to be unimpressed by dd's teacher's explanation to her reception class about the strike tomorrow?

[littleducks]

DD is very good at quoting exactly, usually employed to embarass me! Although I admit the context is often lost.

Apparently dd's teacher told her that her class won't be coming in tomorrow as 'the government is taking away their (teacher's) money and making the work on and on and on'

DD wanted to know what the goverment is and why they were stealing the teachers money at bedtime.

I had told her she had tomorrow off previously, but hadnt gioven any explanantion really just said it was a 'holiday' like I had for the inset day next Mon.

Perhaps more people will vote in the future then itsnearlysummer!

ha ha at Prim Minister!

Teachers have to put 'slants' on things every day.

It wouldn't really work if they all went round giving their honest views about the NC, SATS etc.

Rosebud, I think this OP's teacher's views on striking are in the same category as views about the NC, SATs etc. Best consigned to the staffie.

(Staffroom)

Frankly I'd be surprised if the Reception teacher presented it to the children exactly as it has been reported to us.

There may well be some paraphrasing on the part of the OP if she feels very strongly about it. It's hard to remain impartial when you feel strongly. Although, the same shouldn't be able to be said for the teacher.

CamperFan - let's hope so eh?! The we won't end up with governments being elected on the basis of 40% majorities!

I think the explanation was acceptable.

However if my DD had come and asked me I would have also explained that since Mummy and Daddy both work in the private sector, we would have to put half our monthly pennies into pensions to get anywhere near what the teachers would be getting and are continually being told that we'll get naff all until we do!

And as much as DD's teachers do a sterling job, so do we and they do a lot better out of it.

The majority of the Country is suffering financially but we all have to just suck-it-up. It's been 6 years since I had a payrise and I get the minimum holiday allowance.

Get over it.

Actually, I wouldn't say all that in fairness, I would just smile sweetly and think it.

Did the teacher also mention the teachers pension pots of £500 000 which

?In order to save £500,000 over that length of time[37 years], assuming investment returns of 6pc per annum net of charges[current BoE base rate 0.5%], you would need to start by setting aside £600 per month from outset, even if ? to be realistic ? you assume contributions rise with earnings during their career.

?If the person begins their career being paid £25,000 per annum, that level of saving would be equivalent to 29pc of earnings. By contrast, the current teachers? pension scheme requires members to contribute just 6.4pc of earnings while the Government contributes 14.1pc.?

And by government that means, taxpayers, like the 15 000 lloyds staff just laid off, and all those who had their pensions taxed by Labour

As long as she balance her explanation with how much she is subsidized by the taxpayer then sounds like a good explanation.

whoops: source

I actually work in the public sector but thanks for the suggestion.

InTheNightGarden - you are assuming all private sector employees have access to a union with strong support within their company. If you are the only employee in a small company that belongs to a union, your bargaining power is likely to be pretty weak, so I think labelling the private sector as lazy/cowardly is a tad unfair.

Lucky old teachers then. It's a pity more of them didn't vote, then we'd know what the majority of them actually thought. As our union rep. commented the other day (yup, lucky me too in current job - although not so you'd notice over the last few years) if you don't vote then you are effectively voting with management/government. A strong turnout with a strong majority is the only way to gauge feeling.