Individual,

I don't know how much work is involved in a fish and chip shop and how much intelligence and lateral thinking it actually involves. However I do know what it involves to become a good teacher - I've got several in the family. Teachers are expected to reach unattainable goals with inadequate tools. The miracle is that at times they accomplish this impossible task. Teachers deserve our support because they are the decisive element in the classroom. It's their personal approach that creates the climate. It is their daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher they possess tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous. Teachers can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. They can humiliate or humour, hurt or heal. In all situations it is a teacher's response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated, and a child humanized or de-humanized. Many teaching problems will be solved in the next few decades. There will be new learning environments and new means of instruction. One function, however, will always remain with the teacher: to create the emotional climate for learning. No machine, sophisticated as it may be, can do this job. You claim that teachers don't think - obviously not much thought went into that statement of yours. Schools cannot survive on miracles. They need teachers with effective tools and skills who can increase a child's sense of self-worth, and enhance the quality of life in the classroom.
A competent educator, like an accomplished musician, devotes years and effort to acquiring techniques. Once acquired, they are unseen. The violinist plays his music as though problems of fingering, bowing, and double stopping never existed. A principal, a teacher can respond helpfully, as though congruent communication were his/her native tongue. By giving children an education you give them wings.
And education is essentially the leading forth, the growth, of an individual through structured experience. No job is more important than that of an educator.

And education is essentially the leading forth, the growth, of an individual through structured experience.
lexi,
Of course it is, did I say it wasn't ? I just would like to point out that if everyone is so educated then where on earth is all their usefulness ? I recall the headmaster of a school on Cape York twentyfour years ago telling me that his school will provide students who will make a difference in twenty years. Well, nothing's happened yet. I don't know of any uneducated people in politics & policy making but I know quite a few who became successful business people. So far, I haven't seen an educated person being useful to society. Education is pointless when it's only about education. The teachers I know don't have a clue how to teach & make a student understand. The only thing they know is how to play the get-the-benefits game. I have shared accommodation with teachers on three occasions for a year each time & from my observation of their mentality I wouldn't pay them half of what they are getting.
I accept that there are people who can teach but I have yet to meet one.

Hi SOG,

The prospect of "alien" immigration has always provoked some anxiety among the existing population. A good deal of local prejudice and sometimes outright hostility is often directed at the newest arrivals. It is ironic that, if such attitudes had prevailed in the past, the ancestors of many of today's Australians would never have been able to immigrate to Australia in the first place. Competing for scarce resources has always been a problem - and the accusation of migrants taking away jobs from "old" Australians has been levelled from time to time at all migrants. The reality however is often different. I can understand your concerns. Don't forget we had a global financial crisis which affected most countries very badly. Australia managed to survive. With increasing population there is a need for housing, food production, industry, infra-structure - but it's up to the government (no matter of what persuasion) to legislate and keep up (or not) with the "critical mass" that you speak of.
It is a cyclical problem which has existed and will continue to exist with its highs and lows. If Australia wanted to be part of the global economy (which it does) - it had to sign certain International Agreements - to which it is now committed. As for your son's friends, it would be wise for them to broaden their work practices to be able to find work in other areas. Migrants have to adjust. New arrivals take whatever they can get and make the best of it. Whether it involves driving taxis, buses, trams, trains, working in shops, restaurants, hotels, anything to feed the family. My son finished Uni with a Science Degree - worked as a labourer on construction sites, worked as a shop-assistant and finally worked his way up to be a Manager in the retail business. It doesn't always end up with what you had initially planned on doing, however, you make the best of what you can to survive. I've always believed in the old adage, "When life serves you lemons, you make lemonade!" (or words to that effect).

Individual,

I'm sorry that you haven't met a good teacher. I've been fortunate in knowing some excellent ones - who were capable of opening the minds and hearts of the children they taught. One teacher in particular comes to mind - my English teacher - who inspired in me my love of Shakespeare - and to this day that's something for which I'm grateful.
She captivated my imagination and captured my heart. She never criticized, she coaxed. She never pushed, she persuaded. She never insulted, she inspired. With sensitivity she taught us to contrast drama and life, to evaluate performance and character. Through her efforts I came to appreciate the theatre - and its very much a part of my life today.

Lexi:>> The prospect of "alien" immigration has always provoked some anxiety among the existing population.<<

If we are discussing Australia the provocation has not delivered a negative result according to our teary "eagle has landed" PM. She announced to the UN that we were the most harmonious multi culture on the globe; we can guess what she is pitching for, right next to Kev.

>>It is ironic that, if such attitudes had prevailed in the past, the ancestors of many of today's Australians would never have been able to immigrate to Australia in the first place.<<

Lexi I am not against immigration on racial grounds, I base my reasoning on sustainability and infrastructure. I am talking about every major city having to build desalt plants because we were running out of water, our population doubled in 30 years and 70% of that is from migration.
TBC

>> Competing for scarce resources has always been a problem - and the accusation of migrants taking away jobs from "old" Australians has been leveled from time to time at all migrants.<<

Well the accusers would be fools, our jobs and the ability of Australia to sustain the second flow of migrants went with our manufacturing base, and that was dismantled via the Lima Agreement.

>> The reality however is often different. I can understand your concerns. Don't forget we had a global financial crisis which affected most countries very badly. Australia managed to survive.<<

No offence Lexi but this utter rubbish about, we survived the financial crisis. Other than credit getting tight nothing happened to us because our market was not exposed. Whole towns went up for sale in the US, we kept digging and growing and shipping, and the wash on us was NEGLIGABLE compared to the Northern Hemisphere.

>> As for your son's friends, it would be wise for them to broaden their work practices to be able to find work in other areas.<<

Youth unemployment is over 30% in Australia, I will give them your sound advice Lexi.