The Paragon - NWET&D - Teacher Development

Should a teacher teach continually or should they go back into industry from time to time?

A Supply Teacher is most likely the better choice for emparting professional experience, current and future technologies within the classroom!

As a 'supply teacher', I have had to teach many subjects, from within the curriculm to the more specialist subjects, this makes me think about current teachers, their experience of teaching subjects relevant to today's needs within industry.

A teacher can spend many years teaching infront of a white marker/projection board, keeping up to date with the older text books that are available at the time, many outdated. What do they know of current problems employer's face?
A Supply teacher with multifaced professional history and experience can be worth their weight in 'GOLD'! Not to be looked down upon...

This lack of industrial or occupational experience is not helping long-term in-house teachers or even the students to prepare themselves for their chosen career's, let alone place confidence into the business minds of industry in the UK.

We have seen many newspaper articles discussing the problems of skills shortage and the slow to respond government on this matter.

Should schools be left to choose their subjects to taylor for regional and national employment based upon employers requirements?

This is open for debate...