Monday, March 12, 2007
Still Grim – Recovery Will Take Twenty Years!Government funded research has shown that after decades of decline teachers believe their lot is improving – marginally.
Researchers found that workload reduction and increased spending has helped to improve morale. However, they warned that it could be another twenty years before teaching becomes a “high status” job.
Parents, governors and teaching assistants (associated groups) were asked with teachers to rank the profession on a five-point scale from very low (one) to very high (five). In 1967 the ratings were 4.4 for the associated group and 4.3 for teachers (the Plowden golden age?).
By 2003 the figures had fallen to 2.7 and 2.2. This year’s survey showed slight improvements to 2.9 and 2.5. Although teachers still thought their job was lacking in reward and respect, with high external control and regulation.
There weren’t any figures for when New Labour came into office in 1997, that would have made an interesting comparison. What the figures did show was that in four years morale has only marginally improved from a very low level. Surprising given the miniscule increase to see the headline in the Times Educational Supplement, ‘Feelgood factor is back’. I think mine is more appropriate.
Labels: Work
