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

I've just been for a PGCE interview. Well, two interviews and a little English test. Anyway, the maths course tutor told me he's recommending me for admission in September, which is pretty definite but not officially final. Should get the actual offer letter soon, which means come next year I'll be in classrooms.

Woooo! Congratulations!

Congratulations! What are you studying?

Well done!

PGCE - Postgraduate Certificate in Education. I'll be aiming to teach mathematics in secondary schools.

Thanks for the congratulations. It's kind of exciting.

You silly bugger. What on earth gave you the impression this would be exciting?

B

All those TV ads with lovely smiling pupils?

That's exactly what they *wanted* you to think.

But Mu, don't forget that in Chemistry, you have to teach them boring equations. In Maths they'll get to blow stuff up occasionally, which is well cool, right?

Right?

Oh.

You may be closer to the truth than you think, Vip.

In the United States, one of the best-known terrorists was a brilliant mathematician whose political theories (alas!) were not as brilliant as his math. I think he is in prison for life, so there's no point in counting the days until release.

Call me picky, but the fewer explosions in my classroom the better.

Congrats, Bagpuss.

Here's hoping that there will be *no* explosions in your class or any others.

Ooh. I just checked the GTTR application tracking thingy and I have a conditional offer.

"This offer is subject to you obtaining Award of an honours degree, GCSEs in English language and mathematics at grade C or above or equivalents, and a satisfactory medical report and a satisfactory enhanced disclosure certificate"

Well, I have the first three, and took them along to the interview day, but there was some breakdown in communication because no-one wanted to take the copies I'd made. I did hand in the CRB enhanced disclosure form with suitable ID, so that should be okay. Not sure about the medical report, but I think it's in hand too. I'll see if I get anything in the post today, and phone them if not.

Great! Things are moving in the right direction. Although why anyone would willing place themselves among that many young people is a mystery to me.

A riddle wrapped in a mystery wrapped in an enigma.

"What on earth gave you the impression this would be exciting?"

Ignore him! It is exciting!

Mind you, I speak as someone who has given it up and never intends to go back. But if you need advice from someone with a more comprehensive knowledge of the QTS standards than is good for them, do let me know.

Western civilization as we know it would crumble if people weren't willing to do it. Unless you believe that this has already happened, and can't be restored to its former greatness.

What that a question for me paul? If so, I am well aware that we need teachers. I used to be a teacher. And now I teach teachers. Like some educational relay race, I am passing the baton.

I have great admiration for teachers. I'm just not sure I'd have the patience to be one. Perhaps 40 years ago. And the teachers I know are frustrated that so much time has to be spent on bureaucratic nonsense, as they call it. There's no way to avoid it, apparently. I sympathize because I know how much of my job is spent satisfying one bureaucrat or another and how little time I have to be a librarian.