Teaching, the Noblest of Professions, but the Sorriest of Trades 1
Teaching is fundamental to any society. It involves a heavy responsibility: what young people learn not only influences their individual opportunities in later life, but also lays the groundwork for the values and knowledge systems of society at large. Yet Australian society has reduced ‘chalkies’ to a low rank, denying teachers the prestige that their responsibilities should command. Teachers’ working conditions, salaries, status and quality of training have remained as low as governments politically dare keep them. This contradiction between responsibility and reward is puzzling.
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