Having read the letter from Alan about
becoming despondant I thought I would write
with a bit of hope. I am a "mature"
English teacher. I started my first
placement last September and was offered a
job in the school I was placed at. The
system in England dictates that we have to
make two placements in order to gain the
teaching qualification that I was trying to
obtain. However the school I am at offered
to train me on the job. There are good
days and bad days. Some days I wonder why
I am there! But to others trying to get
into the profession I would say do not give
up hope. Schools need us, the more mature
teacher coming new to the job from industry
or even parenthood can offer so much that
can not be learnt in a university classroom.
Don't give up trying.!!

Fiona Williams, fiona5@nascr.net,
4/02/00

This month's letters: