Anonymous #400

Submitter information

Name

Anonymous #400

Where are you located?

Queensland

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.

Somewhat disagree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

The devaluation of the profession has taken place over an extended period of time and is a reflection of a changing society. A fancy advertising scheme will not change the perception, it requires a shift in society. Giving awards will not change this either.

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?

While the bursaries may attract more ITE students, the bigger issue is keeping once they get a foot in the door, we see many struggling to find permanency, and way too many burning out quickly under the workload. I have no idea where they think the supply of overseas teachers are coming from maybe we can get the Americans and Canadians like in the 70's!

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?

This is valid, any steps to improve ITE are good. However, ITE is not the issue that teachers need fixed it is not the cause of good teachers leaving the profession or the perception of teaching as a career.

Maximising the time to teach

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

Strongly disagree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

This whole section is smoke and mirrors, as a Queensland teacher the WAC provided no reduction in my workload, the admin burden is unchanged, and I already disconnect from electronic communications when I leave site as is my right. The pilot programs will just be more of the same, good money thrown at a problem with a simple solution. Over the last ten years teaching I have seen the removal of learning support and special ed programs with emphasis on "inclusion" models, this has systematically thrown many more complex students into everyday classes. The teachers of these classes have to now manage multiple year levels (up to 5 or 6 in some cases) write extra exams at appropriate levels as well as plan more complex lessons that differentiate for all of the students. Often with minimum teacher aide time or none at all. I feel this whole situation is driven by funding, of teachers and aides, with no politician having the guts to say we need more bodies at the coal front and be willing to push for the funding to fix the issue.

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?

Not sure why we have not been doing this already, I reserve comment and went middle of the road in the hope it proves more effective.

Oh and point 23, apart from age.... they generally leave because they don't feel supported, and the stress gets too much for them. The lack of support can be over a number of issues, but it is often a climbing (sorry "aspirational") admin that chooses to push them or leave them hanging over the edge.

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?

We no longer promote good operators; we promote people who toe the line and are good at writing to criteria and interviewing well. I my opinion the vast majority of admin go that way to get out of the classroom or off the oval in the case of PE teachers. Too many were never good operators in the first place and don't have the skills to do the jobs they are in currently.

Improving access to HALT positions and cutting the ridiculous procedures and hoops that require jumping through may provide the top early career teachers into sticking around. The current cost and hoop jumping doesn't make the pay rise attractive to senior experienced teachers in Queensland.

Mirco-credentials and QTR just looks like another way for companies to create dodgy PD and rake in some dollars from school budgets.