[quote]Two of the UK's biggest teaching unions were today on a collision course
with the Government after voting for further industrial action,
including strikes, over pensions, pay and job losses.
The National Union of Teachers (NUT) passed a resolution at its annual conference in Torquay seeking fresh walkouts as early as this summer amid concerns over the Government's changes to public sector pensions.
It came just hours after the NASUWT, which is holding its conference in Birmingham, agreed to escalate its industrial action campaign against attacks on pay, pensions, working conditions and job losses - raising the possibility of strikes in the autumn term.
The latest moves by the two unions means that schools across the country could now face walkouts from the summer onwards.
The NUT's motion, which was heard in private, called for the union to work with its local divisions with the "aim of organising a further one-day national strike before the end of June."
It also raised the possibility of targeted regional and local action in both the summer and autumn terms. Any action by the NUT could affect schools in England and Wales.
The motion instructed the executive to "seek to build a coalition of unions committed to further strike action in the summer term and beyond to defeat the Government's proposals".
Speaking after the debate, NUT general secretary Christine Blower said: "The overwhelming majority of teachers and their organisations have clearly rejected the Government's policy for the teachers' pension scheme.
"The NUT conference has now agreed a comprehensive strategy and position to make sure that we are able to take action in order to give life to that rejection of the pensions and in order to win something better for our members so that they don't have to work longer, pay more and get less."
Ms Blower said it was "important that the Government takes this seriously", adding that there were fears that the Government would announce will rise beyond 68 to 69 or 70.
She added that the "determination to continue this campaign is absolute."
Action over the summer term would coincide with the exams seasons, when tens of thousands of teenagers sit qualifications including GCSEs and A-levels.
Ms Blower yesterday insisted that it is not the union's intention to disrupt the exams period.
The NUT, along with a number of other trade unions, has been embroiled in a row with the Government over public sector pensions for more than a year.
It argues that the Government's proposals will leave teachers paying in more, working longer and receiving less when they retire.
Ministers insisted that changes are needed to ensure public sector pensions are sustainable for the future.
The union, which declined the Government's latest pensions offer, took part in a walkout over pensions on June 30 last year, as well as joining the TUC's national day of action on November 30.
NUT members in London also staged a one-day walkout last month.
This morning, the NASUWT passed a resolution arguing that continuing their industrial action campaign is "the best means of protecting and safeguarding the interests of teachers and state education until the next general election."
It warned that in the face of a "vicious and unjustified assault on teachers, it will be essential to intensify the industrial action campaign".
Proposing the NASUWT's resolution, union treasurer Brian Cookson said there had been an "unprecedented, vicious, prejudiced and totally unjustified attack on the public sector" in the last two years.
He said that education is on the front line of an attack on workers' rights, pay cuts, and increased pension costs.
"As teachers we are supreme professionals and we must be treated as such. As our general secretary has said, "teaching is not rocket science, it is more difficult than that!" We want to achieve the best for the children we teach. We care about the future. We believe in education as a right."
He added: "Colleagues, we must avoid at all costs a shopping list approach to industrial action. Industrial action must have a carefully planned focus, a strategic approach. During the next term our members will really see the effects of a protracted pay freeze, a rise in pension contributions, see their pay fall, look at the prospect of a pay freeze and draconian curbs on pay for three further years, the scrapping of national pay rates on top of the mounting assaults on our professionalism you witness every day.
"We not only have the capacity to respond, we can build on it daily throughout next term. We know we may be in it for the long haul but, colleagues, we will respond and we will win.
A Department for Education spokesman said the teachers' pensions deal is "as good as it gets".
"It guarantees teachers one of the best pensions available but keeps a lid on rising costs for the taxpayer," he said.
"We've been in serious talks for months with unions to address their concerns and reach a final settlement. Reforms to public sector pensions are essential - the status quo is not an option."
The spokesman added: "It is absurd to say our school reforms are a 'vicious assault' on the teaching profession. They are all about putting children first and raising standards."[/quote]
[url]http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/teaching-strikes-loom-after-ballot-7626628.html[/url]
Another strike, great. Only thing good about this is the day off we get. They have absolutely no reason to go on strike.
cool
[highlight](User was banned for this post ("Snipe (again)" - Dragon))[/highlight]
[QUOTE=SataniX;35473714]Another strike, great. Only thing good about this is the day off we get. They have absolutely no reason to go on strike.[/QUOTE]
Oh no, nothing! Their pension isn't being eroded, they didn't spend all that money paying into a system to get much less later, their wages aren't poor, their hours aren't long, and they aren't being consistently criticized when the curriculum keeps changing due to government 'rethinking' when all they want to do is teach for a decent wage and keep a decent pension.
No matter what you think about their wage levels compared to the private sector, few could argue that they don't do a horrible, thankless job and get screwed out of their hard-worked pension because the government didn't control for a bust properly.
Of course, since you're still 11 I'd hardly expect you to not see past your own nappies.
[QUOTE=MrEndangered;35473759]Oh no, nothing! Their pension isn't being erroded, they didn't spend all that money paying into a system to get much less later, their wages aren't poor, their hours aren't long, and they aren't being consistently criticized when their curriculum keeps changing due to government 'rethinking' when all they want to do is teach for a decent wage and keep a decent pension.[/QUOTE]
I agree with most of those points; however going on strike isn't the solution. Going on strike going up to exam period is going to harm students most of all.
[QUOTE=SataniX;35473779]I agree with most of those points; however going on strike isn't the solution.[/QUOTE]
Well your solution of [img]http://www.ecarshawaii.com/images/car-detailing/blank_space.jpg[/img] [i]is[/i] much better
[QUOTE=SataniX;35473779]I agree with most of those points; however going on strike isn't the solution. Going on strike going up to exam period is going to harm students most of all.[/QUOTE]
Damn right! Oh wait, no, because all the protests in London, the petitions and the public outcry didn't achieve anything. A strike when it's most convenient isn't a strike.
Better not be on the same day that I have an exam...
[QUOTE=The mouse;35473895]Better not be on the same day that I have an exam...[/QUOTE]
Go on strike about it.
[QUOTE=The mouse;35473895]Better not be on the same day that I have an exam...[/QUOTE]
Exam invigilators are employed by your school but generally aren't part of the same unions, so you'll still have exams.
[QUOTE=MrEndangered;35473759]Oh no, nothing! Their pension isn't being eroded, they didn't spend all that money paying into a system to get much less later, their wages aren't poor, their hours aren't long, and they aren't being consistently criticized when the curriculum keeps changing due to government 'rethinking' when all they want to do is teach for a decent wage and keep a decent pension.
No matter what you think about their wage levels compared to the private sector, few could argue that they don't do a horrible, thankless job and get screwed out of their hard-worked pension because the government didn't control for a bust properly.
Of course, since you're still 11 I'd hardly expect you to not see past your own nappies.[/QUOTE]
You might as well cancel out the sarcasm in your post, their wages are good considering what they do, their hours are hardly long and they get massive holidays, marking an 11 year old's maths homework when you yourself know degree level math is barely challenging stuff.. A lot more people do a LOT more difficult jobs that are more thankless and much worse paid.
Also just because people aren't paid loads of money doesn't mean they are automatically 'hard-working' and news-flash the government has been in power for less than 2 years, Labour's 13 year stint fucked us over when the recession came.
[QUOTE=RO;35474171]You might as well cancel out the sarcasm in your post, their wages are good considering what they do, their hours are hardly long and they get massive holidays, marking an 11 year old's maths homework when you yourself know degree level math is barely challenging stuff.. A lot more people do a LOT more difficult jobs that are more thankless and much worse paid.
Also just because people aren't paid loads of money doesn't mean they are automatically 'hard-working' and news-flash the government has been in power for less than 2 years, Labour's 13 year stint fucked us over when the recession came.[/QUOTE]
Teachers hours don't end when the students go home. Most teachers generally stay for a while to sort stuff out. And most teachers are marking homework at the weekend or during half-term breaks.
[QUOTE=Coffee;35474204]Teachers hours don't end when the students go home. Most teachers generally stay for a while to sort stuff out. And most teachers are marking homework at the weekend or during half-term breaks.[/QUOTE]
Most schools end at around 3, so staying on 2 more hours would give them a standard 9 - 5 job. A lot of jobs require additional work beyond normal work hours, and the work they do isn't back breaking by any means
[QUOTE=RO;35474171]You might as well cancel out the sarcasm in your post, their wages are good considering what they do, their hours are hardly long and they get massive holidays, marking an 11 year old's maths homework when you yourself know degree level math is barely challenging stuff.. A lot more people do a LOT more difficult jobs that are more thankless and much worse paid.
Also just because people aren't paid loads of money doesn't mean they are automatically 'hard-working' and news-flash the government has been in power for less than 2 years, Labour's 13 year stint fucked us over when the recession came.[/QUOTE]
You're kidding right? Teaching is a demanding job, you have a duty to teach all of your students and make sure they get information they need to be successful. Now you add that they have a guide-line of what to teach but they have to make it engaging and fun. They have to adjust to all styles of learning seeing as everyone learns differently. They spend a lot of time before and after school tutoring kids, grading hundreds of papers, etc. Some of that may be easy, but it is extremely time consuming.
They don't get paid enough in my opinion, how can you fuck over the people are teaching what will become the future work-force. They go though a lot of bullshit, they teach and baby sit.
Also just because it isn't a physically tough job it does not mean it is stressful and emotionally draining. I had a teacher once that actually broke down after class because the class was being so horrible towards her. She just sat in her desk and cried. She wasn't even a weak person or emotional nut-case, she just was stressed out.
Go try teaching or instructing and let me know how that goes for you seeing as it is so easy.
[QUOTE=MR-X;35474274]You're kidding right? Teaching is a demanding job, you have a duty to teach all of your students and make sure they get information they need to be successful. Now you add that they have a guide-line of what to teach but they have to make it engaging and fun. They have to adjust to all styles of learning seeing as everyone learns differently. They spend a lot of time before and after school tutoring kids, grading hundreds of papers, etc. Some of that may be easy, but it is extremely time consuming.
They don't get paid enough in my opinion, how can you fuck over the people are teaching what will become the future work-force. They go though a lot of bullshit, they teach and baby sit.[/QUOTE]
They teach hundreds of students in a life time in the same subject areas, it's rinse and repeat for them - they're trained on how to handle different learning methods too. I'm sure there is no obligation to tutor children out of school hours for free anyway, I think considering that school hours are 9 - 3 or so they do have the time to fit that in too.
But you're not fucking them over, they get a good wage and a good pension, like I said before teaching should be for the love of it not because you want a highly paid job
[QUOTE=RO;35474227]Most schools end at around 3, so staying on 2 more hours would give them a standard 9 - 5 job. A lot of jobs require additional work beyond normal work hours, and the work they do isn't back breaking by any means[/QUOTE]
My college ends at 4:15. Staff generally go home at 5.
In terms of homework, I get homework practically every day.Teachers have at least 4 classes, so they're going to have a lot of shit to mark. This isn't stuff an 11 year old would do, this is A level stuff. It takes a teacher (with degree level knowledge) a while to mark this stuff.
[QUOTE=RO;35474344]They teach hundreds of students in a life time in the same subject areas, it's rinse and repeat for them - they're trained on how to handle different learning methods too. I'm sure there is no obligation to tutor children out of school hours for free anyway, I think considering that school hours are 9 - 3 or so they do have the time to fit that in too.
But you're not fucking them over, they get a good wage and a good pension, like I said before teaching should be for the love of it not because you want a highly paid job[/QUOTE]
You do realize that they're teaching curriculum is constantly being updated and changed right?
What are you 12? teaching for the love not pay? Everyone wants money and to live better. That is why we strive for promotions, take better jobs. Doing something you like is a part of it, but pay and compensation is another part of it.
I can't help to think you're just ignorant on the subject.
[QUOTE=Coffee;35474359]My college ends at 4:15. Staff generally go home at 5.
In terms of homework, I get homework practically every day.Teachers have at least 4 classes, so they're going to have a lot of shit to mark. This isn't stuff an 11 year old would do, this is A level stuff. It takes a teacher (with degree level knowledge) a while to mark this stuff.[/QUOTE]
I must say that someone like an english teacher does have a tougher job at this level due to the sheer volume of essays that they must read and the judgement it takes, but something like maths or science is relatively simple to mark and not only that but to be a qualified teacher surely you have to find marking and teaching easy and straightforward or else you wouldn't get the job and you wouldn't successfully teach any children?
[QUOTE=MR-X;35474442]You do realize that they're teaching curriculum is constantly being updated and changed right?
What are you 12? teaching for the love not pay? Everyone wants money and to live better. That is why we strive for promotions, take better jobs. Doing something you like is a part of it, but pay and compensation is another part of it.
I can't help to think you're just ignorant on the subject.[/QUOTE]
You make it sound like it's being changed every day, the curriculum changes every few years and the content really doesn't change, you can't rewrite the laws of physics because you want something new to teach. And yes it is part of it, but teaching is not much of a career ladder to strive for huge pay.
[QUOTE=RO;35474452]I must say that someone like an english teacher does have a tougher job at this level due to the sheer volume of essays that they must read and the judgement it takes, but something like maths or science is relatively simple to mark and not only that but to be a qualified teacher surely you have to find marking and teaching easy and straightforward or else you wouldn't get the job and you wouldn't successfully teach any children?
[/quote]
Maths and Science homeworks are generally quite long at A-level. It takes a lot of time, and the questions themselves are generally very long, so a teacher has to look at all of these individual parts and check the marks fully for each part. Because the next lesson when the teacher's going through the homework, they'll obviously explain each part, but it would disturb the flow if a student pointed out that their work would be incorrectly marked. A teacher has to take their time when marking stuff, they have to be precise and careful. Add this up with the sheer amount of students and you've got a lot of time being taken up.
[QUOTE=RO;35474452]
You make it sound like it's being changed every day, the curriculum changes every few years and the content really doesn't change, you can't rewrite the laws of physics because you want something new to teach. And yes it is part of it, but teaching is not much of a career ladder to strive for huge pay.[/QUOTE]
Curriculum is adjusted every year, some subjects stay the same whereas others have more noticeable changes. Then you've also go to take into account whether the school or teachers in charge of that subject are going to change things within the pre-set limits of the specification from the exam board.
[QUOTE=Coffee;35474586]Maths and Science homeworks are generally quite long at A-level. It takes a lot of time, and the questions themselves are generally very long, so a teacher has to look at all of these individual parts and check the marks fully for each part. Because the next lesson when the teacher's going through the homework, they'll obviously explain each part, but it would disturb the flow if a student pointed out that their work would be incorrectly marked. A teacher has to take their time when marking stuff, they have to be precise and careful. Add this up with the sheer amount of students and you've got a lot of time being taken up.
Curriculum is adjusted every year, some subjects stay the same whereas others have more noticeable changes. Then you've also go to take into account whether the school or teachers in charge of that subject are going to change things within the pre-set limits of the specification from the exam board.[/QUOTE]
I've seen my teachers mark stuff in class and they've done it stupidly quick and given it back in the same lesson and it's all been marked correctly and in depth too, I can't argue that this is the same for all teachers as for some things it genuinely takes up a lot of time, but I won't believe that teachers have so little time because of it.
The changes that are made to the curriculum are nothing difficult for teachers, the core of what they teach never changes and so long as they know the differences then there is no real issue for them
[QUOTE=RO;35474645]I've seen my teachers mark stuff in class and they've done it stupidly quick and given it back in the same lesson and it's all been marked correctly and in depth too, I can't argue that this is the same for all teachers as for some things it genuinely takes up a lot of time, but I won't believe that teachers have so little time because of it.
The changes that are made to the curriculum are nothing difficult for teachers, the core of what they teach never changes and so long as they know the differences then there is no real issue for them[/QUOTE]
Teachers need to teach exactly what's on the mark scheme other wise they're wasting their time and the students time.
Unfortunatley RO since you do not have a deep insight into the teaching profession to think that it isn't a difficult profession and keep trying to bring it down a notch you need to understand that teachers have an abundance of things to do. This includes, making lesson plans for every single lesson of every day, creating medium term and long term planning for the whole school and specialist subject areas which needs to be engaging and interesting whilst having links to real-life contexts; participating in staff meetings making meaningful contributions whilst helping the school move forward with different policies.
Most people think teachers only mark homework this is not entirely true however as teachers must assess every individual pupil on their progress whilst coming up with ways those individual pupils can improve on their learning in relation to what they've done/already know. Assessment is a massive task and one that requires so much more than simply 'marking' work right or wrong.
I could go on forever but hopefully you'll come to understand that teaching as a profession is extremely intimidating task and I haven't even spoke of behaviour management yet.
So please before you go on a 'I hate teachers' spree because you most likely had poor teachers when you were in education, don't hate them all.
[QUOTE=Coffee;35474705]Teachers need to teach exactly what's on the mark scheme other wise they're wasting their time and the students time.[/QUOTE]
but if the core of what they are teaching doesn't change then surely a teacher can teach their students to have a wide understanding of the subject and then when it comes to exams they can apply their knowledge better and have a better understanding of why certain things happen and how?
[QUOTE=RO;35474741]but if the core of what they are teaching doesn't change then surely a teacher can teach their students to have a wide understanding of the subject and then when it comes to exams they can apply their knowledge better and have a better understanding of why certain things happen and how?[/QUOTE]
There just isn't time to do that.
[QUOTE=RO;35474171]You might as well cancel out the sarcasm in your post, their wages are good considering what they do, their hours are hardly long and they get massive holidays, marking an 11 year old's maths homework when you yourself know degree level math is barely challenging stuff.. A lot more people do a LOT more difficult jobs that are more thankless and much worse paid.
Also just because people aren't paid loads of money doesn't mean they are automatically 'hard-working' and news-flash the government has been in power for less than 2 years, Labour's 13 year stint fucked us over when the recession came.[/QUOTE]
those worse jobs dont effect the future of children across the country, and are manual labour jobs that can be replaced easily.
education needs to be held in the highest regard, higher than politics and higher than banking, insurance, all the trivial shit the government seems to waste its time on. cameron and his cabinet of billionaires will be gone soon enough once everyone sees through his shit
I wonder if teachers dislike the 'Learn to pass your exam' courses we get nowadays as much as the students do. I can imagine so; Considering that to become a teacher you need to have a real passion for a subject, it must be awful teaching kids in such a way that many of their passions are permanently destroyed.
I don't know. Most teachers dislike it when their students branch out on the topic even slightly.
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