I know it has been a while since I last posted, but it was because I have had some very busy months. I graduated from the University of Ottawa, I spent a month in Austin, Texas with my boyfriend, I worked and took an online course in Ottawa, and looked for a teaching job. Luckily I was offered a position to teach the second grade part-time (so 4 afternoons and 1 morning), but unfortunately it wasn't in Ottawa.
The old saying of it's not what you know but who you know certainly rang true during my search for a permanent position. I was pretty adament about not wanting to be a substitute for a year even though it is great experience for anyone who is starting out. I just didn't like the aspect of going into someone else's class and trying to teach their students, however, finding a permanent position was no easy task. Most of the students that got offered a position knew someone either within the school or the administration. In Ottawa, I had very few connections, which is why I also focused on Manitoba, where I knew quite a few teachers. It definitely got me noticed, but it does make me feel sad that a person is rarely given the chance to show their skills before being cast aside for a friend of the family. It makes me wonder how many good teachers get passed over and how many weaker ones get hired?
