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!!

Merely to watch the kids. Indeed.

Still I think that that giving parents warning is a bit off if maximum disruption is what they are going for. Better to not give warning. Either they have no loopholes to do this or no union person has been smart enough to think of it yet.

I'm astonished how so many seem to support teachers striking.

rabbit come on - of course we have a contract. We are obliged to send our kids to school (or home school) by the LEA and they in turn pay teachers to provide that service.

ByTheWay 'doing a friend a favour also does Mr Gove a favour'.

I do think there's a difference. Largely because what happens at home is not visible in the same way - and also because my motivation is not at all the same. Parents helping each other out is part of normal life (and I'm not going to stop it in the mistaken belief that I'm supporting teachers by doing so). Going in to school to keep a class or school open would be in response to Gove's request, and to make Gove look less silly.

Why are you astonished, flagging? (genuinely curious)

Mrz : I would suggest that would be a fair deal if teacher's accepted it. Quantify the contributions needed to allow you to have the pension you are expecting and then ask you to contribute half of it.

I have a feeling tecahers wouldn't be happy with that agreement though, once the numbers were done. A £10,000 a year pension needs a pot of £300,000 to fund it (£150,000 paid by the teacher)

To the poster saying about strikes without warning - they are illegal now. Strikes are fine but have to follow a strict set of rules to be legal.

Teachers have accepted it Kez

The difficulty lies in the fact that the government are unable to produce evidence that there is a shortfall in funds ...

elibean I am really no getting up on my high horse but I am surprised for a number of reasons:

1. because they are really disrupting communities they frequently request unpaid help from, respect from, financial support from without any real apology and at v short notice
2. Teacher's unions are still at the table negotiating
3. All around us people are giving up hours, pensions etc because they realise what dire economic straights we're in.

and as I said before, they have plenty of TD days and other paid days when they could strike but no they choose to hit the kids, the parents and the school community by doing this in the middle of the working week during term time.

Love the 'teachers are our servants'! Probably you do have servants at Eton, but here in what some of us regard as 'the real world' we treat public sector workers with dignity. The notion that the public sector does not form part of the 'real' world is also intriguing. I wonder if anyone would like to discuss that point of view with the paramedics taking them to A&E? Bet that feels pretty 'real'.

they have plenty of TD days and other paid days

What are these 'other' paid days?

I have not met a single teacher who is not open to changes to their pension, it is a refusal to negotiate that is causing the strikes. The government will not let us see the figures. They want us to strike so they can break the unions. Cameron is out there asking us to strike - but it is what he wants.

If I know the money is not there I am willing for my pension to be reduced, just as I have worked five days a week in return for 4 days pay because I knew the money was not there. Just as I have taken promotions with no pay as the money is not there. Just as I have just spent my own money on resources as I know the money is not there

Well don't they get paid during their very very long holidays?

Not paid for the holidays, no.

No teachers are not paid for the holidays flagging

I am paid during the holidays but not for the holidays.

Thank you for replying

See, I'm not surprised but I think I start from a different viewpoint. No one around me (parents) seems unduly upset by the disruption. Its one day. A little inconvenient, but not the end of the world. There is room for that in the relationship we have with our childrens' teachers - and we ask for respect, attention, care, responsibility, skill and free time from them in return for giving them ours. Its an equal relationship in so many ways, it feels ok at this point to be flexible.

I think striking on any other kind of day would be fairly pointless, no? Strikes are meant to draw attention to something people feel strongly about, in order to get them heard. Parents (at least, the ones I know) do seem to understand that.

If it were all the time, or too often, or over minor things, we would all feel differently I'm sure.

and the 5 training days teachers must have each year are part of the teachers holidays not part of their teaching time.

Well I am public sector and DH private and both of us have seen our pensions amended dramatically. If DH withdrew his labour his company would withdraw his job. It's very unfortunate but the taxpayer cannot sustain all the generous pension rights the PS gets. Teachers know this. It's not fair but it is the way it is!

(that was for flagging btw)

ps forgot - re your last, fair, point: see twinklypearls post

So twinkly go on strike for a day in the holidays.

Perhaps flagging the government should save the £2.5 million a day they are spending on involvement in Lybia

I am not paid to work in the holidays, why would I strike when I am not supposed to be at work.

flagging you can't withdraw your labour (which is what striking is) when you aren't meant to be working so there is a fundamental flaw to your suggestion