The posts above from headfirst, Edukator and russianbob sum up what I would like to say. I am amazed at some of the responses here. Educating children is one of the most important jobs in our society, whether voluntarily as a parent or professionally as a teacher. Why would we not want to treat people who do this important job well - why would we want them to 'go find another job' if they don't like their changing conditions? It's hardly going to help our children or society if we can't retain high caliber individuals in the profession. Cutting off your nose to spite your face, perhaps?
I could understand the argument betterer if the teachers who were striking actually did strike and not just have a day off to do the garden or shopping (or catch up on work)
I work for an educational software company, I joined 3 months ago. Since then I have met a few dozen maths teachers and head teachers and my views on teachers and teaching have changed considerably. They do a rewarding job which I always knew but it's also hugely stressful, very pressurised and almost completely undervalued. Each successive government seems to politicise education even more than the last but the teachers I have met have been passionate about the work, dedicated to the children and most of all caring and involved. I don't know what it must take to get someone who has those values to go on strike but to simply say they are moaning about nothing seems like an idiotic position to take.
Hard to see where project stands now?
He doesn't. He runs when the going gets tough. I am not a teacher.
Every one of us is entitled to their opinion, based on facts before them, media presentations,personal and life experiences.
Some people fail to realise that or understand, and thats down to poor education, and poor up bringing.
Project - without the men and women that teach in our schools there would be no productive industries in this country.
Education is a production industry, you take people in and train them in various skills and social abilities. 😮
and thats down to poor education
so its our fault you are stupid?
I try to avoid arguing on the internet, but this is priceless:
Some people fail to realise that or understand, and thats down to poor education, and poor up bringing
Can someone post one of those facepalm images up for me?
And this:
Education is a production industry, you take people in and train them in various skills and social abilities.
The use of "industry" and "training" in a definition of what education is, or at least should be is fairly indicative of a woeful level of understanding about this particular topic.
Anyway i have reports to write and want to go riding later.
I could understand the argument betterer if the teachers who were striking actually did strike and not just have a day off to do the garden or shopping (or catch up on work)
What do you expect them to do? if they're not in work, they're striking.
The two days we've been on strike recently, I 'picketed' my workplace and then went to a regional rally in Middlesbrough.
Project - like I said before, "Get back to your Daily Mail". I'm sure you'll dismayed to know that the poor weather we're going to experience this weekend is coming from Eastern Europe.
Having two teenagers in the system and having met lots of teachers, I would venture that there is a mixed bag of teachers in terms of ability, suitability and effectiveness. Unfortunately the obsession with measurement and target, both ill conceived and poorly thought through, make the job increasingly difficult and frustrating. This seems to demoralise the good teachers and make the weak/poor ones considerably worse. There seems to be little appetite to measure real progress/effect in favour of whatever excites the minister at the time. Under these circumstances it is hardly surprising that when the personal benefits of the job become the next target, teachers get a bit miffed.
The care, welfare and education of children is the most important thing we can do. They are the ones who will determine our future and I, for one, would like them to be the most well read, critical thinking and best educated they can possibly be within thier own ability.
But harming those currently in the system will not have the desired effect and it will disengage a whole generation of parents. The government needs to be told, we just need to identify a better way than depriving the children of an education, however briefly.
