Teaching and Learning

At The Hamilton and Alexandra College we have a team of expert staff who work hard to ensure that each student is able to learn and flourish. Teachers are mentors that provide young people with models for thinking critically, learning independently, and becoming autonomous for their academic program. Teachers are vital to our students, to our schools and to our society at large. A recent report from the Australian Institute for Teaching School Leadership (AITSL) “Spotlight: Teaching: A valued profession” challenges some public misconceptions about the teaching profession and encourages teachers to see themselves as valued members of the community.

The significance of the teaching profession is reflected in the demands of the job – specialised expertise, strong interpersonal skills, adaptability, and a learning mindset. It would therefore follow that teachers are valued by society, and current evidence supports the notion that they are (Heffernan et al., 2019; Leahy & Selwyn, 2019; Roy Morgan, 2017).

This year during repeated lockdowns and restrictions due to COVID 19, teachers throughout the world have been portrayed in the media as ‘babysitters’, simply marking time until the real teaching and learning can happen when students return face to face. There is no argument that in some instances the pace of learning adapted to the needs of continuous remote learning. However, what is clear is that our students at College retained a connection to a learning community, to mentors and teachers who actively worked with them throughout RLP 1.0 and RLP 2.0 and worked with Remote Learning Coaches to provide that extra support if required. Research suggests there is a positive correlation between how teaching is perceived by teachers and society, and student academic achievement (Burns & Darling-Hammond, 2014; Gonski et al., 2018; Schleicher, 2014; Viac & Fraser, 2020).  The Hamilton and Alexandra College is committed to the delivery of effective pedagogy and to provide a range of opportunities for all our students to learn in a safe, supportive environment. Your child has a confident future as they meet the everyday challenges of learning together, becoming independent, articulate, and resilient.

Next Friday, the 30th October 2020 is our College’s Annual Speech Day, but it is also the World Teachers’ Day in Australia. I would invite you to partner with us and celebrate the work of our wonderful teaching staff who play an integral role to your child’s success.

Susan Bradbeer

Deputy Principal of Teaching and Learning