Teachers on Strike

Feebie

I'm a long term lurker on 'striking teachers' threads but have come out of hiding to laugh about working from 9-3 with 17 weeks holiday a year!

I'm not a moaning teacher (and am also a non-striker) and please believe me that the reality is somewhere between this and the opposing view which seems to portray teachers as working all hours including the holidays.

I teach Maths in a secondary school and have some additional responsibilities, for which I am paid financially and with a couple of extra free periods. I get to work at 7.45 and leave at varying times between 3.30pm (Friday) and 8.30pm (Parents' Evenings / Open Evenings / Information Evenings). Typically, though, I leave at 4.30 to 5. I bring marking and prep home with me, as the free time in school simply isn't enough (I could work later but choose not to - hence, bringing work home).

But, I am paid a decent salary and I get 13 weeks holiday per year, which is, for the most part, holiday. And yes, I should receive a decent pension - I've been teaching a while now so will be better off than new entrants.

I really wish that the two extremes would realise that there is a middle ground. Yes, we work hard and do the best by our pupils (for the most part - there are poor teachers out there) but not to the extent that is often cited - i.e. til 10pm every evening and all of the holidays!

poet123

My son teaches English, but he wishes he taught Maths!! The marking for English is onerous if done often and correctly. He is in school till after 6pm every night and is often marking late at night. It is half term next week, he is going in for two days as there are exams in November.

The stress is related to league tables. He teaches a bottom set class in a high performing school. He is expected to get those kids a C grade for the sake of the league tables. Gove has shifted the goal posts on how re sits count towards league tables recently, so every other school in the area has pulled their kids from the November exam in case their results affect the league tables. His school has decided that for this year they will put the kids first.....and let them try the exam they have worked for. If they fail to achieve not only will the school drop in the tables, but from 2014 when his performance is graded against his result he will lose out.

So, he has children who in reality have little hope of achieving a C and yet, he will be judged and paid on whether they do. That is just one facet of teaching today.

And watch Teaching Yorkshire for others......

ILW

True professionals do not go on strike.

Feebie

ILW wrote: »

True professionals do not go on strike.

I don't but do respect my colleagues' right to do so. There is little choice within the education sector so its not easy to 'vote with your feet' and change job (to avoid the changes in t&c's). As such, what options do you have if you disagree with such changes being foisted upon you?

Concerns over performance related pay are genuine - if judgements are solely made on the basis of making 3 levels progress or achieving minimum target grades, this is surely an unfair system given the unpredictable nature of teenage children (don't get me wrong, this is part of the job I love!)? I'm not saying that pay related to performance is inherently wrong, just that it needs very careful handling.

Feebie

poet123 wrote: »

My son teaches English, but he wishes he taught Maths!! The marking for English is onerous if done often and correctly. He is in school till after 6pm every night and is often marking late at night. It is half term next week, he is going in for two days as there are exams in November.

The stress is related to league tables. He teaches a bottom set class in a high performing school. He is expected to get those kids a C grade for the sake of the league tables. Gove has shifted the goal posts on how re sits count towards league tables recently, so every other school in the area has pulled their kids from the November exam in case their results affect the league tables. His school has decided that for this year they will put the kids first.....and let them try the exam they have worked for. If they fail to achieve not only will the school drop in the tables, but from 2014 when his performance is graded against his result he will lose out.

So, he has children who in reality have little hope of achieving a C and yet, he will be judged and paid on whether they do. That is just one facet of teaching today.

And watch Teaching Yorkshire for others......

I started off life teaching Business and Economics so have to agree that marking essays is horrendous! Interesting to hear that your son's school are going ahead with the November resits - so many I hear of have pulled pupils out of the exams. So unfair to do this so late in the course

poet123

Feebie wrote: »

I started off life teaching Business and Economics so have to agree that marking essays is horrendous! Interesting to hear that your son's school are going ahead with the November resits - so many I hear of have pulled pupils out of the exams. So unfair to do this so late in the course

Exactly, but both he and the school will pay the price for trying to be fair if the kids don't achieve.

I doubt the vast majority of parents really appreciate the way their kids are being used as pawns, so much easier to castigate the teachers for what makes the headlines. It is what doesn't make prominent news which should be worrying parents.

My son is at home now, marking.

System

poet123 wrote: »

Exactly, but both he and the school will pay the price for trying to be fair if the kids don't achieve.

I doubt the vast majority of parents really appreciate the way their kids are being used as pawns, so much easier to castigate the teachers for what makes the headlines. It is what doesn't make prominent news which should be worrying parents.

My son is at home now, marking.

Leaving his homework to the last minute. You should tell your son off.

poet123

goater78 wrote: »

Leaving his homework to the last minute. You should tell your son off.

Highly amusing, or it would be if he wasn't marking every night;)

goonarmy

That teachers do well is irrelevant. They are right to strike cos thats the last resort.

gregg1

JReacher1 wrote: »

My friends a maths teacher. He worked long hours for his first year but now he just reuses lesson plans so doesn't really work long hours at all. He's home most days for 4pm. He does his marking on the train too and from work and says its an easy life.

Like everything you can make teaching appear strenuous, but the reality is its a pretty easy career and you do get long holidays.

It would be interesting to see what his results are with an attitude like that!