Parents becoming teachers? Is it me or has Gove totally lost it?

[sogrownup]

How do you feel about going into school to cover for a teacher who is on strike? Is there anyone out there who believes that this is a sound idea.... I think it's madness!!

Well, you see, working9while5 doesn't believe in fair pay - just in fair everything else.

"I think fairness of pay/unfairness of pay is a ridiculous notion in general. You get paid what someone will pay you, that's about it." And funnily enough, what someone will pay you is what you can convince them you are worth.

crimsonchina 16 weeks????? Are you kidding?

And I said that you seem to be ignoring the fact that we are only able to strike for issues relate to pay and conditions. Didn't mention how much money there may or may not be in the pensions pot.

Hey - here's a good one. How about teachers ask to change their contracts, so that they do get paid for their holidays, whilst not requiring their actual annual salary to go up? Apparently, that wouldn't be a genuine change in anything. I wonder if the government would agree to it, in order to make it all more "honest"? Or whether someone would actually get all hot under the collar about it? Maybe working9while5 doesn't understand contract and employment law very well?

I have a lot of sympathy with the spirit behind working9while5's post - it is reflective of the fact that society in general seems to be becoming less caring in times of need, not more caring. I also see a dire situation here where many people don't believe that the government needs to make all the cuts it is making, but is merely taking advantage of the economic situation to make long term changes that can never be reversed.

And unfortunately, the vulnerable were always going to pay the highest cost for the deficit - there's a big supply of the vulnerable, but not much demand for them. It's a brutal concept. Many of the future vulnerable will be those with insufficient pensions, of course.

working9while5 you really do need to get your facts right I didn't say we don't get holidays I said we don't get paid for holidays

I think the holidays are necessary for the children especially the younger ones who are exhausted by the end of term

As a society we need to consider if we want our children to be well educated. You get what you pay for. We need to give our children the best possible chance. The teachers deserve a decent pension and our support. I want to know that the person looking after my child is happy, doing their best to develop their knowledge whilst enjoying their job. Surely we should value these important individuals (Children and Teachers!). Or do we all just want to pay for private education? The divide between rich and poor will only continue to widen. I support the Teachers.

working9while5 I really wish you had posted this first rather than the side issues of health staff and holidays as you raise important points.

No it isn't self funding as we have an employer contribution as part of it. However how much it is actually costing the tax payer we don't know as the government haven't undertaken a valuation, which they are required to do before changing conditions. At the last review (2006) it was shown to be healthy and the cost to the taxpayer was falling. This is one of the issues that have lead unions to take strike action.

I agree that the cuts in education budget are dreadful, and my pupils will suffer as well (they are suffering in other areas as the children I teach come from families that are heavily state dependent). But I do not for a second think that what I will have to give up in pension contributions will be used for resources for pupils. Again as we have said we can't strike on these issues, but lots of the points you have made are what have influenced my decision to strike as it demonstrates the current government have little regard for the children of this country or the people who teach them.

I dont think they need 6 weeks thoug as a large chunk. They forget so much. It shoild be more spread out over the year

It's a relic of the past which perhaps needs changing but it does give me time to paint my classroom

No, I would not go and cover for a teacher - I wouldn't last five minutes with a class of 30 rowdy children!

Holiday time is planning time for teachers as far as I know. The time when the kids are off school is therefore important for improving quality and creating good interesting lessons.

justaboutWILLfinishherthesis from inside where?

Brilliant idea - I could be a teacher, after all I used to be a student! Now, what shall I teach? German maybe. Das ist gut, ja? Now where's that lovely pension...

What happened to the idea of more terms, but shorter, so that the children didn't forget everything over the summer?
Wasn't there a plan for 5 week blocks, with a week in between and four at summer? Or was it all a gin-induced hallucination?
I'm still keen on work to rule as a protest, we could post a list of charges on the door for stuff over and above the limitations of the job.
Like the dentists and the doctors, and plumbers and car mechanics.