[Offtopic] Revisited: Points to consider including in VITReview Response

[Jim Maunder]

At 02:17 PM 08/10/2007, you wrote:
>Thanks Jim.
>
>I think the DET agenda here 
>(http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/09/14/1189276985702.html) if 
>NOT a sincere desire to give
>teachers more control (and consequent responsibility) for their work 
>practices.
>It relates more to creating a mind set where a worker can be conned 
>into accepting responsibility for aspects of their job over
>which they have NO control.
>....
>A "real" professional teacher would be able to :
>- reject students (children of clients) where they felt that they 
>were unable to help (as used to happen in the past)
>- select and implement curricula that met the goals of the client (parent)
>- use (or not use) support systems available within a school as they see fit
>- negotiate all aspects of work practices and remuneration 
>individually with the employer
>- etc.
>
>Can't see much of this happening with teachers.....
>
>PS: some will object that the child is our client.

Hi Stephen -

I think we have a different idea of what a 'professional' is. For 
many years I worked in Local Government as an Engineer. I worked 
under awards and belonged to trade unions, and I considered myself a 
'professional'. The IEAust is not a trade union, although it did 
advocate on behalf of its members and the Engineering profession as a 
group. An Engineer who had clients and negotiated fees for service is 
a 'Consulting Engineer', and could (nay, should) be a member of the 
IEAust. So call it what you want, I was suggesting in the original 
thread that teachers should organise themselves into that sort of 
body. Until they do so they are at the mercy of their employers and 
the unions (bless them).

rgds
Jim



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Jim Maunder
Ruyton Girls School
Melbourne, Australia