Page 4016 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 16 Sept 2009
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most experienced teachers in the classroom. These reforms will not only keep the best and most experienced teachers in the classroom but will raise students’ expectations and results.
So why are we focusing on teacher quality? The ACT government is delivering the best and most experienced teachers to Canberra’s classrooms. Why do we need reform in this area? It is because the quality of a school cannot exceed that of the quality of the classroom teacher. The evidence tells us that teacher quality is the most influential factor in a child’s ability to aim for and to reach their full potential. It is teachers who spend hours of each day with our children and young people.
We want all teachers to be enthusiastic and interested in the individual achievement of every child. As a parent of three children, I know that each one is different, so quality teaching tailored to the needs of every child is something that every parent would wish for. We want teachers to be better paid and better recognised for all their hard work, and we want teachers to be as respected as lawyers, doctors and engineers.
It is the teacher, along with the families, who will raise our children’s expectation and aspirations for their future. When a student says, “I’d like to be a doctor,” but then goes on to say, “But that’s not for the likes of me,” it will be the teacher who will step in, raise their expectations, give them the frameworks for good learning and set them on the path to achievement. In addition to a student’s family, it is the teacher who will encourage them, challenge them, and watch them graduate from the medical school.
Simply, teachers are the most important factor outside the home in influencing a child’s education. Ultimately, all of these strategies and resources come down to one key aim—that is, to improve the quality of what goes on inside the classroom. Our approach will demand innovation, hard work and determination, but let us not shy away from the difficult decisions. The ACT government will make every dollar count towards improving out students’ educational outcomes.
Parents, students and school communities all know the importance of having the best and most experienced teachers in our classrooms, and we need an education system that not only enables but also encourages the best of our teachers to stay in the classroom. We know from numerous studies that the classroom teacher is the major influence on a child’s achievements, and we want to provide a framework for quality teachers to stay. This government continues to make that investment for our teaching fraternity in the ACT, as well as investing in school infrastructure across the ACT.
As I said, the ACT government will make every dollar count towards improving our students’ educational outcomes. The ACT Labor government is making considerable and sustained investment in improving the capacity of all our teachers. In closing, I would hope that members support the investment in quality teachers and recognise the benefits that that will bring to ACT students.
MR DOSZPOT (Brindabella) (10.35): I thank Ms Burch for the motion. I must say that I fully agree that, outside of the home, teachers are the most important factor in influencing a child’s education, as I am sure all people in Canberra and in this Assembly would also agree. Having the best and most experienced teachers in the
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