Abstract:
In this paper I focus issues of professional identity of teachers in Australia under conditions of significant change in government policy and educational restructuring. My argument is in two parts. First I argue that two competing discourses are shaping the professional identity of teachers. These discourses are democratic and managerial professionalism. The first is emerging from the profession itself and the second is being reinforced by employing authorities through their policies on teacher professional development. The second part of the paper examines the types of professional identity emerging from these discourses and the influence these discourses will have on the teaching profession itself in terms of its ability to provide moral and intellectual leadership for the profession of teaching.