NUT Magazine

The NUT – National Union of Teachers (when I started teaching you had to be in a union – not sure with the rise of Free Schools and Academies whether that is still true?) of whom I am a member have sent me their new school year magazine with ‘a manifesto for our children’s education’.  I have had a quick read through and am shocked by the number of letters and articles and references to the apparent ‘culling of 50 plus teachers’ – that’s age not waist size!  Though the latter may well be vulnerable as well.  It looks like there’s a lot of it about.  Nobody wants us 50+ teachers, male or female! Apparently.

The main method of getting rid of them seems to be competency and lesson observations!  Hmm my last one was RI (which seems to be the acronym for ‘Requires Improvement” – like I have said before show me a lesson that doesn’t require some improvement – I digress!) and I hear ominous cello music in the background … There’s an encouraging letter, name and address supplied, from someone who managed to go to tribunal and get an unfair dismissal verdict and one hopes a good cash payout.  But it seems most just drift off quietly, like Scott’s Antartic explorers!  Feeling the chill, someone close that tent flap!

As was so kindly pointed out to me on our First INSET day – I am the oldest teacher in the school!  Oh there are ancient teaching assistants amongst the teachers I am the oldest. Actually the head is a year or two older than me but I am still in the classroom.  I think I should be treated like the leader of the house!  It was interesting in a recent staff meeting where we were tracking data that I was the only teacher who knew what the current year 6 children were like as infants (they were my second year one class after moving down from Year 6) and therefore the only person who knew where they had come from.  I think it’s important that a school has people who can do that, who know the children not just as data on a spreadsheet.  I do so love a spreadsheet.  It’s quite hard to type sarcastically!

Anyway it’s time for my nap.  Peace Out!

The Dark Arts

I have been a Dark Arts Practitioner for 4 years.

Recently we had an OFSTED inspection at the school where I work and it was the lead Inspector who termed Early Years as the 'Dark Arts'.  He also described the children as like 'Velcro' in that they cling to you, which they do.  They also head butt you regularly in the groin which is a downside of the job.

This blog is replacing a blog that I have kept for the last few years.  That was a by invite only blog and basically I was the only person writing on it but this week I was informed that it was closing - not by me, I lack the clout.  Any how in the other blog I was very honest.  Mainly because no one was reading it!

We'll see about this one.

Being an Early Years teacher is the best!  The children are at their most exciting and excited.  But unfortunately there is a lot of crap associated with the job such as observations.

I'll try to be honest.

Oh but I claim Story Tellers license to lie when I need to.