But, if teachers are the foundation for educational improvement, a major factor that will make the difference between good, better and best in education, then we must have standards, which will guide and support their work and bolster the public standing of the profession. As a Minister in an elected government the issue of accountability is never far from my mind. Control' might be characterised as the stipulation of what must be done before it happens. It is rigid, and can reach deep into the definition and process of practice. By contrast, 'accountability' is the hallmark of professional activity.
Most jobs have elements of both.
In the case of teaching they need to be brought into effective balance. In this State at present there is a considerable amount of activity devoted to improving teachers' skills. Our teaching workforce is being trained in the educational uses of Information and Communications Technologies - an area in which I might note Victoria is leading the way. However, our next generations of schools are not just about new technologies. Nothing will replace the skills of a good teacher.