Great post, Roger. I don't really know what the solution is. Money would help, but also getting rid of the idea that teachers get lots of holidays, and work shorter hours than many other professionals.

At a board meeting one night, a public servant (we're in Canberra, public service city) referred to the short hours etc, enjoyed by teachers. My boss went home and wrote down all the hidden hours that teachers work, plus meetings in downtime, plus, plus, plus. He deduced that mots of us worked many more hours than PSs. That was presented to the P&F at our next meeting.

Training at university is one thing, but there needs to be so much more taking place when a teacher graduates. I cringe when I think of my first years. What changed for me was the leadership I enjoyed in one particular school. It changed my teaching practice in particular, but we were all so empowered, and that changed the climate in the school. We wanted to be there. The students wanted to be there. And the parent body became a trusting one.

Something else that happened was that some on our staff conducted courses in university, for students, who then came into our school to see things in practice...bit like practicum, but better.

It was a thrilling time to be a teacher.