Anonymous #425

Submitter information

Name

Anonymous #425

Where are you located?

Tasmania

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

What is your occupation?

Teacher

Elevating the profession

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

Neither agree nor disagree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

The continued focus on 'teacher quality' undermines the goal of rasing the profession. The inference is that students are failing to reach their potential because their teachers are of a poor standard, rather than the fact that the funding is nearly 10% below the minimum standard. Teachers are not miracle workers. We just do the best we can in an underfunded, understaffed sector that is suffering chronic burnout. Nicole Mocklar's excellent research into teacher-bashing in the press should be acknowledged as a serious problem. Solutions to this corrosive practice by both governments and the media need to be investigated. We need to be proactive when it comes to the way teachers are portrayed in the media.

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?

Student teachers need to see that they are joining a sustainable profession. Once many aspiring teachers complete their first practicum, many change degrees. A supervising teacher cannot hid the reality of their workload and associated stress. Teacher workloads are completely unsustainable and is leading to chronic burnout. Teachers need a full-time teachers aide in every classroom to make it sustainable.

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?

The problem is not with the graduates or their quality. Most teachers I have worked with are competent and committed, but they lack support, trust and respect. We are constantly justifying ourselves and having to be accountable with mountains of data. The problem is systemic. We need a system that is not top-down, where teachers have an active role is shaping the workplace. The current system undermines our professional opinions and favours political and bureaucratic intervention and is not in the interests of the students or the teachers.

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?

While some of the measures may reduce teacher workload, these will only address a small part of the problem. The task of teaching in the 21st century is extremely complex - it is no longer a one person job. Each classroom needs a full-time Teachers Aide to assist in providing a quality education the caters for all the individual needs in the classroom. One person cannot possibly achieve the goals set and it is causing massive stress and burnout amongst teaching staff.

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?