Anonymous #298

Submitter information

Name

Anonymous #298

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.

Somewhat agree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

If classroom teaching is going to be valued, then the training of teachers needs to be improved. This can be achieved with a set amount of required pre teaching practice as part of the university studies. This needs to be done in a variety of school contexts and variably during the school year.

The career path needs to place an emphasis on the value of classroom presence not on administration.

Till the pay rates of administrators is reduced till the same level of classroom teachers or vice versa the profession will not increase in value.

The lack of freedom & flexibility in deliver of the curriculum also restricts the value of the profession.

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?

Till issues of workload are addressed teaching will remain a weak profession.

Till the issue of student & parental behaviour is addressed and teachers empowered to remove disruptive elements from the classroom the value of the profession will not increase.

Support for early career teachers needs to be improved, especially on observation and feedback of lesson delivery, student management, marking and reporting.

How the Universities fund and deliver Education courses needs independent review and improved regulation. This needs independent, teacher involvement to change how universities operate for the benefit of the profession not of the university. All dollars raised from Education students must be spent in Education departments, enforced by regulation.

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?

More time in the classroom is fundamental - so that practicum students gain experience of the requirements and the ability to build repour with students.

Nation standards are required to build mentor teacher skills to guild practicum students.

Time allocation to practicum mentors needs to be increased & funded.

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?

Till external Education bodies are directed to reduce paperwork requirements. Nothing will happen.

In Western Australia it is less paperwork to get a passport than renew a person's teacher registration.

Till external interruptions are reduced by regulations and a minimal classroom time is mandated nothing will happen.

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?

This is common sense but while too many external voices are allowed to set agendas in education I fear little will be achieved.

This also needs to flexible to allow more part time teachers.

This also needs to be flexible to allow Teacher Assisstants to move into teacher roles as part of career development. Especially outside of cities.

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?

This will depend on the structure so that administrators don't gain these as bonuses.

To be these roles needs to include a set percentage of a teacher loads to be in the classroom to be effective.

These also need to be transparent and visible to all staff members.