the job? Is it working parent friendly? Would you recommend it as a career?

If your currently doing your teaching degree, how are you finding the study?

[Ginger]

i think it's a great job for parents- the hours and holidays are ideal.
it is quite a hard job- the work is constant and it's very tiring. i imagine nursing would be the same though.

do you think you'll truly be happy teaching though, and not mid-wifing? (i know that's not a word, but you get what i mean LOL)

[Freya]

do you think you'll truly be happy teaching though, and not mid-wifing? (i know that's not a word, but you get what i mean LOL)

Im pretty sure I will. I honestly cant sit around for 10yrs until I can get a chance to do midwifery. With Dh's career we move ALOT and so unless we get lucky and move somewhere that has a miwifery degree (which is only one of 3 places and not likely anytime in the next 5-10yrs) then Im stuck. I dont want to put off a career because of that. I would be happy being a teacher. At this point in time ease of study and it being a parent-friendly job is more important than the 'ultimate dream career'. Midwifery would prob be a bit better suited when the kids are alot older, as Dh goes away a fair bit so finding care options for night shifts would be a nightmare. So teaching would be ideal for kid-friendly hours and holidays.

[Ginger]

i would go with teaching then. You never have to worry about working nights (except for the odd parent-teacher interviews, school concerts, info nights etc.) or Saturdays and Sundays.

[Amaunet]

Its a great job (although I am now teaching secondary) But whilst you don't have to GO to work weekends or evenings - you will often have PILES of work to do during those times! The first few years the hardest and require the most work - especially preparation and you have little time "off" from face to face taching to get it done (just two hours per week in NSW). Also around reporting time I would have extra hours per night to do. I would also spend a week or two of my chrissy hols and 3-4 days each other break doing school work at home or going in to my school. That said - if you move a lot you may find you do more casual work - which has its own set of challenges

[*Ang*]

My mums a teacher, my sister is studying teaching and I am planning on going back to uni in a couple of years time and doing my dip ed too. As a child it was great always having mum around before and after school and during the holidays - that is definitely the best advantage of the job.

But upon saying that there is still a lot of extra work to be done - your job doesnt stop at 3pm when the bell rings. So as long as you are aware of that and that there will be nights at home when you are doing marking and programming then yes it is a very family friendly job.