As I have bored for England on this topic over the years, I'll be as brief
as I can (I'm not famous for brevity, however). I taught in FE and HE in NE
England for almost 8 years and loved every minute of it. Because I was in FE
and HE, the abusive kids syndrome never arose, although students everywhere
bring their baggage with them. I worked hard and was rewarded by
significant promotions and good feedback from students, peers and employers
alike.
So, what drove me out of the UK in 1988? As I travelled around at
conferences and other Universities and Colleges I was stuck by the most
tremendous inequality of the British education system. I'm not concerned by
the then binary divide or the haves v the have nots ... just that some most
definitely had and got more; and others most definitely hadn't and didn't
get any more: within the State system, that is.
Whilst my students got a good deal from some devoted and caring staff, the
opportunity costs were personal rather than corporate. We worked our socks
off yet the University system never noticed. Other Universities had good
staff AND good resources.
The University I worked at, a Poly then, wasn't the biggest but Business and
Management was on the up and up and was propping up much of the rest of the
place: Naval Architecture and Civil Engineering stick firmly in my mind.
When it came to resource allocation, we were being robbed blind. I argued my
corner and lost.
The irony is, for me at any rate, is that I have since worked in Univerities
and Business Schools around the world whose resources are far worse than
anywhere that I worked in the UK. The difference is, though, as Chris Rodda
says, there are the rewards that foreigners who do a good job are recognised
for doing so. Moreover, when I move into an impoverished setting, I KNOW
where I am and I KNOW my job is to roll my sleeves up and do my best. I am
allowed to make a difference!
In the UK, we are so old and established that the system cannot cope with
its inequalities. We have expanded the University sector having revamped it
radically. Technology has made a difference. I'm speaking as an outsider
now, except that I still have children going through the mill, but I don't
believe that the system is that much better now than it was when I left it.
As for the poverty, it goes with time! As for the weather, well, it's only
bad if you don't like it: at times, when I have lived in sweletering
climates, I LONG for a cool, damp English summer's morning with the birds
twittering and shops that stock Marmite, Cheshire and Yorkshire Blue cheeses
as a matter of routine!
Duncan Williamson
----- Original Message -----
From: "Simon Foley" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, May 02, 2002 5:38 AM
Subject: Re: Shortage of business and economics teachers
> Dear all
>
> The answer to this question is easy. People do not want to teach in the
> UK.
>
> I left the UK five years a go after 2 enjoyable years in a good school
> in East Sussex.
>
> Looking back, I was poor beyond belief. To make ends meet was a
> constant struggle. Five years away (in fact about a month away was
> enough to convince me) and I still vow to never teach in the UK again.
> How could I condemn myself to a life of poverty, bad weather and abusive
> kids?
>
> Teaching I still a good job but the trade off in terms of salary just
> becomes more and more unacceptable.
>
> Simon
>
> ====================================
> Simon Foley
> Exams Officer - Bangkok Patana School
> (Edexcel 98001) (CIE TH100)
> E-mail: [log in to unmask]
> Phone 66 2 398 0200
> Fax 66 2 399 3179
> ====================================
>
>
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