For teachers there are bigger problems in our classroom than Gonski
Stephen: Yes, its central micro management in Parramatta Diocese, awful centralisation destroying the freedom and autonomy of teachers. Trust is gone. They even take photos of a teacher’s whiteboard. It’s true. It’s pathetic micro management. Teachers will leave in droves.
Denise Micro management is killing education. How about we just let teachers teach and focus on providing the resources to let them do it!
World Support Staff Day
Kathryn It was a wonderful email from Peter Turner. It’s the little things that mean something. I hope the day continues to get more publicity each year and hopefully more schools will get on board. Thanks to the IEU and the ongoing support from members, the support staff aren’t the forgotten ones when it comes to pay and conditions.
Mary We had a lovely morning tea at our school. Thanks to the IEU for the reminder. People were really touched to be recognised and thanked for all their work, and for their contributions to our school community.
How virtual reality technology is changing the way students learn
Lubna Technology for the wonderful examples above is spot on for many kids. As long as it’s balanced and integrated with a range of other methods. Trust history teachers (me too) to pounce with creativity so quickly.
Mellisa How great would it be for history students to walk through the streets of Pompeii, walk into a pyramid or be a part of the Persian Wars!
Manda We’ve been using WWI for our writing this term. It would have been awesome for the kids to experience the terrain of the battlefield at Gallipoli to enhance their texts!
Secret Teacher: Lets tell student teachers what they’re really getting into.
Sharlene: Our government spends less than 5% of our GDP on education - that encompasses all levels from early childhood education and care through to, and including, tertiary and vocational education. Between 30% and 50% of graduate teachers leave the profession in the first five years – and are told not to expect a permanent job for at least five years after they graduate. Graduate teachers now also have two years (five if casual) to go through a new accreditation process that takes them from graduate to Proficient. As part of the process, teachers have to prove communication with parents, lesson planning for a diverse range of students, and connection to community – how are they meant to do that when casual teaching?
With high numbers of teachers due to retire in the next three years, a large number of very experienced teachers are great at their job but who don’t have the knowledge and skills to advance students learning in technology, I have to wonder why we’re not pushing for co-teaching, with a graduate teacher paired with an experienced teacher. There were over 17,000 requests in NSW for casual teachers last year. At the very least, why aren’t we considering each school being given the funds to hire at least one graduate teacher on a two year contract (each year) with larger schools being given the funds for two graduate teachers? That way, we’d support new teachers, who could be mentored and learn from experienced teachers in the classroom while they complete their accreditation process; they could fill in for teachers RFF and planning time, and help out with students who need additional help with certain subjects (for example) with teachers booking their time. And they could fill in if teachers are away. Seems like a win-win-win to me.
Instead of piling more kids into classrooms, and building demountables that restrict room to run at lunch, we could use existing empty state buildings, transforming them into vertical secondary schools. Then use existing secondary schools for upper primary (Years 3 to 6) and existing primary schools for early childhood education and care through to Year 2, bringing preschool and early childhood education back into the public system rather than private companies making millions. We could also hire student teachers to provide OOSH care at the schools; they could be there between 7am-9am then go to uni (etc) then back at school from 3pm-6pm. A nominal fee could be charged, but nowhere near the huge fees parents are paying now.
Also, there are MANY teachers who have to work a second job in order to survive, and travel ages to get to work because it’s too expensive to live in the community where they teach. These are the professionals who are dedicated to building the minds of future generations, to ensuring the future prosperity of our country – yet we pay them peanuts, seem to have no sympathy for the long hours they work, the supplies they pay for out of their own pocket, and have no sympathy for the increased stress teachers are under due to their having to “teach to the test” despite all evidence that this isn’t in the best interests of the students.
We, as a nation, just have to decide that education is far too important to be given the short straw, and say as much to our government representatives. Anyway, just my thoughts on it.
PS It also is awful that student teachers in their last year now can’t work as casual teachers in the public school system (NSW at least).
Many teachers can’t afford to live near students
Michael: More time spent commuting means less time providing feedback to students on their work.