MY EDUCATION WEEK: MARC McMENAMINNewly qualified teacher
SATURDAY
Today I'm relaxing after two days in Cork. The drive from Donegal takes six hours so you need plenty of light entertainment to pass the time. I felt that I pulled a master stroke by timing my journey to coincide with RTÉ Radio 1's Drivetimeand The Last Word. I find current affairs very interesting and the drive was lessened by the combined lengthy analysis of Messrs Cooper and Boucher-Hayes.
I was in Cork for an interview for an English teaching vacancy that turned up at the last minute. Sitting in the hallway I struck up a conversation with a nice lady who was in the queue just before me. After some initial chit-chat she informed me that she lived “10 minutes the far side of Mallow”. She expressed equal measures of shock and admiration when I explained to her, with an accent that to the untrained Corkonian ear must have sounded like a mixture of Packie Bonner and a pre-peace process Gerry Adams, that “I’m from six hours the far side of Mallow”. Another lady, who was seated nearby, ushered her young children outside into her people carrier. This, I suppose, put the current employment situation for teachers into perspective for me – too many qualified teachers and too few opportunities.
After such a mammoth drive I determined to get the most out of my visit. I spent the next two days in Cork, which is a fantastic city and a wonderful place to visit. I was delighted to get a chance to nip into Callaghan’s pub on the quays for a pint of Murphy’s with my friend Triona.
SUNDAY
I wake up at 9am. It’s very important to maintain a regular routine when you’re on the job hunt. My friend Daire was in my situation a year ago. He decided he would alleviate the boredom by reading the complete works of George Orwell and has recommended it ad-nauseum to me since I’ve had the same misfortune of finding myself sitting on the “subs bench” of life for a while. On reflection I decided to opt for the easier option of a routine of regimented daily exercise. (No disrespect to Orwell).
At 10am I meet a friend who works in outdoor education. We either do a 30km cycle or a 5km run. I pick up the broadsheet newspapers at lunchtime. It’s important, in my view, to keep abreast of what’s happening, particularly in terms of education. The recent Budget has resulted in a net loss of nearly 450 second-level teaching posts. However, there seems to be some light at the end of the tunnel. The much talked-about public sector retirements are on the tip of every unemployed teacher’s tongue at the minute and many people are hoping for a chance to get their foot on the job ladder. Many of my college friends are looking to avail of this opportunity in the coming months. It is really the last chance for those who are eager to avoid the boat to Holyhead or worse yet – “transportation” to Australia and beyond. An old character from around town tells me, “You know, Marc, years ago we were sent there for punishment.” Maybe history repeats itself.
MONDAY
After my daily exercise, I begin my usual job search with an extensive browse of teaching job websites. I also consult the appointments section of the main broadsheets. I find this is still the best way to search for any upcoming vacancies. I also spend a good amount of time updating my CV. I’ve been looking for a job for almost eight months now and I’ve found that it has helped to tailor my CV to exclusively articulate my attributes as a teacher.
It’s also good to to attend CPD (Continuous Professional Development) courses in education centres to enhance my employability; I’ve spent a few hours today adding these to my resume along with some other curiosities that may entice any potential employers. I intend doing a course soon on public speaking and debating which I hope will help sell my educational background in terms of extra-curricular activities for students to principals.
My father works for the Irish Wheelchair Association. I usually try to help him by compiling questions for table quizzes for some of the clients. I’ve been going out of my way to catch one gent out with some history questions but I may soon have to give up as the exercise becomes more and more futile. On a serious note, though, it’s great to be able to volunteer and help out when you have some free time.
Tonight I have training with the Donegal Surf Lifesaving team, an extremely professional and dedicated sports club based in south Donegal. It can be useful for a teaching CV to be able to coach a sport. It’s also good craic to take on some of the famed Atlantic breakers on offer on Donegal’s beaches – although fortunately we’ve been relocated to the local swimming pool until the water gets warmer.
TUESDAY
Today I’ve been exploring some options abroad. There are some interesting opportunities in UAE, particularly in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. I have a friend in the final stages of studying for a post-graduate diploma in education in NUI Galway at the moment and he seems interested in making the great leap forward with me. Since I’ve spent most of my recent summers lifeguarding on Rossnowlagh beach I think it would take some time for me to acclimatise to the weather in the Arabian Peninsula.
An extensive search of Google has yielded some interesting information about Australia. Visas seem easily obtained and employment opportunities seem to be in blossom. I have to admit that I’m warming to the idea of a year down under. My friend Kieran says that all the girls hang out on the beach drinking Fosters and wearing thongs.
Imagine his disappointment when I explain to him that the Aussies have a somewhat misleading name for summer footwear. On that note, I wound the evening down by watching Midnight in Paris, for what I must admit is the second time, in my local cinema, the Abbey Centre.
WEDNESDAY
I decided to spend today researching job opportunities outside of education because long-term employment opportunities for teachers are dwindling daily. I intend to travel to Galway towards the end of the week so I’ve been doing some preparation for a visit to my alma mater. My teaching practice supervisor is an absolute gentleman and he empathises with me about the current lack of opportunities. I’m going to meet up with him for a chat about some options abroad if the February retirements don’t work out in my favour. Because the long-term situation looks so bleak I’ve also decided to visit my MA supervisor and discuss some ideas I’ve had for a possible PhD in history with her. I’ll undoubtedly get some time to squeeze in a drop of porter in the college bar and a possibly a few more in my old college haunt, the Róisín Dubh on Dominick Street.
THURSDAY
Today I get a phone call from a local VEC. I’m working tomorrow. This is fantastic news. I try to take as many opportunities to work as I can, although it’s a day here and there usually. You can often get a phone call at 8am to be in at 9am. I suppose it’s all experience though.
I’ll be teaching maths and science tomorrow. I will try to help as much as I can but it’s a relief that the teacher that I am covering for has left work for the class. Substitution work can be quite difficult to come by these days but I count myself lucky that I get a few days every month. The future prospects for teachers, especially newly-qualified ones such as myself, are not good. I’m glad though that I’m young and footloose. I can decide to make a move abroad without too much collateral damage, which unfortunately isn’t the same for many others in a similar situation.
Ideally there should be some sort of moratorium on teacher training colleges similar to the recent embargo put in place at the Garda College in Templemore. Institutions are now essentially educating students for export. There are too few jobs and too many teachers and it creates a situation where experience becomes the deciding factor for an interview panel when selecting an applicant.
This creates the old dilemma of new graduates needing experience but not being given a chance to get any. I’m going to spend the rest of today researching options in Australia and Canada as a back-up plan should February not work out.
In the meantime, I suppose I’ll have plenty of time to follow Daire’s advice. Who knows? By this time next year I could be quite an authority on Orwell.
Reading
Across the Grid of Streetsby Quincy R Lehr
Listening to
Festivalby Bona Fide Federation while job hunting. A fantastic new Irish band.
Watching
Annie Hall. I'm a big Woody Allen fan.
Browsing
usit.ie has some good options for 2012; also politico.ie – plenty to get your teeth into.
