Fixed-term contracts for teachers? Is Brian McAlinden Scotland's Michael Wilshaw?
23 May
As featured on BBC Scotland's Reporting Scotland last night (04:08), Brian McAlinden, a former headteacher who is now part of the Scottish Government's working party on attainment, told MSPs that teachers and headteachers should be on fixed-term, five year contracts.
The programme used the analogy of football, with reference to "leagues" and "performance", but teachers aren't footballers, and they're certainly not paid like footballers, even though they are worth more to society. Lord Puttnam described teachers as "the most important people in Britain" because of their role in educating the next generation.
Taking the attitude that teachers are motivated only by fear of losing their jobs is an insult and demeans the profession.
Do you agree with Mr McAlinden that:
Why should teachers be subjected to such a "hire and fire regime"? Why should they be treated in this way when nobody seems to doubt the professionalism of other professionals, such as doctors, nurses, solicitors, advocates, judges, police officers ?
Is the politically motivated and media transmitted disease of teacher bashing spreading from England to Scotland, despite the recent report that found, that: "96 per cent of parents are satisfied or very satisfied with their child's school"?
Does Scotland want to see its teachers suffering job insecurity and damagingly low morale and create a crisis in staff recruitment and retention and, ultimately, a shortage of teachers?
It seems that Brian McAlinden is bidding to become Scotland's Michael Wilshaw.
Does job security of teaching "attract excellent people" or "encourage complacency and a lack of dynamism" (Seonag MacKinnon, BBC Scotland)? Do let us know your views
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Fixed-term contracts are used in education in some parts of Australia, the USA and Canada. For example, in parts of the USA, Canada and Australia, the school district appoints its principals for short periods (3-5 years) and reallocates them to other schools as it sees fit.
Seonag MacKinnon (BBC Scotland) on Twitter [www.twitter.com/BBCSeonagM]: “I reckon first question for anyone promoting short term contracts for teachers and headteachers is – would you like it?”
There are significantly more Full-time teaching jobs than Part-time at the moment.
You don’t have to be a preschool techear or someone specializing in this to know that this is WRONG. There are so many techears that have no idea about how to teach effectively and they have no idea how to teach different learning styles.Do you hear me is different from do you understand. For some reason, the stupid schools think that every child is an advanced learner. Teachers have GOT to understand that especially at this age, children are growing, figuring out their learning style-and not every child will understand something right away.It is nothing but pure ignorance for a techear to not understand that.I hate how these idiots can get to be techears and yet when a good person wants to get into this career they can’t because they have trouble meeting the graduating requirements.Bottom line- Do you hear me refers to a child not paying attention or having a wandering mind. That may be due to age and maturity, but it very well be a learning disability.Do you understand is just their way of asking if the child is paying attention.There is nothing you can do.
If you do not like what is happening to teaching in Scotland, there are other options available. Teachers have knowledge and the ability to teach that knowledge. There is huge demand for teaching in, for example, Asia. Many of those teachers facing cuts in jobs and salaries will start their own e-learning initiatives, for example teaching English to the Chinese. The Internet makes it possible to deliver your knowledge from your home office and save on travel expenses. There really is no need to be physically present!
Yes, consultants and teachers can take advantage of Internet systems to deliver their knowledge overseas or to students nearer to home. Some of these redundant or disillusioned teachers will no doubt start their own companies / consultancies.