If the market you've been in for over 10 years is deteriorating into a race to the bottom, and showing increasing instability, on top of a refusal to do things in new ways (i.e. innovate), would you stick it out?
Or would you look into a new one, possibly even create your own?
This was a dilemma I started to ponder upon 3 years ago. Things were so unpredictable, that I sometimes went months without substantial projects.
And then, the pandemic hit. And projects vapourised, with only vague promises, constant postponements, and non-committal nods.
This was the kick I needed to decide to get out of a market that I'd been clinging on to, both because of fear of the unknown and fond memories.
And thus, I am exiting the school enrichment market (in Singapore).
I would have loved to stay, but there are too many things wrong with it, and too little being done to rectify them.
Perhaps I'll expound on these things in a future post and hope for improvement for the sake of those still in it, but, for now, I'm looking towards a future that is, though still clouded, full of potential.
To those I've worked with, and are still in it, I wish I didn't have to go, but I cannot be part of this swirling maelstrom anymore.
Take heart. Things will eventually look up.
And I'm sure we'll meet again, though likely in different capacities.
This isn't really goodbye.
You Don't Have to Go To Teachers' College To Teach What You Know
Nobody is born knowing how to instruct / teach others.
I suppose that's why there are teachers' colleges and institutes. And, doubtlessly, they produce some excellent educators.
At the same time, most of us won't need to know education history, theory, or philosophy in order to share our know-how with others.
These things certainly have their place and purpose, but they aren't very useful if all I want is to show someone how to do something that I happen to be good at.