Anonymous #395

Submitter information

Name

Anonymous #395

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

What is your occupation?

Teacher

Elevating the profession

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

Strongly disagree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Actually, asking and involving teachers in the decision-making process, valuing the knowledge, experience and expertise of teachers working in schools will show the community that teachers are professionals with a wealth of knowledge and expertise.
Having teachers as policy reviewers and makers.
Recognising and allowing teachers to be the professionals that they are.
Attributing the issues of schooling performance to all parties responsible - not just teachers.
Reframing the way in which teachers are portrayed.

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?

It is not and has never been about pay for most teachers.
Workload and work conditions have always been at the forefront. If these are improved, then more people will want to stay in the profession. Burnout is a major issue.
Acknowledging and valuing experience is essential.
Acknowledgment and pay that actually addresses the amount of out of school time work done by teachers.

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?

Teaching is a profession like no other, I don't believe that other degrees prepare you to be a teacher (particularly in the early childhood and primary sectors). All student teachers must complete a full teaching degree and do more prac's (in a variety of settings), especially in their early years of study. Supervising teachers need to be renumerated better - both in time and pay, to acknowledge the amount of work it is to supervise a student teacher.
Universities need to be on the ground teaching students how to teach.

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?

All administrative work needs to be severely cut. Extra time needs to be given to teachers who have children in care or with additional needs in their classrooms to deal with the extra workload.
If planning and teaching resources are to be developed, they must be developed by teachers who are actually teaching in the classroom.
Meeting time set aside for collaborative planning, assessment and moderation.

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.

Somewhat disagree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

All of this means more work for the teachers who are already doing above and beyond what is expected of them.