Analyzing Teaching: Profession or Semi-Profession? A Detailed Essay

This essay delves into the ongoing debate regarding whether teaching is a profession or a semi-profession. The introduction establishes the context by defining a profession and acknowledging the differing viewpoints on teaching's status. The main body of the essay examines key factors, including the Australian Professional Standard of Teacher (APST), which outlines standards, ethics, and accreditation processes. It also discusses curriculum development, highlighting how teachers follow specific curricula and the importance of standards in ensuring accountability. The essay compares teaching to other professions and semi-professions, analyzing how curriculum and standards are applied. The conclusion synthesizes the arguments, presenting a comprehensive analysis of the factors to determine whether teaching is a profession or a semi-profession, providing a thorough overview of the topic.

FOUNDATION OF
TEACHING AND LEARNING

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
A profession is termed as occupation is a specialised field which is related to providing
services to others. In order to define profession it is necessary to analyse. Many scholars is
arguing that teaching is semi profession or profession (Doel & Shardlow, 2017).. It has been
discussed that a teacher role is to educate children. Moreover, there are many principles followed
in every profession. The principles depends on type of profession and how it is practised. There
are certain standards followed in profession.
This essay will discuss on topic that whether teaching in profession or semi profession. In
this four factors will be taken on basis of which argument is done.
MAIN BODY
The first factor to take into consideration is The Australian Professional Standard of
Teacher (APST). In order to endorse excellence in the teaching and school leadership across all
Australian schools, the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) was
established in 2010 to finalise and certified the seven teaching standards. The APST defines the
three teaching domains: professional knowledge, practices and engagement through research
across four career stages from pre-service graduate teacher to lead teacher. The APST recount
closely to the three other critical factors briefly discussed in the sections below. Standard two,
which emphasises that teachers should “know the content and how to teach it”, relates to the
curriculum. Standard three, emphasis the necessity of teachers getting to “Plan for and
implement effective teaching and learning”, relates to teaching pedagogy catering to diverse
student learning needs. Standard five, which states the need to “assess, provide feedback and
report on student learning”, relates to how teacher. Therefore, the standards are essential in
ensuring that teachers could be considered as professional.
Just like recognized professions such as Doctors and lawyers need to be accredited, pre-
service teacher also require accreditation to be recognised in the field of Education.
Accreditation, is the structure through which teachers are recognised as meeting these standards.
It ensures the integrity and accountability of the teaching as a profession. A professional code of
ethics, implemented by the state government or the school, outlines teachers' main
responsibilities to their students and defines their role in students' lives (Abdul-Majied, Johnson
& Campbell, 2017). Above all,teachers must demonstrate integrity, impartiality and ethical
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behaviour in the teaching space and in their conduct with parents and colleagues. All teacher are
expected to know and follow the outlined code of conduct mentioned as seven standards in a
reasonable manner in the development of Government policies affecting education.
In teaching profession integrity and ethics are to be followed. It shows respect towards
those people for delivering services. In APST there are certain standards described which is
followed by teachers. It include code of conduct as well while delivering services. Furthermore,
like APST there are many other programs as well in which standards are set. They are related to
nurse, doctor, social worker, etc. it contains standards, ethics, values, etc. which has to be
followed. Thus, it also describe other profession as well. However, it can be analyzed that
teaching is profession. In this there are many ethics which is to followed by teacher.
The standards and curriculum are interrelated. This means that if skills and knowledge
are not clearly defined that curriculum is not developed properly. Beside this, standards ensures
accountability of teacher in regard of their curriculum designed. Sometimes, in curriculum as
well standards are defined which is to be followed by teacher (Sonia, 2017). The pedagogy
describe method of teaching. It may include theoretical or academic concept. Pedagogy depends
curriculum designed. It contains practice of teaching on basis of which teacher is able to pursue
profession. The NAPLAN includes assessment program that is based on curriculum. It creates a
base for which curriculum is designed. Furthermore, teachers only follow standards which allow
to create assessment.
Second factor is curriculum development. The teaching is a profession that specializes in
the use of skills, knowledge and attributes developed to offer specific service to realize the
educational necessities of a personal and of the society at large. It can be stated that the second
factor that is taken is curriculum development. In teaching curriculum is followed. Generally, in
semi profession curriculum is followed on basis of profession. It can be analyzed when
curriculum is developed in teaching it is based on specific subject or field. Teachers are bound to
follow curriculum process which helps in improving their skills and knowledge. Moreover, a
teacher development is based on curriculum. They use it in effective way to ensure that services
are delivered properly. In curriculum it is described about what course is to be followed in
college or school. In teaching there is specific course which is followed. Here, course is not
changed even when school or college differs (Tuinamuana, 2011). But in other profession such
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as doctor or nurse the curriculum is followed on basis of situation. They have to follow different
process and principles which are stated in curriculum. Basically, in semi profession curriculum is
based on skills and knowledge. It is designed on basis of skills required. For every profession,
curriculum followed is different. Apart from it, course modifies when change in there in subject.
Thus, in teaching there is no specific skill or knowledge is required. Alongside it, the curriculum
is not changed in teaching. In Australian national curriculum both primary and secondary schools
curriculum is developed. It acts as a base for teaching which is regulated by government
authority. It also support teacher in their professional development. They follow curriculum in
their profession. Hence, it can be stated that teaching still remain issue whether it is profession or
semi profession.
It has been stated that curriculum differs in those condition when profession course is
different. However, there is similar process in teaching. Also, principles followed are same
which makes it easy to get things done in proper way. In addition the way of delivering services
in teaching is same but there are some methods as well that can be used by teacher. Therefore,
the methods are applied on basis of situation.
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