Anonymous #143

Submitter information

Name

Anonymous #143

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?

Secondary

What is your occupation?

Teacher

Elevating the profession

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

Neither agree nor disagree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

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.

Neither agree nor disagree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

When school students see that teachers hands are tied, that there are no consequences of significance for poor student behaviour including abuse & assault of teachers, there should be no surprise the number of high school students wanting to become teachers has declined. If teachers are treated with respect by administration students and parents it is more likely staff will be attracted and retained.

Strengthening Initial Teacher Education (ITE)

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

Neither agree nor disagree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

If teaching becomes a respected position it may attract & retain staff.

Maximising the time to teach

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

Neither agree nor disagree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

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?

Moderately effective

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Teachers need to be provided more employment flexibility. It is all but impossible to work part time over less than 5 days per week. It should be possible for all teaching staff to work a reduced number of days per week, eg 0.8 fte over 4 days 0.6 fte over 3 days. Not to be told can reduce fte but still has to be over 5 days.

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.

Neither agree nor disagree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Flexibility & differentiation & respect of employment preferences needs to be demonstrated.
Not all experienced staff want to become lead teachers. Draw on thus experience rather than constantly pushing staff to leadership roles if they aren't interested.
There are enough poor teachers who admire ti be leaders, thus schools &die end up with poor leaders.
The leadership potential of candidates should be screened more. Too often school leaders are little more than bullies who were poor teachers dealing with kids in classrooms .
Then they tell others how to do the job they never could themselves.