Anonymous #247

Submitter information

Name

Anonymous #247

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?

Primary

What is your occupation?

Consultant

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?

Awards are a very small part of what is required and ignores the underlying problem. Those with more time and resources will be more likely to nominate staff for various awards and only a few will receive these awards.

The problem is across the system and actions that reflect greater value of teachers would be more worthwhile.

I feel strongly that a focus on non-professional duties such are playground duties, data entry, planning field trips, other administrative work, etc is the first step. At a time when money is short, this option will be economical and says to all teachers that we as a community value the profession and the professionalism of teachers. It gives them time to do what they are trained to do.

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 disagree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

I agree with more places at universities but at the same time universities will need to be better staffed and resourced.
Item 6 is good.
Item 7 could be problematic if these professionals do not get proper training-this has been done before and was not very successful. Schools don't run like businesses.

Strengthening Initial Teacher Education (ITE)

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

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Maximising the time to teach

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

Somewhat disagree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

The point of ‘maximising the time to teach’ is timely and important but I strongly disagree with any suggestions that this can be achieved by pre-written teaching and learning activities. That is the core work of the teacher; to design teaching and learning activities to facilitate success for every student in his/her care. That is, our job is to teach to need. Every child is unique and different. No package will be effective and outcomes will plummet.

In NSW we have had the phonics mandate and packages of uninteresting little books designed for every child to read and use in the first year of school. What about the children who can already read? They are bored witless and are not being moved forward in their learning. I know teachers are anxious about this, they should be free to make professional judgement around the best teaching and learning experiences for the students they teach.

There needs to be a focus on non-professional duties such are playground duties, data entry, planning field trips, other administrative work, etc is the first step. At a time when money is short, this option will be less costly than paying for packages to be written and eroding quality teaching and learning.

As to the proposed 25 million “workload reduction” the relatively simple act of relieving teachers of playground duty would be more economical and relieve teachers to collaboratively plan, respond to students’ work etc. It would be an enormous relief to teachers to have that time to meet with colleagues, to plan and even work with individual students. In smaller schools teachers are on duty every single day! Having lunch hours (as in almost all other professions), would go a long way to show our government values teachers. This would be a low paid job (starting first in the lunch hour and if successful perhaps looking at options of morning and bus duty). Training would be simple involving being alert, first aid training and working with children clearance. It would appeal to older people and there are pensioners in every town in this country! It would probably be a pleasure for many and encourage intergenerational connections that we know are beneficial for both groups.

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?

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

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.

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?