h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I think you need to consider where you want to end up teaching. If you want to teach in small rural areas you might want to be more careful about how you come out. Not that rural schools are *necessarily more homophobic but you will have less choice in transfer if there are problems than if you are in a big city.

Can you talk to the teacher's union where-ever you are and ask them what kind of problems there's been at the employment level?

I reckon that's the best bit of advice so far! Talk to the union - they'll probably have a dedicated LGBT group who can advise you.

I think my comments might have been taken out of context...

...ok, so I might only *know* about 3 gay men and I may have got that wrong. I hold my hands up to that.

What I was trying to say is be yourself at interviews, if you find you're not getting the job, try a different approach and see if that works.

At the end of the day, you're wanting to become a teacher and it shouldn't matter about your personal circumstances.

Morning all,

About 50 years ago I was taught by a wonderful old chap, who I now realise was homosexually inclined . I use that phrasde because back then 'gay' meant 'happy'!

He was a brilliant teacher,and his sexuality was NEVER a problem.His only failing, in a 600 boys Royal Grammar School was being prone to cry gently when we sung "Jerusalem" at morning assembly.

I would have no problem with my grandchildren being taught by anyone at all - the only requirement is the ability to light the fire of curiosity and interest in the kids within the sublects they are taught.

As to colleagues , Kea and Raymondo have probably ofered the best practical advice. For my own part , In you shoes I would walk softly , don't broadcast ,and don't lie . See how the land lies i your first staffroom.

GO AND TEACH - THE BEST WAY YOU CAN

Novo

As Raymondo said almost all Unions have LGBT sections and usually have "equality" or "diversity" officers at local or branch level so decide who you are oging to join (presumably the NUT or the Nasties) and speak the the constituency/branch secretary of that union in your area and they shuold be able to give you some good and practical advise.

Cheers guys, you've all made me feel a bit better. The kids aren't an issue, all tthe time I've been working with kids I've had a 'no personal information' rule - I don't talk about sex in any way, don't talk about drinking, smoking or drug-taking, it's just unprofessional in my eyes and I don't have a problem with that continuing. It wasn't that long ago since I was a kid myself and we thought almost all the male staff were gay at one time or another.

It was more colleagues, at the moment I don't broadcast my sexuality, but I will talk about it if the situation arises, it's really no big deal, though people always act surprised. I like having that freedom, and I'd be loath to lose it. It shouldn't be the case that I'm thinking about this in this day and age, but kids are always a special case where people lose their ability to be rational, and I don't think I'd be so concerned in any other environment.

I think the thing that counts is that right now, just as I'm preparing to teach a class as part of a placement I'm on, I know I'm gonna be a kick-ass teacher, little unimportant things like sexuality aren't really going to stop me

- although you should probably know that ass-kicking is somewhat frowned upon these days

Unless it's the kids kicking the teacher then that's ok because kids have rights and teachers aren't allowed to touch the little darlings. Don't get me going.

Good luck with your career, you'll deserve a medal.

Darlings? I'm "a joy to teach" and I wouldn't describe myself as a little darling. I'm definitely little, but darling?

Thank you just leave the apple on the table.

thanks roymondo but it didn't actually tell me what PSHE stands for.....

You'd think they'd explain the acronym in their own bleedin' website!

But a little further Googling reveals:

http://www.qca.org.uk/7835.html

Personal, Social & Health Education.

thanks - I don't have a lot of time at the mo, hence I didn't google for myself.

Strange lesson... I wish we'd had them

They're not much fun, really. Teachers talking about embarrasing subjects (which they're often not informed about in detail), students not seeing them as a "real" lesson: it adds up to fraught teachers and poor lessons. (They especially tend to be noisy.)

PSHE is being phased out and being replaced by Citizenship. While citizenship could potentially have many of the same flaws as PSHE (it's compulsory but non-assessed and the kids know it) but it has the scope to be amazing, if done well as some of the subjects involved are really interesting and teachers have the freedom to actually teach

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I remember back in my school days there was a particularly unapproachable, unpopular, uncharismatic, overweight and tight shirted porcine middle aged sweaty male teacher who had the unbelievable task of talking through the concept of 'condoms' one lesson in social studies. After several minutes of pained discourse it culminated in him extracting one from its packaging and then showing the class how to 'wear one' with the use of two fingers. I don't know who was the more embarrassed or distressed by the experience, him, or us.

I would have no problems at all with someone "gay" teaching my children.Irrespective of your your sexuality,just be yourself,,and enjoy your job!

I'd absolutely love it if I was taught by a gay teacher. I probably was, a few times. If so, I didn't notice.

Seems to me that everyone is talking about wether it should be a problem, not wether it would be a problem. I also don´t see that the children should know enough about your personal life to know if you are gay. But it might be different when it comes to other teachers and the parents. Some parents may well dislike their kid be taught bz a gay teacher, wether they are entitled to or not. And even if you can get the law on your side, it might be a lot of hassle. Again, depends on what kind of area you are teaching.

I wouldn't mind my kids to be taught by a gay teacher. However, my daughter (15) would mind and as far as I know kids can be really cruel. If any of your colleauges will have a problem with thatthey'd probably send out the rumours asap to make your life as miserable as possible. Adults can be really mean.