So.. a few thoughts
1) Alot of comments regarding this issue and teaching in general is quite irresponsible and disrespectful. Quite frankly i'm sick to death of the teacher bashing by media/those that have zero clue about what it entails. Again, usually this involves somebody who has only experienced school as a student and this automatically makes them an expert on the issue. It doesn't in the slightest. I also don't agree in the slightest that private schools have the best teachers. In reality, private school teachers don't get paid much more than public school teachers. You want to know why more talented people aren't going into teaching? Money, profession bashing by those that have nfi
and lack of respect. I'd also throw in crowded curriculum but that isn't a main factor (to me at least). Can I also just say that nearly every single teacher that I have taught with stays back at least 1 hour extra after the students leave and works significant hours at home
(that are unpaid - the day doesn't stop after the "9-5")Just for a bit of context.. here are some observations i've made so far that put me off teaching (even though I love it, it's not perfect):- lack of differentiation due to school imposed pedagogy/unit plans/assumptions that everybody learns/is the same (discussed below)
- significant lack of funding in the public system (this is probably the only benefit I can see to a private school education as opposed to public) - teachers have the
resources to expand but the quality of the teacher itself remains the same.
- contracts - who the hell wants a fixed term contract? I'm on my
THIRD fixed term contract in under 2 years and the lack of stability imo would put nearly anybody decent off. It is so tough to get a permanent teaching job, especially in the public system. In some cases you have to actually
REAPPLY for your job. Again, who wants to do that? Talk about lack of security.
- tech use. still an issue today. Actually, tech in general. My primary discipline is IT and the fact that schools would rather promote other stuff really puts me off.
- respect from community and students: "those that can't do, teach". Can I just say that in the 21st century, this could NOT be further from the truth. You might be able to get away with sub-standard teaching at VCE given it's explicit structure etc. but definitely in 7-10 creativity and teaching students soft skills is a priority.
2)
Somebody with a high ATAR does not make them a great teacher by default. Somebody with the
personality and the
emotional/mental capacity who can engage and inspire, is a good fit. I personally object to the ATAR even being a standard for entry into teaching (let alone any other degree) - I am in favour of interviews/personality tests/community involvement/internship being the deciding factors rather than a rank for 1-2 years of study. It's great that we're starting to move into attitude testing etc. (e.g. CASPER).
I know my content but if I can't engage my students, relate to them, be a supporter of them and their needs, and have the personality of a peanut, then it's going to be an absolute disaster.
3) Already, teaching courses have significant placement demands which act as checkpoints throughout the degree. An experienced teacher makes informed judgement based on their practical application of skills learnt and whether or not they would make a good teacher. You literally CANNOT pass the degree if your placement schools don't endorse your teaching - they have to sign a document at the end to state that they believe you are capable and of good quality.
4) To get through a degree in itself is an achievement. I believe that if somebody has the determination to get through a
four year Bachelor of Teaching and all placement rounds, this makes up the ATAR shortfall. Personally I feel that teachers should go through the Bachelor in xxx specific discipline -> MTeach route for specialist knowledge... but that's for another discussion!
5) As of a few years ago, every aspiring teacher has to sit AND PASS a literacy and numeracy test to signify they are in "the top 30%". Self explanatory.
6) Graduate teachers usually don't teach VCE in their first year (it's rare for this to happen in any school). I'm teaching VCE for the first time this year and I feel that i'm doing a pretty damn good job. Oh, and by the way, my ATAR was 65. I know I repeat myself constantly by saying "I have a Bachelor degree and Masters, look at me now"... but it's true. I don't feel i'm a crap teacher in the slightest due to my ATAR that I received nearly 6 years ago which reflected a period in my life where I was immature. I turned it all around in uni when peers/environment were changed. I suppose I am "triggered" due to some of the minimums being floated around by govt and others. Minimum of 70+ (lower end of the scale people are talking about) would mean I wouldn't have been able to pursue my dream of becoming a teacher. Think about that for a moment.
Of course, there are some sub-standard teachers around.. don't doubt it in the slightest. A few reasons:
- school structures/pedagogy/instructional frameworks. Teachers have to follow what the school has put in place.
- those that have been around for decades where the whole "factory" approach to teaching (e.g. start Year 7, end Year 12, no intervention/differentiation etc) was in its prime.
I know this probably sounds like me being overdefensive but jesus christ i'm bloody sick of it.
I knew what I wanted to do. I could've chosen a career in IT as i'm qualified in this discipline but had it all mapped out already. It takes a special person to be a teacher and I have an enormous amount of respect for anybody that decides they want to join us (ATAR of 15 or ATAR or 99.95). There are benchmarks/checkpoints in place, just the media loves to hype up a ridiculous number that means zilch after you get into uni (and does it really reflect merit.. eh.. that's questionable).
Interesting thoughts so far!
For those currently studying Education, do you feel as though your degree has diminished worth due to the lower standards such as those outlined in the OP?
I know I studied an MTeach so this doesn't really apply to me (as this relates to high school leavers and the Bachelor equivalent) but if somebody has the genuine grit and determination to pass the four years and all placement rounds (realistically teaching is a vocation when you look at it), then good on them and all the best to their continuous learning journey. Teaching, after all, is a learning journey. We never stop.
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