Friday 18 October 2013

More Of This, Please!

A father has warned he will defy a teachers’ strike and take his children to school on the day it closes. Business leader Paul Yates-Smith said the only alternative was for Saltdean Primary School to compensate him for his lost income and childcare costs.
Hurrah! He stands no chance of getting it, mind you...
In a letter to the school he said: “I am afraid I am unable to support the closure of the school for your industrial action.
“I shall be bringing my children to school for them to receive the education that they are entitled too (sic).
“I would also like to point out that as parents our time and income is severely affected by this action.
“If you are not able to staff the school adequately, it is only fair that you pay the same fine that you recently pointed out we as parents need to pay for unauthorised absences.
“Please notify me which entrance I should bring my children to on October 17 or where I should send the invoice for the fine your staff should incur for unauthorised absence.”
If only this was enforceable. Wouldn't it be great?
In a letter to parents addressing the strike action, head teacher Suzanne Morgan said the decision was taken to close the school following a risk assessment. She wrote: “Teachers deeply regret the disruption caused by strike action.
“However, they feel they have no alternative other than to demonstrate the seriousness of their present concerns.”
Hollow words, as always. As Mr Yate-Smith points out, there ARE alternatives:
Mr Yates-Smith added: “I’m fed up of getting just five days’ notice when teachers want to go on strike.
Why can’t they arrange for supply teachers to come in?
“I’m not convinced the school has made any effort to ensure my children get an education on the day.”
Of course they haven't. They don't need to. They know they are protected from any consequences of this action.

Isn't it about time this changed?

9 comments:

Disenfranchised of Buckingham said...

Isn't it strange how one often reads what one wants to see rather than what is printed.

I had to double check that you said "Isn't it about time they were hanged?"

I thought time for the lamp posts. Now disappointed.

Woman on a Raft said...

They are more than protected. If the school has to shut for H&S reasons, the striking teachers still get paid, rather than docked the money as they would be if they walked out.

I have threatened to launch an FOI to find out how many teachers are involved in the strike action to see if the head teacher is in fact using the whole school to facilitate a freebie holiday.

If teachers want to go on strike, they already have 13 weeks in which to do it during which they can do so without out inconveniencing any children.

Rickie said...

You can't blame teachers they thought after decades of favourable pay and conditions plus jobs for life that they were untouchable.

i would do the same as them and go on strike, the recession, the debt, public money and all that bollocks does not matter, i would try and protect my situation just like them.

I upset a not bothering to work for a few years art teacher this week by suggesting her holidays were generous, 3 other teachers joined in suggesting holidays were really working from home days,...load of bollock that is too, i live opposite a music teacher and he never takes anything in his house but his empty lunchbox, oh and the art teacher "home schools" her daughter.

Have some sympathy for public service cuts, you know you would scream too, There is no right or wrong or moral high ground in this dispute, its wether you have the clout and an army of foot soldiers to cause a ruck to beat the government.

Macheath said...

WOAR, well said!

It never ceases to amaze me that, while the unions react with hostility to policies they regard as demoting them to the status of childminders, they show a willingness to walk away from the classroom that appears to support the implication.

If you believe that what you do really matters and that every one of your lessons counts, how can you abandon your post for the day with a clear conscience?

selsey.steve said...

"... receive the education that they are entitled too (sic)."
... to which they are entitled.
"... our time and income is severely affected .."
"... our time and income are affected .."
I think that Daddy missed out on some of his lessons at school.

Alan Scott said...

selsey steve.
It is possible that Daddy did not have the benefit of whatever level of education you were fortunate/privileged enough to enjoy, and is so tired at the end of a working day such as some teachers may not understand, that he can't check his spelling,grammar, syntax etc.
Or maybe you are a clever teacher looking to score points?

Lynne at Counting Cats said...

There is a silver lining. Look on it as a No Lefty Indoctrination Day for the kids.

JuliaM said...

"I had to double check that you said "Isn't it about time they were hanged?""

:D

"If the school has to shut for H&S reasons, the striking teachers still get paid, rather than docked the money as they would be if they walked out. "

:/

"Have some sympathy for public service cuts, you know you would scream too,"

Would I?

"If you believe that what you do really matters and that every one of your lessons counts, how can you abandon your post for the day with a clear conscience? "

Two suggestions spring to mind. You don't believe that, or you don't have a conscience...

JuliaM said...

"I think that Daddy missed out on some of his lessons at school."

Maybe. But nothing wrong with daddy's reasoning!

"There is a silver lining. Look on it as a No Lefty Indoctrination Day for the kids."

Even if they browse the net all day, they stand a higher chance of learning something!