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The education minister has missed the crucial ingredients for recruiting new teachers to fill the 1700+ vacancies urgently required in public schools (“Drive to draw graduates away from private to public schools”, July 28). Respect the profession. Pay teachers an appropriate wage. Stop the casualisation in public schools and offer permanency. Focus on supporting teachers in their craft and decrease the endless form filling-in. You might retain present staff with this formula and find new people keen to join. You have already waited far too long, and the anger and frustration of public school teachers, parents and students is growing. Deb McPherson, Gerringong
It will take considerably more than just an expensive advertising campaign to attract teachers into public education. The most obvious point is salary, which is one reason for the recent industrial action. They do deserve more than thanks, and they also deserve less denigration from those who do not understand the complexity of the work, which is constantly scrutinised. If it is not valued and respected, how do we expect our teachers to be valued and respected? Society forgets that without public education we would not have scientists, doctors, lawyers, writers and even politicians. Augusta Monro, Dural
Where to start? First on the agenda should be a pay scale more in keeping with alternative employment for graduates. Thirty years ago, a classroom teacher at the top of the scale earned the same as a backbencher in parliament. Next: permanency. Back when you could only become a teacher under the scholarship system we were guaranteed permanent employment. However, this did mean going where we were sent. Some of the bigger schools were assigned “supernumeraries”; extra staff who could fill in for others on leave, etc. The wheels started falling off when the Department of Education started dismantling the transfer system, moved to merit selection and allowed principals to employ staff on a casual basis to work as full-time classroom teachers. Mary Lawson, Marrickville
I wonder how many of the schools listed with staff shortages have casual teachers on contracts who would appreciate a permanent position? Much of our schools’ staffing shortages could be alleviated by changing the status of casual teachers. Yvonne Jessup, Byron Bay
Until the issue of repeated employment as a casual, year after year, by the same school, is addressed, our most talented graduates will continue to look for more secure, permanent employment. Katriona Herborn, Blackheath
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Education Minister Sarah Mitchell’s words ring hollow. What are the benefits of public school teaching that the minister hopes to promote? Is it the ever-increasing workload, the less-than-generous salary which is capped after 10 years, the appalling behaviour of some students who cannot be “kicked out”, or the limited prospects of promotion? Private schools can offer salaries which are much higher, student discipline based on “behave or get out” principles, reduced workload due to the availability of resources and support staff, and much more pleasant working conditions. And the holidays? About an extra six weeks. Until public schools are properly funded and salaries are made commensurate with the difficulties of the job, budding teachers of all abilities will continue to seek employment in the private sector.Peter Cooper-Southam, Frenchs Forest
Ten years of abject abrogation of policy toward the public school system is coming home to roost in the most fundamental manner. The state simply cannot staff its schools, surely a fundamental responsibility of government. It has not been for the want of warnings. A decade of calls for attention to teacher training and offsets for the predation of the private system when it comes to staffing have been regular and obvious. Gus Plater, Saratoga
Head of Sydney University’s school of education Deb Hayes is right. If the state government wants to attract more graduates into public schools they should offer scholarships for permanent positions while they study. That is a forward-thinking strategy. It’s been done in the past. Condemning new teachers to the uncertainties of casual work for years isn’t the way to attract new staff, it’s a lazy approach to human resource management.
Education Minister Sarah Mitchell should also realise that it would be easier to promote “the benefit of a career in public education” if all teachers were better paid. It can’t be easy selling the benefits of a job if the workers are complaining about poor pay and conditions. Glenn Johnson, Leura
Sport gives viewers break from our everyday issues
People play sport because they enjoy it and, for the elite, get paid for it (“Road to acceptance for LGBTQ people is far from finished”, July 28). The elite are mostly happy to wear advertising of businesses contributing to their salary. Players and fans don’t go to a match, or watch remotely, to think about the economic, social and environmental issues of the day. Sport is a break from all that. Acceptance in sport comes from displays of athleticism and fortitude. Forcing other issues to the fore is counter-productive. They kill sport and build animosity. Peter Egan, Mosman
Dear NRL. Here’s an idea. In 2023, have a “Diversity and Tolerance” round. All players, officials and supporters are encouraged to wear a symbol of their choice which represents who they are. A Pride rainbow, a Christian cross, a Star of David, an Islamic crescent, a Satanic trident or nothing at all. Queenslanders could even choose a XXXX logo. At the end of a hard fought game they would all shake hands, embrace and say see you next week – just like they do every week now. That would be a true demonstration of diversity and tolerance. Peter Sholl, Ashbury
If we want to live in harmony with those of diverse views, inevitable in a multicultural country, we must concede that while not agreeing with a certain position, we can at least tolerate it, if not respect it. The fellows who do not wish to wear a rainbow striped jersey should not have to – that should be their choice. If some in the LGBTQ community are offended by this lack of support for inclusivity in sport, they should be encouraged by those who do choose to wear the rainbow jersey. People go to war over a clash of values – what we must learn in this brave new world is how to resolve such conflicts peacefully and respectfully. Lyndall Nelson, South Turramurra
Lack of endorsement of LGBTQI pride does not mean disrespect or hate. No worker, or football player, should ever be forced to contravene their religious beliefs by wearing a symbol which endorses activity which their god tells them is sin. Polly Seidler, Darlinghurst
If players can decide that they can withdraw their services to a sporting team on a moral, religious, ethical, or other principle, does that mean players can refuse to wear uniforms that have advertising for beer, betting, or mining companies? Kevin Farrell, Beelbangera
It’s still OK for team members to promote the miseries of gambling, inflict ongoing concussion through illegal tackles, and eye gouge anyone in the way. How is it then a gentle, private, same-sex celebration of a life together becomes intolerable to some players? Greg Vale, Kiama
Chalmers is on the money
From Joe Hockey through Scott Morrison to Josh Frydenberg, Coalition treasurers told us what they wanted us to hear (“Inflation battle will take a toll: Chalmers”, July 28). They doubled our national debt before COVID hit and never got us back in the black.
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In stark contrast, Jim Chalmers tells us what we must hear: the truth. He instils confidence that he cares and is determined to clean up the Coalition mess. It won’t happen quickly. Howard Charles, Annandale
Angus Taylor, the man with some background in financial matters, continues to recite the Coalition mantra when accusing the treasurer of not “having a plan”. How many times did we hear from the previous government the monotonous repetition of “we have a plan”? How many of these plans were fully detailed and how many ever executed? If this is “holding the government to account”, then we are in for some disappointment. Bill Forbes, Medowie
Voice recognition
The call for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament comes unanimously from a gathering of visionary and representative Indigenous leaders (“Indigenous Voice could drive a wedge between Australians”, July 28). The only division comes from commentators who do not accept that Indigenous people have worthwhile intelligence to offer about their future. Northern Territory senator Jacinta Price has parroted the nonsense put out by the right-wing rump, and thereby disqualified herself from being any sort of spokesperson for First Nations people. Bruce Hanna, Engadine
Comes with a catch
Once again we hear of the disturbing by-catch in NSW shark nets (“Nets catch more threatened or protected species than sharks”, July 28). The immediate and understandable reaction is to call for an end to the practice. But the complicating factor is that, for reasons that are not clear, shark nets have worked outstandingly well. Everywhere they have been deployed, both in Australia and South Africa, there has been an immediate, remarkable and enduring reduction in shark attacks. The awful question we have to ask is how much by-catch we are prepared to accept until a more humane effective alternative can be developed. I suspect those who spend a lot of time in the surf will respond differently from those who are rarely exposed to attack. Col Nicholson, Hawks Nest
Rubbish idea
What is so galling about Canterbury-Bankstown council mixing rubbish is that fact that in recent times, residents endured the wrath of bin inspectors who would check bins to see that residents were doing the right thing (“Council’s trucks have mixed recycling with rubbish for ‘more than a decade’”, smh.com.au, July 28). Yes, our bins would either get a smiley or sad face stuck to them. Some residents even received letters from the council. Obviously, the brains behind that great idea did not factor in that once a bin is placed on the footpath you lose control of what may end up in your bin. I am sure most people have experienced late night bin runners. What a complete waste of ratepayers’ money. Someone benefited from that exercise, and it was not the residents. Bernadette Scadden, Earlwood
Leading by example
On behalf of my 91-year-old parents currently diagnosed with Covid, I have a question to ask of the many politicians not wearing masks in parliament (Letters, July 28). What were you thinking? Perhaps that it won’t affect you personally? An infectious disease means you are a link in a chain. If you have it, the chances are you will pass it to someone, who will pass it to someone, etc, who will pass it to somebody who will die at their end of the chain. If you wear a mask, you can reduce the chances of being part of the infectious chain.
What kind of society are we? How much do we value the elderly, sick and vulnerable? A society where the strong and healthy won’t put up with a very minor inconvenience, for the sake of saving somebody’s loved ones?
Please show that you really are leaders, not followers of the loud “nobody’s going to tell me what to do” shock-jocks. Use your voluntary, individual, well-informed conscience to make the decision to wear a mask in crowded spaces, to protect our (perhaps your own?) loved ones. Celia Conolly, Maroubra
Green light on Labor target
If people voting for the Greens truly had a take-it-or-leave-it position on an emissions reduction target (Letters, July 28) then they should have directed their preferences away from Labor. Their higher preferencing of Labor is de facto endorsement and acceptance of Labor’s right to implement their emissions target, even if it is not the Greens supporters’ preferred reduction target. Robert Hodge, Arncliffe
Title deeds
The new federal parliament is a combination of the fresh air via the ALP/ Greens/teal ascendancy and the fetid whiff of Coalition defeat (“The slugger, the jabber and the ref adjust to new corners”, July 28). The mask on/mask off divide speaks volumes as a metaphor for listening to, and speaking for the electorate. We could do with some name changes to add clarity for the electorate. One Nation should become One White Nation – would save their leader time with so much irrelevant grandstanding. The former PM’s seat of Cook should be renamed “Cooked”, for obvious reasons. And maybe the opposition could be rebranded as the “Stop-position” given their churlish, childish and pathetic political response to the gentler, respectful and inclusive political climate that PM Anthony Albanese wants to introduce. Barry Ffrench, Cronulla
Tried and true
Your correspondent’s suggested cure for seasickness may be similar to one of the “sure cures” for a hangover: stay drunk (Letters, July 28). Derrick Mason, Boorowa
The most effective cure for sea sickness is to sit under a tree. Alex Springall, Westleigh
Caught in a cyclone between Brisbane and Noumea while travelling on the Northern Star, I found the best place to position myself was on a swing in the children’s play area. Alicia Dawson, Balmain
Ready for round two
I hope Simon Earle, the Labor candidate for Cook last May, hasn’t recycled all his corflutes yet (Letters, July 28). Viv Mackenzie, Port Hacking
Poor show, Pauline
With Pauline Hanson just scraping into the Senate, I suppose we’d better get ready for a lot more stunts like this week’s, as she searches for ways to play to her base (“Pauline Hanson snubs Indigenous acknowledgement”, smh.com.au, July 27). Bill Gillis, Hallidays Point
In name only
I hope your correspondent Jim Cruden won’t be offended by the old joke about the three Bible concordances – two weighty tomes, and one smaller: Strong’s for the strong, Young’s for the young, Cruden’s for the crude (Letters, July 28). David McKay, Blaxland
The digital view
Online comment from one of the stories that attracted the most reader feedback yesterday on smh.com.au
Real wages slump, unemployment to rise as inflation’s headwinds buffet economy
From Tank Engine: ″Not a surprise that every other OECD country in the world has the same problems regardless of who is in power, left or right. NZ, as a small economy, tends to switch direction quicker and is a harbinger. They’ve hit 7.2 inflation. Buckle in folks and maybe spend less time blaming the other side.″
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