A funny look at a very serious issue.

Is having a University degree just something we get to follow our dreams/chosen career or is it becoming seen as more and more "necessary" just to get a job of any kind?  Is showing the dedication and work ethic behind obtaining a degree being used by employers to gauge their future value of their employees?

"University graduates making coffee for the baby boomers" I saw it put as recently, but is the university degree the factor that saw them having the scales tipped in their favour over someone just as capable of making coffee but didn't have one?  What happens if we take this theory and apply it in another way?

Is the current system encouraging people who don't really want to work in those fields to do it anyway?   Is "Hey, I can't get a job in my chosen field so I'll be a barista" synonymous with "Hey, it's not what I want to do but it's better than being a barista"? I view this question as a vitally important one for Education. 

Part of our job as teachers is to be enthusiastic about being teachers so that enthusiasm is passed on to our students.  It's not all academic ability by any stretch of the imagination, we have a hands-on job where an enthusiastic delivery and genuine dedication can have astronimical impacts on the outcomes for our students.  So if we think about it are some of the powers that be, in fact, encouraging apathy in our schools?

Will raising minimum ATAR scores really have the positive effect that's being hoped for?  Should an apathetic teacher take precedence over someone with the drive to continue down the path to becoming a great Teacher just because they had a higher ATAR score?  Logically extending this, will this result in a higher turnover of Teachers through the system as a higher percentage are only using Stepping Stones to other professions?  Can someone who got into a Teaching course as their 3rd preference really be considered any better a candidate to become a Teacher than someone who really really wanted to be a Teacher but had an ATAR score of less than 70?

Our registration structure shows us that continued learning is a key ingredient for making good teachers.  Everyone is saying that good teachers are a key part of any education.  Surely then we need those who are MOTIVATED to continue studying and grow as teachers above those who just want to "pass through" onto some other goal?  How is this factor expected to be adequately reflected by a higher ATAR requirement?

I am not trying to imply that there doesn't need to be reasonable minimum requirements in order to qualify to get into courses to become a Teacher.  I'm not even pretending I have any answers here, all I've done is ask questions after all. 

What I do notice though is an unhealthy focus on the academic ability of teachers while pushing all of the other factors it takes to be a great teacher into the background.  Shouldn't those things be discussed with the same intensity?

Just something to think on.

Regards,

Mel.