New South Wales
parents are concerned about recent reports allowing people with criminal records train as teachers. Assurances have been given that no one with a history of offences against children will be allowed to work in
schools but parents are not appeased.
However, parents should consider the following.
There is going to be a severe
teacher shortage in NSW in the near
future. Over the next ten years the “Baby Boomer”
teachers will start to
retire. The average age of teachers is top heavy. In March 2002, 69
per cent of teachers in NSW public schools was over 40 years old, 31 per
cent was in the 20 – 39 age group. As the “Baby Boomers” retire there are
not the numbers of younger teachers to replace them. This problem is
compounded by the growing resignation rate amongst younger teachers.
Every year, hundreds of school leavers with worthy
intentions enter universities around the country to complete their Diploma of
Education. Most complete the course and set off, full of enthusiasm to their
first teaching appointment.
Unfortunately, the ideals and enthusiasm soon evaporate. The
resignation rate of teachers in their first three years of service is alarming. In
2001, approximately 520 teachers resigned in NSW within three years of
starting teaching.
Why isn’t teaching an attractive career option these days? The NSW
Teachers Federation will argue that the salary is not high enough to attract
young people.
Money however, is not the crux of the problem. Salary increases are
very welcome but teaching is a vocation. Teachers in the past have accepted
lower salaries than other graduates because teaching provided benefits such
as job satisfaction, generous holidays, a secure superannuation scheme as
well as long service, sick and maternity leave. There is also a teachers’ credit
union and an excellent health fund. Job security too gives teaching an
advantage over other professions.
Well then, if money is not the issue, what is?
Teaching is a great job, but these days it has become more than just
teaching kids the 3R’s. Today, you’re lucky if there is time to
teach the 3R’s.
Society is changing. A lot of the traditional values have disappeared.
Extended families that offered support to young parents have disappeared. Teachers are being called upon to take on social working roles they haven’t been trained for, or may not have the disposition for, as well as teach values and skills that were once taught in the home.
In some cases kindergarten teachers have to go right back and teach
basic social skills – how to use the toilet, how to sit down to eat, how to
play, how to use basic manners, how to communicate and how to listen.
Schools are also expected to address childhood obesity issues, bullying, conflict resolution, sex education, morals and
child protection. This ultimately becomes the responsibility of the classroom teacher.
Integrating children with special needs into regular classrooms has its
merits – in theory. In reality however, integration funding is limited so an aid might be only available for an hour or two per day. The child still needs individual assistance when the aid is not there which increases the workload of the class teacher, already teaching a class of 30 children.
Added to this are the increasing incidences of violence and verbal abuse directed towards teachers. This isn’t only confined to high schools either. One teacher sported a set of teeth marks on her arm where a 5 year old child had bitten her. This same child also head butted a teacher who bent down to talk and would throw chairs around the room in anger.
Young teachers are enthusiastic and positive but that’s hard to maintain when success is not immediate, if at all.
Teachers perform above and beyond the call of duty. They don’t mind
this. They don’t expect praise and accolades. What they can’t do is pick up the slack of an ailing society forever. The task appears overwhelming to the young teacher and when an opening appears they go for it.
The oldies, the “Baby Boomers,” have too much invested in Superannuation
to change careers now. They have thicker skins and can still remember the good times. The oldies have another secret – “staff development” sessions at the local pub every Friday afternoon. A great place to let off steam and debrief .
The pubs are going to be emptier on Friday afternoons in 10 to 15 years time, except at Byron or Bateman’s Bay perhaps. Sadly, many classrooms may be empty too.
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