Anonymous #131

Submitter information

Name

Anonymous #131

Where are you located?

Western Australia

What type of area do you live in?

Metropolitan

Are you an education professional?
(e.g. teacher, school leader, learning support assistant, teacher’s aide)

Yes

Which sector do you work in?

Primary

What is your occupation?

Teacher

Elevating the profession

The actions proposed recognise the value teachers bring to students, communities and the economy.

Strongly agree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

There needs more clarity about staffing processes and they should be transparent and equitable.
I've taught in nearly every regional area in Western Australia, including remote areas and there is no recognition for this service. It has been extremely difficult to transfer from my permanent substantive position in the Kimberley to the Perth metro area. After 17 years of service, I was told by staffing I had to either return to Broome or resign! I'm only 44 years old and have no interest of giving up my career, this was confronting to say the least. No wonder teachers are leaving.

Staffing matters should be managed by Govenrment Departments not Independent Public School Principals. Teachers should transfer to other schools on rotations of five years. Graduate teachers are no longer willing to teach in regional areas.
Highly experienced teachers who have actively sought change need recognition on service.

There should no longer be situations where teachers are so compfortable and reluctant to change, they've been teaching in the same school, same classroom and same year level for 30 years. Where's the equity in those who've worked in every year level, in every regional area.

Improving teacher supply

The actions proposed will be effective in increasing the number of students entering ITE, number of students completing ITE and the number of teachers staying in and/or returning to the profession.

Strongly agree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Improve recognition of service for experienced teachers who have taught in regional areas and provide incentives for those who have. Respect and acknowledge the diversity in professional knowledge, experience, skills and expertise of individual teachers.

Treat teachers, like teachers are expected to treat their students. Not just an employment ID number.

Strengthening Initial Teacher Education (ITE)

The actions proposed will ensure initial teacher education supports teacher supply and quality.

Strongly agree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Time spent in regional areas.

Increased practical experience opportunities at university level.

Recognition of service in regional areas.

Maximising the time to teach

The actions proposed will improve retention and free up teachers to focus on teaching and collaboration.

Strongly agree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Focus should remain on academic rigor, the plan, teach, evaluate cycle, curriculum innovation, creativity, 21st centurary trends and inspiring awe and wonder.

School Leaders must be held more accountable in supporting teachers against bullying, aggressive parents and violence in schools.

Performance management processes should be based on the professional goals and needs of the teacher, not a measure of perfomance against indivdual school business plans.

Give teachers agency.

Better understanding future teacher workforce needs

How effective are the proposed actions in better understanding future teacher workforce needs, including the number of teachers required?

Extremely effective

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Get teachers teaching again.

Provide opportunities to showcase their professioanl knowledge and experience. Not be punished and condemned for it.

There is no longer any room for creativity and innovation in teaching. What hapeened to inspiring awe and wonder?

Teachers are forced into doing riduculous amounts of paper work, emails, data collection and assessment.

Teachers teach to the NAPLAN test. It's a waste of time.

Better career pathways to support and retain teachers in the profession

The proposed actions will improve career pathways, including through streamlining the process for Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher (HALT) accreditation, and providing better professional support for teachers to retain them in the profession.

Strongly agree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Recognition of career diversity in regional, remote and metropolitan areas.
Recognition in years of service and teaching experience in teaching multiple year levels.