Teachers and school choices

Teachers is the key for students to reach their successes in life. Their roles in education are important as well as the important of other social factors which could affect children’s education. Leonardo states “The intellectual’s role is key in the reconstruction of consciousness and in education this role appropriately falls on the shoulders of teachers.” (Leonardo, Z. 2009, p.9) With the great responsibility and the future of a student partly lay on the skills of teachers, teachers should have the best benefits and every offer to support them to educate our future generation.

Zyngier in ‘Teachers learn at the school of hard knocks’ article has written down how teachers is a part of children’s education quality and how teachers are treated in term of decreased salary and benefits. People expect teachers to give the best for the students but teachers have not receive the best for their own credit. “If we really want all our children to receive the very best education possible, offering teachers less than the annual inflation rate is an insult.” (Zyngier, D. 2012, SMH). Teachers as second in line after parents in affecting children’s education. They have the power to control the classroom and encourage students learn effectively in the way teachers think is the best. 

Freedom in classroom is another important factor for students to willingly express their ideas and opinions, encourage them to share their knowledge, develop their own skills and help them be confident in class. However, Australia is a multicultural country with different cultural backgrounds, education in Australia is affected due to social economic disadvantages. Students from different countries with non English speaking backgrounds have difficulties in catching up with other kids in school. Zyngier stated 80 percent of disadvantaged children attending government schools around Australia and that make teachers struggle to overcome generational poverty and disadvantage. This has lead to result in school choices in Australia. Most of the disadvantage kids enroll in public schools while other advantaged kids with richer parents are likely to have a choice to go to private schools. In certain areas of Sydney, school choices are either available or unavailable. Students which social disadvantage, financial difficulties have no choice but go to public schools or other schools which considered as bad schools. Rich students are choosing expensive private schools that can promise them a bright future such as Sydney High School, King School... Not even students, teachers are also choosing workplaces which benefit them with higher salary, better teaching conditions and student willingly to learn. “Indeed, since 1995 there has been no increase in the average real salaries of Australia's most experienced teachers.” (Zyngier, D. 2012, SMH) This is the reason why experienced teachers are moving toward private schools and the students in public schools don’t have opportunities to develop their abilities. Government should make chances on education and help our young generation build a stronger nation. 

References: 

Leonardo, Z. (2009). Affirming ambivalence: Introduction to cultural politics and education. In Z. Leonardo (Ed.), Handbook of Cultural Politics and Education (pp.1-48), Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.

Sydney Morning Herald,Teachers learn at the school of hard knocks, David Zyngier, September 5, 2012 available at: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/teachers-learn-at-the-school-of-hard-knocks-20120904-25ci5.html