Teachers going on strike ....

[Ann]

Do you agree with their actions?

I don't - it is totally irresponsible when they are dealing with children - their attitude goes against all good parenting - That is, often in life you can't have everything you want - you just have to accept it without a tantrum.

[Ann]

My parents always taught me " I WANT gets NOTHING"

[bednobs]

well they are are not the parents though are they?

[bellazella]

Disagree, i used to feel that teachers were always complaining, its about time parents took control and not expecting teachers to do it

[sherrardk]

I heard some idiot on the news saying they should plan some sort of action in the school holidays - well that's hardly going to be effective if it doesn't actually impact on anyone else.

[Ann]

I disagree that children's education should suffer because of their selfish actions, when I worked in a school, some teachers refused to obey their unions, they were the dedicated ones, while the rest were militant and just walked out with a "couldn't care less about the children" attitude. It just showed which ones were good teachers and which ones were not so good.

[sherrardk]

That's complete nonsense - one missed day of schooling is hardly the end of the world (parents are quick enough to let their children go on school trips or take them out of school for cheap holidays). Some teachers now face working until they are 68 years old, do you want someone that age teaching your children/grandchildren?

[boxtops]

Same for all public servants - retirement is no longer a given at 60/65.

[albaqwerty]

Wouldn't mind if they actuallly taught and made lessons interesting. Most teachers I've come across do that/

[friedgreentomato]

What rubbish Ann how many years ago was that ? Parent rarely back patents up these days so I say yes go for it!!

[boxtops]

The teachers are supposed to be there for the pupils, not the other way round.

[Ann]

Sorry to disagree Sher but in my humble opinion I think an experienced teacher of 68 would be preferable to a young "trendy" teacher who lets the class run riot (of course not in every case but I have seen it) but there again I am probably in the minority on this - you could say I'm of the "old school" opinion. When I went to school many of my teachers were in their 60s, they didn't take early retirement in those days. Providing they are fit and healthy I see nothing wrong in teaching (or working in other jobs) at 68 years old.

[excelsior-1]

not just with teachers - but with any occupation, strking is not the answer. apart from disrupting and infuriating the public, the result is a loss of revenue to the affected company and, at the end of the day, that will mean even less money in the coffers with which to settle the dispute.
surely it is illogical to do that

[boxtops]

That was my experience too Ann - certainly the older teachers seemed that old! They were "old school" and we had good teaching. As for being too old at 68 - I hope I'm still working (or able to) when I reach that age (not terrribly far away these days!)

[mushroom25]

action of this sort is best taken when it's likely to have a noticeable effect. I'd say that striking in the run-up to, or during, the exam period falls nicely into the "noticeable" box.

[boxtops]

that's true, mushroom - anything that'll affect school results, or SATs...

[sherrardk]

I see nothing wrong with people working at 68 but most teachers can't hack it at 58 let alone 68 (it is a physically demanding job) and I feel that discipline would suffer as the pupils (especially in a secondary school) would have a field day with an older teacher.

[cazzz1975]

I would also that teachers were older rather than younger, I have seen too many shocking examples of fastracked teachers to have any faith in them anymore

[Ann]

I would never go on strike - it smacks of disloyalty and irresponsibility. Strikes don't usually impact on the people you want it to (local councils in the case of schools) but just causes widespread inconvenience and frustration on innocent people caught up in them, I can't see the point of strikes, there will never be a majority backing them up.

[mightyWBA]

My old man is 69 next month and still working full time plus half days Saturday and Sundays in a factory...He's been doing this since 1958.
Teachers need to live in the real world,yes they have a stressful job but at least they are well paid and have a guaranteed income.
I'm self employed and don't know what I'm doing in 2 weeks time to earn enough to pay my bills.
They should knuckle down and get on with it instead of moaning.

[Ann]

I can't speak for today's schools, but in my day we had huge respect for the older teachers, they had real discipline but we really liked them and trusted them. I have never forgotten my Grammar School days and some of the older teachers - we remembered them and still spoke to them when we saw them in town long after they had retired - many now sadly long gone. But <sigh> there is hardly any "respect" left for anyone these days, I think that is why everything has gone wrong in this country.