Anonymous #097

Submitter information

Name

Anonymous #097

Where are you located?

Australian Capital Territory

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.

Strongly agree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

I think these actions are good. The media has put us down for a long time and that has increased a lot our work load (for example, having to do all the PL and TQI and literacy and numeracy exams for teachers). If the media is involved in trying to look better, I think students, parents, and society can be more respectful to us.

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?

I think those actions are good but I think there could be more. For example, up to a few years ago, the diploma of education was one year. The universities wanted more money, so they changed it to two years and they changed the name. On the other hand, the diploma of education which was giving you the same right to teach disappeared. I think we should bring it back. So, there would be a lot more people from other jobs coming to education. If somebody sees that in one year, they can change their job, they will probably be a lot more willing to do it. Two years is too long. The department should also recognise their experience and pay a salary in function of their experience.

On the other hand, earlier teachers normally leave the profession because they need more experience. They should have a mentor and two lines free at the beginning. Increasing the lines each year up to the normal lines. Theorietically this already happens but in reality it doesnt. Very often, the school wants to save money and they give them small classes or something like this but in general they have almost all load.

Sometimes (mainly in high school), principals make teachers to teach out of their area because it is cheaper. That brigns stress for the teacher and they leave the profession.

Finally, I think the heads/ deputies and principals don't realise the work of a teacher. They fill it up with things that they think they are good for the students (which very often it could be done for secretaries) and we have to do that job and of course we cannot do as well as we could our proper job, which is teaching. For example, because I have to do some administrative job, I dont have the time to think about some nice activity for the students to do, so at the end, we do exerciess from the book, wich it is not as engaging as the other activities. But we dont have the time and the school dont have the money to pay for more secretaries.

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?

I would bring the diploma of education again.

The main problem the new teachers' faces are subject knowledge and how to control the students. There is nothing in the teaching studies on how to control the students. What to do when the kids don't want to leave the mobile phone,...

Maximising the time to teach

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

Neither agree nor disagree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

I think the schools should contract more secretaries to do all the administrative job we do. So, we would have more time to prepare better lessons, more engaging activities and do what we enjoy. Teach!

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?