A teacher's day
In Het Gooi, students and potential lateral entrants join the primary school for a day. “My own primary school days were actually just a lot of fun. Maybe I want to go back to that feeling.”
Picture: Fred van Diem
The toddlers of the Paulusschool in Hilversum work hard from half past eight. Per table with five to six children there is a bowl of apples ready that all have to be peeled for the applesauce. The teacher will prepare the applesauce on a stove in the classroom. Annick van den Hemel (17) has joined one of the tables to help peel. She is in havo 5 at Alberdingk Thijm College and probably wants to go to teacher training next year.
“I think I want to become a primary school teacher, but I don't know which group yet. I've participated in this walk-along day before and I've only been with the toddlers. Today I am also in front of the other groups and I am especially curious about groups 3 and 4.”
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A few classrooms away, Tamar Jagersma (17) listens in on the math instructions for groups 5 and 6. As soon as the children start working for themselves, a student immediately asks her to help. “It went well for me because I recognized the sums of my own primary school days.” Tamar is in VWO 5, also at the Alberdingk Thijm College and is already orienting herself on a follow-up study.
“I'm hesitating between the PABO and a course to become a history teacher. Teaching people things, that's what it's going to be anyway, I think. When I was in primary school myself, I also helped classmates if they didn't understand something. My great role model and hero is my own 8th grade teacher. She was smart, calm and such a wonderful person. That's how I want to be later. My entire primary school days were actually just really fun. Maybe I want to go back to that feeling that attracts me so much to education.”
Immediately after the math instruction, students ask Tamar Jagersma (4 vwo) for help. “My great example and hero is my own 8th grade teacher.” Image: Fred van Diem
Edith van Meningen, director of the Paulusschool, hears that reason more often. “Or the other way around, that someone has had a less fun time at school and wants to protect other children from that.” It is the second time that her school participates in the campaign for all primary schools in the region. In addition to three secondary school students, a lateral entrant is also participating today.
A day like this is much needed, because the teacher shortage continues to be felt
Van Meningen: “We have made a schedule so that they rotate and have seen all the groups at the end of the day. A day like this is much needed, because the teacher shortage continues to be felt. That is why it is important to make as many people as possible enthusiastic about the profession.”
Rosalyn Visser (17) is full of enthusiasm. She stands in front of group 3 and 4 with a big smile. “The nice thing so far is that they really treat me like a teacher. They shout 'Miss, Miss!' all the time. I also coach a hockey team with girls around the age of eight, so I already have some experience. Today's purpose is purely to orientate, because I have not yet decided what I want to do after secondary school. Pabo or journalism: I'm hesitating between that."
Doubters
The initiative for the 'Doe een dag Leerkracht' campaign comes from Saskia Makker, who, together with other boards in Het Gooi, is involved in the regional approach to staff shortages in primary education. “Because in my position I am also responsible for the secondary schools in the region, the connection between primary and secondary education was quickly made. Because how nice is it to let the students who are in their final year already feel what it is like to be in front of the class? And we're not just talking about the students who want to go to the teacher training college, but everyone who is curious about the profession. That is why we have made the campaign as accessible as possible.”
This is the most ideal way to experience whether education is something for me
After a successful first edition in May of this year, they decided to repeat the day in October. It was tackled on a grand scale with a poster campaign in Het Gooi and media attention. “May was not such a good month, because the study choice had already been made by many students of the exam classes. In October, the chance that the final decision has not yet been made is greater. Just like the chance that we can convince doubters to opt for the PABO after all. What is also striking is that there is great interest from lateral entrants. The ratio of students to lateral entrants was fifty-fifty at the last edition.” In total, about sixty people have registered to spend a day at one of the dozens of registered primary schools.
Rosalyn Visser (5 havo): “The nice thing so far is that they really treat me like a teacher.” Image: Fred van Diem
The lateral entrant who is joining the Paulusschool today is clearly different from the students. She works focused, has a clear goal for today and asks many work-related, practical questions to the principal and the other teachers. She started the day for groups 7 and 8 and wants to remain anonymous, because her current employer still knows nothing.
“I've been walking around with the idea of switching to education for a while now. One afternoon when I was waiting in a bus shelter in Het Gooi and saw a billboard with a poster of the campaign Do a Day Teacher, it was a real aha experience. I immediately requested a day off at work and signed up. It certainly doesn't disappoint me so far. This is the most ideal way to experience whether education is right for me.”
Last push
Tamar says at the end of the day that she enjoyed teaching the toddlers the most. “You have to explain everything to toddlers. Raise a little and learn less material than with the other groups. And above all, they are very cute. When they entered, they asked who I was. I replied that I want to be a teacher and then they hugged me. So sweet. The day definitely helped me a lot to make a choice. I already wanted to go to the teacher training college, but now I'm sure. For me this also works better than an open day, that way you really see what it is like.”
Annick also goes home enthusiastically. “In the end, I liked groups 3 and 4 the most. Because I was allowed to do a lot there, such as giving a dictation and helping with math.” The teacher's day just gave Annick that last push, because the very next day she signed up for an open day of the teacher training college. “The ball has really started rolling now. I'm going to be a teacher."
Read and sign the manifesto: Every child a qualified teacher in 2030. Also read other articles about it teacher shortage on this site.
