By Jane Mueller. Published by The Guardian on 11 October, 2019.

I vividly recall a TV advertisement in the 1980s. The tune was so catchy that, even now, I occasionally find myself humming: “be the first to say, do you need a hand.”

Thirty years on, I wonder if we’re more inclined to offer criticism than a hand. Just ask our teachers.

Parents are having trouble finding the time and energy to offer a hand in the classroom, yet many do find the time to engage in unsolicited teacher condemnation. A recent study shows that 80% of teachers in Australian schools have experienced bullying or harassment from students and parents. (Quite ironically, when a parent advocates for their child by bullying, harassing or intimidating a teacher, the result will often be poorer student outcomes.) Sadly, our nation’s teachers are not respected or held in the same high esteem as their counterparts in some other countries.

Our teachers are working harder than ever before. Studies indicate the rate of anxiety, stress and burnout for teachers is higher than the national average. Concerningly, nearly 50% of graduate teachers leave the profession within five years.

We’ve evolved into a society that focuses more on our rights than our responsibilities. When future generations do not perform as we think they should, it’s easiest to lay blame on teachers. When we decide children need additional skills in a non-academic field, it’s easiest to handball it to teachers. Teachers are expected to do much more than their vocation originally called for. I recall a time a parent said to me: “My child has been enrolled in your school for a whole term now, and he still doesn’t say please and thank you. Why aren’t your teachers doing their job properly?” Throw into the mix heightened accountability and administration, and it’s not surprising our teachers are exhausted.

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