Another year and, like any year there’s a public call for Secondary English teachers, particularly in Madrid but also in all the other Autonomous Regions in Spain, Poppies experiences bitter-sweet moments.
Another year: first, the sweet moments
Allow me to start first with the sweet moments. My congratulations to all the face-to-face and online students I know have passed to the second part of the competitive exam in 2018 in:
- Madrid: Rubén, Tamara, Sandra, Cristina S, Jorge, Cristina A, Patricia A, Ana J, Marta S, Oscar, Bea G, Elena G and Elena R.
- Castilla León: Cristina and Lidia.
- Castilla La Mancha: Cristina.
- Canarias: also Tami in Canarias who, although has not followed the Poppies Courses has used the materials I have written and published with 7Editores-MAD
My strong recommendations to them
I know that Cristina, Lidia, Tami and one or two others are having the presentation of their rationale and unit today. These recommendations come a bit late for them. In some cases, I’ve told them personally. For those who haven’t done it yet: be yourself in your presentation. Defend your syllabus because it is yours, and your units because you designed them yourself. Remember what others who were in your position in previous years recommended!!!
and another year of bitter moments
Happy as I am with the success of those who have passed to the second round, I am also sad for those who have not passed. And I feel, with them, bitter at a process which is not as transparent as it should be.
Disagreements about how the process is run
Today, teachers in Madrid were expressing their disagreement about how the process is run.
A few days ago, the candidates in Murcia were doing the same.
There are rumors that the Administration in the different Autonomous Regions did not want to fill all the places on offer. Now, I don’t know how much of this is true or false. I do know that a lot of good teachers have not passed. They had been working hard to combine their complex work in the classroom with the preparation for this exam. And despite risking their way of life, they did not leave the interests of their students aside.
I also know that the teachers who are members of the panels try to be as even as they can. I know some of them and I have full trust in them.
This is not the only year
I remember back in 2006 when the exam -or part of it- was the same as one of the “samples” from an Academy.
Something similar happened in 2014 if I remember rightly.
Then in 2015 and in 2016 some of those who deserved to pass did not. Why they didn’t, I am not 100% sure in some cases.
I will examine the exam in detail and the answers of those who have trusted me with them to see if I can make sense and give you an explanation. I still do not know why the exams and their expected answers are not made public when the exams are over. I think it would help us all.
My wishes for all of you
In any case, those who are not in the second round, don’t give up. Try another year. Success is for those who persist.
Those who have made it to the second round, give it all out. And I hope that next week I can congratulate all of you again! Good luck and good week.
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