Anonymous #124

Submitter information

Name

Anonymous #124

Where are you located?

Western Australia

What type of area do you live in?

Regional or rural

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

Yes

Which sector do you work in?

Special education

What is your occupation?

teacher and school leader

Elevating the profession

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

Somewhat agree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Teacher of the Year awards are of no value. Awards are given to those who write the best not who have made improvements. There tends to be no correlation between teachers who come to work everyday and do their job to high standards and these awards. Schools in WA tend to use the awards to promote their school. It is time to celebrate the everyday hard working teacher.
How do you determine what high achieving and highly accomplished look like? This would need to be done by external
people who truely understand what it takes in different situation to be an effective teacher. How about we focus on making all teachers highly accomplished. In WA the senior teacher is not a true reflection- it is those again that write well and have the funds to undertake the required Professional Learning.

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 disagree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

$68.3 million is a lot for 2 260 teachers! How about putting this money into the services that support schools, such as school psychologists and perhaps you would retain more teachers. You are looking at the problem wrong, it is not about how many teacher there are, it is about how many are retiring earlier, leaving after a few years or promoting to escape the toil of the classroom. The high achieving teachers program is an insult to teachers who go into teaching for the right reason- because it is their first choice of a career, not those who switch because they can't get jobs in their chosen profession. These people deserve to have their university fees paid not the switchers. Why do they deserve scholarships and a permanent position above the others? You are encouraging inequality within the profession.
In WA it was once necessary for you to do 'country service to gain a permanent position. This ensured that regional areas were staffed.
Standardise things across Australia to enable movement throughout the states.

Strengthening Initial Teacher Education (ITE)

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

Somewhat agree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Ensure universities are using the most up to date research to develop their subjects. The lapse in the science of reading is a prime example- including the curriculum
Those who teach in universities should have a qualification in the area in which they teach.
University staff should have to have a level of currency- a number of days per registration/employment period in which they spend in a classroom to ensure they have an understanding of the state of things.
In WA the qualification needs an overhaul. it is too long and too irrelevant. Essays do not make great teachers. Learning about behaviour management, special needs education and trauma do. Teaching professionalism is also vital.
Increase the amount of time in the classroom. Recently in WA the number and length of teaching practicums has reduced. An internship program where pre service teachers are in a school weekly would be best.
Better quality of supervision of pre service teachers. Suitability for teaching is usually evident quickly. Supervising teachers need to be able to properly give feedback that leads to quality teaching. Lets not just get as many people through as possible lets focus on quality teaching.
if you are attracting overseas teachers a thorough induction program needs to be in place.
Reintroduce the interview process for people entering teaching before university and before entering the profession.

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?

WA needs proper scope and sequences for English and Maths. Subjects and programs need to be standardised across all schools. Teachers are under pressure to be constantly taking on things usually at the whim of leadership and often to satisfy the promotional aspects of these leaders. Assessments at school levels should be standardised according to research.
Reporting has become an over whelming task which are often not suitable for the audience and really of little value.
Greater supports - school psychologists, behaviour practitioners, Occupational Therapists, Speech Therapists in every school would allow teachers to do the job of teaching.
The curriculum has become overcrowded as schools take on solving the problems of society. Education awards fuel the expectation of "above and beyond" often in unnecessary programs and teacher workloads.
Email and computers have meant that teacher take on tasks that were once allocated to office staff. Allow this to happen and there will be more time for teaching.
In WA reinstate the points transfer system. So much time, energy and money is spent on job applications, many of which schools are merely going through the process and have already people in the position.
Re the curriculum One country one curriculum according to research.
Be wary of the role of Education Assistants. They are paid poorly and should not be give responsibility beyond their qualifications.
Education assistants in every class would assist however universities need to train teachers how to use them effectively.

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?

In WA exit surveys are completed by the line manager and go no where. Often the line manager is why a staff member is leaving. Proper consultation by an outside agency needs to take place.

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.

Somewhat agree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

What will these mean and how will you achieve i? In WA the senior teacher is based on who writes well and who can afford the professional learning. What does the accreditation mean? You will be paid more? You will have a fancy title?
People are not leaving teaching because they do not have a fancy title. They are leaving teaching because our schools lack the support systems the students need and teachers burn out trying to met them. Teachers leave because we have ageism in our system and we are looking in the wrong places for our leaders. Teachers are leaving because those in higher position have not ever or recently been in a classroom and understand the growing needs of the students and families. Teachers leave because our employment processes are not transparent.
Greater acknowledgement needs to be given to experienced teachers. leadership needs training in how to effectively use later career teachers.
Better leadership would encourage more people to stay in the profession it is not only new leaders that require coaching.