Teacher, Reader's Comment, Hey politicians, leave those teachers alone, Jane Car

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Teacher, Reader's Comment, Hey politicians, leave those teachers alone, Jane Caro, The Drum, ABC News, 11 March 2013: http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4565396.html Historical link preserved from the original page.

There should be a freeze on training new teachers till all existing education graduates have been employed.

I am a very well qualified beginning teacher (in the top 15% of graduates) in the Humanities (English/History SOSE) but I have only been offered short-term replacement contracts.

A lot of new teachers are disillusioned because we were duped by the Labor Govt into believing that there is a "teacher shortage" (To Quote Ms Gillard).

Only in Science/Maths/Trades!

Because of the GFC many older teachers in the Humanities have not retired, as the Govt projected, resulting in a large pool of un(under)employed teachers - especially in humanities.

There should be a freeze on training new teachers until all exiting graduates/new teachers have been employed.

But the teacher unions wouldn't like that because it reduces their power base.

Also, the AEU isn't supporting teachers by standing up for them and saying that it isn't the teachers who are a problem, its the quality of student that is the problem.

Teachers cannot solve all the social problems evident in today's society like drug addiction, dysfunctional families, technology addiction, recalcitrance and the 'blame everyone else' mentality.

No amount of money in schools or teacher 'testing' will solve this.

Anyway, what do a teacher's social activities/interests have to do with their teaching standard?

A sceptic would say that is just a way to ensure that future teachers are 'leftist' minded (only those who help the so-called 'disadvantaged', donate money overseas etc will be accepted into teaching).

Here's a novel idea: How about testing the aptitude of potential school students before entering primary school and high school to check that THEY have a real commitment to learning?

Maybe we could also test parents to confirm that they are supportive of their child's learning?

Nooooo that would lead to an educated society which is not what a socialist government wants.

Easier to blame the teacher and cull them till the Labor government gets the educators it wants.