Teachers are treasure

TEACHERS are integral to the fabric of our nation. We all can remember a teacher who saved us, inspired us.

It has been said that teaching is the profession upon which all other professions depend.

In fact, Professor Lucas Walsh of Monash University said this very thing following the reporting of findings from a 2019 study led by Dr Amanda Heffernan.

He said, “Behind every medical professional, accountant, human rights ambassador and climate scientist is a teacher who was committed to educating young minds for the future”.

We are well served to remember this truth.

Dr Heffernan’s 2019 report based on the experiences of 2444 teachers highlights concerning findings. In short, the majority of teachers in Australia want to make a difference, yet more than 70 per cent in this study felt unappreciated, and nearly 60 per cent of those teachers indicated they intended to leave the teaching profession.

These alarming findings, which portend a teacher shortage in the near future, caused Monash University to run a campaign late last year calling on Australians to #ThankYourTeacher.

A different study, led by Dr Peta Stapleton, examined the health and wellbeing of 166 Australian teachers, and 18 per cent had symptoms that met the criteria for moderate to severe depression, and 62 per cent met criteria for moderate to severe anxiety.

Why are teachers feeling like this? Unappreciated. Depressed. Anxious. Wanting to leave a profession that does so much good and makes a difference in so many lives.

At the University of the Sunshine Coast, where I am based, colleague Dr Alison Willis has created a Facebook group @teachersofaustralia.

In this space, teachers and their stories are celebrated. The great work of teachers all across Australia is acknowledged. This online space is a treasure trove of inspiring faces and real stories of real people who give daily of themselves in the act and service of teaching.

If you are a teacher, we encourage you to come online and share something of who you are and why you do what you do.

A focus on encouraging teachers must continue. If you haven’t done so this week, #ThankYourTeacher or #ThankYourChildsTeacher.