Teachers' strike

[purits]

Considering that teachers are constantly moaning about the National Curriculum, teaching to the test, Ofsted, targets, league tables, disruption in the classroom, etc etc etc: why is the first strike for ages about pay (for them) instead of about conditions (for the kids)?

A job in 'managing?' That's a bit vague isn't it?

Thank you, Stix, I'm glad that someone else can see my POV. Teachers are forever complaining about conditions but never seem to do anything about them. Why isn't the strike about conditions if things are that bad?

if other folk are unhappy with their wage, then it is up to them to do something about it.

It's silly saying that one particular profession shouldn't be entitled to a decent wage because a different profession doesn't earn one.

Teachers deserve more pay.
So do nurses,
police officers,
chefs

etc.

The average teacher earns £34,000

Exactly, Squonk. It really irritates me when people say well they're not the only one on a low wage. That is true, but it doesn't make their argument for a better wage any less valid. If any of us feel we are unfairly paid, we should be entitled to say so. Teachers are no different

Unfortunately nurses cannot strike though can they?
Nothing against teachers striking,just t hat they are fortunate to have that option open to them without endangering anyone's life.
Government of whatever political persuasion know they have nurses over a barrel on pay,conditions etc.

yes, morningpaper, which is 7grand more than the average nurse, but they work bloody hard for their money and deserve every penny and they should be entitled to a fair pay rise

Totally agree silentterror - i would never strike because it could really badly affect patients in my care. But that does not invalidate another profession's right to strike.

ahhh corn silk.. the way some schools are managed. Could I see some Heads etc being resposible for 800 or so clients, their accounts and customer satifaction. And managing a team of staff to produce good competitive results in industry?
This is why I am being vague, I can think of a couple where I wouldn't put them in charge of an ice-cream van!

They also have long holidays and one of the best pension schemes in the country

And my friends who are teachers all say that they love it

No I wouldn't want to do it, I would HATE it, but they would probably hate being a finance manager

I must admit I find it hard to sympathise

No,I agree,everyone should be able to withhold labour.Except nurses of course.

£34,000 with 13 weeks holiday and good pension provision just doesn't seem that bad to me. And senior teachers earn much more. I earn about £38k as a legal aid lawyer and no one ever feels sorry for me.

And don't tell me they work all the holidays. There are teachers in my family (senior ones too) and they DON'T.

Yes, what a uproar that would cause, silent!

Exactly prof, MP. In the real world if we feel we aren't being paid enough or our condition of work are poor we find another job. We do not take it out on our client!

And i very much doubt that if the teachers strike had been about conditions that there would have been any more symapathy for them - people would still harp on about how much they get paid and the holidays they get

They would get sympathy from me if they were striking to get rid of low-level disruption that affects my kids' education (as well as the teachers' working conditions)>

Mimis They choose to do this job, knowing the pay, paperwork and conditions! Then they get all "woe is me" go on strike, moan and bitch.
IMO if they were striking about conditions for them and the pupils they would have a lot more backing.

I'm afraid i don't agree with the strike, not because i don't believe in the reasons for it but because it directly effects the wrong people. I bet Darling, Brown or Balls are not at home. Not only are my kids missing a day of school but i am a nurse specialist and I run my own service (its just me!) and instead of being at work seeing patients who need my input I am sitting at home. i have cancelled my patients visits and i can't fit them in now for another 2 weeks at least.

Not all teachers are in the NUT, those who are lots of them didn't vote. Maybe the ones who voted and feel so strongly about pay, ought to get a different job. I wonder then if the would moan so much.

I agree with blondehelen, I don't agree with striking.

Highly doubt they would, stix, because most people on the news today are complaining about the strike because they have had to organise childcare and are worried about the detrimental effects having one day ONE day off school will have on their child. Doubt this would change if teachers were striking because of the national curriculum. Most people chose to teach because they want to teach. Fifty percent leave after the first few years when they realise the reality. This cannot be good for our education system and surely recognising them for the hard work they do would be a start.

They would have more sympathy from me if they were striking about the way the job has changed irrevocably over the past 20 years or so from a job where you were in charge in your own classroom to a job where you have to not only teach, but be seen to teach, and prove what you have been teaching. It strikes me that what is a reasonable level of pay for a job which is essentially 8.30 - 4.00 with some marking in the eves, but not so much lesson planning if you've been teaching for a number of years (what my impression of teaching 20 years ago is), and a reasonable rate of pay for something that also covers all the paperwork / SATs / proofs needed today is a totally different thing.

"Most people chose to teach because they want to teach. Fifty percent leave after the first few years when they realise the reality. This cannot be good for our education system"

So what are the teaching unions doing about it?

STRIKING!!