In one corner the PGCE QTS Degree Qualified Teacher, the other an "Industrial Specialist"
Firstly lets get down to facts.
- Being a "teacher" is not all subject knowledge. Teaching is about progression, diversification and being able to project knowledge to students, all of whom are individuals with different learning styles, abilities and motivation.
- Teaching is also being a designer of lessons and schemes of work which although sounds like the re-invention of the wheel, means that every time a syllabus is changed, your lessons need to reflect that.
- A teacher needs to understand how to mark and give appropriate feedback.
- A teacher needs to be technologically savvy to understand and use technology in a useful appropriate way.
- Many teachers have come from Industrial backgrounds and have experience of the "big wide world".
And....
- A teacher needs to provide a safe forum for the students in his/her care
- A teacher needs to understand child protection and safeguarding
- A teacher needs basic first aid skills
- A teacher needs to have the patience of more than a saint.
- A teacher needs to have some understanding of physical and mental disabilities of those individual students.
And of course....
- That teacher needs to jump through hoops depending on the Senior Management of the school
- That teacher needs to attend meetings with curriculum, pastoral and parents. Mainly after school, with some meetings being meetings about meetings
- That teacher needs to keep up with the changes of the subject matter
- That teacher may have to use holiday times taking students away on UK or even Global trips.
So you see its more than just having the knowledge. I am a great believer in using "Industrial Specialists" to give talks or presentations to a class, but to suggest that they are as good as, or even sometimes better than a Qualified Teacher is just plain stupid.
As I have always stated:
"Think its easy being a teacher?
Walk in a teachers shoes for an Academic Year and you will soon see!
