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Teacher Strike
- Thread starter virtual22
- Start date
Good.
Are you, or a member of your nuclear family, a teacher?
Are you, or a member of your immediate family, a teacher?
Pogue Mahone
Well-known member
- Apr 30, 2011
- 10,949
I have read this thread, tutted a lot, shaken my head in disbelief, but I have resisted the urge to respond. I've responded before in threads like this, but it's really not worth it.
We, as teachers, will always be scum in the eyes of certain myopic posters, Daily Mailers and Tory propagandists. Some have even called us the enemy within, and accused us of brainwashing children politically.
We know who we are, what we do and what needs to be done. We know what we are worth. So we will fight for it.
hart's shirt
Well-known member
Having trained in inner-city Birmingham in the early 90s where it was more a case of crowd control than teaching, I have absolute respect for any teacher that chooses to have their career in such a high-pressure environment on so many levels. The memories of teaching in the deprived area of Saltley just off the Alum Rock Road and being taxied to and from school as it was deemed too dangerous to walk are permanently etched in my mind.
My first post was as far removed from that as one could expect - rural agricultural Suffolk, a resident form tutor in an independent Prep School. Whilst the challenges were significantly different, the responsibility of acting professionally and at all times in loco parentis during weekends was considerable. We had a number of children with parents in the Armed Forces who were based in military installations in Germany. Rather than constantly moving their children around various schools, they opted to have them in boarding schools. Class sizes were small - I remember about 16 children in my form class with a miniscule 8 in my Maths set.
Regardless of the sector, I admire anyone looking to enter the teaching profession in the UK. Kids need great teachers who are committed to them and the profession. Certainly teachers rarely if ever go into teaching for the money, although the holidays/lifestyle (specifically in the independent sector) are a distinct plus. But really, it's not about that - it's a vocation, a calling, something more than just picking up a salary slip at the end of each month.
Unfortunately successive governments have recognized this and have continued to devalue professions such as teaching and nursing by offering comparatively modest remuneration. Whilst teachers can and have put up with this, constant government pressure through public statements on teachers and thereby the profession as a whole is unwelcome and insulting.
A strike is an inevitable outcome of the current attitudes shown. And frankly, the respect and working conditions of teachers should be placed above parental convenience every time.
My first post was as far removed from that as one could expect - rural agricultural Suffolk, a resident form tutor in an independent Prep School. Whilst the challenges were significantly different, the responsibility of acting professionally and at all times in loco parentis during weekends was considerable. We had a number of children with parents in the Armed Forces who were based in military installations in Germany. Rather than constantly moving their children around various schools, they opted to have them in boarding schools. Class sizes were small - I remember about 16 children in my form class with a miniscule 8 in my Maths set.
Regardless of the sector, I admire anyone looking to enter the teaching profession in the UK. Kids need great teachers who are committed to them and the profession. Certainly teachers rarely if ever go into teaching for the money, although the holidays/lifestyle (specifically in the independent sector) are a distinct plus. But really, it's not about that - it's a vocation, a calling, something more than just picking up a salary slip at the end of each month.
Unfortunately successive governments have recognized this and have continued to devalue professions such as teaching and nursing by offering comparatively modest remuneration. Whilst teachers can and have put up with this, constant government pressure through public statements on teachers and thereby the profession as a whole is unwelcome and insulting.
A strike is an inevitable outcome of the current attitudes shown. And frankly, the respect and working conditions of teachers should be placed above parental convenience every time.
Pogue Mahone
Well-known member
- Apr 30, 2011
- 10,949
I am. You, however, are an arse.
Working class pride
Banned
- Feb 14, 2010
- 4,932
As they are all working so hard during the school holidays then they can all strike during the following:-
6 weeks off school break in the summer, 1 week half term break, 2 week Christmas break, next 1 week half term, 2 weeks Easter break, next 1 week half term. All irrelevant anyway, soon schools will all be competing with each other and the good schools will thrive, the bad will be out of business, and then standards will rise as the school will be run for the children /parents, not the staff, just like every other non public sector
6 weeks off school break in the summer, 1 week half term break, 2 week Christmas break, next 1 week half term, 2 weeks Easter break, next 1 week half term. All irrelevant anyway, soon schools will all be competing with each other and the good schools will thrive, the bad will be out of business, and then standards will rise as the school will be run for the children /parents, not the staff, just like every other non public sector
Theatre of Trees
Well-known member
With the basic salary are you talking ordinary teachers or including those with responsibilities who are on the first rungs of management?
Can you post links to those surveys.
Pogue Mahone
Well-known member
- Apr 30, 2011
- 10,949
Ignorant and stupid as always.
The reason we teach is for the children. It's a vocation, and despite you knowing a teacher who takes the whole summer off, all the teachers I know work much harder than I suspect you do. And yes, I'll make unfounded statements like this, as you always do.
All those holidays you talk of...oh, I really can't be bothered. Arguing with you is like banging your head against a brick wall. You know nothing but think you know it all.
Working class pride
Banned
- Feb 14, 2010
- 4,932
Pogue Mahone. You misunderstand completely. I dont care what you get paid, or what holidays you take. You as the teacher are not important, the children and their standard of education is. The fact is that the current standard of education of working class kids in this country is simply a disgrace and working class kids had a better chance in the 1950's than now. Education needs root and branch reform (as do the police and fire service), the fact is that teachers are more interested in their holidays and they show the public sector protectionist self interest that is oh so transparent. Our kids now have to compete in London for the best jobs with international kids, a rising very well educated Asian workforce, as well as a very hungry Eastern European workforce who speak at least 2 languages. English kids, well they are just not cutting it, so change or fail.
Good effort, must try harder.
Pogue Mahone
Well-known member
- Apr 30, 2011
- 10,949
No, you misunderstand. We do our job BECAUSE WE WANT WHAT IS BEST FOR THE CHILDREN. To say that standards were better in the 50s is so ridiculous that it defies belief. Your comments are your usual blend of arrogance and ignorance - "the fact is that teachers are more interested in their holidays..." - clearly utter crap.
Most of this well educated Asian workforce that you mention are educated here.
People like you spread utterly untrue propaganda about educational standards in this country while we strive to create a curriculum that is challenging, fun and relevant. Then politicians like Gove try to impose a new but utterly antiquated curriculum that has no relevance in society today. You know absolutely nothing about teachers, schools, standards, motivations, in fact anything to do with education. But you think you know it all.
Pogue Mahone
Well-known member
- Apr 30, 2011
- 10,949
With people like you, why bother?
Theatre of Trees
Well-known member
You still haven't answered my question
Oh do give it up you sad martyr. You entered teaching because you enjoy not having the pressure of real life, enjoying good wages, long holidays and the plaudits of being a teacher. Now the public sector is shrinking, and jobs for life, easy promotions, final salary pensions are going up in smoke. Welcome to the world of everyone else.
Some sink, some float and some get ahead. Strikers? Finished.
Working class pride
Banned
- Feb 14, 2010
- 4,932
The "Asian" workforce I was talking about is "Asian" in the global context i.e. Chinese, and no mate they are not educated at an English school. The fact that you cannot see that English kids are far and away lagging behind the international education race just goes to show how little you know or how far the teaching professions head is in the sand. Just go to Canary Wharf on a week day and look around. Less and less English kids in fact I would say less than 25% of the good jobs are English workers. Our kids mate are lagging far, far behind. Education has to and will change so wave your placard all you want, your days are numbered because they have to be.
beorhthelm
A. Virgo, Football Genius
- Jul 21, 2003
- 36,015
well probably not. i read today numbers for a stirke ballot had NASUWT turnout of 40% and NUT turnout of 27%. 27%!!! doesnt strike me as a well supported cause by the grass roots teachers, just the militants.
but shirley you can see that there has been a minority, vocal and powerfull that have pushed an agenda? i think thats waned, but seems certainly was a problem in the past and contributed to the poor image teacher now have.
Is that not contained in the teaching scales?
Theatre of Trees
Well-known member
How do you define an average secondary school teacher salary?