Burnout in teachers

[Russ]

Range 1/2 doesn't refer to primary/secondary, it refers to the teacher's employment conditions and job expectations. If I'm wrong, feel free to correct me.
All workers have a commitment to their job, but that doesn't mean they can't take their long service leave. And they don't leave randomly, it's all been organized in advance. It's obviously suboptimal to get a different teacher for a term but it's hardly a bad example for kids on a systemic level.

Range 2 classroom teachers play a significant role in assisting the school to improve student performance and educational outcomes determined by the school strategic plan and statewide priorities and contributing to the development and implementation of school policies and priorities. A critical component of this work will focus on increasing the knowledge base of staff within their school about student learning and high quality instruction to assist their school to define quality teacher practice.

The primary focus of the range 1 classroom teacher is on further developing skills and competencies needed to become an effective classroom practitioner with structured support and guidance from teachers at higher levels and the planning, preparation and teaching of programs to achieve specific student outcomes.  Range 1 classroom teachers teach a range of students/classes and are accountable for the effective delivery of their programs. They may also assist and participate in policy development, project teams and the organisation of co-curricula activities.

http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/careers/Pages/career_structure_ts.aspx

[lala1911]

Organised in advance, although it is a bit random for a teacher to leave. You cant just leave your students and go on a holiday, especially VCE teachers. I don't see how it's not a bad example.

For the ranges, would you agree secondary teachers would be placed in the 2nd range due to their responsibilities and job expectations? I'm assuming there is a strong correlation between pay and teaching level.

[ninwa]

How do you know they're just going on holiday and don't have other significant reasons for going on leave?

[JellyDonut]

http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/Documents/Salary-Teacher.pdf

It makes no statements of a career progression of sorts. I mean if the salary of a teacher at his/her peak of earnings power is $70k, it's okay but nothing to call home about -- kids that work in certain corporate jobs report getting that pretty early on.

[lala1911]

ninwa, from all the business lessons I've spent hearing my teacher brag I've come to a definite conclusion that there were no commitments. Then again, this is only my teacher so I'm not going to definitely claim that all teachers are like this, although I am going to assume that all teachers who plan far in advance don't have an urgent reason to travel overseas.

I'm all FOR if a teacher has a legitimate reason to vanish overseas e.g family problems, sick family members, crisis situations, but not for the sake of just leaving for enjoyment. Teachers have 12 weeks holidays to go and do that. If its not summer in their desired destination, bad luck, commitments and sacrifices. My sister is a manager and she can't take time off during the summer - commitment to duties.

[simba]

How do you know they're just going on holiday and don't have other significant reasons for going on leave?

The business teacher at my school left his year 12 class for 5 weeks in term 3 (giving them a teacher who had never taught business in her life) for the purpose of going to his sister wedding (and then having a holiday). They only just finished the coursework about a week ago due to it

[ninwa]

My point is your anecdotes have little to no relevance without actual research into why teachers go on leave. I could go on about all the people I went to school with who are now teachers (I personally know at least 5) and who work their butts off, but it doesn't add anything to the discussion.

[lala1911]

My point is your anecdotes have little to no relevance without actual research into why teachers go on leave. I could go on about all the people I went to school with who are now teachers (I personally know at least 5) and who work their butts off, but it doesn't add anything to the discussion.

I find it hard to believe that you read my post and missed the logic. Agree with simba, we were behind in coursework so badly that we did outcome 2 in less than a week, which is a big outcome (40 marks) and various chapters. We didn't even do coursework, our teacher just let us take in notes and prepared answers.

How could I possibly find research on why teachers leave? 12 weeks of holidays is more than enough time to take a break. Some teachers really need to learn how to respect their students.

[Professor Polonsky]

For a position that requires a bachelor's, the pay for teachers is pretty much average - probably even a fair bit lower than that.

Anecdotal evidence is invalid. There's no reason to entertain it in this debate. Sorry Lala/simba. I know many teachers who work their asses off. The fact there are some rotten apples shouldn't mean that all of them should be punished - quite the opposite, it should mean the pay is ought to be increased, to attract brighter people. I know that increasing pay alone won't solve the problem, but it's one of the many steps that need to be taken.

[ninwa]

I find it hard to believe that you read my post and missed the logic. Agree with simba, we were behind in coursework so badly that we did outcome 2 in less than a week, which is a big outcome (40 marks) and various chapters. We didn't even do coursework, our teacher just let us take in notes and prepared answers.

How could I possibly find research on why teachers leave? 12 weeks of holidays is more than enough time to take a break. Some teachers really need to learn how to respect their students.

Having no better "evidence" than your own anecdotes is a terrible reason to suggest that all teachers should have their pay docked.

[lala1911]

Having no better "evidence" than your own anecdotes is a terrible reason to suggest that all teachers should have their pay docked.

I'm saying they have enough time during their 12 weeks PAID holidays to go on their holidays. I don't know of many other professions where you get 12 weeks paid break.

[Professor Polonsky]

I don't know about your teachers but mine work over much of the breaks - term breaks, certainly. And they're forced to take their annual leave over the summer break. So it's not very different at the end of the day from your normal employment standards, especially keeping in mind that they're public sector.

[simba]

I wasn't saying as a generalisation all teachers are horrible and take time off because they feel like it, I was just trying to show there are two sides to the story (although the majority of teachers are dedicated and wouldn't abuse their leave)
I realise my response was quite ambiguous though because I didn't mention this in the last post, and yes, I have no way of proving what I said was true. But by no means I believe their pay should be cut