Can i, should i claim back childcare costs for next weeks Teachers strike ?

gregg1

Lunar_Eclipse wrote: »

I fully appreciate the strike is not a holiday, although I am also disgusted that teachers, as degree educated professional members of society, think this behaviour is acceptable. I am sure no teacher would accept such behaviour inside their classroom from pupils 'striking' from school work/tests etc.

Additionally, whilst I totally agree that teachers are underpaid, I have been led to understand that this strike is over pay rises (not level of pay) and given the current economic climate, I do not share their belief that a pay rise this year of 2.45% is unacceptable. This action and mindset is appauling IMO. And I have lost all respect for the three teachers in my daughters school who are striking. What planet are they on? My husband works in the City and since starting his new job 11 weeks ago now, the company's share price has almost halved and a significant portion of the workforce are being made redundant. And this is in a well respected multinational company that is doing well. Teachers should be worried about losing their jobs, not complaining about a pay rise! Grrrghhhh.

Why? Huge numbers of teachers are currently leaving the profession of their own choice. There is also a lack of suitably qualified people joining the profession, specifically in the core subjects. That should tell you something !

Lunar_Eclipse

gregg1 wrote: »

That should tell you something !

It does. But not what I think you are implying. Pay has not been an attraction (if it ever was?) since the 60's I think, which is for those teachers coming up to retirement. The issue with falling numbers has been going on since before I decided not to become a teacher (in the early 90's), primarily because of pay compared to other careers/starting salaries. However I do actually think it is a great job for anyone who likes children and wants/needs to combine a family with working.

From what I have read in the Press over the years, it appears teachers are leaving because the job is not what it used to be. Pupil behaviour and education policy changes are mentioned time and again - aka increased admin, falling standards and increased pressure (tests). I have not read about pay being the issue turning lots away. Is that the case?

Anyhow, I am aware that this may sound negative, which couldn't be further from the truth in terms of my view of teaching/teachers. I think they do a great job and I have many friends who are teachers. Lots have left to be SAHM, interestingly nothing to do with their job at all.

benood

andyrules wrote: »

Whilst I agree that the timing is not good, I am at a loss to understand why you think that having a degree should preclude one from striking!

I'm with Lunar eclipse on this - how many other professions go on strike to get more money? Also what sort of message does it give to their pupils?

The problem may be more that most schools are in the public sector and thus are more unionised and subject to national pay bargaining - are any private schools closing for the day?

benood

gregg1 wrote: »

Why? Huge numbers of teachers are currently leaving the profession of their own choice. There is also a lack of suitably qualified people joining the profession, specifically in the core subjects. That should tell you something !

This is always true at the top of a boom period for the economy - over the next few years teacher recruitment will recover as graduates look for job security which teachers have in spades.

Whelk2006

I have rarely read or heard as much false or misinformation as seems to be generated by the strike tomorrow, starting with those people who seem to think schools are for free childcare while the two parents work to those people who have simply no idea as to what a good teacher actually does and what hours he or she works.

My wife is a Maths teacher in a secondary school in Oxford, whose catchment area consists of an area in Cowley which is the most deprived area in this part of the UK, whose children come from broken homes or single parent families or from families who don't give a damn. She works long hours, leaving home at half past seven in the morning and rarely gets home before six in the evening. Oxford schools use a 5-term year, so no 8-week summer holidays. When she gets home she sits down for half an hour for a cup of tea and a quick read of the local rag, after that rarely does an evening go by when she doesn't spend another 1-2 hours writing reports and planning lessons for the next day or week. At weekends she spends time doing the same thing, and during the period of the term when the children are doing their SATs or mock SATs she will spend many out-of-school hours marking and writing reports. At year end I help her with her individual child reports because if I didn't she would not have enough time to get them done, so I spend a couple of hours a night completing spreadsheets and typing her reports. Many an evening she comes in tired, dispirited and worn-out, but she still goes back for more.

For this she gets paid around £34,000 per year, and she pays for her pension, it's not a gift by any means.

She has a higher degree and has been teaching for over 30 years, so I'd venture to suggest her salary and pension is derisory compared to what she might be earning if she was working in the private sector, and the working conditions are abysmal in such a school.

She does it because she wants to give the children she teaches the very best education they can get in a state school, it's a vocation as much as a job.

She's not striking tomorrow because she's not a member of the NUT, the school is closing for the pupils but the non NUT staff will be going-in as usual and will be fully employed in trying to catch-up just a little.

The teachers deserve a decent pay award, for years they've been derided and made the scapegoats for the results arising from the abysmal way education has been used by governments of all colours to further their political and ideological ends.

More power to them, I say. And no, I'm not a teacher, no way would or could I do that job.

Rant over!

bank_of_slate

This has caused WW3 in my house as both my kids are at the same school, my daughter is off but her older brother isn't!
They usually go to after school club together on a Thursday but I informed them that as my daughter won't be there this week due purely to the strike I do not expect to be billed for this session!

If the weather is nice I've a good mind to take them both off for the day
...Linda xx

curtlyb

Whelk2006 wrote: »

people who seem to think schools are for free childcare while the two parents work

Come on, read the thread, “False and misinformation” …… you started it

Whelk2006 wrote: »

leaving home at half past seven in the morning and rarely gets home before six in the evening

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
Please read my previous post about teachers starting work as they open their front door in the morning, some people would love to be able to see their kids in the morning !!! (or evening for that matter)

Whelk2006 wrote: »

For this she gets paid around £34,000 per year, and she pays for her pension, it's not a gift by any means

That’s not a bad wage and together with the Gilt Edged retirement is a very nice package.

What salary does she think she is actually worth ?????
What job does she think she would have been better off doing, with a better package, in the private sector ?????
I frequently speak to a head teacher on this subject and he reminds me that he would have been earning £70-£80k a year outside teaching….. I ask him ‘doing what’ to which he can never offers a reply, he’s never had a job outside of education and, by his wife’s (a teacher also) own admission, he has become institutionalised and is living in the dark ages……. I’ve got to admit, he’s a bl00dy good teacher though !

I have great admiration for teachers and the job/vocation which they do, it is without doubt a difficult job but generally offers a VERY comfortable living both whilst employed and in retirement in addition to offering excellent job security.
I wish every employee working for UKplc good luck in trying to secure a pay rise this year which reflects the increase in the cost of living but please don't make me pay for it as well :rolleyes:

bank_of_slate

Well that's Spanish class taken care of!
...Linda xx

borntobefree

Whelk2006 wrote: »

The teachers deserve a decent pay award, for years they've been derided and made the scapegoats for the results arising from the abysmal way education has been used by governments of all colours to further their political and ideological ends.

I totally agree with the whole of your post. But why now. They've had a decade of boom to complain..Why wait until the economy is just about to go into recession Why wait until the country can least afford it It just makes them look out of touch.

gregg1

Lunar_Eclipse wrote: »

It does. But not what I think you are implying. Pay has not been an attraction (if it ever was?) since the 60's I think, which is for those teachers coming up to retirement. The issue with falling numbers has been going on since before I decided not to become a teacher (in the early 90's), primarily because of pay compared to other careers/starting salaries. However I do actually think it is a great job for anyone who likes children and wants/needs to combine a family with working.

From what I have read in the Press over the years, it appears teachers are leaving because the job is not what it used to be. Pupil behaviour and education policy changes are mentioned time and again - aka increased admin, falling standards and increased pressure (tests). I have not read about pay being the issue turning lots away. Is that the case?

Anyhow, I am aware that this may sound negative, which couldn't be further from the truth in terms of my view of teaching/teachers. I think they do a great job and I have many friends who are teachers. Lots have left to be SAHM, interestingly nothing to do with their job at all.

I think its about the whole package. You mention falling standards, increased pressure, increased admin, pupil behaviour and you are absolutely right. However, once all those are taken into account then surely the pay must come into the equation as well?