How many ICT technicians here teach and/or have after school clubs?

[SimpleSi]

Funnily enough I bumped into one of the cluster ICT teachers (now a deputy) that I worked with years ago that kicked me off doing stop animation and was telling him about this thread and he said "tell them it was a teacher (e.g him) that taught you (e.g me) how to teach so you are qualified"

 

Simon

PS Until this thread, I'd never heard of the term "instructor" - we just have parent helpers/TAs/HLTAs and then teachers in my primary schools. But let me know their pay grade and I'll start working on it

[SimpleSi]

I am neither grumpy, nor old

Sorry - your right - that was inappropriate - I don't know how old you are

[jmak]

Reading this reminds me how lucky I am. I gave up a job I hated and fell into working in school through volunteering as parent helper in my son's class in my newly acquired free time. It was more enjoyable than any job I'd done for years, so I jumped at the chance to be paid for it.

My job description includes supporting teaching of ICT as a TA and being the ICT technician (fix anything with a battery or plug) and my salary reflects that.

 

CAVEAT: Within the bounds of primary school salaries. The fundamental issue is that people doing a worthwhile job to a competent standard should be paid enough to live on.

 

Where I consider myself most fortunate is that my partner is able and willing to take on the responsibility of being the main earner for our family. I would not be able to do this job if I needed to support my family. For most TA's in our school, this means taking on a second job. For many this means putting on a cleaners' uniform at the end of the school day and cleaning the classrooms they have just finished teaching in.

Regarding taking on teaching responsibilities, I can't recommend highly enough taking the opportunity (deliberate word choice) to work in the classroom if the chance comes along. I would find it much more difficult to put up with the irritations of the technician's role if I didn't get the chance to work with the kids. It's by far the best part of my job, even if it means taking laptops home to fix in my own time.

[witch]

Oh dear, I think I must be being very obscure today!

Of course it is fine, @jmak, to support IT work in a classroom and I am glad you are enjoying it.

BUT there is a difference between that and being expected to TEACH a lesson.

And @SimpleSi - even more of an issue if you consider yourself a qualified teacher

Not grumpy, just annoyed at being told I am the sort of person who never goes the extra mile, just because I think that you should be paid to do a job.

I work in an LA that is in the lowest 10 for funding per pupil but there is enough money to pay specialist sports coaches and the like, so why not IT?

 

@SimpleSi - look

Unqualified teachers' pay scales 2010 - Career - TES

 

The lowest instructor pay is probably less than you are on but there are many scale points, and I would have thought IT was worth some of them!

[SimpleSi]

[edit]deleted - its time to stop [/edit]

Si

Edited July 6, 2012 by SimpleSi

[witch]

OK

I just think you should believe you, and all IT techs who teach, are worth more

Edited July 6, 2012 by witch

[SimpleSi]

I tried !

 

I've told you I'm on HLTA wages (same as a Network Manager gets up here) which is one rung down from what teachers get - what more should I be asking for?

 

?????

Si

PS A lot of HLTAs up here only get HLTA pay when they are covering classes - I'm getting it all the time - so I'm way ahead of the support staff teaching pay curve)

Edited July 6, 2012 by SimpleSi

[witch]

HLTA one rung below teaching? Not here it isn't! HLTAs here would earn about £2100 a year (but of course they are term time only) which is less than an NQT starting salary.

At your age with your expertise, as a teacher you would be on a lot more. But I take your point, you are better remunerated than many of us, so that is good.

Anyway, I was trying (honest) to make a more general point - most techs don't earn anywhere near that and yet they are still being asked to teach. IMHO it is exploitation and very unfair of schools to do it. They wouldnt expect a teacher to suddenly be expected to do something they were not paid.