Teachers Strike

[mackay 3,384]

Many thanks to Ideation, Undisputed, Tomm Parr and anybody else who's sticking up for the likes of myself and my wife: we're both teachers.

 

To be fair, I'm a supply teacher. Not one of those crap ones who's only doing it because they can't get a job, but one who's been doing it out of choice for a decade and a half. As a result of my choice, I have to admit that I am fortunate in getting thirteen weeks holiday per year. However, the downside of being a supply teacher is that I only get paid for the days I work.

 

Back to my wife: a "proper" teacher. As has been said above, it's not 9 til 3. Most teachers start work by 8 at the very latest, are lucky to grab a few minutes for lunch and work (in school) until at least 5. My wife's rarely home before 6. Then there's all the paper-work which takes up several of her evenings and some of the weekend every week. In addition, she usually goes into school for several days during each "holiday" plus more paper-work at home again.

 

Considering we're post-graduates, our salary is below average for our qualifications...like nurses etc we're in a "caring" industry which means we're exected to do it for enjoyment. Enjoyment which often includes verbal and physical abuse from pupils and parents and f*** all appreciation from a large section of the public. Many of the comments on this thread are examples of this.

 

I love my job. I get to make a genuine, positive impact on people's lives and they regularly thank me for it. Fortunately, that more than makes up for the blind comments of so many and the, comparatively, poor salary which is soon to become worse by making me pay more for longer in order to receive less.

 

Thanks again to those of you who appreciate what I do.

 

If it's that bad have a career change, I bet you don't though cos it's better than a helluva lot of jobs out there, most in fact.

 

You have experience of teaching then?

 

No not personally unless you count being taught by them and from what I recall most were bullies and social rejects that couldn't live and work in an adult environment.

I know people who in the last few years have left the real world to retrain as teachers as they considered it a safer more secure and stable job to the one they were in hence my previous statement.

I'd be interested to know the percentage of teachers overall who quit to go to other jobs.

[Nik_B 3,790]

The simple fact is that there is a giant deficit that needs to be reduced urgently otherwise the UK is likely to lose it's credit rating. The country basically has a huge credit card and the deficit is what we are spending over what we are making, to pay off the credit card we have to reduce spending, even if we reduce spending by 20-30 billion we still have a debt that is hundreds of billions of pounds. What is happening to other countries like Ireland/Greece etc is that their credit rating has become bad i.e. they are a bigger risk to lend money to them. This means they have to pay higher interest on loans which will make it even harder to pay down their debt.

 

I don't think this should be about attacking a certain profession, but those of us in the private sector are not getting inflationary pay rises, worse pensions and in real terms are taking pay cuts year after year due to inflation.....would it be fair that we should then have to pay MORE TAX to supplement the public sector? The gold plated final salary pensions are unrealistic these days and the government are asking that the public sector should pay a bit more in to those pensions to address the shortfall, I think this is perfectly fair. What you pay in to your pension does NOT cover the cost of paying your final salary pension to the day you die. The shortfall is met by the tax payer (yes you teachers etc pay taxes as well but) and if they cannot do it this way then tax for everyone will go up.

[undisputed 1,664]

The simple fact is that there is a giant deficit that needs to be reduced urgently otherwise the UK is likely to lose it's credit rating. The country basically has a huge credit card and the deficit is what we are spending over what we are making, to pay off the credit card we have to reduce spending, even if we reduce spending by 20-30 billion we still have a debt that is hundreds of billions of pounds. What is happening to other countries like Ireland/Greece etc is that their credit rating has become bad i.e. they are a bigger risk to lend money to them. This means they have to pay higher interest on loans which will make it even harder to pay down their debt.

 

I don't think this should be about attacking a certain profession, but those of us in the private sector are not getting inflationary pay rises, worse pensions and in real terms are taking pay cuts year after year due to inflation.....would it be fair that we should then have to pay MORE TAX to supplement the public sector? The gold plated final salary pensions are unrealistic these days and the government are asking that the public sector should pay a bit more in to those pensions to address the shortfall, I think this is perfectly fair. What you pay in to your pension does NOT cover the cost of paying your final salary pension to the day you die. The shortfall is met by the tax payer (yes you teachers etc pay taxes as well but) and if they cannot do it this way then tax for everyone will go up.

 

These gold plated pensions are only for the big boys not the average working man who will have to work longer pay more and get less...hardly gold plated

[lurchergrrl 1,441]

Many thanks to Ideation, Undisputed, Tomm Parr and anybody else who's sticking up for the likes of myself and my wife: we're both teachers.

 

To be fair, I'm a supply teacher. Not one of those crap ones who's only doing it because they can't get a job, but one who's been doing it out of choice for a decade and a half. As a result of my choice, I have to admit that I am fortunate in getting thirteen weeks holiday per year. However, the downside of being a supply teacher is that I only get paid for the days I work.

 

Back to my wife: a "proper" teacher. As has been said above, it's not 9 til 3. Most teachers start work by 8 at the very latest, are lucky to grab a few minutes for lunch and work (in school) until at least 5. My wife's rarely home before 6. Then there's all the paper-work which takes up several of her evenings and some of the weekend every week. In addition, she usually goes into school for several days during each "holiday" plus more paper-work at home again.

 

Considering we're post-graduates, our salary is below average for our qualifications...like nurses etc we're in a "caring" industry which means we're exected to do it for enjoyment. Enjoyment which often includes verbal and physical abuse from pupils and parents and f*** all appreciation from a large section of the public. Many of the comments on this thread are examples of this.

 

I love my job. I get to make a genuine, positive impact on people's lives and they regularly thank me for it. Fortunately, that more than makes up for the blind comments of so many and the, comparatively, poor salary which is soon to become worse by making me pay more for longer in order to receive less.

 

Thanks again to those of you who appreciate what I do.

 

I just want to say that teachers such as you've described are few and far between these days. I've had such a negative experience with my kids' primary school, I confess I feel rather jaded. Good teaching should be fully supported and encouraged - but instead bad teaching is protected and perpetuated. Red tape and ridiculous health and safety laws don't help either. And imo the holiday system is barking mad and needs to be revamped. There is NO reason at all for that amount of holidays. If it were reduced to the six weeks in summer with one or two term breaks during the year that would make more sense. And those term breaks should be used for lesson planning and teacher training. The 6 weeks in the summer is ample holiday for anyone, teachers included. If that happened I reckon it would shake out the teachers who only do it for the extensive holidays. You can't deny there are a lot of them like that.

 

I do value public sector workers - but it's hard to feel their pain when everyone else is taking it up the ass as well. The balance is uneven between public and private sectors. It's not as if the average Joe Public can go on strike, is it?

 

 

I get the impression you have feck all idea what the job really involves and are basing your comments on what / how you assume your own children's teachers have it.

 

Most of those week long half term breaks etc, teachers are in school, changing displays, sorting shit out, planning lessons, marking stuff, that all takes time, it's not like at 3.15 they go home and chill, and have all of their holidays to just put their feet up and relax.

 

Most of the folk moaning on here couldn't hack it for a week, let a lone a term.

 

If it's such a piece of piss, how come you ain't all teachers?

 

'Scuse me but there's really no need to speak to me like that, is there?

 

Teaching is a very hard job. So is construction, driving a bus, working in a bakery, etc etc etc. But you have to love teaching to do it as it has a lifelong impact on the kids, and it's been my personal experience that a lot don't love it. I never said they go home at 3.15; I know they work hard (well, some of them do) They go in early and work till after 5 - like a lot of other folks do. But they don't spend all the half terms in school doing displays and marking stuff etc so please don't try to tell me otherwise. The teachers at my kids' school were skipping about laughing that they'd only 8 days of work between the Easter half term, the Easter weekend and the Royal Wedding.

 

I'm not a teacher because I know I'm not made for it. And I know a lot of people who go to school for TA jobs because they just want the holidays off with their kids - as otherwise they have to pay for 13/14 weeks of childcare.

 

Please, explain to me, why they need all that time off? Make me understand, 'cause I think it's ludicrous.

 

Blimey, no need to get all excited!

[Nik_B 3,790]

they are final salary pensions....guaranteed. Private sector pensions can lose value, or not increase in value as much as expected which would mean those people would have to put more away to make up the shortfall. People are living in to their 80s and longer, what you contribute into your pension is not enough to pay for it.

 

So where should the shortfall come from, should the tax payer take up the slack or should you put a bit more away each money?

 

Many of my friends and family are teachers, I respect your profession but the public sector pension is unsustainable in it's current form. It is hardly fair that more and more of the tax we pay is diverted to other people's pensions and at thte same time we private sector workers are having to also put a greater proportion of our wages away for our own pensions.

 

Personally I think the number of people in the public sector should be cut massively a lot of it outsourced leaving people who do real work i.e. teachers and firemen etc to be funded by the tax payer. We would get much more value for money. There are millions of public servants who get final salary pensions many of these not doing anything worthwhile.

[undisputed 1,664]

So where should the shortfall come from, should the tax payer take up the slack or should you put a bit more away each money?

 

 

No it should be taken from the fuckers who caused the problem in the first place....THE BANKERS.....The private sector aint blameless either it was in the 90's I think where a lot of private sector worker took a pension break because of the boom...now the Public Sector are being asked to pick up the tab....Just where would you slash public sector jobs then?

[Nik_B 3,790]

"A teacher earning £32,000 can expect an inflation-proofed pension of £24,000, for which they currently contribute just 6.4pc of earnings. Those in the private sector would need a pension fund worth £500,000 to buy the same retirement income, which would require contributions of 33% of their net pay."

 

There maybe some inaccuracy but it's not a million miles away and demonstrates part of the problem.

[foxfan 479]

Why do people bitch about others protesting to secure themselves a fair deal and yet shrug their shoulders at government spending on foriegn aid, the EU, illegal wars of aggression, to name just a few.

They seem to have us all arguing over a few scraps while the real issues go unchallenged.

[Malt 379]

Why do people bitch about others protesting to secure themselves a fair deal and yet shrug their shoulders at government spending on foriegn aid, the EU, illegal wars of aggression, to name just a few.

They seem to have us all arguing over a few scraps while the real issues go unchallenged.

 

Divide and rule. As long as certain sections of the public are pissed off at each other, the government can do as they please.

[foxfan 479]

Why do people bitch about others protesting to secure themselves a fair deal and yet shrug their shoulders at government spending on foriegn aid, the EU, illegal wars of aggression, to name just a few.

They seem to have us all arguing over a few scraps while the real issues go unchallenged.

 

Divide and rule. As long as certain sections of the public are pissed off at each other, the government can do as they please.

 

My point exactly. How much longer do we stay on the hampster wheel before people see through this 'left, right, red blue' bullshit ?

[Nik_B 3,790]

Why do people bitch about others protesting to secure themselves a fair deal and yet shrug their shoulders at government spending on foriegn aid, the EU, illegal wars of aggression, to name just a few.

They seem to have us all arguing over a few scraps while the real issues go unchallenged.

 

Very true, we should withdraw from the EU with billions of pounds saved per year maybe it would even cover the deficit!

[undisputed 1,664]

Why do people bitch about others protesting to secure themselves a fair deal and yet shrug their shoulders at government spending on foriegn aid, the EU, illegal wars of aggression, to name just a few.

They seem to have us all arguing over a few scraps while the real issues go unchallenged.

 

Very true, we should withdraw from the EU with billions of pounds saved per year maybe it would even cover the deficit!

 

Taxing that fart that owns top shop would wipe out the deficit ...Its all smoke and mirrors this pension debate

[Catcher 1 639]

Dont know why anybodys botherd ,according to the tory press thousands ignored the strike and went to work anyway.

 

Thats what the tory papers want you to think....the Politicians are spouting the same rubbish about its affecting the children and people who want to work....strange stance to take when they've consigned thousands of kids to the dole and ruined communities. The tory dogma is purely for the rich always has been always will be, wolf in sheeps clothing.

 

Have you noticed the fallback position is its labours fault we have no choice...its bullshit if they fixed the tax laws there would be no national debt. How can it be right that multi billionaire/millionaires pay less tax than the average joe in the street.

 

 

 

Think were dealing with a few commuist,s.Undi.WILF being the leader.Did any one scream as loud when the MP where named and shamed .Did they f**k.Please some one tell me i dont have the right to strike.Other wise clamp it..Catcher.

[miller 18]

Here Here

All you red b*****ds (which if you are a union person is what you are) should be strung up as traitors.......you all very nearly decimated this country and would do again given half a chance.

 

Everyone in the public sector works for everyone in the private sector, fact......and I want you all at work.

Why should we work while you winge?........

[miller 18]

Well Said.

Dont know why anybodys botherd ,according to the tory press thousands ignored the strike and went to work anyway.

 

Thats what the tory papers want you to think....the Politicians are spouting the same rubbish about its affecting the children and people who want to work....strange stance to take when they've consigned thousands of kids to the dole and ruined communities. The tory dogma is purely for the rich always has been always will be, wolf in sheeps clothing.

 

Have you noticed the fallback position is its labours fault we have no choice...its bullshit if they fixed the tax laws there would be no national debt. How can it be right that multi billionaire/millionaires pay less tax than the average joe in the street.

 

 

What a load a simplistic socialist rhetoric, with very little foundation.

 

If Labour were doing such a great job then why were tax laws not changed during there 13 years in government, i will tell you why. Unfortunately, as much as we all hate it in a global economy it is very easy for big business to move to which ever country is the most tax efficient. That is the sad fact of capitalism.

 

The reality is during the Labour years the economy relied very heavily on the banking industry, that's why the Labour whores ignored all the dodgy practices and big bonuses.

Labour had neither the wit nor the will to create a stable balanced economy but instead spent there time, our money and a billions of borrowed money on creating a million public sector jobs (mainly Labour voters) and flooding the country with immigrants (mainly Labour voters).

 

So lets look at what Labour have given us-

 

Mass immigration with people from countries that have very poor work ethic, religious fundamentalism and intollerent prejudiced views.

 

Lied and cheated us out of a referendom and signed us up to the Lisbon Treaty, giving the unelected european parliament even more control over our laws.

 

Expanded the massive underclass, many of which are unemployable.

 

Took away parents and teachers ability to control a youth which has all the rights but no responsiblities.

 

The Hunting Ban.

 

In fact the Labour Party to me have damaged this country irreparably and just on the case of immigration alone I would despcribe most of the Labour politicians as traitors.