Good morning Dear Reader,
I'm not going to make any personal remarks about the industrial action I'm taking today, instead, here's an article by Kate Treacy from yesterday's Guardian newspaper. P.S, if you want to use my comments to be derogatory about teachers, just remember, you can do so because one of them taught you to read and write!
I'm going on strike to make you show teachers some respect, Mr Cameron!
If the government wants to attract the best graduates to teaching, it must prove to them that they are valued.
As a teacher, I'm always a bit cagey when someone mentions time off. I have been doing my best to avoid any conversations about tomorrow's strike for the fear of the familiar retort: "Because that's what teachers need isn't it? Another day off!"
Teachers are constantly vilified as an inefficient and ineffective bunch, more interested in coasting to a comfortable retirement than unleashing the potential of the young talent of this country. But I firmly believe that this campaign is not just about how well-off I will be in my autumn years. It's about fostering respect for our profession, it's about ensuring that teachers are valued.
I doubt anyone would argue with the assertion that successful societies need successful education systems, and these need good teachers. But bright and dynamic people require some incentive to enter the profession: a bit more respect would help.
There's an awful lot of teacher-bashing about: it seems every ill in society has its roots in our "failing" state schools; even the August riots have been blamed, at least in part, on us.
Respect for teachers and teaching has dwindled in the last 20 years: not just in the media but in the minds of our peers, parents, students, even ourselves. I delayed entering the profession for fear that I might have "settled" for it.
One way for the government to attract talent to teaching is through good pay and conditions. It sends a signal that this profession is important, that the people we have slogging their guts out in our schools are worth investing in.
The new pension proposals will have a serious impact on the financial future of teachers: we are expected to pay more out of our salaries now to get less out of the pension pot in the end.
Remember, teachers do not operate in a market place. Terms and conditions are set by the government. Good teachers can't negotiate a better pension deal elsewhere. We are stuck with what the government offers us. So that offer needs to be attractive.
Yes, Mr Cameron, industrial action will be disruptive, but then that's the point. It's time you all sat up and took notice of us. We really are that important.
• Kate Treacy teaches English at a state secondary in north London.
See you later,
Froogs xxx
29 comments:
This is the first I had heard of the strike, since we are in another hemisphere. However, I agree with the sentiments in the article and wish you and you colleagues a positive outcome. It is cold comfort, but it is exactly the same story here in Australia.
Sending my support and best wishes.
On strike here today - both us us. We aren't miners and they aren't Thatcher.
I chose a career in public service to serve the public, not to become a whipping boy.
I look at the figures that the Govt use to justify themselves and wonder who they are talking about - no gold-plated pension here - 25 years service and I can expect £7K a year at 65!
How funny, I have just read this myself, then read your blog and found it again. As a teacher myself I totally agree. Enjoy your day!
I hope you don't mind but I have posted a very similar post on my blog
Isn't it funny - that future politicians like to talk about is not bricks and mortar or some arsenal of weapons or the stock market, it's our children. Yet the people who do the most important work of all, teaching our children and looking after our old and disabled are not valued at all. Yes, my children are not at school today but you know what? Their teachers are so brilliant that it won't do them any "harm" and they themselves fully support the strike because they treasure their teachers!
That article sums it up niceley. 'Nuff said! [not sure if the "n" should have been capitalized, please advise]
Well said and great article! I'm enjoying being at home with petit garcon and reading to him, helping him write and doing his spelling homework. Good luck to the public sector workers esp teachers I say! Believe me you deserve it all xx
I was walking through our local primary school after school a few months ago. A very typical scene - hundreds of tired, hungry and very excited kids where bouncing around getting ready to go home.
There were balls whizzing past my head, kids bumping into others, somebody shouting to a friend across the oval, kids snapping & sniping at each other and the odd school bag getting thrown around....
And I thought to myself that I couldn't think of anything worse than being surrounded by other peoples sweaty, snotty nosed kids, who don't respect you, don't listen to you, don't want to learn (our have trouble doing learning)... and then having to answer to their aggro parents when their child's school report isn't worthy of being framed & mounted.
Dear Teachers & School Staff,
Respect. You've got mine.
From a mother of three
You have full and unconditional support from me.
I live in NJ (US) and our lovely governor wanted to "balance the budget" so he started with the schools (of course). Alot of teachers have lost their jobs this year and others are now working part time. This does nothing to help our students and it seems like every time the budget has to be balanced, it's the teachers who suffer. It's like the state and who governs it have no respect for the teaching profession. Teachers and the school budget are the first to get axed. I saw an ad on tv recently stating that we have the best student test scores and some of the best schools in the country so why are our teachers not getting praise for this? I don't get it.
I have two sisters who were teachers (now retired). They worked so hard! If you were paid for the time you spent making lesson plans, dealing with the personal problems of your students, and correcting papers, etc., you could maybe come close to what you are worth. Until about 100 years ago teaching was a very respected profession. It should be that way again.
Well sadly the situation is the same here in France (teacher-bashing has become a national sport, and our holidays are constantly thrown at our faces - not to mention the "job security").
I am wholeheartedly thinking of you and all your colleagues.
Well said! I am also on strike today and completely understand your sentiments. I think this government is very good at bashing the public sector and trying to drive a wedge between the public and private sectors, it is about time they sat up and listened x
I am on strike today as well, my son is at home as his school is closed as well.
The working poor, low-paid and public sector always foot the bill. Austerity measures put the brunt on the folks already carrying a very heavy load. Most of the teachers here (Vermont, U.S.A) work second jobs. Which include, but not limited to: housekeeping, waitressing, landscaping and snow shoveling.
I'm not a teacher but give a lot of credit to the teachers I've had in my life, as well as my childrens. I was told my youngest child would be developmentally challenged through-out his school life. The dedicated hard work of his teachers made the difference. He is now fifteen years old and in honors classes. Thank you and all the other awesome teachers in this world!
I used to be a teaching assistant & my teacher & I worked out that if she counted all the hours she actually worked her rate of pay was lower than mine! Mine being a total pittance, of course! If teachers worked their contracted hours schools would grind to a halt, and not just for 1 day.
I'm a part time FE tutor these days & I wasn't on strike. No pension, no permanent contract, but a better hourly rate (just so long as I never work out how long I really spend on all those portfolios!). I'd be right behind you if I was still in school though. Take care Froogs, and fight the good fight.
I have three children in school at the moment (well not today :o) Two in secondary, and one in middle.
I whole heartedly back you teachers! I think you do an amazing job, are totally underpaid and undervalued, and quite frankly are treated abysmally.
I'm in school a lot as my eldest daughter has epilepsy, and as her parent, I have a lot to do with teachers.
I do think it's awful what some of them have to put up with from the children, even other staff members, and now the government!
You GO GiRL! (and boys!). And get what you quite rightly deserve!
Hope you didn't have too much marking and work to do today FQ!
Take care my dear, and good luck to you all . xx
Sorry Eileen, I didn't publish your comment. You and I are among the 99% who get fucked over by the greedy bastards. If you choose to believe the lies the Daily Mail calls news, you go ahead, but do it in your own blog
We, the masses can only vote with our feet and our wallets! Good Luck!
I hear you FQ, I work in our village school - school secretary- and I honestly had no idea how hard the staff worked until I joined them. Our school was closed today and I support all public sector workers, the bull that I've read about huge salaries and massive pension pots does not reflect me or my hubby. People need to remember the bin men, dinner ladies, lollipop ladies, nurses etc etc etc....
Twiggy x
You have my full support too. I also work in the public sector, although I am not a teacher. What the Government is doing is further eroding the already falling standards in our society. If they wish to have a first class education system and recruit and retain the best teachers they need to be provided with the appropriate pay and conditions. I have 3 primary age children and I have the utmost resepct for their teachers. You work in a very challenging environment and deserve to be treated better.
pay peanuts you get monkeys.
People train hard for these jobs. Most of them are vocation. A calling, if you will.
If people worked out how much you really got paid an hour, after all the extra work people do for their classes etc. EVEN BUYING STATIONERY FROM THEIR OWN POCKET! They would all be on our side.
I am a civil servant, I am the lowest of the low. I am an administrator. I dont not earn much more than min' wage. I dont get paid for over time. I often stay late to make sure everything is done.
The only reason I stayed where I am was because I thought the pension was good. Now I will have to pay nearly £1k more a year to get even less, a lot less. how is that fair?
And all those poor people I help everyday, if we all left or were made redundant, who would help them? Who would have my knowledge that I have gained over all the years?
I pay tax like anyone else. I pay into a pension scheme that I signed up for. If all the people who pay into a different pension, were suddenly being faced with what we are they would be angry. Really angry
Pay more get less? Maybe the politicians need to go back to school and learn economics and stop geting their floating bird houses paid for with our taxes
Hands off my pension! Else I will be another one that needs the state to look after me! then I really will be a burden to all the other tax payers.
(steps down from the soap box).
Sorry Froogs I am really getting mad about people having a go at us. if the shoe was on the other foot...
I am always amazed at how little teachers make in other countries. Teachers here in Canada make a very good salary. It is hard to feel bad for them. They retire with good pensions and just need to threaten to strike and get their demands met.
I do respect good teachers. I do not respect someone just because they are a teacher. Respect has to be earned, it is not a given. I have known many who should have taken a different path in life.
Actually, the shoe IS on the other foot quite often! It is not just civil servants etc who are bearing the brunt of the cutbacks, every day you hear of people being made redundant and taking pay cuts. I am NOT unsympathetic, but I wish those of us in the private sector had the opportunity to group together and do something.
Hi Froogs
Ditto for us other public sector workers.
I have 21 years experience, a professional qualification, a BSc Hons degree, teaching qualification etc but still earn a meagre hourly rate. I have paid into my pension Mr Cameron(despite earning peanuts, no bonuses and certainly no perks of the job) and carry on doing my bit for society AND bringing my family up. Penalising the public sector - easy targets as usual.
I applaud teachers. A job I couldn't do. Good luck to you all - from one in another blighted profession (we are all being bashed lately - do you notice a trend?)- a nurse
Been thinking about this topic.
I suppose, like a lot of other people, my first reaction is
"OK, you really need another day off"
"yeah you've got your guaranteed salary every month"
"nice pension to look forward to"
etc.....etc.....etc.....
Difficult for somebody who's never been employed in the teaching profession to comprehend the practicalities I suppose. Especially when I don't know what a teacher earns or what pesion is (or was) provided.
Having read the comments, and tried to analyse the rights and wrongs of the situation, I've come to the conclusion it's morally wrong to promise somebody a pension of £xyz, then, after having paid the contributions, to be told that you'll only receive £abc.
My own (private) pension pot is devaluing, probably by the hour, and what was supposed to provide a nice little extra at 60 cannot be paid because it's failed to make minimum gauranteed figures, and won't until I'm 65, then they must pay it.
But I can't do anything about it.
I wish I could take part in some demonstration of solidarity against these unfair promises like you can.
Well done Gordon fucking Brown.
And the best of luck to your cause.
Hi Cumbrain - It cost me thousands to train, to pay for uni, in student loans, I have a 40 week contract paid over 12 payements, so, in fact, I don't get paid for holidays and my pension will go up from 250 a month to 375 a month, i will pay more, for longer and get less. what galls me most is the lack of respect for teacher, nurses, firemen and every other public sector worker - we get so much abuse, it drives people out of the profession
Yes Froogs, lack of respect.
That's another sad reflection of the "politically correct" brigade in action.
I agree entirely, the people on the front line seem to have their hands tied, but the arseholes are allowed to say / do anything they wish without fear of reprisals.
I don't think I could do your job, and anybody who puts up with the abuse I've been led to beleive you (or some of your profession) have to suffer without retaliation deserves the greatest deal of respect.
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