Page 21 - link magazine

EDUCATION MATTERS
17
What inspires people to give up well Classroom learning for teachers are taking a class for most of the
paid jobs, company cars and the week.
perks of the private sector to take a Each week they keep a learning
complete change in direction which log, make a detailed record of
leads them to become qualified teaching plans and carry out weekly
teachers in two years? tasks and focus studies. They also
Four women in Swindon have have to regularly meet their college
taken the plunge by signing up on tutorand mentor in school to review
the Government's Articled Teacher their work "It's quite a load" said
training scheme. Two at Shaw's Helen, "but worth it.
Brookfield School, one at "When I worked for a large com-
Freshbmok's Windmill Hill School pany work was all about reaching
and the fourth at Wroughton Junior performance targetsand success was
School. measured by the revenue generated.
The scheme to attract mature peo- But seeing children succeed in their
ple from other employment fields school work and learning from it is
by providing 'on the job' training just amazing. They give you so
was introduced last year as a re- much pleasure."
sponse to the shortage of college Mary agrees that the rewards
trained teachers. cannotbe measured in money terms.
Both Helen Tyler and Mary Black Helen Tyler and Mary Black with the children they teach at Brookfield School "You're responsible for the chil-
jumped at the chance to train as course advertised, it was just what I on offer. dren's intellectualdevelopment and
teachers when a limited number of wanted. Teaching has always been Articled teachers are placed in their enthusiasm for learning is
places was offered by Cheltenham in the back of my mind, but I didn't schools willing to accept them for a wonderful. Motivating the under
and Gloucester College of Higher want to go straight into it after col- two year period of training. They achievers is such a challenge as well."
Education from last September, even lege." spend one day in college and the The course provides an ideal
though their salaries would be cut For Mary Black, who lives in rest of the week in school. Each has balance between theory and practi-
significantly. Toothill, teaching was something she a 'mentor' teacher who provides cal experience. They both believe
"1 took a degree in Applied Biol- wanted to do since she was at col- advice and support, and closely that their maturity and experience
ogy, then travelled in India and was lege, nearly ten years ago. Most supervises their work. In the early will result in them becoming good
working in sales and advertising," recently she was a well paid mar- months they observe other teachers teachers
said Helen, who lives in Old Town. keting executive with a big local at work and help with small groups "After my first week I was totally
"1 also tried to set up my own in- company, but she decided to grasp of children. As they become more exhausted," said Helen. "Teaching
formation technology company but the chance to pursue her original experienced the articled teacher's is a complete way of life, requiring
when I saw the articled teacher desire to teach when the course was responsibility increases until they 100%. We both love it."

Letter from America - Greetings from Stillwater, Minnesota

Ann Fisher and Alice Warne, two unique experience for me!
teachers from Freshbrook School, are The school has a large population
halfway through their exchange teach- of 778 students and 100 staff. It is
ing year in the U.S.A. They are enjoying described as an alternative school
themselves greatly, both in their work and has evolved overthe past twenty
and in discovering the American way. years. It is a special place, and has
They have been sending regular com- become what it is because many
muniques to colleagues at Freshbrook people have dared to be different. It
School and Ann has sent us these im- is a place where everyone is involved
pressions. in an adventure,a search for ways in
Time is passing very quickly! which children may develop their
Thanksgiving gave both of us an full potential in the best possible
insight into an important aspect of manner. It is a school without walls
American life. At Christmas, Alice where children progress from one
flew from snowy Minneapolis with stage to the next at their own pace.
a temperatureof-l8Ptobe with her The school is divided into four
family in Florida where it was 83T Colonies, each with its team of Wrapyed up warm against North Ame rican winds. Freshbrook teacher Ann
and rising! teachers and educational assistants. Fisher, centre, with some of Colony Two children at Stonebridge Elementary
I went to Washington D.C. to stay Children follow individualised ceeds as follows. In Colony Two, a supportive role throughout the
with my cousin, 'old Swindonian' programmes in order to achieve set the children gather formally for Colony and supervise lunchtimes.
Rosemary Allen, and to visit the goals. They move from one Colony 'Large Group' at 8.30a.m. and make Singing follows the half hour lunch
sites. President Bush has a really to another as they achieve the goals. out their daily plans from a sched- break every day, this allows the E.
comfortable office with a lovely pale I'm part of the Colony Two team. ule board in front of them. This A.'s to have their lunch.
blue, oval carpet. Visits to the Air Specialist teachers are in charge board is prepared in advance by the Parents join with Staff to provide
and Space Museum, the Washing- of Music and Physical Education. teachers, and consists of nine ac- a wide variety of extra curricular
ton Ballet and the National Art Gal- Interest is high. Many children learn tivities,called choices. Theseinclude activities which range from Educa-
lery were also highlights of my week. to play a musical instrument and all core curriculum subjects plus tional Visits, to visiting Artists and
We are now back at our respective eventually become members of the supplementary activities. The chil- Authors.
schools almost at the end of our School Band. dren progress through set pro- Visitors are made most welcome
second quarter. We shall be sending Physical Education teachers or- grammes of learning which are at any time and are always to be
out Report cards at the end of Janu- ganise and implement regular monitored in each area by an adult. found in the school somewhere.
ary, this is common practice for the physical activities on a daily basis. Each activity lasts twenty minutes. This week, much to everyone's
schools in District 834. Religious Education is not taught in Teachers adopt didactic roles to delight, the baseball diamond has
In many respects, schools in the the State School, the children are teach the skills required, they also been flooded to produce a skating
area have much in common, with withdrawn for tuition at their local conference (meet) with individual rink. It is a sight to behold to see all
Stonebridge Elementary the excep- Churches at the request of parents. children every seven to ten days. thesechildren skatingas effortlessly
tion. It is proving to be quite a My day starts at 7.15a.m.and pm- Educational Assistants (E.A.$) play as they walk or run.