TWO teachers have published a book exploring how to improve the image of the profession.
Must Do Better is co-authored by Harry Hudson, a former teaching assistant at The Cherwell School, and Roy Blatchford, a former headteacher at Bicester Community College – now known as The Bicester School.
The duo examine why teaching has an image problem and provide suggestions on how to improve the perception of teaching.
Mr Hudson grew up in Oxford and attended St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School with Mr Blatchford’s son.
Now in his third year as a teacher, at a state secondary school in West London, Mr Hudson is in a position to assess the way teaching is viewed.
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He said: “The book partly came about through my own experience coming into reaching, and the way we view teaching as a society.
“The education we give to young people is the foundation of society, but teaching is seen as a fallback option.
“In other countries, teaching is seen as a prestigious career but that isn’t the case here.
“As a society, we’re shooting ourselves in the foot so long as that continues to be the case.
“The book is in three parts – it sets out why teaching has an image problem, then exploring how it’s an exciting time to get into teaching, with the third part setting out suggestions to bring about change and improve the image of teaching.
“A big reason for the negative image is that teaching has changed massively in the last 50 years, but people’s perceptions haven’t caught up.
“We’re better equipped now though and it’s more professional than it ever has been.”
Mr Hudson, who trained to be a teacher at The Cherwell, added: “One of the aims of the book is to go beyond just teachers, and get parents, employers and politicians involved.
“We want to get people talking and start a conversation.”
Mr Blatchford, founder of the National Education Trust, said: “We were sharing thoughts about our years in teaching – I started teaching in the 1970s – and we agreed teachers are so much better trained today.
“But, the way teaching is viewed hasn’t changed.
“You hear the union voice but not necessarily the teacher’s voice, and what a good job it is.
“It’s all about how society views teaching, as in other societies, it’s highly regarded.”
The book has received ringing endorsements from three former Education Secretaries, as well as former Arsenal and Germany footballer Per Mertesacker.
Mr Mertesacker, who is now academy manager at Arsenal, said: “This excellent book starts a conversation that is long overdue.
“There’s nothing more important than good teaching, whether in the classroom or on the football pitch.”
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