transgender teachers

[mina.magpie]

I've wanted to be a teacher for a very long time now. I think it's probably one of the most important, most honourable careers that exist, besides which it is really alot of fun. I spent a year teaching ESL in Taiwan, both at kindi and middle-school levels, and it was quite possibly the best year of my life.

So yeah, I'd love to become a teacher. I have an IT degree, so all I'd really need to do to get started would be to do a PCE (postgraduate certificate in education) which would last a year, and I could start working, and then get a proper teaching/developmental psych qualification while I worked.

But ...

Realistically, what are the chances that I'd be able to find and keep a job? People can be even more irrational than usual when it comes to their kids, and even though I pass well, it's unrealistic to think that I could keep my history private forever.

I live in South Africa, so I realise some details might be location-specific, but I'd love to get everybody's take on this. And if there are any teachers here ... well, expect me to bug you mercilessly for a while.

So, am I being realistic, or should I rather write this up as another one of those: "sorry, you're trans" dreams.

Mina.

[imaz]

I would say go for it Mina. The world needs decent intelligent people like yourself as teachers.

That said you will need to be very strong to control teenagers whatever your gender!

I know a lesbian "hijabi" maths teacher who terrifies her students here in London, she is only little but she has one hell of a mouth on her and no one dares even think about crossing her!

[luna]

I always wanted to be a teacher too.

But realistically, I know I'm too meek to control kids. I have no real advice, but I hope it works out for you. If you have the nerve to handle 'em, good for you.

[mina.magpie]

The world needs decent intelligent people like yourself as teachers.

Aw shucks. *blush*

I think I'd stick to working with kindi and primary-school kiddies - they're much more fun, you can have a much greater impact, and the developmental psychology at that age is just FASCINATING.

Added bonus is that I've already perfected a "marvelously menacing loom" (patent pending) that seems to work much better than the loud shout/snarkinesss demanded for older kids.

Mina.

[hayden.]

So, am I being realistic, or should I rather write this up as another one of those: "sorry, you're trans" dreams.

that's something you should never have to do.
we're like everyone else, just with a different past.
that should not make you unable to do anything that someone born cisgender can.

[Linus]

I've wanted to be a teacher for a very long time now. I think it's probably one of the most important, most honourable careers that exist, besides which it is really alot of fun. I spent a year teaching ESL in Taiwan, both at kindi and middle-school levels, and it was quite possibly the best year of my life.

So yeah, I'd love to become a teacher. I have an IT degree, so all I'd really need to do to get started would be to do a PCE (postgraduate certificate in education) which would last a year, and I could start working, and then get a proper teaching/developmental psych qualification while I worked.

But ...

Realistically, what are the chances that I'd be able to find and keep a job? People can be even more irrational than usual when it comes to their kids, and even though I pass well, it's unrealistic to think that I could keep my history private forever.

I live in South Africa, so I realise some details might be location-specific, but I'd love to get everybody's take on this. And if there are any teachers here ... well, expect me to bug you mercilessly for a while.

So, am I being realistic, or should I rather write this up as another one of those: "sorry, you're trans" dreams.

Mina.

I don't think it's that impossible. I've taught at college and corporation levels (presently teaching to corporations and transitioning on the job). So far it's been a positive experience. I think the older the student, the less of the knee-jerk response you'll get. In fact, you'll probably get identified more for ability than gender at that point. Case in point to a recent comment made in my blog by a student I taught in October (I was only about 3-4 months on T at that point and just starting my transition at that point http://www.syrlinus.com/?p=728):

Hello, Linus... I was one of the students in your VMWare class in Charleston last October. I stumbled across your blog from some other links and when I saw this entry, with the comment that your biggest fear is work, I thought I should leave a message. You were a wonderful instructor in our class and we still use the things you taught us every day — that was one of the best instructor-led courses I've ever taken. You engage and challenge your students, you leave them with more knowledge than when you found them, you're an amazing and gifted teacher and it makes me very sorry to think that you would ever have to worry about your job. If you were judged just on your skill and merits, you'd never have a moment's uneasiness. You're absolutely terrific at what you do.

So, it's a very realistic dream IMO. I know of at least 2-3 grade school transguys who are educators and I can't imagine that it'd be that much different (although I know I'm assuming here) for transwomen to also teach.

[Jaimey]

I think a lot of it depends on when you're transitioning.  If you're already living as a woman, then I think you'll be fine.  It's when a teacher transitions and comes back to the same school that parents start throwing fits (and the kids are generally fine with it...you'd think people would listen to students from time to time).

I say go for it!  The world needs good teachers!

[Darlene]

There is a teacher here who is a member of Susans. Her name is Chaunte, she transitioned on the job.

[Jester]

I'm going for teaching too, and the prospect of how that might go terrifies me sometimes.  I hope it works out for you, because that'd give hope to me.

[myles]

I volunteer a lot at my kids school including teaching in the after school program.  I am going to stay in one class for a few more weeks too see how it goes but for the most part (PTA, After school program)  have stepped away until next year when my transition is a bit closer to done (lifelong process I know). It's hard the kids could care less I get called Mr. Michelle a lot and had a kid ask me the other day , "I forgot are you a girl or a boy". It's the parents that make it hard they are the judgemental ones who may not want you around their children. I have the same reservations you do and look forward to a post from Chaunte. At this point I am sort of in limbo until next year.
Myles

[Nigella]

Had to reply to this, I was a teacher and I had a terrific interview and was considered top of the list for any school that was coming up that needed my subject. However once I approached my union and the educational department of the council I was working for about my GID and intentions I was dropped like a stone. They said all the right things to my face but never got the phone call.

I was a good teacher and well liked by my colleagues and my last school senior management team were and still are supportive and give me references when needed. I was in secondary education. I now work with adults.

Also pupils can be very cruel and I know of one teacher who literally had to leave the school she was teaching in because of her transition. It was the pupils that made her life hell. I also personally know of another teacher after training was also drooped like a stone. Educational departments make all the right sounds because they have to but they will and have found excuses to not employ you. These are the gatekeepers that have stopped really talented transexual people continuing or entering the teaching profession because of their blinkered prejudice. Sorry to be negative and I expect there are stories of successes out there. It may be different in other parts of the world.

Personally I would work with adults as I do now. Just my experiences that I thought I should share.

Stardust