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Original poster

Why do headteachers think its a good idea to march on a school day?

24 replies

Bestseller · 28/09/2018 08:40

It is true there is a real crisis in school funding and teacher workloads and I fully support their desire to take "action"

However, it seems misguided to then take a (presumably paid?) day out of school. I'm not sure how that's going to garner public support? Current headlines are a 3.5% payrise for teachers (not all will get it) fully funded by government (it's not) and these are issues that should be brought to the publics attention but the gut reaction for most will be how can they spare the day from school then?

I know most headteachers work longer hours than anyone knows but that's not the public perception and this won't help.

OP posts:

NoSquirrels · 28/09/2018 08:42

Strike action is intended to be disruptive. Nobody strikes on their “day off”.

TheFifthKey · 28/09/2018 08:42

You don’t get paid on strike days either.

MrsHerculePoirot · 28/09/2018 08:46

This is such a ridiculous post I don’t even know here to begin. They aren't 'sparing' a day from school, they are fighting, by what is becoming a last resort to try and bring attention to the absolute crisis that is hitting education to try and improve things for the children in schools. This is about funding which affects class sizes, staffing, resources, lack of pastoral and SEN support. They are marching to register their concerns because telling people politely isn’t doing anything. If I was a headteacher I would be there in a flash. As a parent I fully support them. As a teacher I fully support them.

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123rd · 28/09/2018 08:47

That is the whole point tho isn't it.
The cause means so much to them that they are willing to have pay docked and they want to show the people how important it is by causing disruption.

I support them. It's a crying shame it has come to this

noblegiraffe · 28/09/2018 08:49

And this week schools have been told that there will be a 43% increase in pension contributions that they need to make. Funded this year, but who knows for the future.

www.tes.com/news/exclusive-schools-hit-devastating-rise-pension-costs

Heads are desperate. Good on them for marching and bringing publicity to this issue. School budget cuts were seen to be a key voting factor in the Tory election disaster but since then people seem to have stopped caring, even though the situation is still dire.

AChickenCalledKorma · 28/09/2018 08:54

But it is helping. Because it's got you to pay attention. If my children's Head is at the march today I am 100% behind him. He's doing an amazing job in very difficult circumstances and I'm heartily sick of the public sector being bled to the bone.

NoPeni · 28/09/2018 08:55

Could you strike in a less disruptive way please? We are British after all.

anotherangel2 · 28/09/2018 08:56

Schools are organised in a way so they can be open even if any member of staff is off - to do otherwise would be ridiculous. Schools will not be closed but the headteacher will lose pay showing how strongly they feel over the issue.

NonaGrey · 28/09/2018 08:57

I think you may have missed the point of a protest. They arent designed to make people like you more.

They are designed to be disruptive, raise awareness and effect change.

MrsG010814 · 28/09/2018 09:03

That's the point though, strikes are meant to be disruptive so that it gets the attention needed. Most won't get paid for striking and a lot of the time it is a last resort when every other avenue has been exhausted.

Original poster

Bestseller · 28/09/2018 09:04

I haven't seen this described as a strike anywhere. My head is certain ly not expecting to lose a day's pay and we have received no instruction s from payroll about handling the deductions (we do for teacher strikes). I can't speak for all h e ads bur mine considers it a working day for the good of education, in the same way she would if she was speaking at a conference

OP posts:

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 28/09/2018 09:04

So, rail workers should strike on days off and not inconvenience the public, airline pilots should not inconvenience their passengers and so on.

In schools, it’s unlikely that anything will be disrupted, because the teachers will be there, teaching as they always do. I’d be surprised if teaching heads took part in the protest.

What else are heads to do? Simply accept doing more with less for ever?

ArtemisWeatherwax · 28/09/2018 09:06

We've got an inset day

GuntyMcGee · 28/09/2018 09:09

Because despite public sector workers giving the same message to the same people for decade: about the fact that you absolutely cannot fund any public service with decreasing staff and decreasing funds but expect better performance and yet NO ONE is listening.

Your OP really shows that people just don't give a shiny shit until it directly and adversely affects them.

That is why they're striking today. To try to make people understand. But then I'm sure most parents are more concerned with having to find childcare than their own child's actual education- the whole point of them being at school in the first place. And these parents would be the first to complain if their child weren't doing well and weren't supported properly and would especially complain should that school slide into special measures...

Believe me, this kind of action is not an easy choice to make but it is needed for people to take notice of the fact that the human beings doing these jobs are at breaking point and burning out. It's not about pay. It never is. It's about being able to do your work to a good standard and being able to access resources needed to do that. That should be standard across the board. It's not. That's why they're taking action and I fully support them.

Original poster

Bestseller · 28/09/2018 15:54

Is it a strike? I haven't seen it called that and no one seems to be expecting to lose pay. Payroll aren't making any deductions and I'd know because I'd have to send the details!

I know how tough it is, I'm one of the public sector workers who's been try g to balance school budgets. I support the action I just don't see how/why they expect it can be effective in this form.

As for inconvenience, in a well run school, no one would even notice a one day absence by HT

OP posts:

Nacknick · 28/09/2018 17:08

As for inconvenience, in a well run school, no one would even notice a one day absence by HT

So why are you complaining about them marching on a school day??

glintandglide · 28/09/2018 17:10

This attitude really makes me laugh. What’s the point in industrial action if it doesn’t cause as much disruption as possible? What’s the point marching on Sunday when no one cares?

Original poster

Bestseller · 28/09/2018 17:10

I'm not complaining, not at all, I'm saying I don't see what the point is. I don't understand what effect it could possibly have or why they think it would.

OP posts:

Roomba · 28/09/2018 17:12

Why do you think? It would be a pretty bloody pointless strike if it was on a Sunday

I fully support any striking no matter what the disruption to me frankly, given the state of school funding right now.

glintandglide · 28/09/2018 17:15

“I know how tough it is, I'm one of the public sector workers who's been try g to balance school budgets. I support the action I just don't see how/why they expect it can be effective in this form.”

Oh god OP as a school governor and chair of finance committee please can I beg you and your colleagues to do a better job at this? I can’t believe some of the crap i get given

Original poster

Bestseller · 28/09/2018 17:16

They're not striking, they're protesting and still getting paid!

In order for a protest (or strike) to be effective it either needs to win public support or cause such inconvenience that the government has not choice but to act. Its unlikely that this protest will increase public support (although there is already some support) and it won't be dispruptive enough to make a difference that way

OP posts:

glintandglide · 28/09/2018 17:25

I don’t know about that. Many (most?) strikes don’t have public support. The public are just so inconvenienced that they join in pressurising the government to bring it to an end so they can get on with their lives

youarenotkiddingme · 28/09/2018 17:38

Trust me. The 1 day the HT are marching will have less affect on any child's education than the current funding cuts.

HT don't teach in class anyway - so they aren't even leaving the children uneducated

uglyflowers · 28/09/2018 18:16

Education is being destroyed by government cuts and all the money sucked off by academies. I totally support the headteachers. It's about time. Teachers and TAs need to follow suit and become so disruptive that the general public finally understand the utter havoc that has been wrought on our children's education - all in the name of 'austerity '.

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