Anonymous #372

Submitter information

Name

Anonymous #372

Where are you located?

New South Wales

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.

Strongly agree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Just a few main points:

-RESPECT is the key factor ❗️- for the profession & the individuals involved. The TEACHER /STUDENT relationship is fundamental in the delivery of great outcomes for all stakeholders ( so to speak). I affirm the decision to place the Teaching profession as an incredibly valuable, well respected occupation.

-WE ARE PROFESSIONALS- in light of this factor we all need to be treated with the inherent value & respect that we deserve. HIGH expectations lead to profound benefits for all.

- Our WELL-BEING is of paramount importance and besides our own personal responsibility for our health, we need support from the Government/Unions/ other stakeholders to provide a framework to SUPPORT our needs & responsibilities in our profession. They say it takes a “ village “ to raise a child well, Teachers cannot deliver quality outcomes if we are alone to work in a system that continues to devalue our worth.

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.

Somewhat agree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Increasing numbers helps but unless all stakeholders in our profession look at the “ root “ causes as to why we need to increase Teacher numbers it might be a “ bandaid “ solution.
Issues : Respect, pay/rising cost of living, air filtration & ventilation with new Covid variants for the future etc,

Increasing numbers of staff entering the profession but not at the expense of lowering educational qualification marks just so as to “ fill the gaps” - we need to maintain a high standard of both literacy &/or numeracy among staff so that we are not putting quantity over quality with staffing levels.

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?

Refer to previous comments

Maximising the time to teach

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

Somewhat agree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

-The business of being a Teacher is to TEACH, administration & accountability for all our actions via documentation is very important in the 21st Century to maintain high standards of professional ethics but ought not to take away from our CORE business, which is to TEACH.

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?

Highly effective only if we attempt to dismantle some of the aspects of the current Educational system &/or settings that are “ dysfunctional “ outdated or require urgent review.

We need to change our PLAYBOOK /WORKBOOK if we are shifting our focus for the future workforce needs.

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?

Respect for our profession is maintained via high standards and rewarding Teachers via accreditation & better professional support.