HiLo, Reader's Comment, No job security for new teachers, Jewel Topsfield and Cr

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HiLo, Reader's Comment, No job security for new teachers, Jewel Topsfield and Craig But, The Age, 4 January, 2012: http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/no-job-security-for-new-teachers-20120103-1pjoy.html Historical link preserved from the original page.

Melbourne teacher: there is no hope of my partner and I ever being able to afford to buy a house on a contract teacher's wage.

I work in a Melbourne primary school on a contract.

I'm paid $55K a year pro rata.

This is the same level of pay I could get working as a secretary without any qualifications.

I have a $25K HECS debt and couldn't work for the 4 years it took to get my degree.

On this wage I support my partner and two young children.

There is no hope of us ever being able to afford to buy a house on a teacher's wage.

During term I am at school from 7:30am until 5:00pm and then I do another 1-2 hours work at home each day.

During report writing time I work virtually around the clock!

Yes, I get long holidays - but these are unpaid.

Applying for new contracts takes days of hard work and contract positions advertised have an incumbent so this work is largely wasted.

My teacher friends and I are all discouraged, disheartened and frustrated by the contract system and most of us are considering moving to another field because of the lack of job security.

The government abuses the fact we love our jobs and the children in our care by offering terrible pay and conditions which they know we must accept if we want to continue to offer hope for childrens future.