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UK: From expulsion to teaching

A man who hated school and was expelled 15 years ago prepares to return - as a teacher.

Fifteen years ago David Wilson-Stonestreet's academic career was non-existent.

Having failed his GCSEs he was expelled from school, with a reputation for low-level disruption his only lasting impression.

But this time next year the 32-year-old father will be ready to return.

By then, David, who lives in Redcar, Teesside, should be a qualified English teacher.

He hopes to use his unusual experiences to inspire even the most unenthusiastic children.

'Patronising teachers'

Growing up in Upminster, Essex, David hated school.

He said: "I couldn't get into the environment. It seemed I didn't have the academic ability to get through. I had no interest.

"It was a very different place from home, where I could discuss anything in a free-thinking way.

"At school, the teachers were quite patronising. When I first turned up I had to put up my hand to speak, which I found odd.

"I never really got into school and didn't develop the literacy or numeracy skills I should have. I felt a lot of stress. I was frustrated.

"When I look back it seems I had no self-esteem. I think I just wore a mask. I didn't want it to seem like I cared, like I was bothered.

"The harder I was pushed and confronted, the more I resisted and I got stuck in a rut.

"Eventually I got in with a disillusioned crowd and was expelled."

After this, David got a job as a care worker, which took him to Wellington, New Zealand, at the age of 24.

While there, he met his wife Kirstie and they had a daughter, Grace.

The family returned to England four years ago.

Kirstie's faith

David said: "I felt a failure to Grace. I had no academic belief in myself.

"But Kirstie did have faith in me and told me she thought I'd make a good teacher. She pushed me into devising a five-year plan for myself."

The first part of the plan was to return to education.

In one year David passed three GCSEs and a university access course at Middlesbrough College, while still working 20 hours a week as a carer.

He said: "Studying the GCSEs was the hardest thing. It was like going back in time.

"I'd never done homework before. But I was hugely inspired by my access tutor, Ian Jones, and my confidence grew when I started to get good marks."

One more year

After college, David went to Teesside University, where he achieved an upper-second-class degree in English and media this summer.

Now he is off to Durham University in September for a year's teacher training.

David said: "As a carer I worked my way up but there was nowhere else to go. I want a career where there is scope for continual improvement.

"But while I was a carer I learned a lot about language, communication and even how to write reports.

"I also had to show compassion for those I was caring for, which I rarely had at school.

"My internal motivation is to be a compassionate, caring teacher."

After an absence of 15 years, David cannot wait to get back into school.

"What I noticed when I did my degree was how determined I was. I spoke to some of the 21-year-olds on my course and some weren't sure why they were there: I was.

"I have a background in working with people who have challenging behaviour. I want to work in some of the more hardcore schools.

"I believe I'm capable of engaging with a class that others don't want to touch with a barge pole."

David's eventual aim is to become an education counsellor, dealing with badly behaved and disillusioned pupils across several schools.

He said: "If you create a resistance in a person they have no alternative but to fight back. I want to create a positive environment for all kids. No kid is all bad.

"My parents think what I've done is amazing. They're really, really proud that I'm the first in the family to get a degree.

"Mum said I needed to live before I could learn. Without Kirstie's support and belief in me I couldn't have achieved any of this."

Posted by: SoulRiser
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Posted in: News on August 15, 2006 @ 12:00 AM

Tags: School

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