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“Those who can’t do anything, become teachers.” Not just since the “PISA shock” and the myriad of negotiations for the new teacher employment law, those who used to command respect now suffer from a poor image. What they are accused of: compared to the general population they have a “part-time job” with a constantly rising salary curve plus 14 weeks of vacation a year and thus no reason to complain. The reality is different: noise, aggression, burnout, bullying, socially and emotionally neglected students, entire classes that can’t speak German, over and under-motivated parents and a school system that is sluggish to reform have made this job increasingly challenging. Menschen & Mächte Spezial examines why the profession of teacher has lost so much respect in just a few decades. Who is to blame: the politicians? Unfit parents who neglect their children? A society in which social care professionals have no value? The teachers themselves? Or is the criticism of the teachers above all a criticism of the Austrian education system and its sluggishness to reform?
“Austria can not be allowed to fail. Teachers in crisis.” Broadcast date: March 19th, 2014 / 10:30 p.m. / ORF 2, 52 min.,
Design: Thomas Grusch and Matthias Tschannett.
A production for ORF / Editor Andreas Novak
