Learning to value our teachers

Jun 12 2007 By The Journal

A new American skills report has been released which links hopes and aspirations across the Atlantic. Tough Choices or Tough Times is the title of the report by the Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce and it's close to the hearts and minds of all those concerned with learning and skills here in the North East as it bears a striking resemblance to our very own Leitch Review of Skills.

The new report has unveiled recommendations which call for the biggest change in the American education system in a century.

Chris Roberts, regional director for Learning and Skills Council (LSC) North East, said that while the report highlights the need for strong skills in English, maths, technology and science, it also outlines the need for people to be creative and innovative, self-disciplined and flexible in order to meet the dynamic and changing needs of the American economy.

Mr Roberts said: "This new report also raises the important issue of how much should be invested in attracting and retaining the right teachers to deliver the education and training system. It's a fact that the current education and training system was built for another era. And that to move forward there is a need to change the system itself, and especially the value placed on parts of it.

"The report highlights that there is a disproportionate share of teachers who are taken from the `less able of high school students who go to college'. The current system also rewards time in service rather than teachers' ability to do the job. The Commission goes on to say that if the US wants millions of students graduating from schools with very strong mathematical reasoning, a sound conceptual grasp of science, strong written skills and world-beating creativity and innovation, then teachers have to have the knowledge and skills to match - and this makes sense. It says that there are many teachers who do fit the bill already, but there is still a shortfall."

Another issue highlighted is that the current system is relatively weak on cash compensation for new teachers and has more emphasis on health and pensions benefits for the retired teacher. To address the problem, Tough Choices or Tough Times advocates the need to recruit teachers from the top third of high school students. It also states that there needs to be a dramatic shift in the current compensation package so that the right types of people are attracted into the teaching system in the first place. The commission therefore proposes substantial rises in teachers' salaries and retirement benefits comparable with better firms in the private sector.

Mr Roberts continues: "Our Leitch Review was tasked with considering the UK's long term skills needs. While the UK's skills base has improved significantly over the last decade, it still remains weak by international standards, holding back productivity growth and social justice.

"The Leitch Review focuses on adult skills, but the issue of teachers in our schools is obviously very relevant and school is where it all starts. If we too ,as a nation, are expecting teachers to up-skill our workforce, we also need to ask ourselves whether we are offering the right kinds of incentives to attract people with the necessary skills into the system. How much value do we really put on our teachers? We need to consider this issue too."

Tough Choices or Tough Times also advocates outsourcing to machines - a controversial point in itself and one which Mr Roberts thinks is a huge area for debate.

He says: "The report states that `if someone can figure out the algorithm for a routine job, chances are that it is economic to automate it…' - and we don't have to look far to see how truthful this is. Just think of the activities which are part of everyday life, yet have now been digitised. The almighty machines need people equipped with a whole new set of skills based on creativity and new technology.

"The point that the Commission is making is that it's not enough to stand still - which we are well aware of here in the North East - and it's not enough to do things the same way that we've always done them.

"We are all competing on the international stage, and countries like China and India can offer large numbers of highly skilled workers for relatively low wages. As a nation, we, along with the US, both need to move on and realise that if we want to compete effectively, we need to give our workers higher level skills. And we also need an education and training system which can support that need."