Teaching is in trouble and we need to lure more young people into the profession

WITH new figures showing less and less young people are taking up teaching and the ones that do aren’t staying in the profession, something needs to be done to ensure our children get the best possible education.

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HOW many readers can look back on their schooling and point to a particular teacher who was a favourite, or alternatively, had a negative impact on their tuition?

The role of the teacher in the development and progression of children is paramount.

In many respects, a good teacher can set a child up for life. Mentoring, cajoling, fostering and nurturing schoolchildren are the key aims of a good teacher.

But if the child doesn’t “click” with a teacher, it can be detrimental to their development.

Teachers should be celebrated, not denigrated.

Experts are particularly worried about the lack of male teachers, particularly in the primary school system.

Yet, for many reasons, the teaching profession is struggling to attract new recruits.

Enrolments in education degrees have dropped by a quarter in 2018.

Soon, say educators, we’ll be importing overseas teachers to fill the gap. The question for decision-makers is – why is this happening?

Teachers have told The Sunday Mail that men in particular are shunning teaching.

Male teachers are now a rarity in primary school and the fear is that their dwindling numbers will then transfer to the secondary school system.

Poor behaviour by students is being blamed for some of the drop- off.

The disciplinary methods used in the past are now prohibited in modern-day schooling. The cane has effectively been banned.

Corporal punishment for school kids is a thing of the past. Some teachers lament that this has contributed to the problem rather than helped keep classrooms in order.

Bad behaviour is blamed for the lack of new male teachers.

The other factor stopping men from choosing teaching is the stereotypical belief that women make better teachers, especially in the younger years.

Applications from school leavers listing an education degree as their first preference for university crashed 26 per cent this year to just 4740 students.

Yet, Education Minister Grace Grace insists Queensland is still on track to recruit an extra 3700 teachers to cope with soaring student enrolments over the next four years.

She says the dip in applications this year was “anticipated and planned for.”

That is classic bureaucratic mumbo jumbo. Ms Grace cannot put her head in the sand and pretend everything is fine.

The reality is that Queensland doesn’t have enough people coming into teacher education at a time when the state needs teachers.

Education Minister Grace Grace must stop burying her head in the sand and confront the problem of falling teacher numbers. Picture: AAP/Ric Frearson

The collapse in teaching graduates coincides with tough new tests for would-be teachers.

In Queensland, applicants for teaching degrees must write a 1000-word essay explaining why they want to be teachers.

Starting this year, school leavers must pass English, maths and science subjects if they want to enrol in a primary teaching degree from 2019. This is plainly dumb.

There are many English teachers who would struggle with maths and science. However, they may be wonderful English teachers with great emotional intelligence, empathy and aptitude.

We should not be putting obstacles in front of good people who want to be teachers.

Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham is right when he says a good teacher can transform a student’s life but a teacher without the right skills can also have a lasting impact, for the worse.

Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham.

Maintaining numeracy and literacy skills for our children, at a time when they are falling by world standards, is a big challenge for this country.

Attracting the right people is now essential. Teachers enjoy good conditions, including competitive salaries, generous holidays and superannuation.

But, clearly, we need to acknowledge the elephant in the classroom, and that is that being a teacher is no longer an attractive career option for our young people. And it needs to be addressed immediately before it’s too late.

It is clear that the noble profession of teaching is being shunned for more glamorous career choices which invariably leave school leavers disappointed once they graduate and get out into the real world.

Of course, the real issue is teachers getting into the school system and then leaving.

The statistic is that 40 per cent of teachers quit within the first five years.

Of those who consider resigning but stay, most cite heavy workloads as the major reason.

More than half said that they did not think they’d be teaching in 10 years’ time and almost a quarter imagined they’d move on in half that time.

So, why do teachers do it? One of the most popular reasons is a desire to make a difference and enjoy working with children.

Helping young children blossom into intelligent, active members of the community is a joy, making teaching a rewarding profession.

These days job satisfaction is such an important part of life. Many people move on if they’re not enjoying their jobs, but teaching should be a rewarding profession.

To watch a young child mature and grow and develop as a human being must surely be a joy.

Let’s hope we can lure more people back to teaching.

They really are the unsung heroes of our education system.