Term time holidays/Striking teachers.

[vexedfoxy]

Am I being unreasonable when I become exercised when I hear parents are fined for taking their children out of school in term time for holidays (when perchance they cannot take time off work in school holidays) and then I hear teachers planning to go on strike...how does one beat the square of 'every day at school is vital no matter how young the child is' in to a circle when suddenly a teachers salary and conditions over ride this and parents have to take time off work to arrange child care cover. Discuss.

Oooh not to mention the performance related pay objective too chica.

oh very dear OP you really don't get an awful lot that you are wishing to 'discuss'

I am 100% behind the strikes - I am fed up with teaching being bullied, working 60 hour weeks for what equates to less than MW, Heads being put under pressure to privatise - sorry 'become academies', increased use of unqualified staff, loss of SEN and pastoral support, loss of decent careers advice and guidance and the loss of decent teachers who have burnt out - those that leave and increasingly those who commit suicide

wake up - value your childs education and vule your child educators - before it's too late

pixie yes, It is good that school is free. And part of what school does IS free childcare for parents. My point exactly.
Sometimes teachers (ones I know as well) can be very snidy about parents needing this particular element of what school is, and say they are not providing childcare, but, in part, they are.
I just don't like the Us and Them attitude from teachers sometimes. A good friend of mine was very like this, until her dc became old enough to go to school, and then she was at being on the other side.

If teachers strike it is for the benefit of children, and by extension parents, so I am in favour, and I am sure ds's teacher would value my, and other parents, support and recognize that we sometimes have to make sacrifices because of the strike.

Also, I don't know how people can take their kids out of school in term time, as I have to use all my leave in the school holidays, and it nowhere near covers them!

I believe everyone should have the right to strike if they believe it is the right thing to do . I know this is naive and sadly out of the question for most of the UK's workforce . I am not a teacher btw and work in a profession where i am unable to strike .

Can I correct the impressions of much of the provision in Asia?

Over there, school is seen in some countries (e.g. Korea) as primarily a social exercise where kids go to be with other young people. The real education happens in additional paid-for after school tutoring that can go on from 3pm to 10pm every single day, where children actually receive the technical subject knowledge that allows them to perform well on PISA tests and the like. Some families find it really difficult to fund that level of supplementary education, which means your progress comes down to the extra education your parents can pay for. Many children are extremely tired and survive on 5 hours sleep a night, also falling asleep in (day) school.

Do we want that here? I think not.

It's odd that the people who are complaining about not being able to take time off during school terms also support Gove and his desire to return to a dictatorial approach to education.

It's absolutely bonkers and proves that these people really haven't thought this through!

I don't have a union and would not join if I had

Anyone can join a union, even if their workplace is not unionised officially.

So I presume that you do not take:
sick leave
holiday leave
maternity leave

I assume that you do not accept any protection of your working conditions, your pay, or your rights not to be discriminated against?

Because all of those things were fought for by unions.

I really despise this selfish ignorance.

I'd like to ask a question of those people who think that teachers need to be available to provide education and care unconditionally, regardless of their professional terms, conditions and circumstances.

If you think teachers need to provide unconditionally for your children, is that something you are prepared to reciprocate for your children's teachers? How far will your support go? Do you campaign for affordable housing for teachers in expensive areas? Do you campaign for high levels of occupational health support for the profession? Do you contribute to teacher support charities, such as the Teacher Support Network, which offers counselling and support to teachers, reducing rates of suicides and breakdowns (which are currently rising)? Or do you leave that to other people?

Because if you do feel that supporting your children's teachers is not your job, not your responsibility, as 'someone else' will do it, as they are paid for their work and the exchange should just end there, don't be at all surprised when teachers turn around and expect you to look after your own children, while they seek a remedy to the privatisation of the sector.

To lighten the mood, here's a lovely Fascinating Aida song explaining the teacher mindset.

I support worker right to take industrial action,I support the teachers
Point of a strike is to create inconvenience and demonstrate worth of worker labour
I'd encourage people to look beyond the inconvenience and see why the teachers are aggrieved

Well said UptheChimney

Upthechimney - Couldn't agree more.

Teaching unions aren't just about pay and conditions, but legal representation too. In the cases of unreasonable litiginous parents - not forgetting that some claims are entirely fair - how the heck are staff expected to pay the legal bills which can easily result??

Frankly, given today's "someone else is to blame" culture, school staff might be considered mad not to be in a union

Upthechimmney that link was fanfuckingtastic

I think BoffinMum offered the link. I can't take the praise for that!

The link was a hoot.

From down under may I offer a big thumbs up and good on yer to the striking teachers.

I've paid my fine - Iost a day's pay yesterday when I was striking for the future of education in this country.