From: Dennis.Chester@f316.n640.z3.fidonet.org (Dennis Chester)
Newsgroups: k12.chat.teacher
Subject: Year-Round School
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 92 13:12:06 PST
Organization: FidoNet node 3:640/316 - The Galaxy GateWay , Redlands Qld Australia

G'day Sheila,

I just saw this in Educator and thought that it should appear in K12Net teachers chat.

I don't think Dennis is on K12Net.

ooroo


 * Original To  : Sheila King, 3:640/706
 * Original From: Dennis Chester, 3:640/316
 * Original Date: Jul 19 17:26

 Hello Sheila! 
 
 Just had to comment on a few points you've been making.  You wrote: 
 
 SK>It is also correct that with the teaching load that most of us have it  
 SK>is not easy to also assume added adminsitrative tasks on top of that.  
 SK>And that we may not have an overall view of the administrative situation  
 SK>that the top administrators have. 
 
 So very true - and right to the heart of the current debacle here in  
 Queensland Australia currently running between the Department and the  
 Union.  Six years ago a plan was drafted by the Union to provide a complete  
 career restructure for teachers in this state.  The prime emphasis of this  
 restructure was to offer teachers dedicated to a career of classroom  
 teaching, as opposed to administration, some recognition.  The model was  
 called Advanced Skills Teacher (AST) and included three levels beyond the  
 usual 4-year trained, nine years of service, top-of-the-scale salary. 
 
 These AST positions were to be merit-based, permanent (with provisions) and  
 available to all qualified applicants.  The salaries were purposefully  
 designed to overlap with the lower rungs of administration posts. (I.e.  
 small school principals, high school subject masters, etc.) 
 
 The philosophy behind the creation of the positions was that too many  
 very good classroom teachers ended up as mediocre administrators, mainly  
 because there was literally no incentive, material or otherwise, to remain  
 full-time in front of students.  It also addressed the fact that many  
 teachers, especially those with years of experience, were expending effort  
 far in excess of some of their administrators and so, should be recognised  
 in some tangible manner. 
 
 Six years later we have gained the first level of AST, but with some  
 damnable and downright backward provisions forced on us by the Department.   
 To begin with, they (the Department) imposed a school-by-school quota  
 system on the scheme.  Imagine the result at a large school with many  
 qualified applicants, and just a few of them chosen by a school-based  
 selection panel - the rest left to wonder just what's going on.  To say  
 that this has split up a few personal and professional friendships is the  
 classic understatement. 
 
 As if the initial round of selections weren't divisive and stressful  
 enough, the Dept also put a 3-year term on any appointment and refused to  
 allow the position to be transferred between schools.  (We are centralized  
 and involuntary interschool transfers are common.  As an example, imagine  
 that you could be assigned to teaching in San Francisco one day and find  
 yourself driving to take up your new position in Billings, Montana the  
 next.  That's how big Queensland is.) 
 
 What I couldn't get over was the blatant displays of ego/meglomania by some  
 administrators.  "If I'd had that option, I would never have become an  
 administor!"  they'd claim.  But when it was put to them that they were  
 welcome to resign their posts at the bottom of the Admin ladder, and apply  
 for AST which is equal pay but at the top of the teaching ladder, they just  
 sputtered, stammered and shuffled away mumbling unintelligible little  
 expletive deletives.  In the end they talked only amongst one another on  
 the issue and became the dogs in the manger.  "If I couldn't have it - they  
 can't have it!"  would probably sum up the gist of their ramblings. 
 
 So - we come to the situation as it now stands.  Our members have been  
 directed to stop work for half a day on 30 July to attend mass meetings of  
 protest and consider further action.  Our call is for the Dept to abolish  
 the imposition of quotas and limited tenure for the AST scheme.  I trust we  
 have your support. 
 
 Regards, 
 Den. 
... OFFLINE 1.40 


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