I read a recent opinion piece in the news about how we can resolve our nation’s teacher shortage by facilitating career transitions for those wanting to become teachers. This was from Glenn Fahey’s article in the Australian Financial Review, “Let market supply top teachers,” Friday 25 June 2021 (or online as “Treat teaching as a supply-side problem”). In it, Fahey states, “supporting flexible, employment-based pathways is key to reform. Those making mid-career transitions are disproportionately high academic achievers who bring with them professional subject area knowledge, and are more motivated to teach.” I may not be confident enough to describe myself in this way, but certainly feel I can and will bring these qualities to teaching. The idea of the article is that it’s not so much a lack of skilled and willing people available for the role, but the lack of a way to move existing professionals to the world of teaching. Moving from any profession or job, let alone a well-paid and successful one, into education is a lengthy path. Supported programs do exist, but are not common (To fast track or not to fast track?). According to Fahey, “evidence shows teachers who take flexible and employment-based tracks are generally better prepared for the classroom, enjoy greater career progression, and are more likely to plug workforce needs compared with graduates who take the traditional route.”
I’m taking the ‘traditional route.’ Why? When I started on this journey I was not aware of any other route to take. I didn’t occur to me there were short cuts or accelerated pathways. Even if it had, I still might not have considered them. They are sometimes portrayed as elite programs, suitable for ‘disproportionately high academic achievers.’ But then again… The traditional route is lonely and difficult. I’m a poor networker and stubbornly independent. Working through the maze of information without a mentor has been time-consuming, stressful and occasionally exhausting. But I’ve had wonderful teachers along the way and great student teaching experiences. But if I had to choose between a self-guided journey and an assisted program I’d take the latter. I sincerely hope we see more of such programs becoming available. But mainly, we need to see them integrated and supported by the teaching profession itself. Only then, will we truly be able to deal with the teacher shortage we face now.