Just rummaged about on a site for teaching jobs across the globe. Apart from one or two countries that have set 50 as the maximum age for teachers starting work, none seemed averse to hiring beyond the age of 55-60.
Until you get to the UK that is, where rampant age discrimination is being reported. Qualified teachers beyond 50 being overlooked despite the huge shortage of resource available for hiring.
Sid, the answer to your query is really quite straightforward. It`s all down to "Health & Safety" for the protection of the "elderly" teacher.
In the UK, as distinct from other countries, there is a fear that when a teacher reaches a certain age there is a rapid decline in their reactions.
Therefore, once the ability to duck and dive sets in, the poor soul would have absolutely no chance of getting out of the way when being pelted with various missiles by the "students" whilst attempting to "teach".
So it`s for their own good you understand.
( At least, I can`t think of any other valid reason! )
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
Older teachers have got more knowledge AND experience, and probably could maintain better DISCIPLINE too.
A lot of them could probably cope more adequately than younger ones ! And know how to put students in their places.
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
Older teachers are the best by far, i think the fresh faced out of uni ones are not strict enough and some times aint up to the job for example i knew a female young teacher who in her first year of teaching had a breakdown and openly admitted after she left that teaching was her worst job ever! i was shocked and asked after all them years training she felt like that and why she didnt realise sooner. Not a good role model.
Melissa, not an uncommon happening unfortunately. British kids receive little or no parental guidance on the subject of respect. Mr & Mrs Johnny Foreigner don't make this mistake, hence non-British kids are better behaved and show respect to their elders and/or superiors.
However, no freshly qualified teacher should be thrown in at the deep-end. All should be mentored into a comfortable position of control and understanding of how life as a teacher works.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i fear that you are over complicating teaching sid.
there are only 3 phrases that a potential tutor needs to know and the rest follows.
1) walk don't run.
2) the bell is for me not for you.
3) that is not funny it's just dirty.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
I hav no issue with age of people teaching
but will say in my role as cllr and pcso i found many teachers of all ages lack th ability to maintain disipline in the class.
I used to end up controlling the childrfen and speaking to them on a certain subject.
Whilst the teacher sat bk unable to do it.
i once in a school corridor had to contol a 7 year old who wouldnt go to his class teacher couldnt handle him
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,707
Sid would have thought the answer was ever so slightly older than too old to learn
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