It sometimes comes up in conversation or when commenting on blogs, that in a former life I was a primary school teacher. Pinky Poinker (smart girl) just knew there was a story there and encouraged me to write a post about why I quit teaching … so here it is π .
As a January baby (yet another reason to hate having a January birthday!), I was younger than all my classmates and graduated from high school when I was 16. Seriously. I mean, who has a clue what they want to do with the rest of their lives when they are only 16?!
I had a lot of pressure from my Mother to go to Teacher’s College – probably because it was something she wished SHE’D done. She often used to tell me how if I was a teacher, once I had children I could work school hours, get school holidays, and not have to worry if my marriage broke up and I found myself a single parent like she did.
Close & Convenient
We lived only a couple of kilometres from what was then the Carseldine campus of Brisbane College of Advanced Education (later it became QUT). And that was the other deciding factor: it was close enough that I could walk. As a single parent, Mum was adamant that we couldn’t afford bus or train fares to any other tertiary institution (I think it was more of a control issue – as in she’d lose control of me if I’d gone further afield – but that’s a story for another time!).
If I nursed dreams of working in an office and secretly applied for a Bachelor in Business Communications at QUT in the City, I kept them to myself … and didn’t end up getting the TE score (OP) to get in, so a secret it remained … yet look where I’ve ended up all these years later. It’s almost like my young self instinctively KNEW what field I would be happiest in!
I was always a good student and mostly enjoyed college right up til the middle of my third (and final in those days) year.
The Prac from Hell
It was the prac from hell – I went from getting 6’s and 7’s in all my previous pracs, to failing. I later found out that the particular supervising teacher, principal and college lecturer involved had a history of ganging up on young innocent student teachers (ie I wasn’t the first one).
My confidence was totally destroyed.
I very nearly quit my course over the Winter break, but my Mum talked me into going back and completing the final semester. At least I would have the piece of paper (a Diploma in Teaching), even if I never used it!
And so I graduated.
Trouble was, so did a heap of others – that year the media was full of stories about the sudden glut of primary school teachers and the lack of positions for them. I was one of the unlucky ones.
As a result, I wasn’t offered a teaching position for eighteen long months. In the meantime, my family had disintegrated and I had nowhere to live and no way to support myself. I ended up moving into a share house with some other young girls from church and got a job in the public service.
To be honest, I was really happy –Β I enjoyed my job, I loved working in the City, and being a public servant meant great benefits like flex time. There were heaps of other young people working there, and I met the man who became my husband. Good times!
Then the phone rang in May 1988 with the offer of a teaching position at long, long last.
Even though I was happy in the public service, I felt I had to give teaching a try. So I resigned and became “Miss Moore”.
My time as “Miss Moore”
Perhaps you’ve heard what happens to new teachers? They get the worst class in the school, the one that nobody else wants. Yup. That.
By this stage I was living in a flat by myself. My boyfriend lived on the other side of town so we only saw each other on weekends. There was no internet or Skype or email, and phone calls were STD and expensive. Besides, I was a first year teacher – who had time for phone calls or a social life?!
It was one of the loneliest, most miserable times in my whole life. I literally threw up some mornings with the anxiety of it all. My immune system was shot to pieces and I caught every bug going, and used up all my sick leave in just three months.
I struggled with maintaining discipline – after all I was barely older than my students!
The parents gave me a hard time because I was young and blonde andΒ an easy target didn’t set enough homework.
And to top it all off, whenever I was in the staff room, all the other teachers moaned and complained about how much they hated teaching and how they were trapped and couldn’t get out.
I think it took me all of a week to realise that I had to get out of there, and SOON. It took me three months to land another office job – which, would you believe, PAID MORE than I was getting as a teacher!
And that’s why I quit teaching …
I was so confident that I never wanted to return to teaching, I let my registration lapse. Of course nowadays teachers have to be four year trained, and have a degree, so my little diploma isn’t worth much after all.
Bitter? Scarred? Who me?!!!
Although these days if I ever get asked to help in Sunday School at our church, I joke that I have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder about working with children, stemming from my teaching days π !
I often wonder if just one of the many factors I’ve listed about had been different, if perhaps I would have stayed with teaching. It’s hard for me to imagine!
I don’t have any regrets though – despite all the twists and turns and uncertainty of my career path in the 1980’s, that’s how I met my darling husband.
And I’m sure my studies helped me land and succeed in other jobs – as well as in the raising of our own children (including a brief spell of home schooling when we were travelling Australia).
When people bag teachers and “all their holidays” I am the first to jump to their defense because I know first hand just what teachers are up against. To all those teachers out there – I take my hat off to you guys – you do an awesome job, and one that I couldn’t do for love or money!
Did you know what you wanted to do at 16? Have you changed career paths at any stage?
Ms_MotorbikeNut says
At 16 I to busy running away from home ( a story to be shared privately) to follow what I wanted to which was to be a police women. I can remember Dad putting me down but I can remember his step dad my real grand dad (Nana remarried before I was born so he was my grand dad and not a step) saying to me so you want to be a flat foot, which I loved him for as they is what they were called then for all the walking police officers use to do.
I never did became a police women but I am now studying a Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice degree which will lead my on another path I love in the Crime area.
(((( Hugs )))) XXXX Kisses XXXX
(((( Hugs )))) XXXX Kisses XXXX
Janet Camilleri says
I am glad you are now getting to follow your dreams of a career in the FIGHTING crime area, rather than just the crime area! LOL
Me says
I always wanted to be a teacher and then when I got to high school and realised how much trouble they had to put up with, I changed my mind !!!! While I would have loved the holidays – I certainly couldn’t have put up with the little sh*ts in my class – LOL !!!
I too take my hat off to teachers – I think they get bagged more than they deserve. Like any job there are those who do the bare minimum and there are those dedicated teachers who live and breath teaching – luckily K’s teachers were mostly those in the second category.
Have the best day !
Me
Janet Camilleri says
When Mr 19 was in Year 5 I had to talk to his teacher about something – she as VERY condescending – it felt good to put her in her place and tell her that actually, I was a teacher too so she couldn’t pull the wool over my eyes!
Lee-Anne says
I hear you! 16 or even 18 is far too young to know what you want to do in life!
Teaching is a hugely demanding job and many people think that the shorter hours and long holidays make it a breeze. They don’t realise that keeping a class of 30 antsy teenagers not just in their seats, but stimulated enough to ingest some knowledge, some learning, is a big feat.
As an English teacher, the hours of preparation and marking are long and punishing, and nowadays, senior students email you their essays to edit – so there’s no escape!
You have to love it and your subject, to continue, which fortunately I do. But I almost quit after my first year and the name ‘7 Purple’ still sends shivers down my spine! A class from hell, I was putty in their (naughty) hands.
π
Janet Camilleri says
That was what I hated the most Lee-Anne. I loved to teach those who were willing to learn. Sadly not many were interested and I felt like I spelt my days telling kids to sit down and shut up. π
Carica says
Ha! 16, I barely know what I want to do with my life now π I was a substitute teacher for a semester and worked several different schools, a few years ago. I thought it was going to be perfect for me, but boy was I sadly mistaken. I will never return to that post again. It’s not for me. I can relate to what you have written and I take my hat off a zillion times to teachers everywhere. #IBOT
T'lia says
I studied teaching as well, and have never really used it in the conventional sense. Very handy in my other jobs, and my current role as mumma though!
Janet Camilleri says
I guess studying teaching is good preparation for parenthood – and much of the other stuff life throws at us!
Rhianna says
It is funny how things turn out isn’t? As long as you were/are happy in the end that is all that matters. Thanks for sharing your story Janet.
Janet Camilleri says
I feel very blessed to have a life (and work) that I now love π
Josefa @always Josefa says
At 16 I did not know if I was coming or going let alone what I want to do with my life. I think it i awesome that you gave it a go when the opportunity presented itself, that is huge. And even better, stepping away knowing that teaching wasn’t for you x
Janet Camilleri says
Thanks Josefa. I felt a bit foolish at the time, especially when I left so quickly, but at least then I knew for sure.
Pinky Poinker says
I’ve just gone back to work today and my new teaching buddy is straight out of Uni. I’m going to do everything possible to ensure her first year is not as horrible as yours, Janet. I remember that period of time when there was a glut of teachers and no jobs. I was at Teachers’ College then too and I used that as an excuse to drop out after the first year and become a dental nurse, much to my parent’s disappointment. I did go back to University about thirteen years ago and finally earned my degree. It certainly sounds as though you made the right decision back in the day. Thank you for sharing that story. You look so cute in your graduation photo!
Janet Camilleri says
Yay for you Pinky! That was something I forgot to mention – I shared a cooperative classroom with another teacher who refused to have anything to do with me. That sucked π
Tegan says
When I was 16 I wanted to be a teacher. I even started the degree…that was when I realised that it really wasn’t everything I thought it was going to be. There was more focus on ethics and how to ‘cover your arse’ and less about teaching. One of our lecturers (who was also the dean, I went to a small uni) used to be a primary school teacher and quit because she was so afraid of the hoops she had to jump through. She was a hugger, her first instinct if she saw someone upset was to hug them, to comfort them physically and she just knew that in the current climate that that wasn’t acceptable anymore. That was the moment that I decided that teacher and all of the red tape wasn’t for me.
Janet Camilleri says
I used to love giving the kids a hug too and got in trouble for it as a student teacher π
Zita says
Oh how brave of you and I wish I was that brave… I guess I have always known teaching wasn’t really my thing but, having never worked out what it, I’ve stuck with it, had a few slight changes over the years but always in school, because I don’t know what else to do…. π
Teaching is bloody hard and I am glad that you jump to our defence!! thanks!
Janet Camilleri says
Hi Zita, I’m sure you’re an amazing teacher but if you really do think you’d like a career change, it might be worth finding a good psychologist specialising in career issues to have a chat too, they can help point you in the right direction and give you strategies to make the change (can you tell one of my clients is a psychologist nowadays LOL).
Zita says
Am one step ahead of you… Stay tuned π
Janet Camilleri says
Oh Zita that’s wonderful! Can’t wait to hear more π
Bec @ The Plumbette says
Can I just say Janet, I am thoroughly enjoying reading your blog and discovering more about your past life. Reading this tonight really made me smile and gave me an even more positive boost about my current situation.
When I was 16 I wanted to be a journalist and work in New York. Very far from being a plumber. LOL!
Janet Camilleri says
Nawww thanks Bec, believe me I have many stories to tell! xxx
Vanessa says
I was exactly 17 years and two weeks old at my high school graduation ceremony – so I was 16 when I took all of my tests. It’s young! I jumped around a bit – took one year off, did one year of uni, took two years off, did two years of uni…
Janet Camilleri says
I’ve had so many different jobs over the years … hmmmm I can feel another blog post coming on!
Jo says
I wanted to be a teacher just like my mum, I even started my teacher training. But after the birth of my baby I decided to study by correspondences ( before computers and the internet!) and had to changes courses and I selected Sociology. I am now a statistician and a long way from a teacher, but I spend a lot of time helping my clients so a form of teaching!!
Ps at five I want to be a secretary so I could wear fancy clothes and nail polish:)))
Janet Camilleri says
Ha ha yes I must confess part of the appeal of working in a city office was getting all glammed up every day π
Kirsten and co. says
Ever since I was 8 years old I knew I wanted to be a teacher. It was a job I absolutely loved and when I gave it up to become a full time mum, it took me a long time to come to terms with the fact that I might never step foot in a classroom again. And I think that’s the key…teaching, like any profession, is a calling. You have to want to be one with every fibre of your being, otherwise, well, it just won’t work. That being said, it’s to your credit that you stuck with the course and gave teaching a go, even though deep down, you knew your career didn’t involve a classroom. It definitely highlights what a determined and dedicated person you are!
Janet Camilleri says
YES! That’s it exactly – teaching is a calling. It just wasn’t MY calling π
Emma Fahy Davis says
At 16 I knew what I wanted to be, but I didn’t know how (or if) I’d get there. It took til my early 20s to find the path. And I totally agree about teaching being a calling – my sister has it, I most certainly do not!
Janet Camilleri says
Emma, I was 30 before I realised that not only did I love to write, but that I could write – and actually get paid for it!!!
Kathy Marris says
I have a few girlfriends who are teachers and they hate their jobs. I have to listen to their endless whinging about how hard they work! I too wanted to be a teacher, but I landed a job as soon as I finished Year 12 in an office so that’s what I ended up doing. Later in life I did an Accounting Diploma and I become a Bookkeeper, but I wish I had done a degree in Accounting. By the way, your graduation dress is almost identical to my wedding dress. How funny is that?
Janet Camilleri says
Did you get married in 1986, the same year I graduated, by any chance? If so it was obviously the fashion! I was so broke I actually borrowed the dress from a friend π
Kathy Marris says
1985, so that explains it. I will dig out a photo and send it to you just for fun!
Brian Naennals says
I had the same experience, changing career paths. Started with a 9-5 desk job and ended up being an internet marketer. It wasn’t easy but it had been amazing.
Living Serenely says
I think your post is an upside down version of a tribute to teachers… especially the good ones. Thanks for sharing your story. It’s always nice to learn more about the backstory of the bloggers I read. I’m glad you eventually managed to find your path and are happy with what you are doing now
EssentiallyJess says
6 is so young to be finishing high school!
I had vague ideas; still have them. Other people talked me out of them which I still feel a little annoyed about, but who knows what would have happened if I had chased those dreams down? I’m pretty happy with my life now, and there is still time to do it all.
Emily @ Have A Laugh On Me says
Seriously J I could not imagine how hard it must be to be a teacher, and really I think you made the right decision to get out while you could – I have been victim of many unhappy teachers! I was still at school at 16, Uni at 18 and even once I graduated I wasn’t sure. I had a few thoughts which is why I studied media and communication! Yay for leaving and meeting you super duper hubster x
Johanna says
I so heart your decision, Janet! But it’s so wrong that teachers are undervalued and underpaid. It’s such a noble profession, and one which underpins a decent, learned society. Teachers should have more support and more klout if you ask me.
Janet Camilleri says
Absolutely Jo! Fortunately Qld teachers got a pay overhaul a couple of years after I left – it was obviously long overdue.
Brisbane Accountants says
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Kelly says
Such a good read.
Janet Camilleri says
Thanks Kelly. Saw your first day back at school pic on Facebook – can’t believe how much your kids have grown!
the hipsterette says
Wow, you are the opposite of me! I wanted to go to further study but was streamed into a commercial class because my mother thought a stenographer (and ultimately a secretary) was a great occupation for young woman. My mum (like yours) wanted opportunities for me that she did not have (mine was a post WW2 migrant who worked as a cleaner). The ironic thing is the one skill I use everyday is touch typing.
I can understand your unhappiness in a profession you did not care for (teaching). I felt this way about being a secretary – I wanted to be doing interesting, creative things – writing my own words – not taking dictation!
I did complete that QUT Bachelor of Business (Communication) but has an adult. I used to finish work at 5:15pm, put the phones on nightswitch and run to evening classes to get my Year 12, and then the long and hard slog of part-time study at university.