Career Change

[Onkel Neal]

Update 2013

I've had a couple people ask me about my teaching job, so I thought it would be worth an update. Over the summer I had probably 8 interviews. I didn't get any of the jobs. One was for a co-op teacher for students interning at a hotel. I would have been perfect for that, with my degree and background in hotels. I think I did well in that interview and I checked back for the verdict...once a week for 5 weeks, before finally being told the job had been filled by an internal candidate. I also interviewed for 8th grade English, middle school science and even a history position at the max security high school where they store the gangbangers before turning them loose on the world. Nada.

The last interview I received was telling: the principal was a nice lady, about 35, and she asked good questions and was interesting to talk with. The other members of the team were also in the interview, ladies ranging from 22 to 29 yrs old (you can see where this is going). I was recommended by one of my co-student teachers who had scored a job there. She told them I was a really sensible man with broad experience, friendly, easy to work with (we had been in the training classes together and on some of the same teams). After the interview, I went to one of the pedagogy classes with the other student teachers, including the lady who endorsed me. She asked me about the interview, and I described it. There another student teacher at our table (not part of our normal group) exclaimed she was interviewing there too later (she was young, willowy thin). We wished her luck. So, the next day the principle called me to let me know I didn't get the job, and to thank me for interviewing. She even said I could use her as a reference on any future interviews. I asked her what qualifications I needed to shore up, and she revealed that she liked me for the job, but the other teachers wanted someone close to their own age, someone they felt would fit in with their group. Alas. I can understand a group of young ladies having reluctance to bring in an old cowboy to their team. But that wasn't getting me any closer to a teaching job.

So, I missed the initial new teacher day. Most of my classmates had jobs. Pretty disheartening, but that's life, there are no guarantees. Obviously these experienced principals felt I was lacking something, probably more teaching experience. So, I signed up to substitute teach. It was better than nothing, it would get me in the classroom, and possibly help me get some principal to love me and bring me in to fill a vacancy.

Coming up: Onkel Neal and the legions of hell.

[AVGWarhawk]

Neal

I was lacking something, probably more teaching experience. So, I signed up to substitute teach. It was better than nothing, it would get me in the classroom, and possibly help me get some principal to love me and bring me in to fill a vacancy.

Very sensible course of action. Experience is a top selling tool when interviewing.

[Father Goose]

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

So, the next day the principle called me to let me know I didn't get the job, and to thank me for interviewing. She even said I could use her as a reference on any future interviews. I asked her what qualifications I needed to shore up, and she revealed that she liked me for the job, but the other teachers wanted someone close to their own age, someone they felt would fit in with their group.

So, I missed the initial new teacher day. Most of my classmates had jobs. Pretty disheartening, but that's life, there are no guarantees.

As golfer Chi Chi Rodriguez told me years ago, "Everything works out for the best!" And you know what Neal? He was right.

[nikimcbee]

So, I signed up to substitute teach

May God have mercy on your soul.


For the most part, subbing isn't that bad. If you get called a lot, you can pick and chose which classes you take. It also was a great learning experience. I'll have to give you a call to tell you the good stories.

It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.

[nikimcbee]

My advice, Neal, stay cool.

1000% Yes Don't blow your top at them. If they (the kids) figure out they can push your buttons to get you to blow up.....

It's very entertaining....for them.

[Stealhead]

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

So, I signed up to substitute teach. It was better than nothing, it would get me in the classroom, and possibly help me get some principal to love me and bring me in to fill a vacancy.

Coming up: Onkel Neal and the legions of hell.

This is what both my sister and one of my high school classmates had to do to land a a full time position.One teaches in Louisiana the other in Florida.A few years before my mother retired from teaching she mentored a new teacher that was male and in his fifties so they do hire older people you just have to go to the right school.

[Jimbuna]

Yes, age and maturity should go a long way I would have thought...it certainly helped me after I retired.

[Red October1984]

Neal, as a high school student, I can give you this advice:

Keep class interesting. Mix it up. Come up with new ideas. Consider suggestions from the students. Really get to know the students. Be a friend to them. If there's a kid who doesn't like you and he shows it, feel free to use humorous insults. The rest of the class will love it. Don't be afraid to throw some fun things in the mix every once in a while.

Also, try to get to know a bit about what the kids like.

My old history teacher was an awesome guy. I loved his class. He did stuff like this. He'd go out of his way to make sure we learned something in the chapter. I'm thinking of calling him to ask him if he'll come back since Ms. Communist resigned this week.

Do you know what you will be teaching?

[Herr-Berbunch]

I don't think Neal needs the advice, just a sex change and a nip/tuck here and there.

[kraznyi_oktjabr]

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

I don't think Neal needs the advice, just a sex change and a nip/tuck here and there.

[kranz]

happens in TX so it MUST be Neal's student.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

I don't think Neal needs the advice, just a sex change and a nip/tuck here and there.

[McBeck]

Sorry to hear that it didn't turn out as you wanted.
A
I'm also very surprised to hear that's its not what's best for the children that's what's most important, but rather that the teachers are the same age?

Seriously!!!

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

I don't think Neal needs the advice, just a sex change and a nip/tuck here and there.

If you do that, watch out for Dowly.

[Onkel Neal]

Originally Posted by Hitman

That original system, which I myself experimented, worked reasonably well and served to lead people into what was most appropiate to their abilities/motivation, but as you say it has been destroyed by good-will leftists who think that it was classist or leaded to frustrations. What a stupidity. Having in the same class intelligent and stupid childs with and without a support at home and huge differences in many areas is a sure way to disaster. But don't tell that a leftist, they want everybody to be able to have a universitary title -and if they lack the level, then let's move that level down. So everybody can be "equal".

Yes, I have long carried the same mindset--teaching to all levels in one class is not the way to go. And push like hell for every student to go to college--pay for it with taxpayer money and make it super easy. Because the country needs every child to be a college graduate. I agree with you. My short time teaching has only hardened that philosophy. I do not agree with the all-inclusive approach to education, I see it as very counterproductive, inefficient, and a really difficult task for the teacher.

I'm also much more enlightened about the whole system now. The public, acting through the government, want the best education for their children. So, let's make sure the curriculum is top notch. Let's make sure the teachers are top-notch, willing to commit their lives to the task of education, and fully accountable for the results. And, let's allow the parents to raise their children without a whiff of discipline, self-control or respect for their teachers.

It does work for some people. But not everyone.

Originally Posted by McBeck

Sorry to hear that it didn't turn out as you wanted.
A
I'm also very surprised to hear that's its not what's best for the children that's what's most important, but rather that the teachers are the same age?

Seriously!!!

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

I suppose that means he could go the legal action route if he wanted?

Oh lord, can you imagine how that would look? Nah, I have long realized there are types of discrimination in everything, sometimes it's good, sometimes not. Who has not discriminated at some point? I can accept it, it makes me work a little harder to achieve my goal but it does not make it impossible. In this case, it would be horrible to force myself on a group of young ladies who feel more comfortable with someone they can bond with. It's cool, and I really respect the princicpal for being honest (she didn't come out and say "we discriminated against you", but she certainly did not lie or cover it up with bs--kudos, young lady).

So, I want to be a teacher. I want to be a teacher more than anything in life. Well, no, not to that extent. I want to be a teacher and help young people learn the value of education, to help them grow, and to feel the gratification of an important job well-done. And summers off.

So, I accepted the situation, and looked for ways to make the best of it. I signed up for the substitution program for two different school districts, Pearland and Pasadena. They are polar opposites, Pearland is growing and affluent (by rural Texas standards); Pasadena is an old section of Houston, stagnant and poor, a Hispanic ghetto. Pearland is where I live, where my youngest daughter attends high school. Pasadena is where I worked at the the cycle shop, the reason I got my CHL. Yet, honestly, I was excited about making a difference. Yeah, I knew going in it would not be easy. When the topic came up with my friends and family, I said "we'll see how it goes".

So, I got fingerprinted (twice), attended both the indoctrination seminars, and read up on what to expect. I had been in the classroom a number of times during my teacher training classes last spring and summer (2012), so I had many chances to observer different classrooms and teachers: wow, some of them were really good--very patient, firm and caring. Could I learn those skills? Could I measure up? Could I make this work? I'm an ex-chemical operator, marine department tankerman, and accountant. A good ol' boy from the ranch. Was this a fish out of water story or what?