What do we expect from our teachers?

Do we expect teachers to instil in their young charges social mores, love of learning, and responsible behaviour? Who is going to decide that little Johnny is wasting his time in a classroom and is a danger to his classmates and should leave? When should that decision be made? Do we allow teachers to discipline children, tell parents how to rear their children, enforce regular bedtimes, provide nutritious food?

Today's parents think that child rearing is their responsibility and get very offended when a stranger tells their child how to behave. If parents can't provide regular bedtimes, nutritious food and be good role models then perhaps children should be raised in boarding schools irrespective of whether the loser parent is black, white, yellow or brindle and irrespective of whether the family is christian, wicca, jewish, muslim or feral.

Kevin Donnelly is one of those people who, when unable to do well in his chosen profession, denigrates those who can. He is the quintessential failed teacher sniping at successful teachers.

Just feel sad for the old man. He's irrelevant to any discourse on the future of education.

The difficulty of the job description all depends upon the attitude of the worker.I left teaching in the late eighties.Those who teach,basically reflect general attitudes of society.

I did my HSC back in 1969 and did many things before entering teaching in 1975.The biggest theme of impotence for teachers,particularly for those in the western suburbs of Sydney,was the lack of respect and displine that eminated from this culture of legal/unionised repression.The tail was wagging the dog.

Public Education denegrates itself,when it lacks the balls to instill respect,discipline and the diversity of philosophies that make up our society.