BY COLM BRADLEY

Teaching. A handy number I think we can all agree. Especially teaching younger kids. Read them a few stories, let them mess about with some paint and send them off home at lunch time. What could be an easier job than that? Well, there is a lot more to it than that, preparation, patience and a want to teach although it is true to say that for some it could be argued that teaching is not really a job. Leanne Grainger is one of those people. No, for Leanne and for many others teaching is a vocation.

Leanne, from Trillick, teaches Primary two and three in St Mary's Mullymesker. Now in her second year teaching she explains that it is seeing the children learn and grow as well as the fact that no two days are ever the same that makes her believe that hers is truly a dream 'job.'

"I would have to admit that I am very lucky. I love coming to work. Working with children is just great," Leanne told the Herald before going onto to elaborate;

"I mean like anybody we can have our off days and sometimes I come in to work feeling a bit grumpy but one of the children will say something or do something which may seem like nothing but it can lift your whole spirit."

Leanne is a perfect example of the many paths that one can take into teaching. Her first degree, which took three years at Queens University, was in psychology and following that she embarked on a years post graduate teaching degree which led her onto the teaching path.

"I was always interested in psychology and specifically child psychology and it was during my first degree that I felt a strong urge to work with children. I was torn between educational psychology and teaching but eventually I decided on the latter."

Whatever Leanne's specific career would be it was evident that it was also going to involve working with children.

"Looking back I suppose it was a little obvious. I have always been involved in working with young people. Whether it be at a summer scheme or with troubled teenagers and even before I began to teach I had a fair bit of experience working within a wide age range of kids."

So now that she is a teacher what does Leanne consider to be the necessary qualities for her profession? There is no hesitation as she answers with a laugh; "A sense of humour, endless patience and above all else the desire to work with children."

There have been changes in the teaching profession over the last number of years. New teachers now have to undergo three years of induction and developmental work. This includes taking courses, having lessons assessed and introducing new extra curricular activities for the school.

Last year, her first year in the job, Leanne took part in the now mandatory 'teachers induction year.' Not exactly a probation year but more a means to assess the progress of new teachers and offer the much needed support and guidance that any worker needs embarking on a new career.

"I have been very lucky. The support I have received from the staff and the parents has been brilliant. It is a great little school with a real community feel to it. I could not ask for better."

This year she has commenced a two year process called 'Early Professional Development.'

"This involves going on courses and perhaps setting up one of two things in the school. At the minute I am toying with the idea of E- Twinning the school with another school in Europe. This means that the children could e-mail other the children in their twinned school and learn about their lives and their different culture," Leanne explained.

It seems that Leanne has landed in a career which she both loves and was destined for, and seeing her in the classroom it is obvious that the kids all love Miss Grainger too.

"I have been very lucky. The support I have received from the staff and the parents has been brilliant. It is a great little school with a real community feel to it. I could not ask for better."

But what about this perceived handy life. Come on Leanne, tell us the truth, are you home with the feet up at 4:00;

"What! You must be joking, I didn't leave the school until 6:00 any day last week!."