Don't Say I Didn't Warn You
Age not publ Monday, February 09, 2009
I support Education Minister Gillard in her quest to promote the best teachers. Rewarding performance and keeping the best people in the profession will be a boon for thousands of children.
But people should understand that teacher union operators will want to retain control and will do their best to undermine this project. I am anxious at the formula that is being proposed – supposedly a combination of “lifting students results” and “acquiring new competencies” – presumably through professional development courses.
I’m totally in support of pay rises based on lifting student results. Do not be deceived by the protests newspapers are publishing. The assessment of the teacher is not going to be based on the students’ absolute achievements but on the improvement in their performance.
Furthermore, those of us who have been in the teaching industry for several decades know only too well how quickly perks can become rorted. In the past, for example, we have seen bonuses degenerate into a prize for merely signing up to departmental policies.
I recommend to federal government, state governments and the Australian Council for Education Research that they base the promotions squarely on improvements in student results.
Don’t create a short cut whereby you get points just for participating in a professional development course. Don’t just create a milking cow for politically-favoured training providers.
Let the trainers prove themselves too. Some training is really helpful: some turns out to be a waste of time. If it’s good, it will show in improved student results and be further patronised. If not, good teachers will not waste their time with it.
Philip O'Carroll