Victorian Teacher's Institute
The Herald Sun Saturday, August 23, 2008
Dear Editor,
When the Victorian Teacher’s Institute was first created, the impression given was that it would be a professional association run by teachers for teachers, and that it would work to raise the standards and standing of teachers.
But, as I feared from the first, it seems to be simply a bureau of the Department (More Teacher Scrutiny: Herald August 23), handling sensitive personnel problems: criminal records, misconduct and incompetence.
For once I seem to agree with the Australian Education Union’s Mary Bluett. Employers don’t usually charge their staff for this monitoring function.
As for raising teacher standards, forget it. I believe I have followed the propaganda and bureaucratic shell games of the Education Department for enough decades now to say with absolute confidence, VIT will not (be allowed to) achieve anything significant to raise teacher standards.
It is a sad fact of Australian life that teaching does not enjoy a high status as a profession, and our children suffer for it. Excellence is in many schools still an unspoken word.
Don’t be thrown off the scent by elite Australian students winning academic competitions. Look at the average Australian student - comparatively weak in literacy, maths and science.
There are countries where the top university entrants are given special support to go into teaching - where teachers are well-paid and respected. Schooling should be an uplifting experience and a window of opportunity for children of all income levels. And yes, great teachers should be promoted – but not into purely admin roles.
Philip O’Carroll Co-Founder, Fitzroy Community School