Career as Teacher

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Stupid example. Grope boobies without consent is a criminal act.

As for examples like smoking -- I don't feel that it is contradictory for a teacher to educate students (with the necessary scientific knowledge, values and ethics) to make an informed decision about smoking, while the teacher also makes their own informed decision as an adult to smoke or not smoke.

Yes I agree that if a teacher chooses to smoke, they should exercise discretion and try to avoid being seen by students, and also avoid smoking before work so they don't bring the third-hand smoke to their classrooms.

But to say teachers cannot smoke at all is rubbish. They are full grown adults with independent thought and the legal right to exercise their decision whether to do it or not. Double standards? Yes, there ARE double standards in society in the treatment of adults and children, in almost every aspect of life. What's wrong with that?

With your logic of nothing wrong being double standard, then the teachers need to have expectation of double standard treatment when come to KPI grading, workload, the teaching system, work culture , treatment from senior manaement / peers. be it making sense or non making sense , fair or unfair. there is nothing wrong with that.

In short, feel free to complain and there is nothing wrong being unfair or mistreated.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

With your logic of nothing wrong being double standard, then the teachers need to have expectation of double standard treatment when come to KPI grading, workload, the teaching system, work culture , treatment from senior manaement / peers. be it making sense or non making sense , fair or unfair. there is nothing wrong with that.

In short, feel free to complain and there is nothing wrong being unfair or mistreated.

Believe the original poster was referring to different standards applied towards adults, vs. children.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

With your logic of nothing wrong being double standard, then the teachers need to have expectation of double standard treatment when come to KPI grading, workload, the teaching system, work culture , treatment from senior manaement / peers. be it making sense or non making sense , fair or unfair. there is nothing wrong with that.

In short, feel free to complain and there is nothing wrong being unfair or mistreated.

rubbish response. original message was comparing standards applied to adults/teachers vis a vis students. you cant even correctly identify the premise of the argument.

Conversation quality descending into nonsense again 🤡

I hope good teachers have better things to do than engage in debate with anonymous trolls during the weekend. Do use the time to rest and recharge, and maybe plan for your upcoming trips (if any)!

(Yes, clearly I’m not one of those good teachers… &#128520

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Conversation quality descending into nonsense again 🤡

I hope good teachers have better things to do than engage in debate with anonymous trolls during the weekend. Do use the time to rest and recharge, and maybe plan for your upcoming trips (if any)!

(Yes, clearly I’m not one of those good teachers… &#128520

rubbish reply. people who live in glass houses shldnt throw stones.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

not entirely true. teachers whose ‘rauchy’ private life somehow becomes public, will be invited for a session with the SLs. some ends up leaving the service etc. very hush hush. only those in the know, will know.
bottomline, if you’re caught doing something that jeorpadises your standing as a teacher, you’ll have to face the music.
so must live by the SAF’s 9th core value. can do anything but dont get caught

yes but they can’t refuse to leave service too. SLs use psychological manipulation to get them to leave but a dismissal is not done because that risks a legal case and moe being dragged into public eye etc

Originally Posted by Unregistered

yes but they can’t refuse to leave service too. SLs use psychological manipulation to get them to leave but a dismissal is not done because that risks a legal case and moe being dragged into public eye etc

Not necessarily. They could also be posted to non-teaching posts in the HQ.
Some can also join other ministries.

If any colleague has done TWA+, can you kindly advise:

1. what are the considerations in choosing your role/organisation? Widen or deepen your skills, or simply for industry exposure?

2. Did you have to juggle your school-based admin/comm/CCA/FT/T&L work, or is it wholly absorbed by colleagues and dept?

3. What new value can you bring to the table after TWA+?

Thank you!

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Not necessarily. They could also be posted to non-teaching posts in the HQ.
Some can also join other ministries.

yes, op here. was a typo i mean they CAN refuse to leave service

Originally Posted by Unregistered

If any colleague has done TWA+, can you kindly advise:

1. what are the considerations in choosing your role/organisation? Widen or deepen your skills, or simply for industry exposure?

2. Did you have to juggle your school-based admin/comm/CCA/FT/T&L work, or is it wholly absorbed by colleagues and dept?

3. What new value can you bring to the table after TWA+?

Thank you!

Hi I've done a TWA with a public organisation in a different ministry. I'm sure everyone who has done a TWA+ has taken away different things, so take what I share with a pinch of salt (it's just my personal take).

I found that these were the greatest benefits my TWA brought me:

1. Exposure to a completely new sector

The place I did my TWA at had no direct link to education (people I met there kept gawking at me like I was an alien when I introduced myself as a teacher). But I had the chance to glimpse the work and was challenged (in a kind manner) to contribute during meetings even though I was a total newbie. As a result, I learnt a lot about that sector in a way I could never have otherwise.

2. Expanded professional network

I maintained contact with some of the people I worked with while on TWA. Sometimes they post on Linkedin and I find the stuff they post pretty informative. So it's a way to keep myself up to date on some developments in the field. You also never know when the opportunity to collaborate and bring in the real-world expertise from the other sector may arise.

3. Acquisition of new skills

My TWA "boss" helped me pick up a couple of skills which I did not usually get much exposure to as a teacher. These were generic professional skills like effective communication (being an experienced teacher in a classroom may not make you a good communicator in a business setting haha). I'm not saying all TWAs will result in this kind of honing of professional skills, but this was certainly an unexpected result of mine thanks to the shifu who took the time to mentor me even though I was just gonna be there for a few weeks.

To answer yr qn about managing workload, my RO basically told me I could only go at EOY after exams as it would be difficult to find a covering teacher for my classes. So I actually applied outside of the advertised TWA window which meant I entered during a lull period in the TWA organisation. So timing is a factor you may consider.. and there might be practical constraints depending on yr school. But I know of ppl who went for TWA in the middle of Term 1 and Term 2 so it's definitely not impossible.

Hope this helps