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Queensland classroom teachers - do you need more support?
| Posted on February 11, 2009 at 9:34 AM |
Queensland teachers - why do you think that up to 50% of Queensland teachers leave the profession after five years?
Are you happy with your own working conditions?
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14 Comments
Reply
ness
05:52 PM on November 25, 2010
I relocated from Victoria, where I had an ongoing position with the Department to Queensland. I have been doing contract work ever since I got here and find that school principals will dangle a carrot of possible contract work for the next year. When you have completed reports, worked night and day and on weekends, picking up for other teachers who take advantage of your desperation to get work by trying to do everything thrown at you, all of a sudden at the end of the year, there seems to be no contract work. We can only give you a call next year if something comes up. I have gotten this over and over again. The final insult this term is that the principal had asked me what grade I would like for the following year. I took this to mean I had a job. I haven't applied for any other contract work. I was really encouraged by this school, it is almost the end of the year and now again there may not be work. I am ranked as a High Performing Teacher. I have had positive feedback to this point and now all of a sudden the story changes. It is disgusting to treat people like this, I have spent so much of my own money buying resources for these kids etc etc. Everything that I have read about others applies. This is my fifth year of teaching. It has been a long 5 years. I am trying to work out now - what do I do next. More abuse, more stress, unrealistic demands etc or change careers. What a waste of a degree!
Reply
Sand
03:02 AM on July 20, 2010
The system is so "correct" and "assessment" mad there is no room for a forgiving attitude. None of us are perfect yet some of us a condemned (Put on MUP - for no good reason). I believe that justice will prevail in the end. I know I am not perfect and I am more than willing to apologies to anyone I have offended in my daily contact with people. Government school administrators are wrong to expect perfection. A high standard -yes.
I hope the group of "mobbers" who took my career away and showed no compassion and professional support R-T IN H-LL. (I think I am still angry.)
I hope the group of "mobbers" who took my career away and showed no compassion and professional support R-T IN H-LL. (I think I am still angry.)
Reply
Sand
02:43 AM on July 20, 2010
How does a teacher get off a MUP (Managing Unsatisfactory Performance) when they have been hastily and incorrectly accused of minor, (everyday events) as if they are major crimes????False accusations made.
Reply
Sand
02:39 AM on July 20, 2010
Toni says...
I'll tell you why...six years of contracts after being told at University that you will have a job. They neglect to tell you that it will be contract and that you will be out looking for $1 in the gutter over the school holidays. I guess the lies have to begin somewhere. I watch them float around the school daily. Tired of watching the staff get let down (too many responsibilities that never used to be theirs, dealing with constant bullying and rudeness), watching the students get let down in a system that really only wants to help the ones that make the school numbers 'look good'. I am looking forward to getting out after 6 years of contracts have now made me feel very impartial towards EQ and what it stands for (and doesn't stand for).
Reply
Sand
02:37 AM on July 20, 2010
Toni, I was at a Teachers Union meeting last week and the rep mentioned that, Teachers who has been on contracts will shortly be offered positions. Mind you no guarantee about where. So I suggest you contact the Union to check my facts and the timeline. Mind you I personnally think Contracts are the way to go!! At least you have a life.
Reply
Toni
01:47 AM on May 16, 2010
I'll tell you why...six years of contracts after being told at University that you will have a job. They neglect to tell you that it will be contract and that you will be out looking for $1 in the gutter over the school holidays. I guess the lies have to begin somewhere. I watch them float around the school daily. Tired of watching the staff get let down (too many responsibilities that never used to be theirs, dealing with constant bullying and rudeness), watching the students get let down in a system that really only wants to help the ones that make the school numbers 'look good'. I am looking forward to getting out after 6 years of contracts have now made me feel very impartial towards EQ and what it stands for (and doesn't stand for).
Reply
Sand
06:46 AM on October 16, 2009
Weary Warrior says...
Robina & Verity...
Whilst I understood the mentality of & been bitten by educational bureaucracies and exited some time ago just before the blood-letting (mine), my wife has just fallen prey to two organizational psychopaths in Admin. We're also finding them supported by the system which they know so well while we, the teachers, focus on teaching.
While we (personally) have huge parental & political support, it does not seem enough to penetrate the closed walls of certain bureaucratic process and power groups - they behave like secretive terrorism cells - a power unto themselves. Through friends who are in HOD, APrinc, and gov exec positions, we've been told that this attack is highly irregular and improper, lacking natural justice, and could have been stopped a number of times and by whom and come to realize the Principal's complicity in the action (we thought it was only the school's Rule Nazi).
It's sad that this culture ferments in a teaching organization where our society is being melded in young minds. Only teachers who are strong *and careful* can counter some of these malicious values which could be gradually passed on over generations - or succumb, perhaps not even seeing the behind-the-scenes destructive powerplays and plummeting values.
I'm losing hope in humanity... My wife is a passionate over-skilled & over-educated teacher for her position but is passionate about her kids and so it surprises me (and her and her compatriates) that she is being forced out.
After this sudden, incisive, well-executed attack on her, I now recognize some other events where teachers were forced out - under strange silence or imposed "health reasons". It makes sense after the fact.
I will remain anonymous for now while we set alternate paths for ourselves. We are fortunate that we have choices - financial & career - that many teachers finding themselves this situation don't.
I teach ethics and values and have often gone to bat for others against the odds. So while I've been there done that, I'm tired. It seems that after probably of centuries stonewalling sensibilities, parts of the system has all bases well covered against reason, natural justice, compassion, and goodwill to our communities for all that is declared in their own rules...
We need a good leader to sort out the bureaucracies and bring back wholesome values where these workplace psychopaths cannot congregate and grow. Sensible communication, due process, and direct action has not seemed to work but make the matter worse. I can only HOPE now and that is fading.
good luck and best wishes to all who are in and been in this situation...
the Weary Warrior feels like going wandering...another grey nomad!
Hi Weary Warrior,
I am a weary warrior too and I agree with your comments and observations about the decline of values, the state of the system and I was finally "taken out by a psychopathic Principal. Appeared to behelpful to your face and in actual fact (from day one) was stabbing me in the back. He was obviously part of a "mobbing" mentality as he didn't take me for who i was he was given incorrect information about me by someone and didn't find out for himself what I was realy like as a person. His perception of me was so wrong it is absolutely unbelievable. Do you think it was it that I was a female, 20plus years experience and Masters Degree in Education that he couldn't handle.
What can a teacher do if the Principal is bad? The system is trying to have a business like image and operations but they will not listen to honest feedback, criticism or input on which to make improvements. I thought that it was all about evidence based assessment now. So now, the problems are being identified but why aren't they being solved.
Nevertheless, if they don't start to solve the systemic problems they are playing right into the hands of the Smart, intelligent, thinking people as Home schooling will advance at a rapid rate, the time is right, The Internet allows this, toxic school environments will drive people to protect their children and give them fine educations at home or in small registered schools. Groups could get together and form schools. Actually that is probably the Government aim....outsource education as it is costing too much. Let education decline and decline so it reforms in a new model/framework. I feel for my Grand children and hope they are home schoo;ed like Bindi Irwin and others.
Reply
Sand
06:23 AM on October 16, 2009
Teacher pay is not the issue so I wish Unions would get off their bums!!
It is the conditions! Even if I was paid 5X the money the conditions and student behaviour would
not make the job attractive.
Why is the stimulus package going on buildings? Classroom Teachers should each be give an assistan
and a phone on their desk and a lap top.
Also I have recently resigned and am now doing supply work. but I am so isolated as I cannot check email
use a laptop print off as the whole Network does not cater to the Supply Teacher Brigade.
It is the conditions! Even if I was paid 5X the money the conditions and student behaviour would
not make the job attractive.
Why is the stimulus package going on buildings? Classroom Teachers should each be give an assistan
and a phone on their desk and a lap top.
Also I have recently resigned and am now doing supply work. but I am so isolated as I cannot check email
use a laptop print off as the whole Network does not cater to the Supply Teacher Brigade.
Reply
Narie
06:17 AM on September 20, 2009
I feel teachers are leaving the workforce due to:- long working hours(officially employed for 5hrs and work for up to 10hrs per day plus work on most weekends); lack of support from parents of misbehaved students; many parents feel that they are 'too busy' and
'too tired' to help their child/ren do home tasks such as reading and projects(teacher's job only); there are parents who say they personally have learning problems but readily abuse their child/ren and teachers if high marks are not achieved(media can sometimes be at fault here!) and the politics within the educational system. With continual changes to curriculum and the pressure to 'shine', some teachers start to feel like lumps of playdough - forever being manipulated, pounded, thrown down, stamped on, scraped together, reformed, pounded a bit more then discarded.Some parents have remarked that our curriculum for primary education has become very cluttered. Teachers in rural schools in Queensland can become exhausted particularly if they are required to do admin work and Diagnostic Net, QCAT, Naplan Test practice for all relevant year levels plus organise excursions, Sports Days, attend Professional Development courses(own car, early start and late home) and being expected to have great PR with the community which often means working overtime.
'too tired' to help their child/ren do home tasks such as reading and projects(teacher's job only); there are parents who say they personally have learning problems but readily abuse their child/ren and teachers if high marks are not achieved(media can sometimes be at fault here!) and the politics within the educational system. With continual changes to curriculum and the pressure to 'shine', some teachers start to feel like lumps of playdough - forever being manipulated, pounded, thrown down, stamped on, scraped together, reformed, pounded a bit more then discarded.Some parents have remarked that our curriculum for primary education has become very cluttered. Teachers in rural schools in Queensland can become exhausted particularly if they are required to do admin work and Diagnostic Net, QCAT, Naplan Test practice for all relevant year levels plus organise excursions, Sports Days, attend Professional Development courses(own car, early start and late home) and being expected to have great PR with the community which often means working overtime.
Reply
theteachersareblowingtheirwhistles
03:43 AM on March 06, 2009
Hi there, Weary Warrior!
I appreciate your blog.
I know exactly what you mean when you say, "I am losing hope in humanity".
Is this a generational problem?
Have values shifted underneath older teachers?
Is it suddenly "smart" to lie about other people and to destroy their health and their career?
Your wife is very fortunate to have your support.
Robina
I appreciate your blog.
I know exactly what you mean when you say, "I am losing hope in humanity".
Is this a generational problem?
Have values shifted underneath older teachers?
Is it suddenly "smart" to lie about other people and to destroy their health and their career?
Your wife is very fortunate to have your support.
Robina
Reply
Weary Warrior
09:16 PM on March 02, 2009
Robina & Verity...
Whilst I understood the mentality of & been bitten by educational bureaucracies and exited some time ago just before the blood-letting (mine), my wife has just fallen prey to two organizational psychopaths in Admin. We're also finding them supported by the system which they know so well while we, the teachers, focus on teaching.
While we (personally) have huge parental & political support, it does not seem enough to penetrate the closed walls of certain bureaucratic process and power groups - they behave like secretive terrorism cells - a power unto themselves. Through friends who are in HOD, APrinc, and gov exec positions, we've been told that this attack is highly irregular and improper, lacking natural justice, and could have been stopped a number of times and by whom and come to realize the Principal's complicity in the action (we thought it was only the school's Rule Nazi).
It's sad that this culture ferments in a teaching organization where our society is being melded in young minds. Only teachers who are strong *and careful* can counter some of these malicious values which could be gradually passed on over generations - or succumb, perhaps not even seeing the behind-the-scenes destructive powerplays and plummeting values.
I'm losing hope in humanity... My wife is a passionate over-skilled & over-educated teacher for her position but is passionate about her kids and so it surprises me (and her and her compatriates) that she is being forced out.
After this sudden, incisive, well-executed attack on her, I now recognize some other events where teachers were forced out - under strange silence or imposed "health reasons". It makes sense after the fact.
I will remain anonymous for now while we set alternate paths for ourselves. We are fortunate that we have choices - financial & career - that many teachers finding themselves this situation don't.
I teach ethics and values and have often gone to bat for others against the odds. So while I've been there done that, I'm tired. It seems that after probably of centuries stonewalling sensibilities, parts of the system has all bases well covered against reason, natural justice, compassion, and goodwill to our communities for all that is declared in their own rules...
We need a good leader to sort out the bureaucracies and bring back wholesome values where these workplace psychopaths cannot congregate and grow. Sensible communication, due process, and direct action has not seemed to work but make the matter worse. I can only HOPE now and that is fading.
good luck and best wishes to all who are in and been in this situation...
the Weary Warrior feels like going wandering...another grey nomad!
Whilst I understood the mentality of & been bitten by educational bureaucracies and exited some time ago just before the blood-letting (mine), my wife has just fallen prey to two organizational psychopaths in Admin. We're also finding them supported by the system which they know so well while we, the teachers, focus on teaching.
While we (personally) have huge parental & political support, it does not seem enough to penetrate the closed walls of certain bureaucratic process and power groups - they behave like secretive terrorism cells - a power unto themselves. Through friends who are in HOD, APrinc, and gov exec positions, we've been told that this attack is highly irregular and improper, lacking natural justice, and could have been stopped a number of times and by whom and come to realize the Principal's complicity in the action (we thought it was only the school's Rule Nazi).
It's sad that this culture ferments in a teaching organization where our society is being melded in young minds. Only teachers who are strong *and careful* can counter some of these malicious values which could be gradually passed on over generations - or succumb, perhaps not even seeing the behind-the-scenes destructive powerplays and plummeting values.
I'm losing hope in humanity... My wife is a passionate over-skilled & over-educated teacher for her position but is passionate about her kids and so it surprises me (and her and her compatriates) that she is being forced out.
After this sudden, incisive, well-executed attack on her, I now recognize some other events where teachers were forced out - under strange silence or imposed "health reasons". It makes sense after the fact.
I will remain anonymous for now while we set alternate paths for ourselves. We are fortunate that we have choices - financial & career - that many teachers finding themselves this situation don't.
I teach ethics and values and have often gone to bat for others against the odds. So while I've been there done that, I'm tired. It seems that after probably of centuries stonewalling sensibilities, parts of the system has all bases well covered against reason, natural justice, compassion, and goodwill to our communities for all that is declared in their own rules...
We need a good leader to sort out the bureaucracies and bring back wholesome values where these workplace psychopaths cannot congregate and grow. Sensible communication, due process, and direct action has not seemed to work but make the matter worse. I can only HOPE now and that is fading.
good luck and best wishes to all who are in and been in this situation...
the Weary Warrior feels like going wandering...another grey nomad!
Reply
theteachersareblowingtheirwhistles
10:13 AM on February 28, 2009
Verity says...
The denial cycle is self-perpetuating and continues to gather momentum and blame over time as more and more teachers fall victim to its destruction - a sad indictment on humanity and the educative process. It is easy to deny responsibility and blame teachers if protective measures are so entrenched for some and not others. Educational bureaucracy sanitises its position by deceiving itself and disconnecting itself from the truth. This allows misguided principals to release unfettered, crushing power should a teacher speak out about problems that are apparently too real to handle. Denial of real issues, real needs and real support allows blame to thrive in order to disguise the truth. As a teacher, highlight a problem or a potential problem and find oneself blamed for exposure while a principal's false idealism is that a teacher should be self-sufficient and silent. A possible workable solution is not addressed if it shines the spotlight on the reality of a dysfunctional system and school leader. Denial of the truth is safe in the cocoon-like existence that protects the bureaucracy, a faceless entity, and its principals but fails dismally to protect teachers. Some say, parents have more say than teachers. A reality check means rational thought and open communication between all parties without fear of denial and blame. Who will take the ethical leap into the unknown and bring much needed change? Only the realists and the brave.
Verity,
Thank you for your comment. I am also very worried about the fact that teachers who try to engage in professional discussion are being punished and driven out of work. I can't see how things can improve in Queensland schools if teachers are punished for discussing the problems. How can we function as professionals in such a punitive environment?
Robina
Reply
Verity
05:11 AM on February 21, 2009
The denial cycle is self-perpetuating and continues to gather momentum and blame over time as more and more teachers fall victim to its destruction - a sad indictment on humanity and the educative process. It is easy to deny responsibility and blame teachers if protective measures are so entrenched for some and not others. Educational bureaucracy sanitises its position by deceiving itself and disconnecting itself from the truth. This allows misguided principals to release unfettered, crushing power should a teacher speak out about problems that are apparently too real to handle. Denial of real issues, real needs and real support allows blame to thrive in order to disguise the truth. As a teacher, highlight a problem or a potential problem and find oneself blamed for exposure while a principal's false idealism is that a teacher should be self-sufficient and silent. A possible workable solution is not addressed if it shines the spotlight on the reality of a dysfunctional system and school leader. Denial of the truth is safe in the cocoon-like existence that protects the bureaucracy, a faceless entity, and its principals but fails dismally to protect teachers. Some say, parents have more say than teachers. A reality check means rational thought and open communication between all parties without fear of denial and blame. Who will take the ethical leap into the unknown and bring much needed change? Only the realists and the brave.
Reply
Peter
04:17 PM on February 20, 2009
Teachers are not well supported by principals and the education bureaucracy. Rather than help find solutions to teaching problems they put all the responsiblity onto the individual teacher. But individual teachers do not have the resources or means to correct all problems. So when the issues are not resolved, the principals and the bureaucracy blame the teacher. Then the principals bully the teachers if they complain. Time to break this cycle.
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