I’m a teacher - I’m sorry, what 9% pay rise?!
I’ve got many state school teacher friends.
One school my friends works in is having such a budget crisis that they have scrapped the cleaners. Teachers now have to clean their own classroom each day fully and have an assigned communal area. So instead of answering your emails, they’re cleaning the bloody toilets. Instead of carefully planning your child’s next steps, they’re hoovering corridors. Whilst you’re sitting there saying “teachers only work 9-3 what are they moaning about”, they’re waiting for the only mop and bucket to finally be free to clean the floor. And TAs are now mornings only, so no one else on hand. My friend and all her colleagues are striking, so if that’s your child’s school that no longer employs actual cleaners, well make your plans now…..
Another friends school is now closing on a Friday at lunch. All staff have PPA now on a Friday afternoon and parents now have to pay for child care on a Friday afternoon. There will be more like this if things continue.
Many schools are now freezing because the budget simply can’t afford the heating.
Independent sector isn’t so bad. Their budget will always be higher. That’s where I am and I will never likely return to state. A whole different set of problems though and the demands match. Similar to consultants leaving the NHS. The rich privileged children will have their pick of teachers while the state sector goes further down.
Anyone honestly saying “think of the children who have lost so much education and their mental suffering” - just going to say:
- most state sector schools can hardly afford to provide a glue stick for you child. Your teachers are purchasing stationary items, printing things for your child with their own paper and ink because the schools can’t afford them, and buying resources. Many are now refusing to do so and they should because why should half their wages go to providing what should be bloody provided for them???
- TAs are in massive shortage, no one can live off such a shit salary. If you want your child to stand a chance and actually have additional support in the classroom, support the strike!
- Schools are cutting everywhere right now. Wave goodbye to any curriculum programs on subscription, wave goodbye to 5 day weeks, wave goodbye to quality staff, wave goodbye to adequate supervision, extra training, First Aid qualified staff, school trips, extra curricular clubs……this is what will disappear if teachers are not listened to and the government doesn’t start funding schools properly.
- Support the strike if your child needs a 1:1. These are in short supply, no funding.
- Like any profession, teachers need to be looked after. They don’t stop. There will be plenty of people on here reading this now who email the teacher at 10pm and expect a reply by breakfast, despite never looking at work emails themselves at home or doing anything for their job. It’s an ongoing treadmill that doesn’t stop. The holidays slow the treadmill down but they don’t stop it. If you want quality and knowledgable staff teaching your children then they need to be paid for it, recognised for it and the government needs to give enough for what they need to do it.
Teachers aren’t asking for a salary that buys them a mansion and multiple 5 star holidays a year. They are asking for a pay that recognises their responsibilities and a budget that actually provides for the needs of YOUR CHILDREN. Who do so many parents blame for anything going wrong with their child? Teachers, It’s a huge responsibility and it deserves better.