I have a trailing spouse and 2 small children. Currently working in Saudi but by the time my children are school age we want to be out of the Middle East. It was difficult getting interviews with a trailing spouse - places like China and Korea just were not interested. Adding children to the 'mix' seemed to sink my chances last year.
Is it time to get out of international teaching - go home or find some where to call home? We are thinking of Europe (my passport allows me to work/settle in the EU).
Opportunities for teachers with a trailing family seem to be thin on the ground and another major factor for us is their safety and quality of life. Before too long we feel they should be more settled, making friends and having undisturbed schooling. Time to call it quits or are there still options?
Is it time to leave international schools?
Reply
I have to think if your in the ME and didnt get interest from SK or China you really werent very competitive. How much experience do you have and whats your resume? Money isnt much of a problem at top tier/elite schools and their HR departments have no problem processing a couple of visas. Still if I have two candidates that are otherwise equal im going to have a hard time justifying the tuition waivers for one with 2 kids verses a single teacher or teaching couple. A tuition waiver is worth about $10K each, why eat that expense? Well seldom are teachers equal, but top tier schools usually dont have a shortage of candidates to choose from.
Most ITs have about a 6 year cycle, but your going to be an expensive logistical hire no matter who you are. Are things going to be better for you in Europe, do you have schools interested in hiring you there? If your a marketable teacher your marketable anywhere. Why not stay in the ME?
Most ITs have about a 6 year cycle, but your going to be an expensive logistical hire no matter who you are. Are things going to be better for you in Europe, do you have schools interested in hiring you there? If your a marketable teacher your marketable anywhere. Why not stay in the ME?
Europe possibilities
Hi nomad
What subject do you teach and do you have IB experience?
What subject do you teach and do you have IB experience?
Isn't a tuition waiver a cost to the school only if the school is at capacity. If it's growing and has space it costs them nothing.
Also, what do you mean by a six year cycle. Do you mean the entire staff will turn over in that time? Most of the teachers at our school stay a couple of years and leave, but there are some that have been here six or seven. I'm in the middle.
Also, what do you mean by a six year cycle. Do you mean the entire staff will turn over in that time? Most of the teachers at our school stay a couple of years and leave, but there are some that have been here six or seven. I'm in the middle.
Trailing spouse and kids
In my school we have a number of staff with non-teaching spouses and school age children. I think our school likes to have a mix as teachers with children in the school displays to the parents our commitment to the life of the school. I think if the OP is not too specific or fussy about location, they would find a school that is a good fit for them.
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Rhysboy
I think the OP is thinking more about the effect on his kids - is it good for them to have to uproot and move schools every few years?
It is a very transient lifestyle being an international school teacher as we all know and I wonder if it's to the benefit of children to be constantly moving around leaving their friends behind?
It is a very transient lifestyle being an international school teacher as we all know and I wonder if it's to the benefit of children to be constantly moving around leaving their friends behind?
The answer might be to move less often. If you leave the international scene, you still have to put the kids through at least 1 more move, and even then you can't guarantee that wherever you go will be their last house move or their last school. Back home, chances are they'll move from school to school as they age, so you don't get away from that just by being in your home country.
On the other hand, you could choose to stay where you are for a good long stretch, even until your children graduate, though that's longer than most stay. Or plan for just a couple moves along the way, perhaps every 6 years or so.
There are big benefits to students living internationally. It gives them a perspective they can never ever ever get if they grow up in the country of their citizenship. There are also some downsides, but those can be managed. Read Third Culture Kids and figure out what is most important to you and best for your kids.
Personally I find TCKs and TCAs much more interesting and generally fulfilled people than the general population. Of all the international students I've known, all grew from the experience, and none regretted it. None pined for a 'normal' life.
On the other hand, you could choose to stay where you are for a good long stretch, even until your children graduate, though that's longer than most stay. Or plan for just a couple moves along the way, perhaps every 6 years or so.
There are big benefits to students living internationally. It gives them a perspective they can never ever ever get if they grow up in the country of their citizenship. There are also some downsides, but those can be managed. Read Third Culture Kids and figure out what is most important to you and best for your kids.
Personally I find TCKs and TCAs much more interesting and generally fulfilled people than the general population. Of all the international students I've known, all grew from the experience, and none regretted it. None pined for a 'normal' life.
Comment
I should have explained better. A 6 year cycle means that an IT makes 3 jums between schools, each school/jum having a 2 year contract comes out to about 6 years. There are many scenarios but for example you start at a tier 2 school in China, move to a tier 1 school in China, then to a Tier 1 (non elite) school in Japan. In general you can move up one tier, over one region (to a more desirable one) or up one step in leadership role. Its usually the 3 jump/6th year that an IT is somewhere they are really comfortable at.
Waivers are only really expenses if the school is at capacity, is projected to reach capacity in a giver period (either year or contract period) or if increased enrollment triggers other regulatory costs. In this scenario, that situation is likely to be very true. European schools outside the top tier schools tend to be small, and anything other then a 3rd tier school is very likely to be at or near projected capacity. While 3rd tier schools would have more enrollment margin, the OP doesnt seem interested in enrolling their children in such a school which precluded 3rd tier schools from being a practical option.
Waivers are only really expenses if the school is at capacity, is projected to reach capacity in a giver period (either year or contract period) or if increased enrollment triggers other regulatory costs. In this scenario, that situation is likely to be very true. European schools outside the top tier schools tend to be small, and anything other then a 3rd tier school is very likely to be at or near projected capacity. While 3rd tier schools would have more enrollment margin, the OP doesnt seem interested in enrolling their children in such a school which precluded 3rd tier schools from being a practical option.
Replies
I am a fully qualified Library Media Specialist with 20+ years experience plus IB experience. I have worked in 4 international schools, currently in a Tier 1 school.
I didn't have much luck with my applications in Asia -I lost out twice to 'local hires' - expats already in China -according to the schools. Korea were not interested because I have a family and my wife is not a teacher and they did not want to provide visas/housing for families. With the exception of Manila I am no longer interested in a career in Asia and am looking more towards Germany, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands. Possibly the UK.
With regard to our children's future I think Europe offers the best opportunities. Frankly, I don't see them getting a great education in Middle East schools and in any case my wife and I are within 5 years of our tolerance limit for this region! After finally getting into a well regarded tier 1 school I think this will be a boost to my resume after serving time in a couple of pretty mediocre schools. I am thinking ahead to my fifth or sixth year here when we will want to move on.
My kids are pre-school age so we can consider staying put for 5 years or so but once they are ready for school we want to be settled and not uproot them every couple of years. The Middle East does not offer job security or the quality of life we want for them later. Many IS in the Middle East are predominantly for local kids - in my experience - and expat kids can get a raw deal from fellow students - no family wasta, no local ties, local racism towards outsiders etc. We feel that Europe has more to offer - so I could either return to the UK or work in international schools in Germany, Sweden, wherever. If all goes to plan we can look to buy a place outright once settled so renting/accommodation is not an issue.
Since European schools don't provide housing they seem more open to hiring staff with families. Whether they provide education places is another matter.
I didn't have much luck with my applications in Asia -I lost out twice to 'local hires' - expats already in China -according to the schools. Korea were not interested because I have a family and my wife is not a teacher and they did not want to provide visas/housing for families. With the exception of Manila I am no longer interested in a career in Asia and am looking more towards Germany, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands. Possibly the UK.
With regard to our children's future I think Europe offers the best opportunities. Frankly, I don't see them getting a great education in Middle East schools and in any case my wife and I are within 5 years of our tolerance limit for this region! After finally getting into a well regarded tier 1 school I think this will be a boost to my resume after serving time in a couple of pretty mediocre schools. I am thinking ahead to my fifth or sixth year here when we will want to move on.
My kids are pre-school age so we can consider staying put for 5 years or so but once they are ready for school we want to be settled and not uproot them every couple of years. The Middle East does not offer job security or the quality of life we want for them later. Many IS in the Middle East are predominantly for local kids - in my experience - and expat kids can get a raw deal from fellow students - no family wasta, no local ties, local racism towards outsiders etc. We feel that Europe has more to offer - so I could either return to the UK or work in international schools in Germany, Sweden, wherever. If all goes to plan we can look to buy a place outright once settled so renting/accommodation is not an issue.
Since European schools don't provide housing they seem more open to hiring staff with families. Whether they provide education places is another matter.