Teacher's husband of Adelaide, Reader's Comment 27 of 60, Why our teachers want

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Teacher's husband of Adelaide, Reader's Comment 27 of 60, Why our teachers want to leave, Martina Simos, The Advertiser, 5 April 2011: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/why-our-teachers-want-to-leave/story-e6frea6u-1226033608622 Historical link preserved from the original page.

Adelaide ex-teacher says: I left teaching and I have never looked back.

I left teaching and have never looked back - from a contract teaching job to permanent position in the public service, a higher wage, no unpaid overtime (as with teaching.. lesson planning, marking, report writing, phoning parents after hours).

Who would want to be a teacher these days?

The job involves having to bring up other people's kids, teach them manners, and it's not a respected position in our society.

Ex teacher of Adelaide, Reader's Comment 54 of 60, Why our teachers want to leave, Martina Simos, The Advertiser, 5 April 2011: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/why-our-teachers-want-to-leave/story-e6frea6u-1226033608622 Historical link preserved from the original page.

Why do so many South Australian teachers try to leave the state? Historical link preserved from the original page.

The South Australian Department of Education and Children's Services (DECS) is running a campaign designed to attract more switched-on, high-earning-potential young people to the profession. Historical link preserved from the original page.

Why?

Over the past eight years, 2119 South Australian teachers have sought interstate registration. Historical link preserved from the original page.

So why do so many teachers leave the state?

broken windows repaired with electrical tape,

dodgy desks,

students learning in transportable classrooms

29 students in a class

teachers having to turn off 30-year-old air-conditioners so their students can hear them

because DECS has slashed school maintenance budgets.

teachers have to battle with Shared Services (payroll) for payment for a day of relief teaching carried out months before which, when paid, is at the wrong rate, leading to more unanswered phone calls and emails.

the Government has sold off all teacher accommodation within 100 kilometres of Adelaide.

the Government delays every reform with surveys, feedback sessions and reviews.

there is a feeling at the chalk-face that changes, even positive reforms, are rushed.

the system seems to deliberately encourage the drift to private education - and thus save the state even more money.

Students coming up through teaching courses in SA see the writing on the wall; they judge what they're really in for are short-term contracts, an (at best) indifferent department, and a constant struggle for wage parity.

So they leave.

What those teacher ads don't tell you, Stephen Orr, an Adelaide-based educationalist and author, The Advertiser, 5 April 2011: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/ipad/what-those-teacher-ads-dont-tell-you/story-fn6bqphm-1226033572389 Historical link preserved from the original page.

South Australia: bullied teacher sues the State of South Australia, represents himself in court, and wins $370 000 damages.

Francis Thomas McDonald, an overworked and harassed former schoolteacher, has been awarded about $370,000 damages after successfully suing the state of South Australia.

Mr McDonald claimed he was harassed, victimised and bullied as a computer teacher at Brighton Secondary School.

In 2001 he went on sick leave.

Mr McDonald, 60, had a keen interest in computing.

Mr McDonald had voluntarily helped set up and maintain school computer networks during his time at Brighton Secondary School.

Much of his work fell outside the boundaries of his contract as a teacher.

Mr McDonald represented himself during the trial.

Mr McDonald alleged that he was victimised and bullied.

He resigned in 2003.

The judge ruled in favour of Mr McDonald's claims his treatment by the department left him with no option but to resign.

"Mr McDonald was justified in taking the action that he did, " Justice Anderson said.

Justice Anderson awarded Mr McDonald $369,100 in damages for loss of past and future earnings as well as loss of reputation and dignity.

Bullied teacher wins $370,000 payout, Andrew Dowdell, Court Reporter, The Advertiser, 25 May 2008: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/bullied-teacher-wins-370000-payout/story-e6frea83-1111116439412 Historical link preserved from the original page.