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!!

Strix once again teachers have accepted the country is in a dire financial state and changes have been made, but even the Hutton report says those changes mean that the cost of teachers pension is falling. So why does the Government and you insist otherwise without the evidence to back your claims?

Academies may initially be financially better off (if they are a very large school) but in the long term the idea doesn't look half so attractive. As they don't have to employ qualified teachers to teach your children they don't have the same terms and conditions that qualified teachers have.

I don't think this is about the current financial dire straights. Th epension issue has been brewing for years. You pension is unaffordable because I have to pay more tax so that the government can match 14% on your 6%. That is unaffordable for the government and for me. Nobody gives me (or millions of other UK taxpayers) 14% of my salary every month into a pension pot.

Incidentally I found the notice period in your burgandy book. And, whilst I only skimmed over it so happy to be corrected if I missed something, but it's around 2 or 3 months. So, that is the length of the promise of your current working conditions. Not the rest of your working life. I also looked at maternity leave, which is also very cushy, oh and so is sick leave. Teachers appear (although admittedly I am far from an expert) to get an awful lot of things most of the rest of us don't get.

Besides, the strike is over, it had little if any impact on the nation... So back to business as usual I guess.

Ooh, Strix. Why don't you become a teacher - you make it sound so enticing. I'm sure you must work in a dreadful job with appalling pay and conditions.

By the way, public sector pensions as they currently are haven't been found to be "unaffordable" even by the current government and the proportion of national income going towards funding them is projected to go down considerably in the next few years (that is, as they are now, not as they will be if the government cuts them back further still).

Is the strike over? I hope so but I fear not as nothing has been resolved and the remaining teaching unions and head teachers are balloting for a combined industrial action later in the year ...

Oh and BTW strix you get 20% from the government if you take out a personal pension so a better deal than the 14% teachers get

You pay Income Tax on your earnings before any pension contribution, but the pension provider claims tax back from the government at the basic rate of 20 per cent. In practice, this means that for every £80 you pay into your pension, you end up with £100 in your pension pot. If you pay tax at higher rate, you can claim the difference through your tax return or by telephoning or writing to your Tax Office.

Now remind why you consider yourself to be low paid?

My job is not horrible. Just average...ish.

because I earned more in the private sector for less work less responsibility and less public hostility

I don't consider myself low paid for what it's worth but neither do I consider myself highly paid

I'm not and never have been a teacher, but when I did work, I was exceptionally well paid.

I've just received the following email so it doesn't look like it's over

The substantial media coverage of the dispute last week has already affected the negotiating position, with the government in disarray on its rationale for the changes. Ministers have asked for further meetings in July. It is sad but true that none of this coverage, nor the shifting in the government's position, would have occurred without your strike. Of course many of you had misgivings about the action, but your dramatic gesture has already made a difference and will make a difference in the negotiations ahead.

It remains to be seen whether the climate has changed sufficiently for us to achieve an honourable agreement. We will continue with our campaign to protect your pensions, and we ask you to continue to make the case to colleagues and parents.

That is a sales pitch if ever I heard one.

Let's see who buys it then

"honourable agreement"??

'public hostility' - that made me think. Teachers are authority figures, they have influence over our children, and are hugely important figures in our childrens (and therefore our) lives. If we're honest.
I wonder how much of the hostility comes from people who actually have a hard time with authority figures, or with sharing/letting go of control? Because it strikes me that those who are really hostile seem to want to view teachers as paid servants, who should get back down there, stay in control, and not be too important.
As opposed to equals in partnership.
Just a thought.

I think teachers can be their own worst enemy if the object is a good relationship with the parents. Most teachers as individuals are fine, good people. But you do get the odd one who perhaps struggled to get into teaching college and who does not respect the parents but who is unable to comprehend why they themselves are not receiving respect. As with all things, a few bad people can taint the whole group.

Well, I must be lucky - we had one teacher in Reception who was far better with kids than parents, but even she mellowed in time. The others have all been wonderful at relating to parents.

I think letting a few negatives taint the whole bunch is a shame - and irrational. If thats what society does, then silly society.