Zijwaarts De Klas In 2023

For years, the government has been spending millions to tackle the teacher shortage. The introduction of so-called career changers is expected to make up ground in the coming years. In the documentary "Sideways," we witness the transition of individuals who give up their familiar lives and successful careers to make a greater impact on society. We see them struggling with energetic, noisy, and challenging groups of children, but also making heartfelt connections with them in a touching way.

Director Simonka de Jong follows several participants in the Amsterdam "crash course," where they stand in front of a class of lively children for the first time in their lives and are assessed on their potential qualities. Kim (48) is a single mother who recently lost her partner. She completes the course without a hitch, unlike many other participants. She starts a work experience program at an elementary school, giving up her job as a planner in a hospital. Will she pass the final assessment?

Michel Penders (50) is a tall man with a deep voice and an impressive beard. He is a restaurant owner in Amsterdam, but it has always been his biggest dream to become a teacher. He interns at De Waterkant Elementary School, where the boys are thrilled to finally have a teacher they can talk to about soccer and who nonchalantly explains how babies are born.

What motivated these career changers to make the switch? Why would you want to do something completely different? But also, how do you maintain order in a classroom? How do you get children to learn? It all turns out to be super complex. At the same time, we see how that one teacher can truly make a difference and how important motivation is.