People in general don't appreciate the deprivations and humiliations that many teachers face in indigenous communities.

The Cape York Aboriginal Academy Aurukun campus is advertising for teachers, presumably to replace the ones who have recently been evacuated.

They'll have to release the suitable candidates from their straight jackets first.

Who in their right mind would choose to work in that joint?

I think I have a solution to the problem.

Commission a party of bureaucrats from Education Queensland Mary Street Head Office, along with a good serving of university education lecturers, to take over the running of the Aurukun school.

The Queensland Education Department needs a shake-up, and what better way than to put the senior bureaucrats on the front line for a taste of reality?

Mark, readers comment,  Machete kids force Cape York's Aurukun school to close, Sarah Elks, The Australian, 26 May 2016

I was in teaching for some eight years and left completely traumatised.

My issues were numerous; the last contact I had at a school I had been at for some four years was a nightmare - shocking behavioural management issues; management turning against me, and certain teachers in one of the departments making it very clear that I was not wanted.

These teachers were ideologically driven, as the education system is full of lefties/marxists.

This school never asked me back and gave me no reason whatsoever.

I spent the following year with no work and suffering from some sort of ptsd from the bullying i received from students, the screaming, the humiliation, the mocking, the lies, the abuse etc etc etc.

Nothing i did was good enough, even though i worked my guts out.

My teaching career is finished and the education system in this country can go to hell.

if i had children i would home school them, no doubt about that.

Make the decision that is right for you and while you're still young.

I'm lucky i found another line of work that is far less stressful and although sure it is not as 'exciting' as teaching, i don't go to bed dreading the next day or having nightmares.

 

Reply VMaz

6:28 PM on March 14, 2016 

A Queensland High School teacher's wife has set up a website to protest about the way that her husband has been treated.

Her husband was deeply worried about the behaviour problems at his school.

He blew the whistle.

So you want to be a teacher?

Just go to Uni for four years and then apply for a teaching job.

It's that easy - or didn't you know that?

Oh, and you might just have to spend a few years living and working way out in Western Queensland as well.

Sounds great, doesn't it?

Paul, Reader's Comment, Queensland teachers want pay rise, Brittany Vonow, The Courier-Mail, 18 March 2016

There are a few teachers in my extended family and friendship group.

They work CRAZY hours ... up to 80 hours a week.

This includes planning classes, previewing assignments and helping students understand how to match their assignment to the criteria.

Lots of this work is done after school as optional coaching sessions.

THEN ... marking, writing reports, developing "individual learning plans" for the students who are falling behind, dealing with parents, managing some terrible behaviour issues, covering classes for the teachers who seem to call in sick whenever the pressure is on, supervising lunch and after school ...

... and weekend activities.

G, Reader's Comment, Queensland teachers want pay rise, Brittany Vonow, The Courier-Mail, 18 March 2016

My wife is a teacher.

She works most weekends and late most nights to keep up with the demands made of her in schools these days.

She uses her holidays to plan with her team for the next term.

Neill, Reader's Comment, Queensland teachers want pay rise, Brittany Vonow, The Courier-Mail, 18 March 2016

The general public have no idea what really happens in schools.

You get what you pay for.

For a person to go to uni for four years and earn what teachers do compared to what other high achieving people can get in other industries - including people who have not spent years of their lives and thousands of their own dollars to become qualified - why would you bother?

If you want to fix education, start with making it a more respected profession.

Do the general public ever think about what goes into managing, teaching and assessing for 24-30 socially, academically and culturally DIFFERENT kids each day?

Do the general public think it happens between 8am and 3pm alone?

Josh, Reader's Comment, Large numbers of Queensland high school students are learning maths and science from teachers not fully qualified, Lauren Wilson, The Courier-Mail, 1 April 2016

I taught in the Queensland Education Department for 41 years before they finally got me.

At an early stage in my career I realised that my employer was the children I worked with and their parents.

They paid the taxes which paid my wages.

So, when some transient principal-on-the-promotion trail would try to throw all of my work out of the window and replace it with more politically correct or currently-trendy work, I would resist.

I would ask these principals  - did they want my opinion?

Or did they want their own opinion coming out of my mouth?

I was taking the students on a learning path and I was the professional in my field, not the manager in the office.

In the end, my 41 years of teaching cost me a lot of money and destroyed quite a lot of my belief in my fellow man.

One principal warned me that when "the pooh hit the rotating device", all the people standing behind me would vanish and I would be left to suffer the brunt of the fallout.

He was right.

Not one of the people I worked with at my last two places of work (one I worked at for seven years), has ever phoned me at home to see how I was.

Robina Cosser says : The teachers may have been officially warned not to contact you, Russell.

They may have been warned that they would be in "very serious trouble" if they discussed the situation with you.

This may have left them too afraid to contact you.

The isolation affects your mental health.

Then you can be declared "medically unfit for work".

This practice is especially effective when teachers are on 'remote service' in a small community.

Russell says : Read "The Second Kuranda Story" and form your own opinion.

Emailed privately to Robina Cosser on 17 March 2016 for editing and publication.

The culture in education is a problem.

40 years ago, anyone at Uni who had no job prospects did a grad Dip Ed and became a teacher.

There were many d----ies and other people who would never get a job in the real world.

Now those individuals are running the Education Department.

Even the education departments at Uni are full of them.

BTW, I was at Uni 40 years ago and worked for over 20 years in the real world before becoming a teacher, specializing in maths and hard sciences.

We now have PE and humanities teachers running many schools.

Many have no interest in academic achievement for students.

And we wonder why there is a problem.

Andrew, Reader's Comment, Why student teachers are running away, Brittany Vonow, The Courier-Mail, 9 February 2016

I agree with Andrew (above)!

The culture in many schools is negative.

There are so many 'acting' principals, deputies (many of whom are really PE teachers) and HODs.

Many schools have no long-term leadership or continuity.

Everyone is out for promotions and status and the students come way down the list of priorities.

In the end it's the responsibility of DETE, who are soley responsible for the mess.

Younger or new teachers generally only teach for less than five years as they look around and see other staff members out for themselves in a 'dog eat dog' environment.

Funding cuts in education and woefully incompetent and ineffective Queensland Teachers Union have placed the majority of state school teachers in a precarious and untenable position.

MaryJane, Reader's Comment, Why student teachers are turning away, Brittany Vonow, The Courier-Mail, 9 February 2016

My granddaughter wants to be a teacher, and I am firmly discouraging her.

The department is full of misogynists, sociopaths, narcissistic people.

The kids and parents were the least of my worries.

Was so happy to retire.

Margaret, Reader's Comment, Why student teachers are turning away, Brittany Vonow, The Courier-Mail, 9 February 2016

I am a partner of a teacher.

Teachers get paid only for their contact hours - 25 hours per week.

They get no pay for supervision; no pay for parent contact; no pay for administration; no pay for reviewing drafts at night and at weekends.

Teachers are dealing with many students who should not be at school but are there because the law says they must attend.

Many parents want the teachers to be everything to their precious child but take no responsibility for their actions.

My partner has been attacked, assaulted and sworn at and the students are given a couple of days off and the parents blame the teacher for asking their child to do some work.

Teachers are at risk every day because of the attitude of parents and the ambivalence of politicians and bureaucrats.

Julie, Reader's Comment, Queensland teachers overworked, stressed find Office of Industrial Relations, Brittany Vonow, The Courier-Mail, 10 Feb 2016

Education in Australian schools is in crisis and someone has to listen to those who are game enough to speak up.

I have been a primary school teacher in Brisbane Schools for over 30 years.

This year, after much thought, I have decided to look for another job, not easy for a woman in her 50's.

I cannot continue to do a job that requires me to do what is fundamentally against my philosophy of how it should be done.

I love my students and they love me.

I know how to engage children in learning and how to make it fun.

It's what I do best.

But teachers have very little professional autonomy any more.

We are told what to do, how to do it and when it has to be done.

Never have I experienced a time in my profession when teachers have been so stressed out and in real fear for their own mental health and also for the mental health of the children that they teach.

The pressures are enormous.

... No teacher works from 9 until 3.

We are with the students during those hours.

We go on camps, we man stalls at fetes, we conduct parent-teacher interviews, we coach sporting teams and we supervise discos.

And, of course, there is the lesson preparation, the marking, the report cards.

I'm writing this because teachers need to speak up but we are often afraid of retribution. 

We need to claim back our profession but we are powerless.

Teachers teach because we love children and are passionate about education.

Our young teaching graduates enter the profession bright eyed and bushy tailed, energetic and enthusiastic, ready to make a difference.

So why, I ask, are they only staying for an average of five years?

Of course that question is rhetorical. I know the answer.

They are burned out and disillusioned.

Older teachers like me have seen better days in the classroom, so in a way it's harder for us to see all the joy slowly being sucked out of learning.

But we also have a wealth of experience to draw from and we know which hoops you don't necessarily need to jump through.

We occasionally speak out.

We are not as easy to "control".

But we are tired and also burning out with disillusionment.

... Last year, as I apologised once agin to my class for pushing them so hard and for the constant barrage of assessment, one child asked me, "If you don't like the things you do, then why are you still a teacher?"

That question got me thinking long and hard.

I had no answer except that I truly loved kids and it was with a heavy heart that I realised that wasn't enough any more. 

Kathy Margolis's post on her facebook page.

I have just pulled the pin after 32 years for the exact same reasons.

Jane, Reader's Comment, Queensland teacher Kathy Margolis quits after 30 years, letter explaining why goes viral, Brittany Vonow, The Courier-Mail, 5 February 2016

How many good teachers feel exactly the same way as Kathy Margolis?

The people who are coming up with all of the ridiculous ideas and pointless waffle that they think is so wonderful don't realise that they are the ones who cause good, experienced teachers to walk away.

Experienced teachers can't stand to watch the steady destruction of learning that is the result of the rubbish that they are forced to do each day.

Barry, Reader's Comment, Queensland teacher Kathy Margolis quits after 30 years, letter explaining why goes viral, Brittany Vonow, The Courier-Mail, 5 February 2016

I've been teaching for a long time and for the last ten or so years, the best advice I can give pre-service teachers is to make sure they have a Plan B.

James, Reader's Comment, Queensland teacher Kathy Margolis quits after 30 years, letter explaining why goes viral, Brittany Vonow, The Courier-Mail, 5 February 2016

Political correctness has made it almost impossible for teachers to -

 * correctly educate kids,

 * control playground and classroom behaviour,

 * preserve some form of discipline,

 * discuss issues realistically with parents,

 * be culturally aware,

 * be sensitive to every kid's personal needs,

 * detect and report on abused kids,

 * feed kids whose parents don't even give them a breakfast,

 * handle kids who are dosed up on medications,

 * detect drug abuse,

 * prevent bullying,

 * maintain surveillance for weapons

 * and care for mentally challenged kids.

It's just about out of control and the best people are not being attracted to teaching any more.

AB, Reader's comment, Autistic Family Collective says teachers are bullying autistic students, Brittany Vonow, The Courier Mail, 31 December 2015.

Too many Education Department administrators lack EQ for both staff and students.

(EQ = Emotional Quotient, also called Emotional Intelligence - the ability to recognise their own and other people's emotions, etc.)

The system is locked into "boys clubs", where mates are rewarded for their sloth, inability to question and lack of vision.

This has been the case in a number of jurisdictions I have worked in.

CP of QLD, Reader's Comment, Why are so many teachers fleeing the classroom? Brooke Lumsden, news.com.au  8 October 2015

Terrible pay!

Outdated systems and practices!

Department full of dead-wood bureaucracy!

Alex of Brisbane Teacher, Reader's Comment, Why are so many teachers fleeing the classroom? Brooke Lumsden, news.com.au  8 October 2015

I can't comment on primary teaching, but certainly in the last 20 years blokey, sporty young men have not been attracted to teaching and in my time graduate men were inappropriately bossed around by a mostly female admin hierarchy.

The men just resign.

The men tell me "I don't need this".

Then many other young men refuse the Education Queensland country service requirement and also resign.

Then many other young male teachers are sick of the poor future of "being on contract" and also resign, looking for a stable income to perhaps buy a house with their partner.

I also realise that teenage girls have very creative imaginations which can lead to problems for the few remaining young male teachers, but I've also counselled young blokes / pre-service male teachers for stupidly exchanging Facebook and mobile details with senior girls.

So it can be a minefield for male teachers, and really teaching is now better suited to women.

Young men are moving into employment areas that give them some pride and social kudos.

Art, Reader's Comment, Male teachers abandon classroom fearing inappropriate label of working with children, Brittany Vonow, The Courier-Mail, 19 October 2015

At one stage during my years at University I seriously considered becoming a science, maths and geography teacher.

I did a lot of thinking and came to this decision.

Why spend 3-4 years a university accumulating all that debt to come out with minimal job prospects, average wages, and little career advancement prospects?

The only pros were the long holidays and the chance to teach and help young people.

For the investment of time and money into my studies I could get a better paying and more successful career doing almost anything else.

Sad but true.

I think we need to look into teacher recruitment and career planning.

If you want the best teachers you need to up the pay scale and career prospects to attract the best students.

Matt, Reader's Comment, Male teachers abandon classroom fearing inappropriate label of working with children, Brittany Vonow, TheCourier-Mail, 19 October 2015

There is little to attract men into the teaching profession with relentlessly negative campaigns from politicians and media about 'lazy, greedy teachers'.

And any boys growing up with a teacher in the family would have witnessed the impossible workload, especially in the past ten years, the ridiculous bureaucracy and the increasingly demanding parents - and they would run a mile.

The big question is - why is anyone entering this thankless profession now?

C, Reader's Comment, Male teachers abandon classroom fearing inappropriate label of working with children, Brittany Vonow, The Courier-mail, 19 October 2015

Unprofessional and rag-tag management by Education Queensland drives male teachers to other carer options. 

John, Reader's Comment, Male teachers abandon classroom fearing inappropriate label of working with children, Brittany Vonow, The Courier-Mail, 19 October 2015

There are several reasons why many male teachers have left teaching and why many potential male teachers have chosen another profession.

One reason is the low wages, long hours and difficult work with little thanks.

A second reason is the abuse teachers receive from some students which is hardly ever properly dealt with.

A third reason is when male teachers, who have admonished a student for their behaviour, are accused by the student of abusing or s-xually touching them.

The teacher is always classed as guilty and has to appear in court.

If the student admits to lying, he or she is admonished and let go.

The teacher is also let go, but is ruined for life.

LW, Malanda, Letter to the Editor, P. 22 The Courier-Mail, 21 October 2015

The number of male teachers in Queensland State primary schools has fallen to 16 per cent.

This reflects how teaching is now viewed, not only by men but by the whole community.

When I became a teacher over four decades ago, it was considered an honourable and rewarding career and male teachers were well represented in primary schools.

Nowadays, however, the stigma that has developed towards males in terms of their motives for choosing teaching has made teaching less attractive to men.

A Department of Education spokesperson has said that recruitment policies cannot be employed to attract men into teaching because that would unlawfully discriminate on the grounds of gender.

This is a convenient way to avoid dealing with the real issue.

Better pay structures for all teachers and more effective support strategies for beginning teachers would go a long way to attracting more men into the profession.

It would also reduce the burnouts and high resignation rate for teachers in the first five years.

John Q, Manly, Letter to the Editor, P. 22, The Courier-Mail, 21 October 2015

Having worked as a literacy coach in the state education sector, I can tell you that literacy levels in general are appalling.

Teaching staff are doing all they can with very limited resources.

I find the problem to be the executive ranks within the schools.

They have grandiose aspirations.

There is a lot of cash being thrown around on marketing and branding, lots of executive 'training' retreats, executive pay rises being granted, etc. etc.

Yet when requesting resources for the classroom we were constantly denied and told we couldn't afford it.

The state system is broken and failing spectacularly in the efficient education of our children.

But at least the office staff have nice cars.

Potamus, Reader's Comment, Queensland still behind but improving in Naplan, Amy Remeikis, Brisbane Times, 5 August 2015

A 40-year-old Queensland woman came into teaching as a mature-age graduate.

She taught with some success in difficult schools on the Gold Coast and in socially disadvantaged areas like Inala, in Brisbane's outer western suburbs.

She was called "slut".

She was spat at.

She thought she was used to difficult classes.

In 2013 she was offered a job in a regional Queensland Prep to Year 12 school.

So she, her husband and her two primary school-aged children moved to the regional township.

On her second day at the school, a boy in her Year 9 class turned to his friend and said, "Hey Dean, if there was her and another teacher and you only had one bullet, who would you put it through?"

Dean was undecided.

But the boy looked straight at the female teacher. "I'd put it through her."

He had known the teacher for about 20 minutes and hated her with a passion that would not bend.

"You'll be gone in a week, pedo," the boy said.

"You'll be gone in a week, ya f...kin' pedo."

The teacher hung her head in dread.

Oh my God, what have I done?

This student knew the system.

Mud sticks.

Mary endured teaching at the school for a year.

Boys exposed themselves.

Students jumped out of windows.

Students destroyed bundles of completed assignments.

Students ate and swallowed A4 handouts.

A boy's face was smashed into a wall in a classroom brawl.

Year 9's broke into her classroom at night to have s-x on school desks.

Students urinated over verandas.

The teacher explains : "This was my place of work.

I had this naïve idea that they were going to do what I asked them.

But it was chaos the whole time.

Everything was broken. Broken windows. Broken doors. Broken handles.

I resorted to putting my desk at the door to block them from getting out.

I wasn't the only one doing it.

They tried to climb out the top windows of the classroom.

I thought they were going to kill themselves.

At the end of the first week the other teachers said, 'Oh, you've done really well. You've done great'.

I realised only the stupid people stayed.

The brave actually walked."

"Class warfare, Trent Dalton, PP 10-14, The Weekend Australian, 19-20 July 2014.

"You start to feel worthless.

Really crushed.

And you want to tell them to stick it but you don't, because you're scared of not having a job.

I'm fearful all the time.

I feel sick in my stomach.

I'm not a suicidal person but I could see how someone could be driven to that."

Female junior history and geography state high school teacher based in a working-class suburb south of Brisbane,   Class Warfare, Trent Dalton, PP 10-14, The Weekend Australian, 19-20 July 2014

Lisa Ware's life changed in 2000.

Lisa, 44, had been a high school teacher for 23 years.

She was a very active person with no previous health problems. 

But, one day in 2000, Lisa was at home, marking exam papers, when she felt a bit of a headache come on.

It got worse.

Lisa had "a massive brain bleed" and passed out.

She was living alone.

She was not found for two days.

The Acting Deputy Principal of Ferny Grove High School rang Lisa's home phone on Monday morning to find out why she was not at school.

He rang again on Tuesday morning.

On Tuesday afternoon he rang Lisa's mother, who came around and found Lisa unconscious.

Lisa spent seven months in hospital.

Doctors told Lisa stress "might have played a part".

Lisa Ware, Ordinary people, Elissa Lawrence, QWeekend, The Courier-Mail, 25-26 January 2014

Having been a teacher for 34 years and a very good one at that, I had many colleagues who took the Primary Teacher Career Change $50,000 to leave because they could not cope with the lack of support, changes for the worse in curriculum and lack of respect from parents.

I am sure 10 per cent of teachers may be better off out of the profession.

The same applies for doctors, nurses, lawyers and university lecturers.

Please take some time and research why many experienced teachers are leaving their beloved profession.

Who will be dedicated enough to take children on excursions, coach sporting teams in lunch hours, organise breakfasts, after-school activities, etcetera?

Experience does count for so much in our schools.

Sadly, we are losing many older teachers who have so much to offer younger teachers in classroom management ideas.

Judi Kirk, Bundaberg, Letter to the Editor, p.4, Qweekend, The Courier-Mail, April 6-7 2013.

My wife has been an "on-call" teacher for the past 11 years since graduation.

Fortunately for her there are enough full-time teachers on leave of some sort or another that there is a fair demand for her services.

Check out the number of people on "contract" in Qld schools.

Qld also poach teachers from NSW and elsewhere, despite the waiting list here.

People hilariously unqualified or unsuited for the role assigned to them too.

The education "system" is staffed by more than two generations of under-qualified people or people totally unsuited to the job.

Throw in a total inability to exercise authority or discipline in the classroom without subjecting oneself to a nightmare bureaucratic protocol, and voila - the output we see today.

Yes, cut back the number of entrants to teaching degrees, and stream them as well.

Attract only people who WANT to do the job.

But for gods' sakes put a reamer through the education departments and "system" first, to root out all of the under-achievers who will otherwise crush the spirit of the new wave, and with them the heavy bureaucratic overburden.

Allow school spirit, discipline and standards to all grow.

Editor's Note : I think this is going to be one of Australia's greatest challenges in schools in the next few years.

So many under-achievers have been trained and have 'qualified' as teachers.

How will high-achieving education graduates be protected from this overwhelming tide of professional mediocrity?

Man of La Mancha of Mackay, Comment 15 of 25, Millions wasted training teachers, Justine Ferrari, The Australian, 25 March 2013   

Queensland's apparent poor performance in NAPLAN has precipitated an ongoing barrage of "teacher bashing".

There would be no other profession that is subjected to the same level of public scrutiny as teaching.

There would also be no other profession that would allow its members to be subjected to the verbal abuse, bullying, harassment and violence that is occurring in a number of our schools.

Unfortunately this is the ugly side of teaching that the public rarely hears about.

John Quinn, Manly, Letter to the Editor, p.37, The Courier-Mail, Friday 15 March 2013.

Two things are missing from our schools : standards and consequences.

After 10 years in teaching, I rejoined the real world.

The real world demands you do your job to a "standard", if you don't "consequences" are imposed : re-do the job, don't get paid, etc.

If you want to improve the literacy and numeracy results of Queensland students, put the pressure back on to where it belongs : the students.

If you don't complete your work, if you don't behave, if you don't attend school - you don't move past your current year level.

Mark Newberry, Gladstone, Letter to the Editor, P.26, The Courier-Mail, Wednesday 13 March 2013.

As a retired teacher I have to thoroughly endorse Mark Newberry's letter (The Courier-Mail, 13 March) in which he states the onus in education has to be on the students who have to complete their work, behave and attend school to move on to the next year level.

It is a beautiful letter, nailing what is wrong with the current failing system in a few words.

When I started teaching in 1967, student were kept down if they were not successful.

By the time I finished, such a thing was unheard of.

As Mark writes, that is not how the real world works.

Clive Greensill, Ipswich, Letter to the Editor, p. 30, The Courier-Mail, 14 March 2013.

Greg Newham began his teaching career as a music teacher in the Australian Defence Force, where he taught both classroom and instrumental music for eight years.

In 1988 Mr Newham attained the position of Bandmaster of Her Majesty's Royal Australian Navy Fleet Band.

Mr Newham had the privilege of playing before royalty on numerous occasions during Australia's Bi-Centenial celebrations and throughout every capital city in Australia and many countries overseas.

Mr Newham left the defence force in 1989.

After further university study, Mr Newham began teaching English and music in private schools.

In 1995 Mr Newham became a teacher with Education Queensland.

In 2012 Mr Newham was working at The Burrowes State School.

He was one of the most popular teachers at the school.

Mr Newham died suddenly at The Burrowes State School on Friday 14 December 2012.

I am a teacher.

Teachers often begin work at 7.30am, and some do not go home till like 6 or 7pm, after being abused all day, losing their voice from screaming at unruly kids and trying to teach all different learning abilities!! 

I gave up teaching as it was horrible!!

Liz, Comment 2 of 67, Safe Work Australia figures reveal teachers are Queensland's most stressed workers, The Sunday Mail (QLD), 21 October 2012 

I just want to say that it has been two years since I was working for a  principal who was a passive bully.

Last year was hard.

I felt useless, unsupported by so called 'teacher friends' that behind this principal's back would gripe and carry on, and do nothing when it counted.

Sometimes, when you stand up, when others are frightened to do so, they make you the problem.

Why? Because they realise they lack the courage.

The first thing I would always say to someone who is thinking about whistleblowing is; do it for yourself.

If you are doing it for someone else, think again.

I can guarantee that even though they will be saying 'yes, go ahead, we'll back you', it'll be you walking the plank while they sit there watching from the safety of the deck.

A few weeks ago I met another principal who told me her story of being bullied out of work in Queensland.

We had arranged to meet in a coffee shop.

I arrived first and I ordered a coffee.

A glass of iced water was delivered with the coffee. 

When the principal arrived, she asked me if she could drink the glass of water.

Later in the meeting, she held up her purse and told me that she had $6 in the purse to last her for the next week.

I can't forget her.

I admire her guts - she wouldn't let me buy her a coffee.

But this is not what you expect when you become a teacher.

A candid conversation with most teachers would reveal a workforce under extreme stress.

Notwithstanding the findings and recommendations of the Gonski Review, teacher stress is the most significant issue impacting on education, and ultimately on student performance.

Constantly striving to address the content prescribed in the new syllabus (Curriculum to Classroom), preparing students for NAPLAN testing, along with the other daily demands completely unrelated to classroom teaching, exacerbated by intransigent public scrutiny has resulted in a disenchanted and exhausted body of professionals.

Hence, it comes as no surprise that a common refrain from many young teachers is that they cannot envisage a career in teaching spanning any more than a decade.

By then, they expect to be burnt out.

Moreover, teachers close to retirement long for the day.

Teachers expect career burnout, John Quinn, Manly, Letter to the Editor, Talking Point, P. 24, The Courier-Mail, 28 February 2012.

Our failed system has for decades been propped up by spending billions of dollars that should not need spending, by endless propaganda, by bullying and belittling members of the public who question its approaches and results, by denying anything's wrong, by intimidating teachers, by government slogans and by dumping every fad, pointless innovation or ill-fated attempt to deal with system-caused problems on to teachers.

The same system has for decades persecuted teachers who tried to resist mindless dictates they knew to be wrong and harmful to children's education.

The teaching unions seem to be unable or unwilling to do anything about many of the things that turn capable, dedicated teachers into "failures" -

• unrealistic, unnecessary and uncompensated-for workloads constantly being added to an already unmanageable job,
• lack of support (often outright hostility) from parents and employing authorities,
• lack of authority commensurate with their responsibilities,
• insolent children
• and stress levels that in any other field would have been the subject of a judicial inquiry years ago.

They cannot even protect their members from suffering the worst rates of attrition and early death of any profession.

Editor : This article is well worth reading in full -

Can't call teachers sub-standard if there are no standards nor opportunities , David Plummer, a teacher of 30 years' experience, The Courier-Mail, 8 April 2011

Readers' Comments on David Plummer's article -

I tend to agree with David's analysis.

I taught at TAFE for a number of years and observed that many, many students were incapable of drafting a simple report.

Their English writing ability was very poor.

These students travelled from grade one, through high school and then entered the TAFE system, yet many had a very poor grasp of the English language.

One would think that the fundamentals of the English language would have been taught at primary and at high school.

A friend of mine teaching at university level expressed similar concerns regarding first year attendees.

Hal Denman, Reader's Comment 3 of 23, Can't call teachers sub-standard if there are no standards nor opportunities , David Plummer, a teacher of 30 years' experience, The Courier-Mail, 8 April 2011

Congratulations.

At last we are getting at the truth.

Teacher of 34 years.

Bindi of QLD, Reader's Comment 4 of 23, Can't call teachers sub-standard if there are no standards nor opportunities , David Plummer, a teacher of 30 years' experience, The Courier-Mail, 8 April 2011

Scott of Brissie, Reader's Comment 6 of 23, Can't call teachers sub-standard if there are no standards nor opportunities , David Plummer, a teacher of 30 years' experience, The Courier-Mail, 8 April 2011

Ex teacher of Brisbane, Reader's Comment 16 of 23, Can't call teachers sub-standard if there are no standards nor opportunities , David Plummer, a teacher of 30 years' experience, The Courier-Mail, 8 April 2011

Partner of Teacher of Townsville, Reader's Comment 148 of 225, Professionals could be Queensland teachers in six weeks, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail 21 February 2010 

http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/moreton/facebook-joins-hunt-for-missing-caboolture-teacher-john-oconnell/story-fn8m0yu3-1226111405145

Teacher faces court, Sunshine Coast Daily, 18 August 2011 : http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/08/18/teacher-faces-court/

As a teacher in Education Queensland for eighteen years, I've witnessed a pistol held at a teacher's head by a student, attempted knifing of a student by another student, bashings, verbal abuse of teachers by students and parents, two male students having s_x in a toilet, teachers called (various names) by students and the list can go on.

The latest abuse by students is that they can set-up derogative facebook pages to slander and defame the teacher's name.

And what happen to the students?

Hardly anything- the worst punishment is a two week break from school - whereas if teachers do the SLIGHTEST WRONG, Education Queensland makes them pay dearly with the loss of their job.

Education Queensland are controlled by a bunch of hypocrites

My advice to any young teacher or anyone seriously thinking of a career in teaching is forget it- it's not worth it- get a decent job where you are not abused and taken for granted.

Fed-up of Brisbane, Reader's Comment 3 of 4, Two teachers cut for 'inappropriate behaviour' says Anna Bligh, The Courier-Mail, 10 August 2010

This week I quit as a teacher with Education Queensland after 36 years of service.

I am lucky to be in a good financial position with superannuation and other investments.

I have been subjected to a series of untrue and uncorroborated allegations by my Principal and a Teacher Aide.

The allegations were investigated and it was found that I had no case to answer.

I was not informed of the specific allegations until the actual investigation interview.

After this, the principal seemed to concoct another allegation.

I was not informed and I was found guilty on the basis of what the principal said.

I was allowed no 'Natural Justice' at all.

I never had the chance to challenge his lies.

But he has continued to label me a liar and to question my professional integrity.

...

I lodged a Grievance but I was told it did not fit their guidelines for a Grievance.

Principals seem to be being trained in devious ways to get rid of teachers who dare to question some of their decisions.

I never want to teach again, especially for Education Queensland - where their rhetoric does not match their practice

Bully Principals seem to keep on 'getting away with it'.

Peter Gregson of Ferny Grove, Reader's Comment 6 of 92, Workplace bullies may face jail in Queensland as laws strengthened, Renee Viellaris, The Sunday Mail, 10 July 2011

I worked for years without any bullying but in recent years the bullying has existed.

I became sick and resigned.

The complaint system was a joke because my boss was in the same union.

I now have a new job and am doing OK.

Thank God.

I walked away from my career to survive, but the bullying I received was wrong and "bad mannered to the extreme"....to say the least.

I have only every struck bullying before in childhood in the playground so was "gobbed smacked" to find adults being so immature or socially inept and to have responsible positions in the organisation.

Editor's Note : I understand that this was written by a Queensland teacher. 

Chalkie Sand,  Bullying at Work, Background Briefing, ABC Radio, 10 July 2011

I spent 6 years working in a very large Queensland state school, and have since left.

The only time I saw teacher's performance managed was when they stood up against an essentially corrupt principal.

A Head of Department (HOD) was removed as he refused to doctor student results to achieve the magic 80% passing performance demanded by the principal.

The HOD's view was that students needed to work harder to achieve the standard.

What occurred in that department, over the ensuing years, was a continuous lowering of the standards to ensure the 80% mark was achieved.

On the other hand, teachers who had only ever taught in that school, and only ever said yes, were often promoted before they had sufficient experience as a teacher.

For example, promoted to HOD after 9 months of experience or 18 months of experience (two cases).

I left as I couldn't work in a school that had its priorities all wrong.

My concern is for students in a system where a principal like this could fire teachers with alternate views.

While the "results" might improve ... the education would suffer.

He is suing the Trustees of the Christian Brothers, claiming there wasn't reasonable maintenance of the sporting fields.

Editor's Note : I sprained my ankle myself walking over school grass that had not been rollered flat. 

The grass looked fine, but under the surface there were huge lumps and holes.

If I remember correctly, two other women teachers also sprained their ankles on the grass that year.

More generally, there is a huge contrast between the standard that a Queensland teacher has to reach in order to be registered to teach in Queensland, and the lack of any standard for the teacher's working environment.

St Joseph's Nudgee College sued by teacher who tripped and fell while refereeing football match, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail, 29 April 2011

Many Queensland teachers want to quit teaching. 

A lot of the problems concern Ed Queensland and school administrators like principals and deputy principals, not politicians.

Education Queensland hide the issues from politicians, and the pollies' minders make sure the pollies don't look too hard.

Teachers are sick and tired of the incompetence of those who are in charge.

Richard of Graceville, Reader's Comment 7 of 8   Survey shows nearly two-thirds of teachers want to quit, Martina Simos, The Advertiser, The Courier-Mail, 5 April 2011

Peter of Aspley, Reader's Comment 6 of 8,  Survey shows nearly two-thirds of teachers want to quit, Martina Simos, The Advertiser, The Courier-Mail, 5 April 2011

The Queensland Crime and Misconduct Commission have a policy of 'devolving' investigations.

So when a Cairns teacher made a disclosure to Anna Bligh that the Education Queensland Grievance Process did not work - that the Queensland Teacher's Union had advised her that there was no hope of justice because they had never known a classroom teachers' Grievance to be upheld - the CMC 'devolved' the investigation to Education Queensland.

It is a bit like the Queensland police asking a thief to investigate his own robbery.

Of course the thief will find no evidence of his theft.

Devolution doesn't work.

The CMC devolution policy facilitates the abuse of Queensland classroom teachers.

Read what happened to the Cairns teacher who made a complaint to the Queensland CMC : http://www.badapplebullies.com/investigations.htm

I am a teacher and I relocated to Qld with my family in 2010 after returning from abroad.

I found the level of, and attitude to, education so low in Brisbane that after nine months I began to look interstate.

Indeed, as an Economics teacher I was dismayed when my Head of Department asked me what a stimulus package was.

I found teachers in the private sector to be arrogant, ignorant and all too afraid to 'rock the boat' with their parents and school executives.

With my own children to educate, I voted with my feet and left the state in Jan 2011.

Mr Mackie interviewed staff, students, parents and businesses.

He says the incidents happened a long time ago and progress has been made.

"It's my assessment that there is not a problem with violence at the school outside anything that you would expect of a school of that nature from preschool through to year 12," he said.

College accused of enrolment scam cautions against assumptions, Brad Ryan, ABC News, 10 March, 2011

Allegations of violence at Weipa school, Lisa Martin, AAP, The Sydney Morning Herald, 2 March 2011

Zinajdo Hasanovic, 17, was on bail in July 2008 when he led a gang of youths into a Brisbane school.

The gang randomly attacked a group of year 10 students.

Hasanovic swung a meat cleaver into the face of a boy.

The boy needed plastic surgery and sixty stitches in his cheek.

He now has permanent scarring.

Hasanovic then hit another student in the back with the meat cleaver, causing two cuts.

A teacher bravely intervened to stop further attacks.

"Significant detrimental psychological impact can be expected, not just to the victims and their families, but also to the other students, staff and their families," Brisbane Supreme Court Justice Stanley Jones said.

Meat cleaver teen loses appeal, Courtney Trenwith, The Brisbane Times, 7 December 2010.

Coombabah State High School went into lockdown on Thursday 11 November 2010.

A group of year 10 and 11 students and their families had become violent.

An argument had broken out among students.

Some of the students rang their family members.

The family members came to the school to try to defuse the situation.

Some students claimed that the family members stormed the school and threatened students and staff.

Some students said the men had knives and guns.

Other students said that this was not correct.

Gold Coast school locked down after fight, Courtney Trenwith, The Brisbane Times, 11 November 2010.

Gold Coast school in lockdown, Ben Dillaway and Henry Tuttiett, goldcoast.com.au, 11 November 2010.

The teachers took the correct action to make sure that we students were safe from danger.

If anything there should be an article on how well the teachers did their job.

Coombabah Yr 12 student of Labrador, Reader's comment, Gold Coast school in lockdown, Ben Dillaway and Henry Tuttiett, goldcoast.com.au : 11 November 2010

I agree that the teachers did a great job and I also agree that there should have been something about them in the article.

Aroha and Alana of Coombabah Students C'bah, Reader's comment , Gold Coast school in lockdown, Ben Dillaway and Henry Tuttiett, goldcost.com.au : 11 November 2010

The teachers handled the situation brilliantly.

Mason Noris Jackson, Reader's comment, Gold Coast school in lockdown, Ben Dillaway and Henry Tuttiett, goldcoast.com.au : 11 November 2010.

I re-trained as a teacher 6 years ago.

With -

 * nearly 30 students in many primary school classrooms,

 * more than a few students in each class who are guaranteed to continually act-up and drain most of your time,

 * lack of support from whinging parents and risk-averse administration,

 * "playground duty" - an insult to anyone with a university degree,

- believe me, the average Queensland teacher doesn't begin to have time in the day for more than an occasional "attaboy, Johnny" (but we daren't actually touch the little dears : pa_doph_l_a concerns are everywhere).

I have taught at 60 schools and I have seen only a small handful to which I'd actually want to send my own children.

Home-schooling never looked better.

A teacher of Mount Gravatt, Reader's Comment 40 of 108, Raising OP for teaching would hurt students, experts warn, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail, 18 October 2010.

At about 9.30am on Friday 22 October 2010 a teacher at a high school outside Brisbane tried to stop two 14-year-old girls from attacking a 15-year-old student in her classroom.

The two 14-year-old girls had allegedly walked into the school unchallenged.

They had then walked into the classroom and attacked the student.

The father of the 15-year-old student who was allegedly attacked has urged the Queensland Government to consider hiring security guards at some schools.

Violent schools need security guards says father of bashed student, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail, 25 October 2010.

I'm a teacher and it's all I wanted to do, but working with students in Logan has completely finished me!

I would not encourage anyone to enrol in a straight teaching course ... Education in Queensland is pathetic - unless it's a private school.

Sugar, Reader's Comment 47 of 104, Teacher entry scores targeted in bid to lift classroom standards, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail, 16 October 2010.

The Queensland Government continually rubbish teachers and then expect high OP students to join the profession.

Pigs might fly.

As one of the few remaining experienced Maths Science teachers, I am fed up with this and have started taking the first steps into a non-teaching career.

There is little job satisfaction left in teaching.

Max of North Queensland, reader's Comment 40 of 104, Teacher entry scores targetted in bid to lift classroom standards, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail, 16 October 2010.

I was a teacher for nearly 30 years.

I wouldn't encourage any young person to be a teacher these days.

It's a VERY stressful job.

We now run our own business and it's not nearly as stressful as teaching.

It's a wonder anyone even thinks about entering a teaching degree!

The pay is pretty ordinary, the job satisfaction is debateable and the high stress is guaranteed to wear you down after only a few years.

I discouraged one of our children from doing teaching.

He's now a registered nurse and is about to complete his degree in Vet Sc.

Thank goodness he didn't do teaching is all I can say.

When I started teaching back in 1973 it was a good job.

Back then society was very different to what it is now.

Judy of the Sunshine Coast, Reader's comment 21 of 104, Teacher entry scores targeted in bid to lift classroom standards, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail, 16 October 2010.

A Queensland primary school teacher has worked at the same Logan City school for more than 20 years.

She was named the area's best teacher a few years ago at a glitzy ceremony attended by more than 1000 people. 

Robina Cosser : Unfortunately this sort of award could trigger professional jealousy, or make an inexperienced, insecure principal feel very nervous.

The teacher has now been suspended on full pay for almost four months.

She was sent home and told to have no contact with staff or students.

Her husband says that she is being bullied.

He says that his wife's workplace problems began when a new principal arrived at the school several years ago.

Robina Cosser : New principals often seem to create problems, especially for experienced members of staff.

Queensland teachers are not allowed to discuss workplace harassment in the press - but their husbands, fathers, friends, neighbours, etc. can speak up on their behalf.

The teacher was told the allegations against her for the first time on Monday 9 August 2010.

An Education Department official told her that she had been accused of mistreating two students.

One 9-year-old child allegedly went home with soiled pants and told his mother that the teacher would not let him go to the toilet.

Another 9-year-old child allegedly went home with a ripped collar in April and said his teacher was responsible.

The teacher denies the allegations.

Another teacher was in the room as a witness.

The teacher's supporters say that a series of these allegations have been made over the past five years, and that this is harassment. 

Parents have written letters dismissing the allegations and condemning the handling of complaints.

The mother of one alleged victim wrote : "I find this an absolute joke. I have not got a problem with the way she dealt with my son, as he was doing the wrong thing.'

Another mother wrote; "I am appalled ... (you) have taken the wrong direction with my son in interviewing him without our consent or knowledge." 

Robina Cosser: What wonderful, decent people.

The teacher's husband has obtained thousands of documents through Right to Information.

The documents show that the dates of one allegation were repeatedly changed.

"I want someone other than the Education Department to investigate this right back to the beginning," her husband says.

"They're hoping she will just give in."

Robina Cosser : Or that she will become too ill to return to work.

Then she can be replaced with a cheaper, less experienced, more easily manipulated teacher.

 Unfortunately even the 'independent' investigators are not independent and the "independent investigation" process will be very tightly controlled.

The investigator, for example, may only be allowed to "consider" a very limited selection of the evidence.

The letters from the mothers, for example, may be excluded from the evidence that the investigator is allowed to 'consider'.

Class bully stoush: Teacher sent home for being too rough, David Murray, p.13, The Sunday Mail, 15 August 2010.

Rob Wiltshire is a former Indooroopilly State High School (ISHS) Workplace, Health and Safety officer.

In June 2009 : after an asbestos leak, the principal of ISHS wrote a letter to parents about asbestos concerns.

In late 2009 : debris is alleged to have fallen out of the damaged ISHS staff room ceiling onto a staff member.

In January 2010 : Rob Wiltshire told The Courier-Mail that Education Queensland had failed to act on repeated warnings that asbestos and debris had fallen from damaged ceilings in corridors and classrooms onto furniture in the Indooroopilly State High School science block.

"I have raised it dozens of times with the principal over the past two years," he said.

"The principal has tried her best but she has not been listened to by the department, as the maintenance budget is not there."

Mr Wiltshire said that another learning support teacher was also considering legal action, claiming that the asbestos had made them sick.

Queensland Education Minister Geoff Wilson agreed that water had repeatedly leaked through damaged ceiling tiles during 2009.

The asbestos register shows damaged ceiling tiles are "presumed"  to contain asbestos.

"The ceiling is due to be replaced in time for the start of school next week," Geoff Wilson said in January 2010.

"All asbestos in the ... science block is in a safe condition."

But Rob Wiltshire said workers only went into the school to fix the problem after Courier-Mail inquiries.

In July 2010 : Indooroopilly State High School is one of the 115 schools that a recent audit found contained the potentially deadly low desity board.

On 31 July 2010 : Rob Wiltshire released a damning portfolio of photographs he had taken over the past two years.

The photographs show cracked, broken and water-damaged asbestos ceiling tiles in corridors, classrooms and staff rooms in the science block.

Mr Wiltshire said that some of the tiles had been broken and cracked by students throwing books at the ceiling and kicking footballs in the corridors, putting them at risk.

He said the complete refurbishment of the science black this year was too late.

"The damage has been done to potentially thousands of students and hundreds of staff, so it's small comfort now to say it's been fixed," Mr Wiltshire said.

Mr Wiltshire is in the process of launching civil action against the Queensland government over alleged physical and psychological damage he says was caused by the school's treatment of him regarding asbestos.

Indooroopilly State High School in asbestos scare, Margaret Wenham and Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail, 31 July 2010.

Teacher claims government covered up high school asbestos problem, Patrick Lion, The Courier-Mail, 23 January 2010.

Valissa Julietta Bauer, a Bundaberg school teacher, taught a composite Year 6 and 7 class at Thabeban State School.

There were 31 Special Needs children in Ms Bauer's composite class, including -

 * a diabetic child who required insulin injections,

 * two autistic children,

 * a child with cardiac disorders

 * and a number of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Ms Bauer claims that she had to over-use her voice and damaged her larynx trying to control the class.

She is suing the Queensland Government over a lack of adequate classroom assistance.

Shine Lawyers have filed a claim for almost $420,009 in damages for personal injury as a result of the Queensland Government's alleged negligence, etc.

Bundaberg teacher claims $400,000 damages from injuries to larynx from yelling at students, The Sunday Mail, 11 July 2010.

The difficulties and stresses of running a small Queensland school have been highlighted by complaints about the principal of troubled Mount Murchison School, who has allegedly threatened to kill herself due to student behaviour.

It appears that the principal had been under great stress running the small school.

Education Queensland assistant director-general Craig Allen said that the EQ Ethical Standards Unit will conduct a preliminary inquiry process into the allegations against the principal.

EQ probes principal's behaviour, Russel Guse, The Central Telegraph, 11 June 2010.

I am a first year teacher in the Queensland state school system.

On completing my contract at the end of this year I plan to get the h-ll out of such an unsustainable career.

The compromises one makes on a daily basis are soul destroying. 

High school teacher of Brisbane, Reader's Comment, Union says prepare for private teachers strike, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail, 24 May 2010.

I worked at all levels of industry / commerce and went into teaching late in life.

Teaching was complex, time consuming, the hardest and most stressful job I ever undertook.

No wonder there is such a huge burnout rate from the profession.

Retired teacher, Reader's Comment 12 of 19, Union says prepare for private school teachers strike, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail, 24 May 2010.

I am a teacher.

We constantly deal with students who show all the trademarks of poor parenting and lack of respect for everything and we are very often unfairly apportioned blame.

Teaching is a stressful job.

You do not get one spare minute to yourself when you're in the classroom, between attempting to provide quality instruction for 30+ individuals with very different personalities and needs, making sure they don't hurt themselves (often they try on purpose) or the school property.

And that's before you have to deal with the personality clashes, broken romances and so on.

Then there's outside the classroom.

Planning lessons that need to meet countless criteria, grading papers and then dealing with parents who are furious their child has failed despite not studying or handing in assessment.

You try it.

Why Bag The Teachers? Reader's Comment 22 of 26, Union says prepare for private school teachers strike, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail, 24 May 2010

Ask any spouse or child of a teacher and they will tell you how many hundreds of hours every term they spend in the evenings and weekends on school work.

The months of May and November are a blur with over 150 extra hours for assessments, diagnostics, writing reports and then the interview cycles begin.

With P-3 teachers this can be 40 - 60 minutes each parent!

Ask if we love it - YES!

Ask if we are getting anything like we deserve in terms of salary - not a chance!

$130,000 you would be closer to the private industry mark - which is where many a good teacher has gone.

Those who think it is a 9-3 job with 12 weeks holiday, think again!

Maybe in the 1930's.

But, in the 23 years I've taught, it's more like 7-5 with weekends.

TT of Brisbane, Reader's Comment 23 of 26, Union says prepare for private school teachers strike, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail, 24 May 2010

I am only in my university practicum at a State High School, and I have already decided, NO WAY!

The students are great, the teachers are great, but the curriculum is overloaded and the workload for teachers (and possibly the students) is insane.

I am opting out, before my young son becomes a neglected child and I become burnt out mom.

I do so sadly, the loss of a long held ambition, and a let-down for my brilliant University lecturers and student colleagues.

Sonia Marie Hathaway of Brisbane, Reader's Comment, Union says prepare for private school teachers strike, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail, 24 May 2010

Bradley Boustead was a secondary teacher at Maleny High School.

On the afternoon of Wednesday 14 February 2007, Mr Boustead and three or four other teachers were supervising about one hundred students who were not participating in inter-school sport.

Beau Guest was a Year 9 student at Maleny High School.

Early in the afternoon Beau Guest was sent to the Deputy Principal's Office after an incident.

Twenty minutes to half an hour later, Mr Boustead saw Beau Guest playing ping-pong with other students.

Ten minutes before the final school bell, Mr Boustead noticed three children at the school fence.

He went up to them and started to speak to them.

Beau Guest was at a window upstairs.

Beau Guest began yelling "hey you, teacher, you leave those kids alone."

Mr Boustead went upstairs to Beau Guest and asked him "was it you yelling out to me below?"

Beau Guest "arched up" at this, came towards Mr Boustead and started to push Mr Boustead, saying "Do you want a fight?"

Mr Boustead said "mate, this is just a yes, no question; that's all I ask."

Beau Guest became really agitated, so Mr Boustead walked away.

Beau Guest threw something at Mr Boustead, which hit him in the back.

Mr Boustead went downstairs towards the administration block.

There was a large audience of parents, waiting to collect their children.

Beau Guest yelled out at the top of his voice "I'm going to get you, you big fat blue c-nt".

Mr Boustead hand-wrote a statement describing what had occurred.

 * Always keep a photocopy of these statements.

He gave the statement to the deputy principal.

The next day, Thursday 15 February 2007, the principal asked Mr Boustead if he would be willing to participate in a mediation process with Beau Guest.

Beau Guest was given a three-day suspension.

On Tuesday 20 February 2007, Beau Guest returned to school.

Another student told Mr Boustead "Hey, Mr Boustead, Beau still wants to fight you."

There were other unpleasant incidents.

Mr Boustead had the impression that Beau Guest was spreading rumours concerning him.

Nobody on the staff asked Mr Boustead how he was.

Robina Cosser says : I understand how Mr Boustead must have felt about this, because I had a similar experience.

A Grade 7 student sat on a first-floor window-sill, looked over at me in a jeering sort of way, and then jumped out of the window.

I was horribly shocked, but the child thought that it was a huge joke.

I could remember nothing at all till I was standing in the school office saying "He jumped! He Jumped!".

But the next time that I went to the school, nobody on the staff asked me if I was OK.

I also found this lack of interest in my welfare quite upsetting.

Actually, this was a good school and, when the principal realised that I was suffering from shock, she was most supportive.

But there does seem to be a systemic lack of awareness of the impact of these sorts of incidents on teachers.

By Sunday 25 February 2007, Mr Boustead was feeling that the carpet was being pulled out from under him and that he needed help to deal with the situation.

He felt that he did not know when another incident was going to happen.

I also had this experience.

I kept having visions of the class of children all rushing to the first-floor window and jumping out.

I did not want to go into that classroom again. 

I went to see the Staff Welfare Officer and she suggested that, when I had this "vision", I should imagine myself walking over to the window and closing the window.

This simple strategy worked well for me.

By Monday 26 February 2007, Mr Boustead knew that he was unwell.

He made an appointment to see Dr Heidi Gills as soon as possible.

On Wednesday 28 February 2007, Mr Boustead saw Dr Gills and she gave him a certificate for two weeks off work.

WorkCover refused Mr Boustead's application for Workers' Compensation.

Q-Comp confirmed this decision.

Mr Boustead appealed to the Magistrates Court of Queensland.

And on 21 July 2008, The Magistrates Court of Queensland found that -

 * The injury arose out of Mr Boustead's employment.

 * Mr Boustead's employment was a significant contributing factor to the injury.

 * The injury had not arisen in the course of reasonable management action taken in a reasonable way by his employer.

So Mr Boustead's appeal was allowed.

And compensation was payable to Mr Boustead.

A deputy-principal at Mackay North State High School has been bashed by the father of one of the students.

It is understood that the deputy principal was informing the man of his son's suspension when the father bashed the deputy principal, causing concussion.

The attack was so severe that the deputy-principal had to be taken to hospital.

He needed to have stitches in his face.

Parent bashes school deputy, Clare Chapman, The Daily Mercury, 13 February 2010.

In late 2009, a Queensland teacher tried to intervene in a student assault.

"I saw (name of student) holding another student in a headlock," the teacher said.

"I instructed him to let go ... when (he) let go (he) appeared very aggressive."

"I stood in front of (him) and advised that he could not go anywhere until he calmed down."

"At this point (he) bit my arm in an attempt to escape."

The teacher was left bleeding.

There were several other assaults on Queensland teachers between July 13 and September 14 2009.

School principals win right to expel problem students, Alison Sandy and Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail, 18 December 2009.

I spent several years teaching Science and Mathematics in a third-world country where it is sink or swim.

People and their children were courteous and hard-working.

The children took pride in their learning and were very focused.

You never had to ask them to be quiet, listen or make an effort.

They didn't have the wonderful school facilities that we have in this country, yet they had the right attitude and the children achieved good grades in a curriculum of a high standard.

I can only imagine how they may one day overtake us lazy Westerners.

I came back to Australia, started teaching here, and left teaching after a few years.

Too many Australian children have vile manners, not to mention how lazy, arrogant and unconcerned they are.

They are highly aware of their "rights", but conveniently ignore their responsibilities.

This starts at home and can't be fixed at school.

I left teaching as I felt that my skills were being wasted.

I think our society is heading for trouble and we MUST find a solution.

Teacher no more of Brisbane, Reader's Comment 455 of 457, Queensland headed for dumb, immoral future, warns teacher, James O'Loan, The Courier-Mail : 7 November, 2009

Cooper Dawson has taught at 12 state primary schools in Cairns and the Gold Coast.

He has decided to break the silence about student's pathetic learning attitudes and behaviours.

And the fact that this pathetic behaviour is often triggered and passively supported by students' parents.

"I am taken aback, astounded and shocked by the behaviour and the disinclination of students to learn," Mr Dawson said.

Cooper Dawson's view is backed in private by many teachers, principals and parents across the state.

Queensland headed for dumb, immoral future, warns teacher, James O'Loan, The Courier-Mail, 7 November, 2009.

Robina Cosser says : The real story here is ... what is going to happen to Cooper Dawson?

Queensland teachers are not supposed to tell the truth about what is going on in classrooms.

Education Queensland will have to do something really horrible to Cooper Dawson, or more Queensland teachers will speak out.

The public servants who make up the Education Queensland ( EQ ) bureaucracy do not tolerate criticism from within, which is why most teachers cannot go public.

When public interest has moved on and the issues is no longer in the spotlight, EQ will make life difficult for Mr Dawson.

Watch what happens to his career as the vindictive EQ makes an example of him for daring to speak the truth.

Principal no more of Queensland, Reader's Comment 446 of 450, Queensland headed for dumb, immoral future, warns teacher, James O'Loan, The Courier-Mail : 7 November, 2009

Cooper Dawson is to be commended for having the courage to stand up and state the truth despite the bucketing he will now receive from the state education department and senior administrators.

I know he will, for I tried to do the same thing as he has just a handful of years ago and ended up becoming a burned-out has-been because of the indifference of both the Education Department and school administrators.

I take my hat off to you, Mr Dawson ... I failed in what I tried to do.

I hope YOU succeed.

Tom Barton of Melbourne, Reader's Comment 426 of 450, Queensland headed for dumb, immoral future, warns teacher, James O'Loan, The Courier-Mail, 7 November, 2009

As a recently retired (early) principal, I agree totally with Cooper Dawson's comments.

The biggest problem facing the future of Australia is not climate change or economic downturns, but the crisis coming from the next generation - together with the indifference of their parents - who have no sense of honesty, morality or care for others.

There is no respect for authority.

God help Australia, because the Government and education unions won't back teachers.

John Allen, Reader's Comment 37 of 128, Queensland headed for dumb, immoral future, warns teacher, James O'Loan, The Courier-Mail : 7 November, 2009

I graduated from school about 20 odd years ago.

I went to university, then I went into IT / consulting, etc. 

Now I am thinking about teaching and I have been doing prac. teaching in a high school.

So I have been at the coal face and I can tell you with 100% certainty that life in the classroom is VERY, VERY different to 20 years ago.

Now, it is the KIDS in charge.

That is basically the bottom line.

THE KIDS ARE IN CHARGE.

The state system is a jungle.

Kathleen, Reader's Comment 142 of 182, Queensland headed for dumb, immoral future, warns teacher, James O'Loan, The Courier-Mail : 7 November, 2009

A 49-year-old female teacher has suffered a complete breakdown after allegedly enduring years of workplace abuse at a Queensland school.

The teacher alleges that she suffered a complete breakdown as a result of the "abusive, volatile and manipulative" behaviour of the female head of special education services at a special needs school in southeastern Queensland.

A 44-year-old female teacher's aide at the same school has made similar allegations.

Both the teacher and the teacher's aide had complained about the situation to the school principal.

But the school principal seemed to "turn a blind eye".

So then the teacher and the teacher's aide complained to Education Queensland.

But Education Queensland also seemed to "turn a blind eye".

Lawyer Gillian Klanke of Trilby Misso Lawyers says that, after enduring years of verbal abuse and intimidation at her school, the teacher suffered a complete breakdown.

Trilby Misso Lawyers are preparing a notice of claim against WorkCover as the insurer of Education Queensland.

Teacher sues alleging years of bullying, Angela Harper, Reported by AAP on 7 September, 2009

Ms Fussell had spent nearly 20 years employed in various schools.

She had spent 13 years employed as a teacher at the Brisbane School of Distance Education.

In October 2005 Ms Fussell was informed that she was being transferred to Marsden State High School to commence in the 2006 school year.

She received a one day induction, including a session of behaviour management and a folder of resources she needed to teach Art.

There was no other induction provided, although it was known that Ms Fussell had not been a classroom teacher for 13 years.

Ms Fussell informed both Deputy Principals and her Head of Department (HOD) that she was experiencing behavioural problems with students in some of her classes.

She was given a copy of a Behavioural Management book and received some assistance from an Advisory Visiting Teacher (AVT).

However although informal advice was offered, no formal or written feedback or reports were provided to assist her.

Ms Fussell was advised by the Head Of Department that she was required to teach Adobe Photoshop as part of the digital arts program.

Ms Fussell had limited computer skills and had never used or been trained in the use of Adobe.

A version of the program was installed on several school computers.

Ms Fussell received some in-service training and received a number of user manuals for the program.

In May 2006 the Principal called a meeting with Ms Fussell. 

She was told that -

• He had been informed that she was having classroom management issues.
• There were concerns with her computing knowledge.
• She was being placed on a Managing Unsatisfactory Performance (MUP) plan.
• Her classroom performance would be supervised for 4 weeks by the Deputy Principals, the HOD and the AVT.

Ms Fussell was dissatisfied with this process and asked would happen if she failed.

She was informed that there would then be an assessment to determine if she was of a diminished performance level and may be dismissed.

Ms Fussell left the meeting feeling unwell and attended her GP.

She has been unable to work since that time and was certified unfit due to "stress anxiety". 

Ms Fussell lodged an application for compensation with WorkCover Queensland for a psychological injury.

The Insurer rejected her application on the basis that her injury was excluded by operation of section 32(5).

s32(5) reasonable management action taken in a reasonable way by the employer in connection with the worker's employment

Ms Fussell sought a review of this decision by Q-COMP.

The Review Unit confirmed the rejection of her claim on the same basis.

Ms Fussell lodged a notice of appeal in the Brisbane Magistrates Court.

Mr R Reed, Counsel, was instructed by McMillan Boylson Lawyers for the appellant

Her Honour considered each of the management actions, but in a global context.

1.                  Transfer and Transition

The Department's Transfer Guidelines state that the Human Resources Consultants should ensure that the transfer is reasonable and recognise the employment history of the teacher.

Ms Egar, HR Consultant gave evidence that Ms Fussell was placed in an environment that -

• was a mismatch for her skills and cultural background,
• she was not adequately trained
• and she had received inadequate support.

Her Honour found that the Department should have had an induction which was more appropriate for the Appellant's specific needs, monitored her transition, reduced her workload and had appropriate mentoring.

2.                  Behavioural Management

The Appellant received in-service training as part of her induction, behaviour management resources and the assistance of an AVT.

However, Her Honour found that the ongoing support of the Appellant and the initial training and AVT sessions were both inadequate.

3.                  Adobe Photoshop

The Department knew the Appellant was having difficulty with the program and did not have the skills to teach such a program.

Her Honour found that the attitude and approach by management was not reasonable as it failed to take into consideration her lack of recent classroom teaching experience and lack of training in the software.

4.                  Managing Unsatisfactory Performance

The Appellant was placed on a MUP plan.

Although an MUP plan may be implemented by a school, it was unreasonable in this case as the school failed to -

• carry out an appropriate induction
• and allow time for intervention by the AVT.

In summary Her Honour found that the Department -

• Unreasonably failed to forsee and take adequate account of the difficulties the Appellant faced in adjusting from her previous teaching position.
• Failed to provide her with the necessary support.
• Failed to provide her with the training and support in other adjustments to the school environment.
• Failed to take adequate account of the difficulties in teaching a program without necessary training.

On this basis the appeal was allowed.

24 June 2009

Five terrified teachers have resigned from a Gold Coast school in the wake of a bandido attack on a defenceless mother.

The teacher and two students were punched, slapped and threatened with a knife during the assault which took place about 10am on Wednesday 11 March 2009.

Senior Detective Tony Lee from Mackay Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) said the man had been riding a mountain bike past the group of students when he took offence to something they were doing.

"He jumped off his bike and punched and slapped two students and their teacher - who had stepped in to defend the students," Snr Det Lee said.

"The attacker then allegedly pulled out a knife and made threats before taking off on his bike."

Snr Det Lee said the two students and their teacher received only minor injuries.

Man punches students, teacher and wields knife, Mackay Daily Mercury, Thursday 12 March 2009

Louise Boyle of Toowoomba, Queensland, wrote a letter to the Editor of The Australian.

Schools are often unpleasant places.

I am a teacher in a state school and I see this.

Schools are often dominated by aggressive students who are not kicked out.

Teachers are swamped with special plans for low level kids and special Ed kids that take up HUGE amounts of time.

High level kids are left to teach themselves.

Many teachers are sick of the curriculum rubbish and jargon that wastes their time.

They are sick of whinging parents who don't do their own job at home but want the school to do it for them.

They are sick of the excuse-making for badly behaved kids who are allowed to destroy schools.

I'm personally thinking of home schooling my kids for a few years because of the terrible state our schools are in.

Dan of Australia, Reader's Comment, Anna Bligh seeks help for Queensland's ailing education system, James O'Loan, The Courier-Mail, 10 December 2008

Ray Chambers, 52, teacher in western Queensland, claims that short-term teaching contracts are cynically designed to save money.

In Gladstone a teacher was falsely accused of raping a male student.

There was a police and Criminal Justice Commission investigation.

The male teacher was cleared.

He returned to teaching.

But he suffered a breakdown in 1999.

And he left work with Education Queensland in 2002.

The Member for Gladstone, Liz Cunningham, told the House about this teacher's case on December 3, 2002.

She told the House that Queensland teachers who were the subject of false allegations needed better support.

They told the House that these Queensland teachers needed counselling.

They needed advisers to give them some sort of emotional support during the period of the investigation.

Inadequate support for teacher falsely accused of rape : MP, ABC news, 4 December 2002

Robina Cosser says : Anna Bligh was Minister of Education in Queensland from 22 February 2001 - 12 February 2004.

And then Minister for Education and the Arts from 12 February 2004 - 28 July 2005.

On 3 December, 2002 Anna Bligh was told by Liz Cunningham about the suffering of Queensland classroom teachers who are the subject of false allegations.

What has Anna Bligh and the Queensland Labor party done since 3 December, 2002 to protect and support Queensland teachers who are the subject of false / malicious / "joke" allegations?

Will your Local Member support you if you are the subject of false / malicious / "joke" allegations?

Will your Local Member speak in parliament about your suffering?

What has your Local Member actually done to support Queensland classroom teachers who are the subject of false allegations?

Classroom teacher LDW made a "reverse" Freedom of Information application in 1997.

Teacher LDW objected to the disclosure to another teacher of information that LDW had conveyed to their school principal during the course of a casual conversation.

Teacher LDW claimed that the matter in issue was communicated to the school principal in confidence and therefore was exempt under S.46 (1) (a) or (b) of the FOI act.

The Queensland Information Commissioner applied the principles stated in B and Brisbane North Regional Health Authority (1994) 1 QAR 279 in deciding that the issue in question was not communicated by the applicant in circumstances attended by an express or implicit mutual understanding that the matter would be kept confidential by the respondent.

The Information Commissioner therefore found that the matter in issue did not qualify for exemption under either S.46 (1) (a) or (b) of the FOI act.

Robina Cosser says : This suggests that if Mr Very Charming ( or Mrs Impulsive N. Irrational ), your school principal, slides up to you and tries to "pump" you for your opinion of another teacher, you should hear alarm bells ringing.

Because any comment that you make may be copied onto a scrap of paper by Mr Very Charming, and placed in his "secret file" on that teacher.

Then, at some much later date, you may find your casual comment - maybe spun out of all recognition - will emerge from Mr Very Charming's secret file, and be represented as "important evidence" in a trumped-up "case" against your fellow teacher.

And your fellow teacher may be driven into ill health and out of work on the basis of your casual comment.

And you may feel ashamed.

When I decided to complain about the actions of my superiors at work I had, simply, no idea of the consequences.

What happened was so offensive, and such a violation of human rights that it never occurred to me that my only possible safe action was silence.

Because the nature of the complaint was awkward for my employers, the Education Department, the whole incident was covered up.

A concerted attempt was made to make me appear an inadequate person and an unsatisfactory teacher, who could not be taken seriously.

All means of seeking justice failed.

I approached the state member of my electorate and the Education minister at the time, until I was told by a Departmental letter that any further approaches would lead to discipline (i.e. the sack).

I approached the Union.

The Ombudsman encouraged me to use the grievance system which brought pages of reports and criticisms of me as a teacher and my family as inadequate.

I applied to the Anti-Discrimination board and Human Rights and Equal Opportunities to no avail.

It seems unlikely that I will ever teach in a classroom again.

All of this could happen to anyone who complains.

There was no investigation of my complaint.

If you, the reader, feel you must act over some inappropriate work practice or behaviour, be prepared to lose your job and tarnish your reputation.

Be prepared never to work again.