to ask WHY in the name of Gove are teachers striking again?

[loftyclopflop]

DD's school is closing on 1st October because they have chosen to strike. Is it over pay, pensions and conditions? Did they achieve anything by striking a couple of years ago other than massively inconveniencing a lot of parents?

I know Gove is a twat but do they really expect to change anything by taking the day off?

Ha ha ha ha, at desk and cup of tea. I don't even get time to make a cup of tea. We never drink one, as no one actually has the spare 5 minutes to wash the sodding cups out.

Well I also know plenty who couldn't cope. They could cope with a desk job, but not in the firing line of kids all day

Retropear
"Your pension is pathetic- seriously! "

Please tell me exactly what my pension is.

EsTutMirLeid, as my father died at 58 and my mother at 64, forgive me if I don't relish having to work until 68 to get my pension. A second point is that I don't feel I will be as dexterous with quick reflexes and the energy to keep children safe at that age.

Is desk work not work, then? Are you implying that the only work I do is when I have actual face-to-face teaching time? If you really believe this you really haven't a clue about it.

My mum is 67 - she was a wonderful teacher, motivated, enthusiastic, really cared about her kids (she always taught the difficult classes and was regularly verbally and physically abused) - she retired 10 years ago

she walks and cycles everywhere, she is very fit, healthy and active - she would tell you herself she would NEVER be able to teach at this age - teaching requires a hell of a lot of emotional, physical and mental energy - all day every day - she would be exhausted

Those who think teaching at 67+ would be easy have very little understanding of the job or what a classroom is actually like

most 67 year olds aren't frail

67 year olds will still have to build houses, stand behind till counters in shops for longer than 6 hours a day, nurse, operate heavy machinery etc etc

But, whilst they may not be frail, I think they will struggle to cope. An office job, yes, but not jobs that use a lot of physical energy.

Teachers think they are a special case. Why?

I'm not disputing that it is a hard profession and that you may wish to retire earlier than say... A nurse, a doctor, a fireman, a soldier, a policeman, a prison officer, a pilot, a deep sea diver etc... What I am saying is don't be absurd in suggesting that the 'average life expectancy of a teacher is 37'.

mirry Where has any teacher on here said they think they're a special case? The OP asked why we're striking. Numerous teachers have explained.

I can completely understand the viewpoint that some people are not sympathetic due to inconvenienced child care and the fact that there are plenty of other jobs that are just as tiring, poorly paid and hard. But this particular job affects children and I will repeat now that these new strike reasons cover most of noblegiraffes listed a few pages ago.

It isn't really about pay and pensions. We effectively lost that one as our pension contributions did go up and we are still on a pay freeze. However, things are going from bad to worse for pupils and someone needs to do something. Gove is artificially 'increasing standards' by forcing current pupils to do badly, just so in a few years, can say he has made it better. Children should not be used as Guinea Pigs, just to further one man's political career. Remember this is for our kids, us teachers are trying to do something. I am sorry in advance for any issues with child care.

My point about desk work with a cup of tea is that it is highly variable.It's pointless having posters quoting their excessive days when clearly there is a large element of choice involved.

People may well start work at 7am or 7.15am or run in 8am. It;s their workload to manage. It's also much easier to find a jobshare and part time hours then other jobs.

I used to work with a lovely lady that came in at 6am work till 3pm and left for France every other weekend. Work life balance looked fine to me.

Ah, EsTutMirLied, I too agree life expectancy is not 37 for a teacher.

Perhaps teachers can refuse to teach but take it in turns to supervise while-school film screenings and playtimes to cover childcare!?

Hah! Typo okay! 67.

I have not come across a single teacher that Zi believe woukd strike over standards for SEN children. Strike to avoid having them in their class yes, but not to have them well taught.

There isn't much choice about doing the work. Yes I could choose to work from home, say from 4pm onwards instead of 6, but the work will still be there.

Clam teachers are always going on about how many hours they work, how difficult their job is, how stressed out they are, how poor their pension will be, how they won't be able to do their job at 67 and even upthread one poster said that the rest of us are fools to put up with any supposed exploitation and another said that one headteacher contributes £500 per month to his pension fund. Not to mention how frail they'll be at 67.
imo they are making themselves out to be a special case, because none of them appear to acknowledge that other people do as much or more.

Read 7 posts up, mirry2

Teachers talking about how many hours they work is usually in response to people alleging they all go home at 3.30 and loll around on 13 weeks holiday each year. Just setting the record straight, usually.

Teachers are not striking. Teachers who are union members are. They've chosen to be a member of an organisation that exists fundamentally to protect their terms and conditions of service, including contractual elements such as occupational pensions. From time to time unions will take strike action. It may be unpalatable for some, but it's legal in most sensible societies. The individual members aren't having a day off, they are choosing to lose a day's pay. Most strikes are fatuous, they don't achieve their stated aims, but they make a statement. They can be inconvenient for others, that's part of the point. For all the posters who point out that they've had pay cuts etc., I know that's true but you apparently have chosen not to seek collective representation, you apparently have chosen not to express your opposition to this, you apparently consider yourself powerless to effect the decisions taken that impact upon you in this way. Your choice, but don't deny others the opportunity to take advantage of the rights they have.

Hear, hear icetip!

We only point out our hours, stresses of the job when we get sick to the back teeth of people going on about what slackers we are; how easy we have it compared to other jobs, that we only work part-time (9 - 3), have weeks of paid holiday and treat us as little more than free childcare. We don't think of ourselves as a special case compared to other professions, but we do get annoyed when people think of us as inferior just because of our job.