Nothing demonstrates the concerns around education than the challenge of appointing staff at this time of the year.
We have a number of vacancies because we are a growing school. I have very few teachers leaving but those that are are leaving teaching for more money elsewhere. And applicants. Hardly any and very few from New Zealand.
We are allowing our profession to slowly die around us as we struggle with ever more difficult demands and allow ourselves to be removed from our core business of causing learning to occur.
An what do we get for four years training in this essential role. Well you start on $40k per year! No wonder our young, talented, and top scholars go into engineering, law and anything but teaching. An education is so important that we get a 4% increase. What other profession has operated on a 4% increase over the last year?
If we are ever going to change education and jump the chasm to a 21st Century learning environment then our sharpest and brightest will not do it for a 4% increase.
About Me
- Brian OC
- I am a Physics teacher in Phnom Penh, Cambodia having previously worked in Uzbekistan, China, Bangladesh and Australia. Prior to that I had a career in New Zealand education and I was fortunate to establish an innovative secondary school in Auckland.
2 comments:
It is perhaps interesting to note that as a graduate starting salary, Teachers do pretty well. 4 Years of tertiary education and $40k is completely comparable, if not more generous, then other similiary qualified graduate positions. Graduate lawyers generally start on $35k however by the end of their third year will be on at least $50k, with teachers climbing the pay scale to $43k..... It is perhaps this rate of increase, and the cap at the top, that needs the attention rather than the bottom line.
Yes probably so. We do not need to be at the rate of doctors and lawyers at the top but do need meaning around how we are valued by society. Salary does give meaning to the value
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