To think teachers are taking the piss by striking?

[mdowdall]

They get decent pay.
Even after pension reforms, their pensions will still be way better than the private sector.
They get great holidays.
They have reasonably good job security (again, compared with private sector)
Let?s face it, you could teach a monkey to teach. And yet these lazy bleeders have the audacity to go on strike? Meanwhile, in the real world, people continue to lose their jobs...

Gosh, I wasn't suggesting everyone on MN in the afternoon is a slacker! My post was directed at the op- its often the case that people who stir by posting rubbish like this are disgruntled in some way- either secretly envious of people doing the job, or have some reason to be spiteful and vindictive- which is why 'failed the teaching course' popped into my mind.

Wasn't directing it at anybody else. I sometimes post in the afternoon my self on my days off

What people failt to realise is that during the boom years it wasn't public sector workers like teachers and nurses who were getting massive pay rises, company cars and gym memberships. However the one thing that was attractive was the pension, and to be told now that you'll pay more into the pot but get less (mainly 'cos private sector workers in the finance sector fecked the economy) it's a slap in the face.

And as for job security, don't worry - with the introduction of academy schools that's pretty much gone. And let's not forget Mr Gove is going to make it easier for schools to sack teachers.

ah ok, sorry lynehamrose

It's the lazy bleeders comment that's really getting on my goat!

Clearly the OP has never stood in front of a class of very challenging and disruptive teenagers - and its creeping into primary now too I understand - who don't even have basic manners or social skills. Perhaps the OP should try spending just one hour with a class like that breaking up fights, confiscating phones/iPods, removing disruptive pupils, demonstrating tasks to pupils who fail to listen then have to have it all repeated, insisting they pick up their own litter and rubbish, insisting they desist from shouting across the room to each other. And all of that before you can even begin the lesson.

I guarantee the OP wouldn't be so keen to refer to "lazy bleeders"

Fortunately not all of my classes are like this but the level of energy expended in dealing with a class like that for one hour is large.

That said I love my job and don't want to do anything else.

my goat is fucking pissed off too, salmo

'Staffroom talk at my school was that us teachers don't want to strike BECAUSE IT'S UNFAIR ON THE KIDS. Hence the low turnout.'

You could have voted 'no'. A 30% turnout is just setting teachers up to be slated.
Everyone should have voted. You all had ballot papers.

"Them that can, do, and them that can't, teach"

Nuf said!

Certainly by you, Bradford, yes.

oh dear, failed by education, were we Bradford?

I've never quite understood that saying. What are all these people who 'can do' doing, exactly?

BradfordMum - hmmm. Utter tosh I'm afraid.

oh my goat is ready to climb through the computer and edumacate some monkeys with a pointy stick really

Yes gordon - I've often wondered the same! And I had a different career before teaching so I should know the answer presumably!

Bradfordmum - you may find that your quote is actually only part of a quote and taken entirely out of context. The full and accurate quote does not relate in this way at all. Maybe better research of your quotes next time may be better.

Well paid teachers?I think not. My son is a few years out of University and is earning as much as I am, after 30 years teaching (no additional responsibilities at present). We both have degrees from top Universities and I also have postgraduate qualifications.

it's a lazy argument inho the whole 'ohhhh you get loads of holidays and finish at 3 every day and get £65655858585 a day pensions and millions in pay...'

I am the grandaughter of a teacher and the daughter of 2 teachers - which is why I don;t teach - the hours are awful (and unpaid) and most of the holidays taken up with planning etc - teaching is HARD and the pay is relatively rubbish :)

tsk gordy - its squillions we get in pay! You should know that......

Views on striking aside, how lovely to see so many people sticking up for teachers. Thank you (except for the OP who is possibly an ignorant knobber).

Apart from during the summer holiday, (which is very long, so I guess is the one people are thinking of when they assume teaching is a cushy job) the teachers I know don't have time to go away anywhere during school holidays because they do loads of extra work in and out of school before the children return. They generally get to school at 7 am, and don't get home til at least 7 pm due to meetings, after school clubs etc, and when you work out their pay per hour it's below minimum wage. Granted, these are very good and dedicated teachers. Maybe the ones the OP has encountered have been ones who give less of a shit.
If they feel they need to strike in order to be treated fairly then why shouldn't they be able to, just like any other profession?

Hate that phrase Bradford. You do realise that if parents had to take sole responsibility for their children's education, they wouldn't actually have time to 'do' anything else.

There would also be a lot of children growing up into ignorant adults, if some of the comments on this thread are anything to go by.