Teacher strikes to shut schools (From Swindon Advertiser)

Should fine them, All that fuss when we want to go on holiday in term time, then they strike! Hypocrite?

Far to many teachers are arrogant and ignorant and think that education is about them. It's about the pupils and providing them with the knowledge and ability to prosper in the world when they leave. It's not about arrogant teachers preaching to them and imposing their narrow minded selfish views on them, it's about allowing them to make up their own minds. Yes of curse there are some very good teachers but there are far too many who are quite simply in the wrong job with no people skills or understanding of what the job involves. And most are gone by 3.30 and have nice long holidays, there are fewer and fewer who really care about the pupils they teach just about themselves. And now they have the nerve to strike. Maybe those who pay their wages should decide (the taxpayer), instead of them thinking they can decide how our hard earned money s spent. If you don't like your job, then do something you do like.

house on the hill wrote:
Far to many teachers are arrogant and ignorant and think that education is about them. It's about the pupils and providing them with the knowledge and ability to prosper in the world when they leave. It's not about arrogant teachers preaching to them and imposing their narrow minded selfish views on them, it's about allowing them to make up their own minds. Yes of curse there are some very good teachers but there are far too many who are quite simply in the wrong job with no people skills or understanding of what the job involves. And most are gone by 3.30 and have nice long holidays, there are fewer and fewer who really care about the pupils they teach just about themselves. And now they have the nerve to strike. Maybe those who pay their wages should decide (the taxpayer), instead of them thinking they can decide how our hard earned money s spent. If you don't like your job, then do something you do like.

Research, spelling and punctuation not your strong point! Go to the bottom of the class.

The NUT have always been militant little devils. Usually fairly quiet once their puppet party is in government but threatening strikes every five minutes when the Tories are in office.

Their pay and conditions are perfectly fine, and, as they always like to remind us at other times, it's a vocation, a calling. Something they do because it's all about the children.

"Those that can't, teach" - ignore them.

I think they must have changed the definition of vocation. When I was at school teachers did after school groups and didn't expect to be paid, or have extra time off. Sadly not the case now.

When I look at some of the comments here I know why the profession's morale is so low.

I happen to think that the strike action is misguided but that is no excuse for some of the unfair comments.

house on the hill - If the job is such a doddle and so well paid how come recruitment is so difficult? How come so many leave within the first five years of teaching? If you seriously think a teacher's job stops at 3.30 p.m. you are, to be honest, worryingly ill informed.

timnewroman - Is "those that can't teach" a mature and reasoned argument or a pathetic cliche? Teaching in the current fractured society is a tougher job than it has ever been. It is made even harder by the plethora of changes from headline chasing politicians of left and right.

RichardR1 - Many, many teachers still give generously of their time to run clubs; to attend residential visits at places like Pencelli and to lead after school arts activities. They would have even more time to give to such activities if they were not submerged by government imposed bureacracy, misguided initiatives and tick boxing.

As a society we will reach a point where this constant denigration will see less and less people opt to be teachers. I struggle to see how that outcome benefits anyone.

express_a_view wrote:
When I look at some of the comments here I know why the profession's morale is so low.

I happen to think that the strike action is misguided but that is no excuse for some of the unfair comments.

house on the hill - If the job is such a doddle and so well paid how come recruitment is so difficult? How come so many leave within the first five years of teaching? If you seriously think a teacher's job stops at 3.30 p.m. you are, to be honest, worryingly ill informed.

timnewroman - Is "those that can't teach" a mature and reasoned argument or a pathetic cliche? Teaching in the current fractured society is a tougher job than it has ever been. It is made even harder by the plethora of changes from headline chasing politicians of left and right.

RichardR1 - Many, many teachers still give generously of their time to run clubs; to attend residential visits at places like Pencelli and to lead after school arts activities. They would have even more time to give to such activities if they were not submerged by government imposed bureacracy, misguided initiatives and tick boxing.

As a society we will reach a point where this constant denigration will see less and less people opt to be teachers. I struggle to see how that outcome benefits anyone.

Well you all go served !!

I think teachers do on most part a great job, I have freinds that are teachers and they rarely finish at 15:30. Still on the other hand, I do think training days are a farce AND should be maybe two weeks during the summer holiday.. I think it is unfair that we parents have to take off other days to look after our children when the holidays provided to teachers far exceed any in the private sector. (I would like to add, that the teachers I know also agree and laugh at the amount they have)
ANY public sector job should be banned from being able strike.

"""express_a_view says...
11:43am Wed 20 Mar 13
house on the hill - If the job is such a doddle and so well paid how come recruitment is so difficult? How come so many leave within the first five years of teaching? If you seriously think a teacher's job stops at 3.30 p.m. you are, to be honest, worryingly ill informed.""

I cant se anywhere where I said it was a doddle and I agree it is an extremely hard job. My point was that there are too many who see it as that. I am well aware that for most it doesnt end at 3.30 and they dont get 10 weeks holiday every year, but some seem to think they should have that. Most are extremely good at what they do, but some I have come into contact with are just clearly in the wrong job which is very worrying as we depend on them to give our children the tools to succeed in the world. I do find it a bit double standards that they fine parents for taking children out of school but think its ok to strike and cause many parents additional costs for childcare etc without a second thought for them.

As far as pensions are concerned, pretty much all the private sector schemes ended years ago and all that is happening is that they are now the same as the rest of us, they should be very grateful they have had it for so long. And what is a pay rise? most outside the public sector havent had one for ages either. I just dont see why they view themselves as some sort of special case.

Can't believe they have the cheek to strike again, do they not get that public opinion is not in their favour on this one, this isnt going to do them any favours. I believe the terms of their employment are more than fair

Localboy86 wrote:
Can't believe they have the cheek to strike again, do they not get that public opinion is not in their favour on this one, this isnt going to do them any favours. I believe the terms of their employment are more than fair

Unfortunately, as with all public sector workers, it's only a very small minority that ever vote to strike, but it only ever takes a few strikers to cause chaos.
The real problem is, the extreme left wing troublemakers that appear to be running all the public sector unions.

Always Grumpy - I think you have identified part of the problem. The other is a right wing secretary of state who will not engage in discussion with even the most moderate of unions i.e. ATL and the headteacher associations. This whole sorry state is down to two sides and not just one. In short, some would say the real problem is a provocative Secretary of State who will not work with the more enlightened members of the teaching profession.