Teaching workload

I have to agree with Hugo van Stratum (letters, Nov 11). The paperwork required of early childhood teachers is horrific!

I worked in early childhood for over 40 years and spent 10 years relieving. I would go to centres and see teachers making notes and taking photos to satisfy some bureaucrat that might read these in the future. They weren’t working with the children.

Some time ago teachers’ colleges were closed and you have teachers coming out full of theory and not many practical skills in working with groups of children.

I think back to my early days of teaching and we had such fun with the children. We were working with them all the time.

Many of the children I taught have gone on to have very successful careers.

I would discourage anyone from going into early childhood teaching these days as the workload is horrific. I am not surprised they are having trouble getting teachers.

Sharyn Bowen, Lower Hutt [abridged]