The annual Teachers threaten to strike thread

lots of teachers are on part time by choice another advantage of the job lots of other professions can not opt for. Job sharing, parental leave, sick leave, extended maternity ect... higher paid roles in businesses do not have circulars which guarantee this flexibility and usually the work is not there when they come back as another teacher has covered and done the job.

This flexibility comes at a cost for funding the services so if higher wages are a big concern perhaps they would consider trading it with some other costs. However I believe it is this level of flexibility is what draws people to teaching so cannot see the majority wanting higher wages at cost of flexibility.

I am not here to defend teachers.

Typically, I provide data, facts, comparisons.

I feel teaching should be a well-paid job.

I support teachers in some of their requests.

I do not agree with other things, like "in-service" days during the term, etc.

I acknowledge that the PS pension is good, however, it has been made less generous.

Private sector calling for the same ...

Ya but this is a teacher bashing thread.

Remember...

Public sector = Bad.

Private sector = Good.

I think there were rumblings initially from teacher unions about getting the pandemic bonus too...

Primary and secondary teachers get in service days and training days, along with months of holidays between summer, Christmas, Easter, midterms. Whoever can compare that kind of a job to a career offering the same in the private sector, please let me know.

Wait.. are you suggesting no other sector get paid training days? Also ask most teachers how bloody useless and resented many of those days are (at second level anyway). I'd happily never do one of those waste of time JCT inservice days again. The out of hours training is much more nuanced and you can sign up for things that are actually useful.

I don't why I'm bothering to answer this, you obviously know nothing about teaching. Lecturing at third level is not the same and it would appear you could not hack that yourself.

Teaching in not just about the content it is delivering the content, it involves working with a wide variety of young people and also dealing with parents.

I'm secondary but have absolutely nothing but admiration for primary school teachers. Their skill is not about knowing the primary school curriculum it is delivering the primary school curriculum.

Our main work is the pupils not the content.

If you don't know that it is just as well you don't teach any more in any capacity.

I won't bash Teachers but have to say the vox pop played on the news at one was a little bizzare , a number of Teachers interviewed at the conferences.

Talk of not being able to afford diesel, young Teachers unable to afford Rent in cities, Cost of living challenges generally, one even said there has to be a level playing field and finally not a hope of young Teachers getting or being able to afford mortgages 🤔

The one comment that stuck out was, young Teachers unable to afford food, Emma O Kelly , Education Correspondent was so aghast and taken aback she had to take a deep breath, she said in all her years covering education and these conferences , she's never heard such a concern re food affordability.

I thought for a while and realised , isn't the rest of the country , working families, private sector employees facing the exact same challenges 🤔🤔, do they get such a platform 🤔, not on your nelly do they .

I am not here to defend teachers. They do alright.

Decent pay. A shedload of paid holidays the private sector can only dream of.

When can I go on my holidays? June, July, August, Ill just pick. Three weeks at Christmas, A week in any of the mid terms.

It's attacking when it's full of half truths and begrudgery

Paid holidays if in a permanent position. Not otherwise. 2 weeks at Christmas. Also in spite of our holidays we have above the OECD average for class contact hours.