Careers in Teaching
By Sara Templeton
 Right
now, there's more than one type of drought affecting Australia's
future. A severe drop in the number of local teachers in Australian
schools has been getting gradually worse over the past few
years.
At the same token, those studying teaching would have a fairly
rosy future ahead of them. The reason for this is simple,
yet alarming at the same time: More and more teachers are
heading overseas where the pay the better.
Furthermore, fewer students are choosing teaching as a subject,
the result of this drought is a severe lack of teachers not
just in primary and secondary schools, but also in universities
around Australia.
A recent study completed by the Australian Vice-Chancellors'
Committee (AVCC) indicates that in the last nine years, the
staff-to-student ratio has risen sharply in Victorian universities.
For instance, on average RMIT had one teacher for every 15.1
students in 1993, whereas in 2001 the number has risen to
one teacher for every 24.5 students.
AVCC spokesperson, Professor Deryck Schreuder, had this to
say on the issue: "It is of major concern to the AVCC
that student-staff ratios are worsening as they clearly show
the financial pressure the Australian tertiary sector is under,"
he said.
The declining number of teachers and increasing number of
students is likely to have a number of effects on the education
sector. While there is the rather alarming possibility that
our nation's education system could collapse, this is rather
far-fetched, though not impossible.
Instead, the federal and state governments will have to
acknowledge there is a problem with state run schooling and
while the private schooling sector may suit some, those not
as financially secure will need a place for their children
and grandchildren to learn.
 As
such, it would be fair to say that the government will work
to entice more to enter the field of primary, secondary and
tertiary teaching. Such enticements may turn out to be better
pay, improved benefits or even new sportscars for everyone!
Who knows?
People often talk about teaching being a stressful job and
not offering much satisfaction. Personally, if I wasn't employed
by Web Wombat, being able to help shape this nation's future
sounds pretty damn rewarding to me. And I know just how to
deal with the trouble-makers, too -- I used to be one!
Yet at this stage in Australia, getting work as a teacher
is as easy as clicking your fingers. Foreign staff are even
being enticed to come to Australia to teach, such is the drought.
Some say the lack of teaching is not due to average pay or
stress, but the attitude of 'Generation X' students who don't
see the career of a teacher as something to work towards,
something that's viable in the longterm, if you will.
A recent article published in The Australian newspaper indicated
that the role of school principal is one of the least attractive
jobs in the eyes of Australia's youth. Reasons for this include
the ocupation being "... too stressful, demanding and
unrewarding."
The article refers to an education researcher, Kathy Lacey.
Interestingly, having interviewed some 1400 teaching staff,
she found that 88 per cent of them had no intention of becoming
principals. Ms Lacey's research leads her believe that a principal
shortage would occur by 2010 if action isn't taken.
So, there you have it. Looking for a job in a dog-eat-dog
world? Try teaching - at the rate teachers are leaving, due
in large part to old age, there'll be plenty of job opportunities
in future.
Teching pros and cons (compiled by entertainment channel
editor - James Anthony)
Pros:
- Free tea and coffee
- Shape the nations future
- You might get a whistle
- Excellent holidays
- Slack working hours
- Chalk
- Bonding with students
Cons:
- Free tea and coffee
- Krazy kids
- Cardigans
- Radiation poisoning
- Cafeteria food
Links:
Education
Network Australia
Commonwealth
Dept. of Education, Science and Training
StudyLink
Education Directory Australia (education courses)
Independent
Education Union of Australia
Australian
Education Union
|
