We’re celebrating the ‘graduation’ of those teachers that we train directly at the Learning Institute (South Dartmoor, Ivybridge and Callington Community Colleges) at Cotehele this evening and so I’m thinking about what is like to be a new teacher. Can I put myself in their shoes after all this time? What do I say to colleagues about what the future holds? 
They are going to be dealing with the two most complex and demanding organisms on the planet: the human brain- and the human teenager. A recent cartoon showed a gorilla being interviewed for a teaching post. The caption underneath read: ‘He doesn’t know much about the National Curriculum, but he’s great on discipline.’ If you can’t control the class, you can’t teach- end of story. 
Today’s new teachers will see a transformation in practice and approach. I recently bought an MP3- and discovered on Amazon that there now exists an MP4. It will only be a matter of a few short years before the- let’s call it the MP10- is used by every school student: a small box that contains textbooks in its data memory, educational video, has internet access, offers voice-activated recording for student writing and can print out whatever is needed in whatever format.
The creative potential is mind-blowing but for real. And, of course, it will play music and send texts as every normal teenager expects. Like the gorilla, it will ensure motivation.
So here they are at last – qualified teachers, without the L plates. The months of training, of being observed, mentored, coached and guided as a trainee are over. At last they are real teachers with the freedom to fly.
But it’s not so simple. Most heads these days view the NQT year as a preparation and not an end. Learning to teach is not like learning to ride a bicycle – once achieved you carry on in the same way. Wobble–free riding comes naturally but few of us improve our cycling skills once we have got the basic balance and can move on two wheels. Teaching, on the other hand, is a career-long process of development.
Today’s new teachers will see a transformation in practice and approach. I recently bought an MP3- and discovered on Amazon that there now exists an MP4. It will only be a matter of a few short years before the- let’s call it the MP10- is used by every school student: a small box that contains textbooks in its data memory, educational video, has internet access, offers voice-activated recording for student writing and can print out whatever is needed in whatever format.
The creative potential is mind-blowing but for real. And, of course, it will play music and send texts as every normal teenager expects. Like the gorilla, it will ensure motivation.So here they are at last – qualified teachers, without the L plates. The months of training, of being observed, mentored, coached and guided as a trainee are over. At last they are real teachers with the freedom to fly.
But it’s not so simple. Most heads these days view the NQT year as a preparation and not an end. Learning to teach is not like learning to ride a bicycle – once achieved you carry on in the same way. Wobble–free riding comes naturally but few of us improve our cycling skills once we have got the basic balance and can move on two wheels. Teaching, on the other hand, is a career-long process of development.
So I will be stressing tonight the need to keep learning. Just as I want children in my school to become independent learners, so I expect my new teachers to take charge of their professional development and make this a central focus of their work. This is not selfish or self-centred on their part: investment in learning to teach will not only help them score that grade 1 or 2 with OFSTED and propel them through the Threshold in years to come, but it will also bring the greatest benefit to students.
And if they are looking for help, then the gorilla and the MP10 are not far away!
1 comment:
Gorilla rules OK? Everything else come second.
I must say I have to date full attendance in my KS5 classes. 'One strike and you are out' and I got all my work in on time. Life in school is so much better masquerading as a gorilla. Strangely, the students love me for that. What's going on?
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