Parliament of Australia:Senate:Committees:Employment, Workplace Relations and Education Committee:A Class Act: Inquiry into the Status of the Teaching Profession


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A Class Act: Inquiry into the Status of the Teaching Profession

March 1998

View the report as a single document - (PDF 4498KB)

View the report as separate downloadable parts:


Committee Membership	(PDF 129KB)

Terms of reference	(PDF 113KB)

List of recommendations	(PDF 108KB)

Overview	(PDF 114KB)

Chapter 2 - Taking teaching seriously	(PDF 187KB)
Registration of teachers - The way forward Standards of professional teaching practice

Chapter 3 - Status and professionalism	(PDF 200KB)
The concept of professionalism The concept of status Professional vs industrial

Chapter 4 - Perceptions of teachers' status	(PDF 328KB)
Community perceptions Parents' perceptions Improving Links with Parents Students' perceptions Teachers' perceptions The Countervailing View

Chapter 5 - The outside school environment - factors affecting teachers' morale, professionalism and status	(PDF 541KB)
Government funding to schools The politicisation of education Politicisation of the Bureaucracy Conclusion The impact of the media Teachers' career structure Teachers' Salaries The Salary Structure Feminisation and the Career Structure Casualisation and the Career Structure

Chapter 6 - The school environment - factors affecting teachers' morale, performance and status	(PDF 346KB)
Work load The 'Overcrowded Curriculum' Lack of Control over the Curriculum The Pace and Scope of Change in Schools The Time Devoted to Non Core Teaching Tasks The Requirement to Teach Unfamiliar Subjects Vocational Education The Committee's view The Impact of the Inclusive Classroom Class Size Other Factors Contributing to Teacher Work Load Teacher Work Load - Conclusions The impact of technology The Impact on Teachers The Impact on Students The Impact on Schools Organisational structure - the impact at school level The Case for Devolution The Reality of Devolution Changes to school funding practices Working conditions

Chapter 7 - Teacher recruitment and training	(PDF 436KB)
Teacher recruitment Supply and Demand Declining Academic Qualifications of New Teachers Reasons for Decline in Number and Quality of New Entrants More career options for women Men's fear of litigation The impact of university fees and charges Uncertain job prospects Expanding Teacher Recruitment Recruitment Campaigns Scholarships Changes to HECS fees Raising TER scores Initial teacher training The Current Position The Quality and Appropriateness of Teacher Training - Weaknesses The Quality and Appropriateness of Teacher Training - the Positive View, Including Some Examples of Good Practice The Way Forward Teacher induction Existing Induction Arrangements - the Negatives Existing Induction Arrangements - the Positives The Way Forward Professional development Professional Development - Inadequacies of Current Practice Quality Professional Development The Way Forward

Chapter 8 - Supply and demand	(PDF 631KB)
The Preston report Objections to Preston�s projections Factors influencing supply and demand Patterns of School Enrolment Teacher Training, Graduation and Employment Ageing and Retirement Devolution of Staffing Decisions to School Level Variations in supply and demand Differences between States Differences between Regions Differences between Subject Disciplines Proposed Remedies

Government Senators' report	(PDF 138KB)

Appendix 1 - A national profile of Australian teachers	(PDF 635KB)

Appendix 2 - Information on teachers salary rates	(PDF 807KB)

Appendix 3 - Submissions to the inquiry	(PDF 433KB)

Appendix 4 - List of public hearing witnesses	(PDF 225KB)

For further information, contact:

Committee Secretary
Senate Employment, Workplace Relations and Education Committee
Department of the Senate
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia

Phone: +61 2 6277 3521

Fax: +61 2 6277 5706

Email: eet.sen@aph.gov.au