[arista]

[Teachers are considering a fresh walkout just
weeks after strike action forced schools
across England and Wales to close.
Members of the
National Union of Teachers (NUT) meeting for
their annual conference today will debate
the possibility of industrial action
next term unless "significant progress"
is made in talks with the Government.
NUT general secretary Christine Blower
said: "We have a motion that's going
to be put to delegates which envisages
industrial action in late June if we don't
make progress in the talks with
the Government in May.]


http://news.sky.com/story/1245300/te...lks-break-down

[Livia]

Another reason to oppose fining parents for taking their children out of school during term time.

[Kizzy]

Not at all, I'm a parent and I'm fully supportive. Parents taking kids out of school in term time is a totally separate issue, it's not the decision of teachers to fine parents either.

[Livia]

Yeah it's always a different issue when teachers leave the school unattended during term time, to go on strike or have an inset day. Why they can't do that during their ridiculously long holidays is beyond me. Striking is a tool that worked years ago when conditions were deplorable . Now, people rightly pour scorn on striking lefties. Public opinion is not with them on this except from a certain section of society.

[LeatherTrumpet]

if you dont give us what we want we will take our ball away

f off teachers

[smudgie]

Not all of the teachers will be on strike.
Those still at school try and take over the more important lessons.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Livia

Yeah it's always a different issue when teachers leave the school unattended during term time, to go on strike or have an inset day. Why they can't do that during their ridiculously long holidays is beyond me. Striking is a tool that worked years ago when conditions were deplorable . Now, people rightly pour scorn on striking lefties. Public opinion is not with them on this except from a certain section of society.

What section is that, those who understand the importance of professionalism in the classroom as well as the boardroom?
Strike action is for when both sides don't or can't reach an amicable agreement, not just a method used in days of yore.
People do not rightly pour scorn on striking teachers ignorant people who can't see further than the end of their nose on certain issues do, as they choose not to adequately educate themselves on the issue and rely on right wing soundbites to express their skewed opinion.
Teachers,who's political leanings are I'm sure as varied as the subjects they teach, are well within their rights to strike to protect their jobs and the standard of education of children from all sections of society.

[AnnieK]

But by striking, they are denying children educational opportunities. Strikes very rare get anywhere...seems a fruitless waste of time to me...

[Kizzy]

No.. they are protecting the rights of all children to a decent education.

[Ammi]

..the thing about it is that I have never met any teacher that wanted to strike or was happy to do it, they have no choice..or the ones who are in a union don't..it disrupts their whole timetable for the term as they still have to try to fit those lessons in anyway, which isn't easy and they don't support any time that is taken from the children's learning..the same with holidays in term time..?..most school staff don't support that either but they do understand that costs and other factors would make it impossible for some families to have a holiday any other way, whereas education welfare look at it very 'black and white' and you just don't do it for whatever the reason..I will say as well that fines are only enforced if schools ask for a penalty notice, which is the first step and many schools refuse to do request one...

[AnnieK]

I just can't see what strike action achieves...nothing is ever solved. Both my parents went through strike action once both at the same time....all it achieved was financial hardships for us as a family that took years to recover from fully, it's ok for these union leaders...but for the teachers who lose money, the parents who have to arrange cosly childcare or take leave from their own work and the kids who miss lessons....I fail to see wat any of it achieves

[arista]

Originally Posted by AnnieK

But by striking, they are denying children educational opportunities. Strikes very rare get anywhere...seems a fruitless waste of time to me...

Yes I hope before June
they stop the 2 Strikes planned.

[Kizzy]

'Teachers explain why they are on strike: 'If it's bad for us, it's definitely bad for the kids'
A national teachers' strike has closed thousands of schools across England and Wales. Three teachers tell us why they have decided to go on strike'

Have a look at this, it give an insight into what the thoughts of some teachers think of the situation they are in now.
We can all shrug and accept what is forced upon us by government but is that democracy?

http://www.theguardian.com/education...d-for-the-kids

[arista]

Yes its Democracy
that they can Strike.

But much of this Nation
does not Back Your Greedy Teachers
Kizzy.

[AnnieK]

I don't think they're greedy Arista but I don't think they're as hard done to as they make out. I work as many hours, work from home when I'm not there and get paid less than a teacher who has been in the job as long as I have without the pension scheme they have....buti don't feel the need to walk out and lose money fighting a losing battle

[Ammi]

..it's not about being greedy Arista and I think you know that...'performance related increments' are nothing to do with performance in the classrooms, they are date/tracking/Ofsted performance related, which means that takes a teacher out of the classroom and having to do more data work, when what they want is to be teaching..and there is not enough budget given to replace this time with qualified teachers, so teaching assistants are taking classes more and although there are some highly qualified teaching assistants, that's ok for some Primary Schools but not for older children who might be facing exams ...why would any teacher choose to work in a 'failing school' with bad Ofsted results when they could do the same job/same grade and earn the same money in a school with good Ofsted results, which would mean their 'performance' and therefore their salary would most likely be higher and also maybe the job itself would be easier..?..

...there are schools closing everywhere and yet more money is spent in extending other schools while classroom resource budgets are just not enough, where is the sense in that..?..I don't believe in striking, I think it's a very negative thing and does have an effect on parents who need to take time off, it also means that teachers are forced to take that time off as well and lose their income for that day...but, if Ofsted requirements and all the Education Authority date requirements continue as they are, then it's going to cause a huge educational divide with some schools and children doing ok but the ones in poorer areas with low income families basically struggling for an education and that's just completely wrong...

..I also agree with Livia, they should just stop trying to fine families for taking their children on holiday in term time and it's those very families who are already financially stretched and not able to go anywhere in the school holidays who will eventually have to also face the fact that their children will be failed in the classroom as well/that very classroom that they are being fined for taking them out of..ironic....

[DDRickyDD]

Teachers are never happy, they should all be sacked on the spot. Let the army teach kids.

[arista]

Originally Posted by Ammi

..it's not about being greedy Arista and I think you know that...'performance related increments' are nothing to do with performance in the classrooms, they are date/tracking/Ofsted performance related, which means that takes a teacher out of the classroom and having to do more data work, when what they want is to be teaching..and there is not enough budget given to replace this time with qualified teachers, so teaching assistants are taking classes more and although there are some highly qualified teaching assistants, that's ok for some Primary Schools but not for older children who might be facing exams ...why would any teacher choose to work in a 'failing school' with bad Ofsted results when they could do the same job/same grade and earn the same money in a school with good Ofsted results, which would mean their 'performance' and therefore their salary would most likely be higher and also maybe the job itself would be easier..?..

...there are schools closing everywhere and yet more money is spent in extending other schools while classroom resource budgets are just not enough, where is the sense in that..?..I don't believe in striking, I think it's a very negative thing and does have an effect on parents who need to take time off, it also means that teachers are forced to take that time off as well and lose their income for that day...but, if Ofsted requirements and all the Education Authority date requirements continue as they are, then it's going to cause a huge educational divide with some schools and children doing ok but the ones in poorer areas with low income families basically struggling for an education and that's just completely wrong...

..I also agree with Livia, they should just stop trying to fine families for taking their children on holiday in term time and it's those very families who are already financially stretched and not able to go anywhere in the school holidays who will eventually have to also face the fact that their children will be failed in the classroom as well/that very classroom that they are being fined for taking them out of..ironic....

Yes Ammi
Teaching has got to cut costs
Whoever is in power

[arista]

Originally Posted by DDRickyDD

Teachers are never happy, they should all be sacked on the spot. Let the army teach kids.

Yes I am for that


Even if Ammi is not

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by arista

Yes Ammi
Teaching has got to cut costs
Whoever is in power

..they don't cut costs though, they increase costs and cut education, which is why teaching staff are so disillusioned because most of them do have the children's interests at heart...

EDIT:..it costs twice as much to take a teacher out of his/her classroom and replace them with a supply who doesn't know the children at all...

[arista]

Originally Posted by Ammi

..they don't cut costs though, they increase costs and cut education, which is why teaching staff are so disillusioned because most of them do have the children's interests at heart...

EDIT:..it costs twice as much to take a teacher out of his/her classroom and replace them with a supply who doesn't know the children at all...

Trust you to Complex It

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by arista

Trust you to Complex It

..no, trust you to simplify it...

[smeagol]

they get 6 weeks holiday about 5 break times a day and finish by 3pm and they are always on strike lol.

crazy. send them to war

[AnnieK]

Originally Posted by smeagol

they get 6 weeks holiday about 5 break times a day and finish by 3pm and they are always on strike lol.

crazy. send them to war

The kids go home at that time but the teachers I know actually don't leave until 5.30-6.00

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by smeagol

they get 6 weeks holiday about 5 break times a day and finish by 3pm and they are always on strike lol.

crazy. send them to war

..no Smeagal, they really don't do any of those things..that's a myth..