Who would want to be a teacher?

Teach

Teachers are leaving the profession in droves, and it is time our society looks at why and how to fix this problem. The teacher shortage is widening across Australia at a time that student enrolment is on the rise. According to the Australian Bureau of statistics, students enrolments will continue to increase by 21% by the year 2030, while a staggering 47% of teachers are considering leaving the profession. Teachers believe they are overworked, underappreciated and have unmanageable workloads with a substantial rise in students needs.

Teachers are having to deal with rapid advancements in technology; the constant expansion and reform of the curriculum; administration, data collection and reporting responsibilities; and greater community expectations of schools and teachers. Some aspects of what was once the role of a parent is now becoming the additional role of a teacher in modern society where both parents are working. 70% of teachers have reported an unmanageable workload and 85% of teachers take work home.

Teachers are required to foster the emotional well-being of students with a staggering 1 in 3 students now suffering some form of anxiety, yet 62% of teachers report they experience anxiety in the workplace themselves. An alarming 30% of teachers report feeling unsafe in the work place due to student violence and unpredictability and 53.9% of school leaders reported threats of violence from students within the school. How do we address violence in schools and the increasing rates of anxiety among both teachers and students? What needs to be done at a higher level to ensure staff and students feel safe in the school environment both physically and emotionally? I believe the answers to these questions are quite complex and require calling on Education Ministers and sectoral leaders in all states and territories to prioritise support for school leaders and changes implemented at a national level.

Covid has placed enormous pressure on both the Health and Education system, along with the domino effect it has had into other industries. Many families are left no choice but to put their children into day-care from a young age to keep the economy running along and to financially survive. What was once the role of a stay at home parent in raising children has now become the role of early educators. Society and its norms are changing, so it is time the education system changes along with it, in order to look after our important educational professionals.

The media seems to always raise this issue of teachers wanting a pay rise, however it is more than just the lack of pay in the education field that is forcing people out of the job. I believe it is primarily the lack of respect for the teaching profession as a whole, that has led to its demise. Once upon a time, teachers were looked up to and respected for nurturing little minds. What other job in the world has the importance of shaping the minds of the future? So how do we make teaching a respectable occupation once again?

Education has changed. The world has changed. So our teachers and education system need to evolve along with those changes and positively reflect modern society. I have been a teacher for over twenty four years and I have experienced the old and new learning trends and watched them come and go and do a full circle. Yet one thing that has never changed, is the purpose and reason for being a teacher, which is to create a positive impact on future generations.

To make a positive impact on children, we as educators need to have a positive and reflective mindset that is open to change. It is easier for us to stay in our comfort zone and education is no exception, yet change provides the opportunity for growth. If the Covid world has taught us anything, it's that the virtues to be flexible, adaptable and resilient put us in a good stead for success in life. So as educators we need to ensure these values are instilled within our teaching pedagogy. However, has the education system itself reflected a growth mindset in modern times?

The Mental Health of educators and children needs to be a priority for education in the modern world. There needs to be government policy and change that puts the mental health of all Education staff and students as the number one priority. Just like Health, a wholistic approach to Education needs to be taken to optimise the positive impact on future generations. Optimal teaching and learning can only take place when the mental, emotional and physical health of both staff and students is prioritised. Health and Education need to harmonise and work together to enhance the learning of future generations. Education is an integral part of society and the future success and achievements of a nation depends on it.

Lisa Van Der Wielen teaching

So why would anyone want to be a teacher? Well, I am not going to deny that teaching is one of the most difficult jobs you could choose to do. However, I can guarantee you that it is also one of the most rewarding occupations you could choose. Like anything in life, you get back what you put in. Effort reflects reward. Why wouldn't you want one of the most rewarding professions in the world and to make a positive impact on future society? A pay increase and some respect would help make it more rewarding, but it is going to take lots of positive change for the teaching profession to draw people into the occupation and to retain the wonderful, dedicated teachers we already have. The big changes need to come from a national level in Education to have a lasting positive impact for future generations.

So to all those considering becoming a teacher in a profession that is struggling to keep people in the industry, how would I answer this question:

Why would you want to be a teacher?

• Be a teacher because you want to inspire.

• Become a teacher because you want to share your love for learning.

• Be a teacher because you want to learn and grow along with your students.

• Become a teacher because you want to make a difference in this world and leave a positive impact for future generations.

• Be a teacher because you want to lift spirits, shape values and build character.

• Become a teacher because you want to build relationships with the whole community.

• Be a teacher because you want to be a role model.

• Become a teacher because you want to make lifelong friends and connections.

• Be a teacher because you want students to teach you as much as you want to teach them.

• BECOME A TEACHER.

Teaching is a work of heart

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