Can teach, does teach - but shouldn't!

Let me tell you about 'student X'. I say 'student' but in reality 'X' is an ex-student as 'X' took her A levels last year. 'X' did quite well passing Mathematics, Psychology and Politics.

'X' is good with people.

'X' has confidence.

This Easter 'X' went along to a well-known and respected tutorial college in Oxford and offered to teach. 'X' said s/he was attending Brookes University, first year of a Politics degree.

'X' has never ever studied Economics or Business Studies.

Naturally, s/he started teaching...Economics. Then Business Studies and is now teaching 12 hours a week at £22 an hour.

How is it done?

'It's simple' s/he says, 'I just go to websites, copy and paste notes, leave gaps in them, hand them out, read them out and copy diagrams on to the bord. The people I teach now have been failed by their schools and at least they now learn something.'

'X' also prints out exam papers and goes through them.

Slowly, s/he is learning Economics and Business Studies.

Oh yes, 'X' has no work permit, no NI number...and is from Russia. Yes, s/he does speak English. S/he is 19 years old.

Wht does this tell us about the knowledge needed to be a teacher - this day when thousands are on strike?

Comments

[matt]

That people at tutorial college are easy to teach?