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Put off teaching by 'age' comment...AIBU?

4 replies

Rachtoteach · 04/07/2013 09:58

My background is in law but for years now I have been toying with the idea of retraining to be a primary school teacher, I want to do something that really matters and makes a difference to people's lives rather than just ambulance chasing ....

My legal quals are not in the form of a degree so my plan would be to do an OU degree over the next few years, and try and get some experience in school, followed by applying for pgce or gtp. All this really excites me however all that sticks in my mind are comments I read on here about how you can't really be a good teacher after the age of 50/55 as you don't have the energy levels and would viewed by parents and pupils as past it! I'm 37, so wouldn't qualify until in my early forties which would mean only a ten-ish year career ahead of me. That's a lot of time, energy and money for ten years!! AIBU to be put off by these comments? Sad

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PMTIsMe · 04/07/2013 10:06

More commonly tho a teacher in their 50s has 30+ years of it behind them, so may be tired or jaded because quite frankly thats quite a lot of any career! So its not so much age, as how long they've been in it perhaps.

Anyway my DCs fave teacher is in her 50s and she is completely fab and certainly not low energy! So I wouldnt worry.

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noblegiraffe · 04/07/2013 10:11

GTP doesn't exist anymore, there's some new schools-based training coming in so it would be worth reading up on their requirements.

I'd get into a school and talk to teachers sooner rather than later - you might change your mind!

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HooverFairy · 06/07/2013 09:38

Don't let age put you off, I'm 31 and exhausted after 10 years :/. If you're an energetic and enthusiastic person then age has nothing to do with it, I agree with PMT, older teachers are knackered because they've been doing it for so long! Honestly, it's a great career and if you have the motivation the. You'll be fine. Good luck :).

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ExitPursuedByABear · 06/07/2013 21:48

If you want to teach you will be fabulous. Go for it.

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