Telegraph gets it wrong again

Date: 15 March 2000

The Daily Telegraph continues its "attack" on the N.S.W. Teachers Federation, the union leadership and public school teachers. The Federation's web site fights back.

In its continuing attack on teachers and their union, The Daily Telegraph has compared NSW teachers with their New York City counterparts. Once again the Telegraph has simply got it wrong.

According the the Daily Telegraph, New York qualifications are a "University degree in education and master's degree within five years of beginning full time work."
Although these are the qualifications needed for certification, there are over 8000 teachers working in New York City who do not have certification.

According the the Daily Telegraph, working hours in New York City are "31 hours a week, primary and secondary." The Telegraph compares this to New South Wales "Secondary; 18 hours 40 minutes teaching a week; primary 21 hours, 40 minutes"
Thirty-one hours (actually 31 hours and 40 minutes) is the New York school week, not the face to face teaching load. Comparing like with like, the NSW school week is 32.5 hours.

According the the Daily Telegraph, the New York salary is "$US48,710 average ($A79,280)." They compare this with "80% of NSW teachers (who) have nine years service, earn $50,175 as step nine teachers."
Again, the Telegraph does not compare like with like. The NYC classroom rate extends from $US31910 to $US70,000. A classroom teacher at the top of scale in NYC is paid $A114,754 compared with $A50,175 in NSW. (The NYC salary scale goes up to 22 years of service and rewards post-graduate study.)

Ironically, while the New South Wales Teachers Federation is under attack in the Daily Telegraph, the United Federation of Teachers (New York City) is under a similar attack by the Daily News, a New York tabloid.

For further information

Contact:	John Hughes
Union:	NSW Teachers Federation
Phone:	0418 423834
WWW:	http://www.nswtf.org.au

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