Anonymous #403

Submitter information

Name

Anonymous #403

Where are you located?

Queensland

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?

Primary,Secondary

What is your occupation?

Teacher

Elevating the profession

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

Somewhat disagree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

To elevate the status of teaching as a desirable profession we need to:

-Cease telling teachers how to do their job, as trained professionals with either a 4 year education degree or a post graduate degree, it can be assumed that they already have adequate knowledge to undertake their profession without constant criticism.

-Change the public perception and societal trashing of teachers, particularly in the media. This demonstrates that not only is teaching not a desirable profession, but that it is one that is looked down upon in society.

-Pay teachers what they are worth. We all know they work far and beyond their allocated hours.

-Combat the sentiment of anti-intellectualism in Australia by investing in a knowledge based economy and promoting and encouraging learning, knowledge and understanding as desirable traits to individuals in an Australian society.

- Invest in programs, tutoring, dedicated extra curricula activities for STEM, STEAM, sports and arts, where possible, staffed by professions who wish to undertake such endeavours, showing that education is beyond just what happens in the classroom and that learning can take place in a plethora of environments, contexts and settings. Thus, spreading the idea that knowledge is important and useful and that teachers are valuable.

- Fully fund extra supports for low level literacy and numeracy. Constantly teachers are berated for student behaviour and academic ability, why not add extra support in schools so that students can achieve to their highest potential, and thus teaching be seen as a desirable profession that underpins a successful society.

- Stop collecting data, which serves zero purpose, teachers do not need busywork, we are busy enough already.

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.

Neither agree nor disagree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Change education degrees to be a degree with a paraprofessional/ 12 month or two year long internship component.

University does not adequately prepare pre service teachers to walk in to a classroom ready to go. The most important parts of teaching and the necessary skills are generally learned on the job and in the classroom context.
This would enable students to get extra support/small/targeted group work, qualified teachers to have extra in class support and pre service teachers to get valuable and important on the job learning/knowledge and understanding.
It would also allow pre service teachers access to a community of practice, adequate time to refine their practice and a solid understanding of the demands of the teaching profession.
The attrition rate is so high because of the lack of support, overwhelming amount of admin and lack of suitable positions. This would somewhat alleviate the burdens of a number of the stressors related to teacher attrition.

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?

As previously mentioned, change degrees to add a year or two year long internship.

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?

Essentially, teaching is two separate jobs. One fulltime job actually related to delivering lesson content and “teaching” students and a second job comprised of all the other bits and pieces such as duties, admin, reporting, extra curricular activities, detentions etc.
Where can we create new policy and positions to alleviate some of these issues? Certainly we have “lollipop ladies” who do the morning duties for crosswalks, why not expand that so that you can have dedicated playground duty and bus duty staff?
Why not create dedicated extra curricular specialists who can provide quality extra curricular activities for students, instead of laying the burden on teachers?
In terms of reporting/parent teacher interviews etc, can we not minimise the onerousness of this somehow, so that teachers can work on lessons/planning and delivering content?

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.

Neither agree nor disagree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Just a reminder, there are thousands of brilliant teachers all
across the nation who will never get the recognition they deserve.
HALT accreditation streamlining will neither fix nor hinder this.

Retraining professionals from other backgrounds is a decent idea, however who can afford as a professional to go without 2-3 years of a fulltime wage whilst studying and doing the required practicums etc. If you want professionals from other industries to move into teaching there has to be an incentive instead of a punishment, this may be the internship where they are paid as paraprofessionals, this may be a fully funded degree instead of incurring a HECS debt, this may be a scholarship to alleviate financial disincentives to move into teaching.