students falling behind, page-61

there's plenty of dedicated teachers but as I said earlier it is just like any industry - the best teachers often (though definitely not always) get actively recruited by the best schools.

In the example of many private schools in australia and especially in the international system, if you don't meet expectations you don't keep your job. I a contract system like the international one, this is really easy - just no contract renewal.

so this leaves a pool for the public system that includes all the teachers who are not employed in the private system which includes the lower end of the teaching talent pool (and it is definitely there) as well as a solid core of outstanding teachers who want to stay in the public system for philosophical reasons.

you are bound to get a mixed bag in these cases.

so I disagree with you diligent - we need smaller classes, (I teach 9, 14, 14, and 12 in my four classes), more funding, better administrators, a more rigorous curriculum and assessment regimen and this will in turn attract the right people for the job: make wages competitive with the private system, as well as the perks and give principals the power to hire who they want, not stuck with having to take someone who has "done their time" in the bush.

R