to think we should demand change in our education system?

[cailindana]

If you think teachers are lazy underworked whingers, this thread isn't for you.

If you believe things need to change for the workforce that nurtures our children every day then how about we all keep our children out of school one day next year as a sign we've had enough.
A children's strike. It's their future at stake.

But reading the responses I suppose, for now, there isn't enough understanding about the problems that exist.

A disagreement with what you're proposing, doesn't signal a lack of understanding. It signals a difference of opinion.

the only time I'm under 'pressure' is when something threatens to cause a problem! manage just fine thanks

everything here in the UK is under threat. cant all walk out hoping to generate change can we!!?

So none of you think that a whole profession asking for help is worthy of a little bit more than 'and so are many others' 'everything in the UK is under threat' as a passing comment?

A whole profession that again and again go on strike ostensibly for pay but actually for better conditions to teach YOUR kids in - we are not legally allowed to strike of that, so we do what we can within the law! Not that anyone thanks us or even believes us!

A whole profession that takes 3 - 5 years to train into and 3 - 5 years to be stressed out of! That's OK is it?

Well, as 1 of the many thousands leaving the profession this year because the expectations of the job are plain ridiculous, I would like to thank you for your support.

I'd like to, but sadly it is becoming apparent that I can't!

Call me a modern revolutionary rather than stuck in the 1970's but how about organising an influential lobbying group that talks to appropriate areas to orchestrate real change?

No? Hard work? Ah better just take a day off to wave a placard card in the rain then.

No thanks.

using children as a political tool is all kinds of wrong!!

who would cover the childcare whilst these kids were striking parents would have to find another form of childcare for the day.

I don't recall the teaching union leaders calling on children to strike, Nomama. When was the ballot held?

Where did I say they did?

I was passing comment on the comments I considered unhelpful. I mentioned nothing about calling on children to strike? Though I did say why I have been on strike...

Then can you elaborate on what help "the whole profession" is asking for and why you think none of us support it?

We disagree with the idea of a children's strike, that's all

Things do need to change.

Of course there are excellent schools and excellent teachers but there are also far too many bad ones. If the schools and teachers were more prepared to do something about it themselves, rather than teaching unions having protected the bad teachers for years, the OFSTED reviews and performance related pay wouldn't be necessary.

If teachers can tell us a better way to make sure poor teachers aren't allowed to continue teaching, or keep getting pay rises and promotions, I'd love to hear it.

It wouldn't be a clear message to children for the point of a strike. Children protesting about the unfair working conditions of teachers just sounds like someone (because this is not coming from a child) making a point and using children to do that.
A strike is about action by a sector to work towards improving working conditions.
Yes, teachers are under significant pressure because education is completely mismanaged from the government in many ways.
But, from a learning to be adult pov manipulating children to make a point is not how to inspire change.
Teachers are adults and are perfectly aware of the 'process' for raising issues with workload and the frustrations of effecting social change.

Have you read some of the other comments here? And on very many other threads?

The ones that rant about having to find childcare... teachers who earn too much, have easy days, too many holidays and should just fuck off and find another job? Or happily crow that other professions have a difficult time of it too - like I am so thick I don't know that or that I should just get on with it anyway.

The lack of understanding, the repetition of DailFail logic and sheer lunacy of the expectations some people/parents have and feel free to spout is usually the last straw for an overstretched, dispirited teacher.

What do I want from you? I want you to contact your local MP, regularly, to ask them what they are doing to make education work better for kids and teachers alike? What do they understand about education, the measures, the goalposts, the remit etc etc.

I want you to get them to continually question the logic that insist that the more we measure a thing the better thing will get - whatever that day's measure of better may be.

Then, when they give you an answer ask them how weighing a pig makes it heavier - and send them back to think it all through again.

Repeat until someone somewhere decides to make changes for the good rather than changes that make it possible to identify precisely where to lay the blame - a specific teacher/a school - for a student not being able to meet the unfounded targets set by a faceless entity with no idea of who that kid is, what their talents are.

I could go on...

Apologies, mostly for the errant apostrophe!

Nomama, yes I have read the other comments. That's not what the OP was about, though.

And, yes, I've done the suggestion you make: I believe I suggested contacting your MP myself earlier in the thread (did you see my post?). You see, I childmind teachers' children and I see and hear what's going on.
I know how little the average policymaker knows about education - and childcare - and how they are ignoring the experts.

By the way, are you prepared to do the same for Early Years? Will you stand up for us, too?

I know that's not the OPs thrust.

Apologies for accidentally widening the topic of the thread.