Am I unqualified to teach after 26 years working in education? Dr. Clair Seymour asks
Seymour told The Guardian, “I am one of these unqualified teachers (60% rise in unqualified teachers, says Labour, 26 July), although I have worked in education for 26 years, in a variety of sectors – higher education in the UK and overseas, secondary education (both co-ed boarding and single-sex day schools), adult education services, private tutoring. I have an Ox bridge degree, and an MA and PhD. I am a published author in the disciplines of both music and English literature. For ten years I was a head of sixth form and then university tutor in an independent girls’ day school.”
Unqualified, Not Appoint able
“And yet I am deemed to be unable to guarantee children’s safeguarding, control a class or adapt teaching to respond to the needs of all pupils. Were I to apply for a position in the state sector, or in some private establishments, I would be judged unqualified, not appoint able, and a threat to standards. Then we learn that about 6,000 trainee teachers began courses after achieving a 2:2 or lower in their degree subject. Just who do we want to teach our children”, she questions.
Recruitment and Retention Crisis
Barge says, “It should come as no surprise that a government that has treated the blob with such micro-managerial arrogance and contempt for the past six years finds itself with a recruitment and retention crisis. To address this by employing unqualified teachers will only serve to further de-professionalise the qualified, and jeopardise the education of thousands of children. It is as deeply insulting as it is damaging. Moreover, it compounds the folly of removing teacher training from the universities. “
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Education is Devolved Matter
Anderson said, “An excellent piece on unqualified teachers. My only comment is that many Scots read your informed newspaper, and it would have been helpful if you’d indicated in your article that the issue refers to education in England and Wales, as education is a devolved matter to the Scottish government, as is the NHS.”
Readers Response
When Dr. Clair Seymour raised questions about qualified teacher status and asked Just who do we want to teach our children? There was a few instance response elicited at The Guardian daily. Dr. Neil Denby, Former Senior Lecturer in Education, University of Huddersfield said: I doubt that Dr. Seymour has ever had to be concerned with children’s safeguarding, controlling a class, or developing a range of pedagogies in her extensive experience teaching literature and music in the private education sector. Small classes, large fees and levels of support that can only be dreamt of in the state sector will have provided her with comfort and support over the years. I also wonder if she was even counted in the figure of unqualified teachers, as public schools are, on the whole, magically excluded from such scrutiny."
Denby further said, "She will no doubt be surprised to learn that state schools do not usually have university tutors or, in many cases, music teaching, but do suffer a punitive inspection regime, a constant barrage of ill-thought-out criticism and a limitation the national curriculum to what they might teach imposed centrally including what literature young people might read. Children still have to be taught – but the government decides what, when and to what level, while meagre funding ensures large class sizes and a paucity of professional support."
"In such circumstances a firm and confident grounding in pedagogy is essential if a teacher is going to persuade learners to make progress. I firmly believe that the training regime provided by teacher training colleges and university schools of education was, and still is, the best way to achieve this. It is not the experts or academics if that is what a 2:1 or above is meant to mean that are the best teachers, but the adapters, empathisers and downright grafters," Denby pointed out.
Olly Mcregor Hamann, from London said, "As a parent and a senior leader in a comprehensive school, allow me to address Dr Claire Seymour’s questions, in reverse order. Who I want to teach my children and my students is a teacher first and foremost. Formal qualifications help, but this can only be judged by observation. I would also expect a commitment to, and an understanding of, comprehensive education."
"Were Dr Seymour to demonstrate the above, then her highly impressive CV suggests that she would have a lot to offer more broadly, both in and beyond the classroom. But it would not be enough to get her through the door. Is she unqualified? To judge her by her letter alone, I would say yes. Her (albeit very abridged) résumé suggests that her experience in education consists largely of working with the privileged few, or those who have already experienced academic success. Click here for more education detail's please visit: Minglebox.com
None of this makes Dr Seymour unskilled or detracts from her achievements, distinction or success in the classroom. But if she wants to be part of the state sector then a formal qualification will get her foot in the door, give her some relevant experience, and show prospective employers some commitment to comprehensive education", Hamann added.
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