Anonymous #331

Submitter information

Name

Anonymous #331

Where are you located?

South 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?

Early childhood education and care

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?

While these actions seem to support the recognition of the work that teachers do it does not do anything to help teachers to deal with the rising workload, violence and burnout experienced in classrooms and early learning centres. This money could be directed elsewhere to actually help fix the problems,

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?

These actions may be effective but we need to make sure that we are hiring quality teachers to work in schools and early learning. I don't think this will retain teachers.

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?

Teachers already have enough to do in the classroom without adding extra work. Even with training it is impossible to adequately teach the class with multiple children with additional needs, trauma and violent behaviour. Teachers need extra support in the room every day to help support all children's learning.

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?

None of these are relevant to South Australia. Looking into the effective use of teaching assistants and support staff may help however you need to make sure that these people are given appropriate pay if they are expected to take some of the workload from teachers.

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?

Slightly effective

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

I am not sure if this will be helpful unless the information gathered is used to retain teachers. It seems like a waste of money.

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 disagree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Better career pathways does nothing to help change what is currently happening in the classroom and early learning centres. Teachers need more support with children with additional needs, trauma and violent behaviour. Creating different career pathways will simply mean that good teachers who are burnt out will try to get jobs where they are not teaching in classrooms. This will not keep quality teachers working directly with children.