employment opportunities for a school psychologist

[frogblogger]

Advice and knowledge shared on this forum is there to be absorbed or ignored. Your responses (or lack of) in this forum speak volumes. In particular the very childish and unfounded assertion that I do not know what an educational psychologist does. I described a individual set of circumstances to you that resulted in my spending a considerable amount of time with the professionals involved. Learning difficulties, unsurprisingly, can result from emotional trauma. I was also stepfather to a child diagnosed with 'special needs' in the UK, and the psychologist involved, fresh out of university and full of theories, attempted to have him sent to a special school because of his alleged learning disability. I did not concur, he remained at his school, and has just this year completed his doctorate. You have picked the wrong person to attempt to patronise.

A French college headmaster, unsurprisingly, knows the actual situation on the ground, not the one an American student is googling on the Internet. And once again you fail to address the key issue I raised - the fact that your mother tongue is English.

It astounds me that you seems to consider the language situation to be no impediment to effectively doing your job. I actually find that rather reprehensible. And the suggestion that were a "huge number" of qualified educational psychologists to become available, the French state would be delighted and employ them on the spot is risible. Clearly you know nothing about this country.

I don't know how old you are, but your responses so far indicate to me a lack of maturity.

[xveruskax]

Originally Posted by frogblogger

Advice and knowledge shared on this forum is there to be absorbed or ignored. Your responses (or lack of) in this forum speak volumes. In particular the very childish and unfounded assertion that I do not know what an educational psychologist does. I described a individual set of circumstances to you that resulted in my spending a considerable amount of time with the professionals involved. Learning difficulties, unsurprisingly, can result from emotional trauma. I was also stepfather to a child diagnosed with 'special needs' in the UK, and the psychologist involved, fresh out of university and full of theories, attempted to have him sent to a special school because of his alleged learning disability. I did not concur, he remained at his school, and has just this year completed his doctorate. You have picked the wrong person to attempt to patronise.

A French college headmaster, unsurprisingly, knows the actual situation on the ground, not the one an American student is googling on the Internet. And once again you fail to address the key issue I raised - the fact that your mother tongue is English.

It astounds me that you seems to consider the language situation to be no impediment to effectively doing your job. I actually find that rather reprehensible. And the suggestion that were a "huge number" of qualified educational psychologists to become available, the French state would be delighted and employ them on the spot is risible. Clearly you know nothing about this country.

I don't know how old you are, but your responses so far indicate to me a lack of maturity.

You clearly have a grudge against educational psychologists.
I'm deeply sorry you had a bad experience with one.

[frogblogger]

Originally Posted by xveruskax

You clearly have a grudge against educational psychologists.
I'm deeply sorry you had a bad experience with one.

I have had excellent relationships with a couple of others who were instrumental in challenging the views of one who needed to reappraise his choice of career.

If that is your considered professional opinion, based on zero evidence and knowing very little about me, then clearly you are on the wrong career path too.

Lack of response to my points noted.

[Bevdeforges]

I'm not at all sure where the idea comes from that there is a crying need for school psychologists in France. The sources I've seen all say that the shortage is in positions for newly graduated would-be school psychologists.

The government is currently attempting to cut back positions in the public schools (and is facing serious resistance from the firmly entrenched public employees organizations). It hardly seems likely that this is an auspicious time for the government to open up new school psychologist positions (seen as "touchy-feely" stuff in many areas) when they are closing out teaching posts and consolidating already large classes.

It seems to me that just about your only shot is in the private schools, and no, there is no one organizing or governing body in France, save the government. Your best chances would no doubt be in an "international" or a American curriculum setting, where support services would be structured much more like those in the US.

I do know of an American clinical psychologist who set up a private practice in the south of France. He had considerable difficulty with the local prefecture over the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist, but ultimately he was able to establish his practice. He also managed to get a part-time position in a local private school (on the IB curriculum) where he teaches psychology to the lycéens. It's apparently part of the IB curriculum - and maybe that's the route you might want to pursue.
Cheers,
Bev

[xveruskax]

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

I'm not at all sure where the idea comes from that there is a crying need for school psychologists in France. The sources I've seen all say that the shortage is in positions for newly graduated would-be school psychologists.

The government is currently attempting to cut back positions in the public schools (and is facing serious resistance from the firmly entrenched public employees organizations). It hardly seems likely that this is an auspicious time for the government to open up new school psychologist positions (seen as "touchy-feely" stuff in many areas) when they are closing out teaching posts and consolidating already large classes.

It seems to me that just about your only shot is in the private schools, and no, there is no one organizing or governing body in France, save the government. Your best chances would no doubt be in an "international" or a American curriculum setting, where support services would be structured much more like those in the US.

I do know of an American clinical psychologist who set up a private practice in the south of France. He had considerable difficulty with the local prefecture over the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist, but ultimately he was able to establish his practice. He also managed to get a part-time position in a local private school (on the IB curriculum) where he teaches psychology to the lycéens. It's apparently part of the IB curriculum - and maybe that's the route you might want to pursue.
Cheers,
Bev

I had read you mention the American psychologist in another thread. I wasn't aware however that it was a lycee. I'll keep that in mind. Looks like it's hard to break in anywhere if you're a foreigner.
I did see somewhere else on the forum in regards to the psychology profession, that is not really a respected profession or is met with some resistance because it is seen as "touchy-feely" as you say. This also true in the US to a certain extent. The private schools seems like viable option, or rather the only good option. I noticed in other threads that some people who have migrated to France with a degree in a specific field have had to resort to teaching English as a profession when it doesn't pay too well and is highly competitive. Tough choices ahead.

As for the shortage in educational psychologists:
Psychologue scolaire : salaire, métier, études, débouchés ? Phosphore.com
"Une profession fort utile... et pourtant mal représentée. On dénombre ainsi environ 3 500 psychologues scolaires pour plus de cinq millions d’enfants scolarisés !
Dans certains départements, c’est carrément la pénurie. On estime à environ 250 le nombre de postes non pourvus, faute de candidats remplissant les conditions d’admission"
Unfortunately this article doesn't have a date.

And for the option of finding employment with a masters level training:
AFPEN - Association Française des Psychologues de l’Education Nationale -Devenir psychologue scolaire ?
"Compte tenu du grand nombre de postes vacants et de l’insuffisance du nombre des candidats à la préparation du diplôme d’état, les Inspections Académiques sont autorisées par circulaire du Ministère de l’Education Nationale, à recruter des psychologues de manière exceptionnelle (mais néanmoins reconduite depuis plusieurs années) : Les professeurs des écoles titulaires d’un DESS de psychologie (quelle que soit la spécialité) ou d’un DEA avec stage ,ou encore d’un master 2 option psychologie, peuvent devenir psychologues scolaires sans préparer le DEPS en sollicitant un poste de faisant fonction . Après avoir effectué les fonctions de psychologue scolaire pendant une année scolaire, les personnels recrutés par cette voie peuvent être pérennisés à titre définitif (c’est à dire participer au mouvement et bénéficier des mêmes avantages que les psychologues recrutés par la voie classique et notamment recevoir la prime de spécialisation attribuée aux personnels de l’AIS)."

Thank you Bev, you've been very helpful.