Aaron, Reader's Comment, 19 March 2011: Pay-rises and productivity: getting the

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Aaron, Reader's Comment, 19 March 2011: Pay-rises and productivity: getting the best out of teachers, Winston Smith, Unleashed, ABC, 18 March 2011: http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/45264.html Historical link preserved from the original page.

I have an insane duty of care in a practical class.

My 'teaching' day ususally starts at 6am for prep and finishes at 6pm with marking.

I also have only 1 day in my weekend where, after negotiations with my husband, I don't do any teaching stuff at all (unless he isn't looking).

I am a first year teacher and, yes, I make more in wages that I thought I would.

But I work in an underfunded school where I am buying and creating resources.

I also have a over loaded class (too many students - not enough equipment).

It's physically and emotionally exhausting - dealing with parents who either don't care or are ringing up because their son/daughter didn't pay attention to the due date (that was written on the task/assignment sheet, the board and verbally told every day) and that it was my fault and generally insulting and threatening me.

I have some brilliant kids im my class, but I also have some that are functionally illiterate because the parents have 'issues' and the kid has been moved around a lot.

These are often in the same classroom.

I am constantly told to keep the kids 'engaged' and find new things to do with them.

I also have an insane duty of care in a practical class.

On top of that I am involved in the school production and competitions.

There aren't that many of us that are here because of the pay.