Career as Teacher

Originally Posted by Munchen

A young star performer in my school has just called it quits. I hope every teacher here can learn a thing or two from what i am about to share

I have a colleague who is well liked by management because he is very efficient in completing tasks. Never says no to extra work and classes assigned. This has been going on for two years. He held on thinking it is a ticket to leadership track. But management kept giving work until he cracked. Was on MC and management took it that he has learnt to skive. He was all gloomy and burnout when he came back so his R.O said he has turned into a negative person and called him in for showdown talks

Word has it that he was unhappy with the amount of work assigned and he did sound out that he has too many things on his plate. Management then put a label on him as a potential ticking time bomb. And other colleagues didnt want to be associated with him. He tendered his resignation today.

Never sell your soul to MOE. They never cared about you. So you have to take care of yourself

He can’t be a star performer if he doesn’t know how to say “No” to bosses appropriately and look after himself. “He held on thinking it is a ticket to leadership track” = suggests that he willingly chose to ‘suck it up’ whatever was thrown at him and did not know his own limits.
Someone who is a real “star performer” will know how best their time, energy, and strengths should be utilized, have the moral courage and tact to say “I am afraid I don’t have the capacity to take this piece of work on right now. Can I contribute to it in a different way?” , and work without fear or favour.

If you can’t look after yourself, you can’t look after others. How to lead??

Originally Posted by Unregistered

He can’t be a star performer if he doesn’t know how to say “No” to bosses appropriately and look after himself. “He held on thinking it is a ticket to leadership track” = suggests that he willingly chose to ‘suck it up’ whatever was thrown at him and did not know his own limits.
Someone who is a real “star performer” will know how best their time, energy, and strengths should be utilized, have the moral courage and tact to say “I am afraid I don’t have the capacity to take this piece of work on right now. Can I contribute to it in a different way?” , and work without fear or favour.

If you can’t look after yourself, you can’t look after others. How to lead??

You're quite right in stating how an individual should know how to stand his/her ground.

It's just that sometimes for young officers, rejecting work is seen by their superiors as "not willing to learn" or "not a good team player".

And in different schools, under different KPs and SLs, the culture can be significantly different. Some superiors may even have told such young officers that "taking up opportunities will help in career progression".

And lastly, with the squeeze and slowdown in progression towards higher grades and appointments, where the bar keeps getting raised higher and higher, such cases are only going to become more common.

Sometimes the fault doesn't always lie fully in the young individual, especially when they don't hold much influence or authority yet.

And for those who mentioned about middle and higher management not being able to handle their workload, AT LEAST they're still paid higher for their work. Imagine younger officers doing such work but still with GEO pay

Originally Posted by Unregistered

You're quite right in stating how an individual should know how to stand his/her ground.

It's just that sometimes for young officers, rejecting work is seen by their superiors as "not willing to learn" or "not a good team player".

And in different schools, under different KPs and SLs, the culture can be significantly different. Some superiors may even have told such young officers that "taking up opportunities will help in career progression".

And lastly, with the squeeze and slowdown in progression towards higher grades and appointments, where the bar keeps getting raised higher and higher, such cases are only going to become more common.

Sometimes the fault doesn't always lie fully in the young individual, especially when they don't hold much influence or authority yet.

And for those who mentioned about middle and higher management not being able to handle their workload, AT LEAST they're still paid higher for their work. Imagine younger officers doing such work but still with GEO pay

Yup. In other words, some mid- and senior managers have a very dim view of young officers saying no to a piece of work. It is simply seen as a lack of capacity and potential. Opportunities and CEP will be calibrated accordingly thereafter.

[kindaichi]

anyone gotten an offer in the latest recruitment cycle already?

Originally Posted by kindaichi

anyone gotten an offer in the latest recruitment cycle already?

Not yet. They’ve just rolled out the offers for some of the January batch of applicants. It is a very, very long waiting game.

Anyone teaching in the primary school gifted education programme? How is it like? It is a minimum 3 years commitment

s://.straitstimes.com/singapore/the-average-singapore-teacher-is-getting-older-more-experienced

s://.reddit.com/r/singapore/comments/161kv7o/the_average_singapore_teacher_is_getting_older/?rdt=51171

The ST article isn't really surprising to everyone, but the Reddit comments make things a lot more interesting to read

Originally Posted by Unregistered

s://.straitstimes.com/singapore/the-average-singapore-teacher-is-getting-older-more-experienced

s://.reddit.com/r/singapore/comments/161kv7o/the_average_singapore_teacher_is_getting_older/?rdt=51171

The ST article isn't really surprising to everyone, but the Reddit comments make things a lot more interesting to read

Summary:
650 fresh hires a year, compared to 2000-3000 a year in 2012.

Can foresee median age to rise exponentially with smaller intakes of new teachers, and higher attrition of these new teachers after finishing their bonds.

Does anyone know how schools decide who to put in student leadership? Do these individuals chosen have something about them like the ability to lead and run events or do they just want someone who can deal with all the work that comes?
I Wld reckon that one doesn’t have to be in student leadership to be identified to be a kp?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

You're quite right in stating how an individual should know how to stand his/her ground.

It's just that sometimes for young officers, rejecting work is seen by their superiors as "not willing to learn" or "not a good team player".

And in different schools, under different KPs and SLs, the culture can be significantly different. Some superiors may even have told such young officers that "taking up opportunities will help in career progression".

And lastly, with the squeeze and slowdown in progression towards higher grades and appointments, where the bar keeps getting raised higher and higher, such cases are only going to become more common.

Sometimes the fault doesn't always lie fully in the young individual, especially when they don't hold much influence or authority yet.

And for those who mentioned about middle and higher management not being able to handle their workload, AT LEAST they're still paid higher for their work. Imagine younger officers doing such work but still with GEO pay

Actually after a point in salary, what's the purpose in earning lots of money if you don't get enough sleep, have no time for family, your health suffers. And plus, the work that's done is of a different level where the pressure from the top is a lot more intense. Can't imagine how it's like at that level.