Anonymous #358

Submitter information

Name

Anonymous #358

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.

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

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?

Recognsing the teaching profession as a 4 (or more) year degree and paying teachers accordingly to their qualifications across Australia. Currently, Education Departments in each State have different pay schedules for teachers as pay is negotiated with State governments. This causes there to be an unequal "ladder" of teacher salaries across Australia. Teaching needs to be recognised as a valuable career choice that also has financial security throughout the course of the career, with options to advance in both position and pay.

Strengthening Initial Teacher Education (ITE)

The actions proposed will ensure initial teacher education supports teacher supply and quality.

Somewhat disagree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Having had a number of university students complete prac experiences in my classroom over the years there has been a consistent lack of preparation by the university to prepare students for teaching in the classroom. The planning expectations, beahviour management, and the need for differentiated teaching to meet the wide and various needs of all students that are in a classroom are not being met. ITE students' time in classrooms has been cut back over the years and it is in the classroom that the most realistic and valuable learning occurs for ITE students. Many university students, pre-service teachers, and young teachers will tell you that uni does not prepare you fully for working in the classroom, they learn so much more being in a classroom with another teacher and with students. Observing other teachers, working with school staff, working with students develops teaching skills that can not be gained at a university and especially online as many courses have turned to in recent years.

My answer - increase ITE students' time in schools - observing, working with teachers, practicing teaching, and developing skills "on the job". Improve the relationship and communication between universities, departments of education, and schools to improve the development of the course to better train and teach, unit and lesson planning, assessment, differentiation and behaviour, and classroom management.

Offer more positions to high achieving ITE students that provide 1 year working in classrooms and schools while completing the degree - this not only develops their skills as teachers but provides support to schools as well.

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?

Bring back librarian/teacher roles to schools. Bring back support teacher roles in schools.
provide more roles for Teacher assistants to create and prepare teaching resources and complete administration duties that can be delegated (ie photocopying, displays, data entry, filing) to free up teacher time during DOTT to actually plan and assess student learning.

More funding for schools to apply to staffing to increase support in classes - Many schools have to manage and stretch yearly budgets (after the initial SOB) to employ extra teachers or teacher assistants to support classes. Not enough is included in school operating budgets to realistically support the needs of learning across schools.

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?

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 agree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?