MUSINGS OF ASPIRATION

I got involved with the Association of Teachers and Lecturers - one of the teaching unions, by default really.  I started to attend the free CPD training sessions organised by the union and by getting to know organisers and other attendees I became more involved.  I have written blogs about some of the events I have attended here and here.  Future blogs will be tagged as ATL and ATLFuture.  

 

But why did I agree?

 

I agreed to get involved because I want to stay in teaching once I'm qualified, and unions are one way that I see that I can do this.  I don't mean directly - though if the unions work together and are strong enough, they can impact policy and affect governmental decisions.  The reason I got involved, and stay involved, is the people.  I am convinced that to be successful as a teacher you not only need a personal learning network (PLN) for continued professional development (which is increasingly difficult to receive via schools where you work) but a personal support network (PSN) is also required.  I do not imply that unions are the only place you can develop this, and your support network should not be limited to colleagues and peers; however, people in education understand the pressures others in education are under.  I have developed supportive friendships, which enable me to access other professionals with entirely different experiences and backgrounds.  These professional relationships can offer alternate perspectives to situations - which can only be a good thing.

 

The events I have attended so far have been an equal mix of discussing policy and campaigns, followed with social time.  I do not consider myself to be a political person, however, I am also not someone who will sit back if they are able to make a difference and help people.  I see my involvement with ATL as just that: making a difference, to hopefully have a positive impact on others lives.  Again, I may be naive, and I may not continue to be as involved once I have graduated, but at the moment my involvement with the ATL has only been a positive experience with a distinct sense of making a difference.