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[ex_pipistre]

I finally got around to buying some plants for my garden. Largely prompted by some posh woman picking up the clematis I was ogling, which made me go 'Noo! I was buying that!', and thus having to buy it. I then had to rush off to Homebase for a planter (my garden hasn't got any soil or beds for plants) and push 80kg of soil home in a shopping

Comments

[sadaku]

Don't become a teacher. Not if you want to stay optimistic and still love science in four years time.

[ex_pipistre]

Why not? I'm used to teaching students who don't care or do any work by now and have come to realise it's not personal when they're rude or even aggressive. The thing that I'm worrying about isn't the kids, it's the bureaucracy invovled in schools because I'm not the sort of person who takes kindly to being told what to do.

[sadaku]

Well, I'm sure your experience will be different. Go for it then!

[ex_pipistre]

I wasn't discounting what you said at all (obviously, you're a teacher and I'm not), I was just wondering why you say that, and if you're referring to kids or to working in a school in general? I couldn't really tell from your comment if you meant that teachers end up disillusioned because of the pupils or the national curriculum (the latter is a major worry for me, frankly)!

Personally, if I try and think of things I'd like to do, teaching is one of them. I like teaching at the university. I'm not laboring under the idea that it's an easy option compared to doing research.

[sadaku]

Well, I'm a bit disillusioned at the moment as I've been assaulted twice by pupils in as many months. Don't get me wrong, there are some great kids out there, but there is a core of trouble-makers who aren't just happy not to learn themselves, they must disrupt the entire class and prevent others from learning. Our hands are pretty much tied as far as discipline is concerned and school itself is a highly politicised working environment where its a lot about what clique you're in - for instance I don't go to the staff-room at all, and because of that I miss out on lots of gossip, days out, etc. This doesn't bother me, but it is depressing when you find a lot of teachers indulge in playground politics. You'll also find yourself highly bound by the National Curriculum which will directly impact your teaching - lots of things I'd like to do with my classes I can't because there is so much that must be "got through" and so many deadlines to adhere to. I know I sound completely negative about the whole thing right now, and