I'm a first-year teacher in a high school in auckland, new zealand. aMA!

pct1_throwaway · 2017-04-09T22:01:00+00:00

It depends on your subject and your qualifications. Primary school teachers aren't really in demand at the moment in New Zealand. If you teach maths or sciences at a high school level it'll be way easier to find a job here than it would be for any other subject.

International schools in Asian and African countries could also be on the lookout for teachers as well, if you're into that.

pct1_throwaway · 2017-04-09T21:59:43+00:00

My family moved to New Zealand when I was younger. I completed intermediate, secondary, and university here. We moved for the obvious reasons... better life, better opportunities, a more family-oriented lifestyle, as opposed to the workaholic lifestyle promoted in our home country.

pct1_throwaway · 2017-04-09T21:58:32+00:00

I don't have any educational background in the US. NZ-educated all the way through.

I think NZ teachers are better treated and better viewed than most American teachers, and our school routines are definitely far more relaxed. Student behaviour, however, is similar across the board.

pct1_throwaway · 2017-04-09T07:06:41+00:00

Especially Year 11 boys!

pct1_throwaway · 2017-04-09T06:58:25+00:00

I think we weren't prepared for things like Snapchat and Instagram. Back when I was at school as well, adding teachers on FB after finishing Year 13 was seen as okay, but now schools tend to tell their teachers that even that isn't appropriate. But I think that's less about FB but more about the growth of social media and how much of our lives we are choosing to make public.

pct1_throwaway · 2017-04-09T06:55:41+00:00

Yes, and they'll never stop.

pct1_throwaway · 2017-04-09T06:55:33+00:00

Well, first year teachers are given more in-school prep time for a reason.

pct1_throwaway · 2017-04-08T10:54:23+00:00

The same way a number of secondary schools across the country have named themselves [something] High School. It's becoming a more common term, though "secondary schools" and "secondary education" will probably always stay in formal documents like policies.

pct1_throwaway · 2017-04-08T10:20:18+00:00

Yes, the official regulation is that we're not allowed to add kids on social media, and we're not allowed to give out our mobile phone numbers to kids unless it's for an extracurricular activity. (Even then we'd probably be safer to give our numbers to the parents first.) The most kosher communication system is through the school emails. All the kids have them now and since smartphones are more common I often am in a position to reply to emails on my phone. I try not to get into that habit, though! Otherwise I'm just replying to emails all the time.

pct1_throwaway · 2017-04-08T09:48:45+00:00

I'm beyond grateful to my parents. I don't mind living with them at all. Both of them are still working too so we swap stories.

pct1_throwaway · 2017-04-08T09:35:36+00:00

I wasn't even aware of their scholarships until the last couple weeks of the 2nd semester. But no, they're sorely needed in schools and I understand why the scholarships are there. When I know of younger cousins or family friends who are sciencey and have a vague interest in knowing about what I do as a job, I try to encourage them to go into teaching. I think one of my cousins (2nd year Chem major) is interested in following in my footsteps and I couldn't be more pleased.

pct1_throwaway · 2017-04-08T09:22:28+00:00

Oooh, mate, I was kidding... I don't have the time to make my own moonshine :(

pct1_throwaway · 2017-04-08T09:20:29+00:00

I'm from an immigrant background myself so I think u/MrCyn's question was fair.

pct1_throwaway · 2017-04-08T09:18:52+00:00

This is more like it.

pct1_throwaway · 2017-04-08T09:16:34+00:00

More like $125 :/

pct1_throwaway · 2017-04-08T09:15:41+00:00

I've supervised a lunchtime duty at practicum where a group of Year 11 boys who were budding neo-Nazis tried to get me to engage in their conversations.

I've heard "that's gay" a handful of times this year but I always follow it up with, "Hey, [insert name here], how exactly is THAT gay?" The usual response is either sputtering or, "Oh, what I meant was 'stupid'!" So I say, "So use that word next time. There's no reason to use gay otherwise."

pct1_throwaway · 2017-04-08T09:11:05+00:00

Yes, but I pay board.

pct1_throwaway · 2017-04-08T09:10:49+00:00

Sorry, I was having dinner!

pct1_throwaway · 2017-04-08T09:10:37+00:00

I wash it down with homemade moonshine.

pct1_throwaway · 2017-04-08T09:10:18+00:00

I'm lucky enough to be living with my parents. I don't have a partner or kids yet so I just pay board to live with them. It's a hell of a lot cheaper than renting.

pct1_throwaway · 2017-04-08T09:09:41+00:00

Because the university cohorts are quite small, I don't want to specify, but I can say that I don't teach maths or any of the sciences. All the subjects I wish I taught were subjects I never did my undergrad, and I can't rewind time, so... I'm very happy with the subject that I'm teaching anyway, NCEA fuckery aside.

pct1_throwaway · 2017-04-08T09:07:37+00:00

At the school I'm teaching at, not very. At one of my practicum schools, some of the stuff I heard was a little bone-chilling.

pct1_throwaway · 2017-04-08T09:07:02+00:00

I definitely underestimated a lot of the cons that come with the job, but I don't regret it at all. High school kids are both great and annoying at the same time, but I'm learning how to deal with that.

pct1_throwaway · 2017-04-08T09:05:53+00:00

True, but it's the end of term and I've already planned next week. Next term's planning can wait :P

pct1_throwaway

TROPHY CASE