Mix 94.5

everything that accent is spot on. If teachers dont like there work give it up and get a real job !!

Posted by Woody Monday 8 September, 2008 06:16 AM

Abuse from students who tell you to f*** off. Physically threatened after school. Coming to school early to feed kids breakfast becasue their parents wont do it. Students dont want to work no matter what you try. Work during holidays preparing lessons. Excursions where you have the kids 5 days straight with no breaks and no extra pay. Chasing up parents about their child who is not performing only to cop abuse from them that I am doing something wrong. Giving extra time after school for students who are struggling for no extra pay. Yes we are having a great time as teachers! I have worked in the private sector and I know teaching is overworked , under paid and disrespected by all parents, politicians and the education dept. Just keep the status quo and watch the illiteracy and crime rate go up.

Posted by Randall Brink Friday 5 September, 2008 07:41 AM

A lot of teachers have been whinging about the stresses of their job.

To be honest I have to agree. Their salary (their degree is an easier one relative to degrees that make you work harder) is great for the amount of time they work. Sure they have to put up with kids. For 70k a year you are expected to have something that isn't good about the job.

There is always something wrong with a job. That's why you are paid for it. But up to 90k is ridiculous. I know people who work long hours, put up with more stresses, have to do long commutes (instead of working locally like teachers do) and get paid less and have longer and harder degrees.

You have it good, under the old system while everyone else fights for wages. I have no sympathy.

Posted by MK Tuesday 2 September, 2008 06:40 AM

This is ridiculous - Teachers are complaining that they will only be earning over $84k after only being on the job for 8 years by 2011 and up to $91k!!!! I know people who have degrees and work just as hard as teachers in worse environments and only get $50 - $60k a year after working for 8 years! In many jobs - you don't even get a CPI annual adjustment - you are lucky to get a 2% pay increase in a 24 month period if any at all! Any pay increase accepted is guaranteed for ALL teachers, no matter how good they are. Please teachers, come work in the real world where a lot of people are not under a union and each of us have to fight individually to get a pay increase and have to prove their worth to get a pay increase!! I have been in jobs myself (and yes - I have a uni degree) where I am told if I do not like the pay - then leave.......so teachers - leave if you do not like it! That's what the rest of us face - no option to strike, only one option - go find another job!

However, apart from pay - teachers get a lot more benefits. What about the 12 weeks holidays? All other employees in the workforce only get 4 weeks per annum. Teachers get an additional 8 weeks! Take this into consideration on their salary and in effect an $85k salary is relevant to $102k!!! The average person in WA earns $58k! And teachers are complaining in WA that their pay is barely above the average? I know a lot of teachers who don't work in holidays...maybe those that do should get paid more and those that don't, well don't? Personal development? If I wish to take extra courses to further my career - guess what - I have to do it my own time (after work, in my holidays) - Teachers get PD days....

What about performance...? To qualify in teaching for a pay increase - you only have to have taught for set numbers of years - regardless of your abilities. So bad teachers get the same as good teachers! Funny - isn't this the real problem of teaching and why teachers do not receive the respect they expect? Why would anyone respect the industry of teaching when poor performers are awarded at the same level of good teachers? Is that how their students are marked? It is ok for students to be given a grade to determine their future - but not teachers?

Teachers also get offered permanency!! Yes that's right. Many Teachers are pretty much guaranteed a job regardless of their performance. Sure, they have to earn it 1st - but what other jobs in the real world offer this?

So Teachers - if you want a real world situation for a "real world" salary - here is what you need to do :

(a) Go to 4 weeks annual leave and give up your extra 8 weeks
(b) Get rid of permanency (in the jobs I have had working for some seriously well known organisations my "contract" commenced at 9am and finished at 5pm each day of work!). if I did not perform - I could risk losing my job!
(c) Be assessed on performance - quality of work, such factors as ability to plan classes, ability to educate students (ie: how well do you pass on the information you are teaching), how well do you control your class, how efficient are you at getting reports done, assisgnments and tests marked etc...(note I am not even suggesting being graded on student results - just on parameters that are under control of the teacher).
(d) Do not expect pay increases just because CPI has gone up (and I thought teachers were smart - surely they can understand the inflationary effect wages have and the economic spiral it can create???). And btw - those teachers saying that the new offer will only cover CPI - based on they believe that CPI will be 4.5% for the next 3 - 4 years - nice - where did you get your crystal ball? What if inflation over the next 3 - 4 years settles at 3% - will you give up the extra you are asking for?

I personally would not want to join an industry where a low achiever gets paid the same as a high achiever. I mean, why try, why work hard when in the end you all the get the same salary based on year's of work...not performance. THIS is why teaching cannot attract the real go-getters, the quality personnel they desire - as these people are attracted to jobs that reward performance.

So WA Teachers - either accept the 15.8 - 21% pay increase with some good grace and be thankful you will become the best paid teachers in Australia (and remind yourself it could be worse - you could be working 60 hours a week earning $40k a year with only 4 weeks annual leave)...or :

Accept my points (a) to (d). Then I have no problem with the best teachers getting paid $150k per year - as long as they perform - which means you have to accept the bad teachers will only get paid maybe $50k a year.....WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD!

Look - after all this - teaching is not easy - but so are plenty of other jobs out there that contribute to societies well being...what annoys me most is that groups of workers who have a union, who when they strike cause issues for others - get the results. What happens to us individuals who cannot fall back on these things - well we just get on with life and work hard!

Posted by Accent Saturday 23 August, 2008 03:51 PM

Interesting comments... While I don't entirely agree with Sandi or the Teacher. I think the 21% pay rise is a farce... My children are in their late 20s now and my english, grammar and maths is alot better than theirs! We still have kids dropping out because they don't know how to read and write? How does this happening? It’s not always the parents fault and school attendance is not a guarantee --- the secret is engaging them – so they want to come to school? How many teachers and schools do this? When these bad kids start misbehaving – many teachers and schools start the “oh it wasn’t us --- it’s your kid” crap! Followed quickly by the “how do we get rid of them” suspension and expulsion tactics. The answer many schools have to difficult kids who they have failed! So if our schools and teachers are doing so well --- why in the 90’s did we have implementation of a National Literacy and Numeracy assessment? Why did Outcomes Based Education Programs roll-out here in WA? Both assessment type programs which tell you that there are problems?? But I know teachers who will say ---- the Literacy and Numeracy test don’t tell me anything! So if children are falling below the benchmark in all area’s tell us what??? Go figure that one! So if teachers and schools were doing a wonderful job? Shouldn’t are children’s academic results be showing this???? Jeeezz, how did this happen with the so-called hard working dedicated teachers slogging away! I think teachers are a bunch of overpaid, whinging control freaks, quick to spout the poor bugger me crap, I agree that kids these days are hard work --- but they are a product of our making! Show us some results with our kids !!!!! If I have anything to do with my grandchildren's education -- they will be going private!

Posted by Concerned grandparent Wednesday 23 July, 2008 09:11 AM

Listen here Sandi...get your facts right before you attack anyone from any profession. I have been teaching in secondary schools for 14 yrs now and I know more about our conditions than you could ever know. You are making assumptions which is always the wrong thing to do. As you have so many great ideas why don't you become a teacher? You probably wouldn't because the stress levels would be to high for you to deal with. Not mentioning the fact that students have NO hesitation in telling teachers to 'get f'd'. Also, teachers are NOT the ones changing the curriculum..if you have a problem with that, then write a letter to the state government and education department..they are responsible.

I have worked in retail and a call centre in the past Sandi and can assure you that teachers deserve every pay rise they can possibly get. My advice is for you to keep your opinions to yourself, especially if you know nothing about the profession you are complaining about.

Posted by teacher Saturday 19 July, 2008 10:39 AM

Where on earth do your children go to school Sandi? I too have 4 children 2 at University and 2 still in high school, we have moved a lot with my husbands job and I have NEVER come across this in the several schools that my children have attended, including country schooling. I can totally understand you being annoyed about the homework and relief teachers...do something about it....move them!

Posted by Tanya Sunday 22 June, 2008 02:34 PM

What is happening? My father is a principle of a struggling country high school and has put in at least 70 hours a week, for the past decade. If he chose to forsake the public system and move into business he would probably double his wage overnight. The reason he is striking is for better conditions for the students and teachers and to raise the pay above inflation… Yes, in that three year span that I as an engineer I will receive probably greater than a 30% payrise above inflation, the proposal is to give the teachers a pay-decrease once inflation is taken into account. Do you still wonder why teaching has one of the lowest TER’s for university?
Yes, there are bad teachers, but the vast majority of good teachers do amazing things. You may struggle with one or two teenagers at home, they have to instruct, discipline and council groups of 30+, 6 times a day. How can you complain about the quality of teaching graduates, and then reduce the next generations pay? This will only further reduce standards of entry, resulting in your kids’ education standards declining.
If your child’s teacher is not performing, act to improve this, not punish one of the noblest professions as a whole.

Posted by Joe Costello Wednesday 18 June, 2008 10:00 AM

Here we go again, teachers threatening strike action! It is my view that they really don't deserve any more money, but rather they be hauled over the coals for their lack of teaching. I have 4 children, and over the years I have noted that the curriculum is unchanged, ie, all the homework assignments are the same year in and year out. The in-school projects are the same each year, kids in yr 5 are given yr 3 homework sheets, yr 7's get yr 5 homework, the teachers say it is revision! Well my kids have better things to do like playing outside, discovering nature and just being a kid! Also homework is marked in class time...shouldn't teachers be taking it home to mark? At least 2 or 3 days a week they have relief teachers (because the others are going off on "development days") who hand out colouring in sheets, or they sit around at assemblies and listen to the principal big note herself and/or staff. The music teacher is still teaching kids (in yr 7) to sing "Teddy Bear's Picnic" after so many years...big effort on her part! Teachers are very often rude and degrading to children and don't admit when they are wrong or apologise to the child when at times it has been necessary. I think its time the government should look at paying mothers to stay home and educate their children and arrange a couple of afternoons per week for sporting/social activities at school...this appears to be what the teachers are better at. Also...just a note...at my daughters' high school they are learning how to do Graffiti in the Media class ???....go figure!

Posted by sandi Tuesday 10 June, 2008 08:25 AM

Everytime the pollies get a payrise they drag out that old cliche "You pay peanuts, you get monkeys". I dont know about the rest of you but I dont want monkeys teaching our kids, nursing us in hospitals or even worse...carrying guns and tazars to fight crime!! Its as simple as that, when are the public going to get on board with our services and come to educated realisation that without them we wouldnt be able to read, we wouldnt have someone to go to when we're sick and we would all be held up in our homes scared to death of going on the streets.

Posted by Tristan Monday 26 May, 2008 09:26 AM

You know Im sick and tired of hearing people taking pot shots a teachers for their "11 weeks paid leave". I work as a clerical in a senior high school and there isnt a day goes by during the holidays when our carpark is empty - teachers are ALWAYS working. Teaching is no longer just about the 3 R's infact the government have made it more about the paperwork and the parents have made it about cheap childcare. The whole idea of a strike is to make it a pain in arse for everyone, insteadof having a go at teachers for the strike have a go at the powers that be for being arrogant pricks! Boo Hoo if you have to be a parent for a day...teachers parent those kids (and there are PLENTY of them) who dont get decent parenting at home so do your job for a change and let them get on with theirs with decent renumeration.

Posted by Tanya Thursday 22 May, 2008 11:03 AM

i have to work and as i have children i have to pay for them to be looked after every time the teachers decide to strike i am paid less then teachers as a nurse but i cant strike because who would want there mother left in bed in there own filth why are teachers not held responsible for the people they chose to look after the same way nurses are strikes are just a cop out and a reason to get a day off shame on all the teachers who go on strike

Posted by renee Tuesday 20 May, 2008 09:17 AM

Give teachers a decent pay rise but I don't see why they should have pupil free days in term time. All professional development should be during their 13 week break time. No other public servant gets that much paid annual leave. Also their early finish time is an added bonus. All the teachers I know can do grocery shopping etc when everyone else is still at work.
They really don't know how lucky they are. I also know teachers who have a second job- as they have so much free time. One I know works part-time as a travel agent and spends a lot of the holidays on trips. Only a few hours of the holidays are spent doing preparation. In a normal job this would be impossible.

Posted by paula Wednesday 26 March, 2008 10:39 PM

Jason I can't believe how bigoted and uniformed your comments are on teachers. You obviously have no idea a) why teachers are striking and b) how involved their job is. Why dont you better your time by talking to a teacher and understanding the issues at hand rather than slagging off on them because you want another day off.

Posted by Missy Wednesday 26 March, 2008 12:12 PM

Teachers are always looking for something to complain about. With all the annual leave they get I can't work it out? I'ld love 3 months annual leave a year. Oh and shock horror at having to start early and finish late...tears are streaming down my face as I write this. Get over yourselves!

Posted by Jason Wednesday 26 March, 2008 08:50 AM

Does the public really know how much the teachers really fork out? I don't just mean their time, I mean dollars out of their OWN pocket, too. Who do they think pays for the extra little things that your kids get excited about? The stickers and stamps in their work books, the fancy awards they get on assemblies, the little rewards they get from a GRAB box for their behaviour modification program the kids are on. Don't judge those until you have walked in their shoes, because many would find the shoes uncomfortable. These teachers, some of the public bad mouth, probably have been in the game too long and don't get the BUZZ when a child finally 'gets it'. These teachers who deserve pay rises and better work conditions are the teachers who care about all kids!! Rich or poor. These are the teachers that just want to take some of these children home to their house for a lovely warm bubble bath, a good feed, read a book with them and give them that cuddle that some kids are just crying out for. So please don't knock those wonderful emotionally drained, caring, sharing and devoted teachers that are STILL loving the job.

Posted by Allison Tuesday 25 March, 2008 12:47 PM

To Ian Elder, wake up and visit a school, teachers get nothing from the govt. re pre planned lesson's. They are given, at most a week's notice, to where they are going to be teaching and if it's a country posting. The govt. don't give a fat rats a@#e about how they get there or where they sleep. So maybe you should go back to the lunch room and have a cupa tea and bicky.

Posted by Steve G Tuesday 25 March, 2008 09:45 AM

Young Ian come and work with me for a day or a week. Dont be shy come to Rockingham with me serve breakfast to the kids at 7.30am five mornings and then come into the classroom with me. Use your own money to buy toothbrushes and toothpaste for the kids, plus equipment for the children to use because they turn up without them. Next come with me and be abused at work sworn at, hit at, and called everything under the sun by both children and parents. Come and talk to a child that has come to school angry because mum was off her face the night before on drugs or whatever and they had nothing to eat and went to bed at midnight, wheres dad in jail. Come and watch me teach these children and use every trick in the book to keep them focused and on task. In the holidays come with me to professional learning so I can cope and help me do my programming with motiviating tasks so these kids can read write and add up.
Ian get over yourself

Posted by Deborah Hamilton Friday 21 March, 2008 02:09 PM

Teachers get paid annual leave!, ie school holidays, Relocation costs. Paid to train, in Reality, this profession is over rated and over paid and most teachers are under educated....

Most can't get by without a predesigned lesson plan in order to teach, and don't know how to be proactive let along read, write or use arrithmatic correctly. Without working from instructions.......

They have the best working environment and working hours and with all the so called extra work they do outside their work time, cough cough, they probably extend their work time to the same as the average person. Cough.

Hmmmm. time to go to the Staff room for a coffee!...

Get back into the real world.

Posted by Ian Elder Wednesday 19 March, 2008 08:24 AM

I love my job, I love going to work. I am blessed to have a class of children who are polite, caring and eager to learn. They are a reflection of their parents and a credit to them. However not in a million years would I be happy to see my child enter the profession. You see, while I love the children and the classroom, it all disappears the minute I step out of the classroom. After almost 3 decades of teaching I am struggling to remember one example of the Education Department valuing its teachers which wasn't part of a media campaign. Its disdain and that of our political leaders (both sides of the fence)is evident every time we have to beg for the few paltry dollars we deserve. I don't have too many more years of teaching in me but my breed is dying. The student teachers that I mentor don't plan on teaching (in the govt system) for more than about 5 years. They are genuinely shocked at the workload and the lack of monetary reward. Please don't sneer at us for asking for extra pay, after all one's worth in our modern society is measured by the mighty dollar. And I know I'm worth alot.

Posted by Helen Thursday 13 March, 2008 11:15 PM

It seems to me that the people who are totally against teachers and their strike action do not believe that they do a good or woirthwhile job. I suggest that those people actually spend a day in class - any class- and see for themselves just what teachers of today have to deal with. We have seen parents come into the schools and abuse teachers for not teaching their child manners. I ask you exactly what are parents doing in their own homes - are they supporting their child's learning with educational activities or is the tv or the computer on as the preferred baby sitter. In a recent documentary where all tv's and computers and mobiles were removed from the houses for two weeks the biggest whinging was from the parents who then had to provide entertainment for their children who thes days apparantly cannot entertain themselves or ride a bike or play outside etc. Next time you want to take a swing at teachers who work very hard and long hours, please take a good hard look at the parents you have become. What sort of examples are you setting for your kids? Do they see you reading anything other than the tv times or a trashy mag? Do you have conversations with them about current events - watch real news and discuss it?

Posted by Gaylia Tuesday 11 March, 2008 12:01 PM

why didnt the teachers strike in the holidays , in their time .
What concerns me is what there being taught , 2 weeks into school and my daughter came home with yr1and 2 spelling to go over again , the thing is my daughter is in yr 5 , the reason i was told that some children in the class just dont know how to spell simple words , come on if you reach yr 5 and dont know how to spell dog & cat there is something wrong the child or the teachers .
It gets better , last week she came home with a huge teddy bear that has to sleep at our home for a week , and then u write in a diary what the bear did at your home , are these teachers serious , what a load of shit .
If thats what there doing in the classroom , no they dont need more money

Posted by shez Sunday 9 March, 2008 03:49 PM

Gail, you are misunderstood. The Department of Education and Training had 7 weeks to come back to negotiate with the union but did nothing. The timing of the action was due to the arrogance of the Department not the inaction of the teachers. And Felicity needs to know that the conditions in which she apparently works under are acknowledged as being tough,but unless you have been in the classroom recently and for a significant period of time, you really have no idea what work we do nor can it be compared to the conditions of a hospital ward. How would you tackle the teacher shortage? Perhaps if you're work is too hard you could become a Science teacher, there is a shortage you know! :)

Posted by Kathy Thursday 6 March, 2008 08:16 PM

My Wife teaches and I can tell you first hand that they deserve every cent they earn , they constantly bring work home and are under an incredible amount of stress teaching the youth of today,many unfortunately seem to have lost their manners (students that is).
I fully support them striking and feel they are owed more than their given due.

Posted by Mark McCormack Wednesday 5 March, 2008 06:49 PM

Teachers had 7 weeks to do something about their pay,why wait till the kids go back to school to do something about it and i agree with Audrey and Neil

Posted by Gail M Adamini Tuesday 4 March, 2008 05:08 PM

Perhaps the teachers would like a day in a hospital ward working as a nurse- then they would know what work is about

Posted by Felicity Monday 3 March, 2008 09:55 AM

I am a teacher and a parent and I am fighting for the quality of education that my two young boys may have inflicted upon them in the future. It is never just about the pay, ever. Not a day goes by when either myself or my colleagues have not been abused or threatened. As to the wonderful holidays that we receive, you are seriously misled if you think that we actually leave our work behind. With meetings, tutoring, marking, planning and preparation etc I have actually already worked those holidays AND the Department would still owe me overtime. Some of your listeners have complained about the current quality of teachers, well get ready to be appalled because now you don't even have to have studied TEE subjects to get into a teaching course at Uni. Uni's have been lowering the entry requirements for teaching nearly every year for at least the last decade because people DO NOT want to become teachers. Ask yourself why that is. If the pay is so great and the holidays are simply wonderful and we all go home at 3:00 every day, why isn't there a waiting list of people wanting to become a teacher? Our kids are being taught in cramped, over-crowded classrooms with behaviour management problems, lacking in resources and sometimes without a teacher who is trained in the subject they are teaching. I also had to make arrangements for my sons during the strike yesterday, remember that teachers are parents to and I know that what I see happening in the education system now really frightens me when I think of what it will be like if the Government does not address the teacher shortage. Complaining about the strike won't change the fact that our kids are short of qualified teachers in front of them on a daily basis and this shortage is going to increase, this problem will not go away for quite some time.

Posted by kathy Friday 29 February, 2008 09:09 PM

Teachers are often people we spend a lot of time with when we are growing up. A pay rise is the start of acknowledging the value of these people who often end up shaping our lives. If we don't have qualified caring teachers educating our children about life because it is just not worth their while, we'll end up having to home school our kids next. Please pay the teachers what they deserve. It's the least you could do - an extra 7% more... Look after the people that look after us.

Posted by Pen Friday 29 February, 2008 08:27 PM

Teachers, nurses and members of the police force are the most underpaid workers, given the level of responsibility they are expected to deal with !!

Posted by Michelle Friday 29 February, 2008 01:33 PM

The current teacher’s dispute is tending to focus on one aspect, pay!! Yes, teachers are salaried and therefore get paid for the holidays. Once upon a time, many years ago teachers were only paid during the school year. In order to ensure that teachers received an income during their holidays their pay was totalled for the year and then averaged over 52 weeks rather than over the 40 school weeks of the year. The pay rate stayed the same it was just spread out over the whole year!!!
There are several other important issues in the dispute, namely conditions of teaching (workload), violence in schools and class sizes just to mention a few. For those people who are happy to knock teachers, especially about the holidays and pay, be proactive, quit your jobs, study for four years at university and join the profession!!

Posted by Michael Friday 29 February, 2008 11:08 AM

Why do people even question a pay rise for teachers? They are the most underpaid professionals nationally. And for those who say teachers get 10weeks paid leave a year, please understand that in these 10 weeks there is programming and lesson plans done. Professional development courses are also undertaken in this time . Mid year and end of year reports for upto 34 students must be done, in order for the parents to know how Jack & Jill are progressing. This is not done in class time..Now that teachers have extra reporting duties they don't actually have enough time to teach. Teachers actually need another teacher to do the recording & reporting duties, whilst the other teaches uninterupted. And for those that don't know about all of the out of hours work undertaken by teachers please don't judge until you have all the facts. When a teachers' wage is broken down to per child care per day it works out to $4.80, and that is regardless wether the class has high ADHD, special needs, or children with chronic allergies requiring 100% attention. This does not include the out of pocket expenses for teaching aids not provided by the Ministry.
SO YES I SUPPORT THE TEACHERS!!!! GO FOR IT!! GO FOR NOTHING LESS THAN THE 20% YOU SO RIGHTLY DESERVE!!!!! Mr McGowan & Mr Ripper you can afford it. At the end of the day this is the State's future you are gambling with. You must realise by now you have probably lost some of the best teachers you had, due to the booming economy. Stop arguing and just pay what a teacher deserves. Let's face it Mr Ripper you would last 5 minutes in a classroom today, you could't handle the pressure and you wouldn't work for what a teacher is paid!!!

Posted by Mary Friday 29 February, 2008 10:54 AM

I worked at a school not as a teacher but I know what they were paid then while they may deser ve a pay rise how many other jobs give you 10 weeks paid leave a year. And not all teachers come in early and most leave as soon as the bell goes.

Posted by janhall Friday 29 February, 2008 08:24 AM

In theory I back the teachers for a push in getting more people into the teaching profession and raising their pay. A 21 security gaurd earns more than the people we entrust our children to!!
But what I would really like to see is a comparative list of the teachers that did not go to school this morning and wether or not they attended the rally in Perth.

Posted by Kathy Thursday 28 February, 2008 10:52 PM

I work at a school myself as an Education Assistant and I support the teacher's fully with their strike action today...just as they would support the Assistants with a strike they endure.
The teachers work extremely hard with kids. At times we put up with extremely difficult children who misbehave, constantly interrupt classes, have learning difficulties, throw furniture, swear and have no manners or social skills what so ever.
A teachers day doesn't end when we leave the school, we take home work. We go in early to set up and stay late to clean up after the day with children.
On school holidays we go in on our own spare time to set up the classrooms to be organized...which means we miss out on overtime that some people in the work industry are able to attain...not teacher's!!
We contribute to some of the expenditure in the class as at times money doesn't go far enough in our budgets to cover what we want in our classrooms.
Give us all a break and if you still have this guilt trip that Teacher's/Assistants are not worthy of a pay rise...well spend some time in a class one day and see what does happen in a school day.
Education Assistants were not part of the strike today but in some areas if the teacher didn't have us there to help them, they would not cope in a class at all...we all deserve substantial pay rises and conditions especially when the cost of living is so expensive now days and the politicians just get it easy and reward themselves for what I ask????

Posted by Amanda Thursday 28 February, 2008 10:25 PM

I think teachers should be paid more but I agree with Andrew. Funny how when Labor now has control over the country, strikes start to happen. Surprise Surprise. Watch for the power workers and garbos to strike now, it is on

Posted by Dan Thursday 28 February, 2008 10:14 PM

im a full time registered nurse and i support whole heartly the teachers strike, i hope it succeeds for they will assist in providing my children with the future they deserve, so good luck

Posted by liz Thursday 28 February, 2008 09:09 PM

Stop complaining 13% is a good increase.
PS: Why is when we have a labour goverment all these srikes start.!!!!!

Posted by Andrew Thursday 28 February, 2008 07:25 PM

I fullt support the teachers in their action today. For far too long the government has ignored teachers, nurses, police and firemen. It is obvious to any normal person that the politicians are only in it for their own self gain. Of course they do look after their "little mates", not that you can call Brian Burke little by any stretch of the imagination. And when someone tries to reveal the sordid and dodgy practices of politicians, they either get paid off or shut up. Shame, shame, shame!

Posted by di Thursday 28 February, 2008 06:30 PM

I fully support the teachers strike, lets face it they have a thankless job and quite honestly they couldnt pay me enough to have to put up with the crap they do from the students and some parents, I kept my son home today, year 9, willingly and will do so next time as well, sure it messes up your routine but it's really no different than a public holiday anyway and those parents who are stressed about them missing school work, well give them some sums to do or spelling etc, you are the parents after all and ultimately there education boils down to you!!!!! I did have a little giggle though at the sms I received from the school advising me my son wasnt in attendance, lol

Posted by jenny Thursday 28 February, 2008 04:59 PM

Speaking from experience, the majority of teachers like myself work for the love of the children. It is not arrogance however to feel the need to get a fair pay for a fair days work. Most teachers may finish with students at around 3 o’clock but they do not finish working for another several hours. Like myself I need to leave the school grounds to be home in time for my family but my working day has not ended. I am not talking about the work the average mother goes home to; I am talking about the school related work that most teachers take home with them because there is not enough time during the day to complete it. No other industry disregards its employee’s needs to such a degree. They make them work in conditions where the buildings are over 40 years old, classrooms are not air-conditioned and all materials including musical instruments, computers, sporting equipment, playground equipment, relief staff salaries, classroom supplies and electricity bills have to be payed out of the miniscule school budgets.
As a new graduate I experienced the unprofessional methods of the education department first hand. There is no job security for teachers even when they have been teaching for several years because the education department won’t give teachers permanency unless they have worked in rural areas for several years. Metro teachers don’t get a look in. You have to re apply for a job each year and hope you survive over the xmas break without pay. There are no penalty rates for teachers. No overtime, no bonuses, and if you want a pay rise for many years of service you have to go on strike to be noticed and heard. The sad part about all this is I can earn more money as a meat packer for coles than teaching full time. Tell me where is the justice and why do you think teachers are leaving the profession.

Posted by Kerry Thursday 28 February, 2008 04:54 PM

i think the teachers should stop complaing they have an easy job physically and work easy hours!- think of all the people that work in the sun in weather like today 41 degres !!!! for the same pay you teachers have it easy

Posted by owen Thursday 28 February, 2008 03:42 PM

My child attends a Private school and both my husband and I are full time workers, the fact that luckily we are unaffected by the teachers strike, I do support them to an extent. Reading through some of the comments made by other listeners, I would like to rebut to Craig who assumes that all children who attend Private schools are rich snobs - on the contrary, some of us are young parents just trying to give our child the best education possible just like everyone else out there. We pay higher fees to the school to allow for their building funds, P&F Associations, excursions etc, why don't the State schools start asking for the parents to start contributing to the overall conditions of some of these schools.

These children have only just returned to school for 3 weeks now, my childs school has hit us with a 2 day development day where the children were kept at home and we are expected to repeat this every month - the fact that the teachers have gone out on strike today for better rates of pay I understand, I do not understand however how when teachers get every school holiday off that these things can't be arranged then instead of taking the benefit of an education away from my child.

As far as how children speak to teachers in the classroom, well, how does your child speak to you at home - they are all guilty of at some time answering back or showing absolutely no respect to adults.

The days of old style schooling has gone, many schools don't have the regimental style of desks lined up in classrooms, these days they all sit in groups of 8 children around a table talking. As we all now young children are distracted easily so their attention spans don't even allow them to listen to what teachers have to say.

Sorry teachers, there are many people out there who deserve pay rises and good luck to you all, but we cannot continue to support strike action when it affects our own children.

Posted by Kerrie Thursday 28 February, 2008 02:26 PM

I agree with them striking.The pay is s***t they are trying to teach our future of our country.The classes are to big.How can you teach anything when you have 30 in a class.The polies need to get their act together and do something.The country is growing faster than the infrasture to handle it.Building more houses but not more dams,buiding more shops but not helping the farmers to farm produce.More houses but not more power plants.
So let the teachers do their thing and teach!!!
And bring Discipline so that kids will have respect.
Good on ya teachers!!!!

Posted by Mazz Thursday 28 February, 2008 01:48 PM

I disagree with today's strike action. There are plenty of other occupations that deserve a pay rise and I think everyone is in the same boat with increasing costs but our children should not be used as a bargaining tool.
PS - I am certainly not saying that they don't deserve a pay rise at all - just should have been done differently.

Posted by Sam Thursday 28 February, 2008 01:03 PM

I have just taken my children out of a private school & put them into a local public schools, because the classes were smaller at my local school, even though our school is open today, I did not send my children in support of the teachers, with the things our school teachers put up with each day is amazing, I was at school on Tuesday, to hear a teacher being spoke to very rudely, if that had been in my schooling days, well look out, why is it that the police, nurses and teachers are always fighting govenments for better pays, I wonder if the polies would like their wages & do the jobs they do? We do not want to become like other countries, were the teachers work only the hours they need to do, all after school activies stop, bring them inline with other states, I dont think I would like to do there jobs???

Posted by Tracy Ward Thursday 28 February, 2008 12:44 PM

I absolutely support the teachers strike. I can see why parents are irritated having to make alternative arrangements where schools are closed but the teachers are fighting for better conditions not just a decent salary. I have no idea why anyone feels that teaching salary is sufficient. Teachers are fighting for a lot more than pay, they are fighting for your childrens state education.
Years spent studying right now is undervalued, a pay rise will influence people to study teaching. Good luck teachers!

Posted by Angela Thursday 28 February, 2008 12:27 PM

With all the student development days the teachers take off, it would be nice to see them take this opportunity to strike. It is ultimately the children’s learning that is inconvenienced. Mind you children do have to teach themselves now as all the work is done via text book, children learn from this, oh and if they have made an error the teacher does NOT give the correct answer. My Child is in year 10 where I am unable to help I have had to get a tutor. Yes we have great teaching skills these days!!!! Oh and let’s ask for more money?? I don’t understand it…

Posted by Shirley Thursday 28 February, 2008 10:34 AM

I support our State School Teachers and believe they do an excellent job. It must be remembered that the pay increase is NOT the true reason for the strike. The teachers wish to improve the conditions for our children... for example, installing air conditioning for hot days like today.
I hope your years of study and the care you provide for our children are supported fully. You do deserve more than $1 per hour per child!!!

Well done STATE school teachers.

Posted by Chris Thursday 28 February, 2008 10:12 AM

I fully support the strike of State School teachers. For too long the government has been willing to allow resources to drain out of the public sector so that parents sending their children to private schools can pick up the tab for education. Have you seen a state school lately? Under resourced and in some cases falling down around the ears of students and teachers. If State School teachers don't stick up for the system it will disappear before our eyes. Giving the teachers a pay rise is just one step on a long journey back.

Posted by Lew Thursday 28 February, 2008 08:22 AM

I am a single father working fulltime and this sort of cr_ p makes it extremely difficult, as if it is not already. The school my daughter goes to could not even write a letter letting us know what is happening, it was full of can not guarantee availablity of supervision etc but would not commit to anything. They have said that year 12's would be able to study in the library but nothing for the rest of the school.

From the last pay rise that these teachers received they are supposed to be near the top paid in the country. How greedy are they? They already get more than double the rec leave that other workers get, is this taken into consideration when they ask, no demand, more pay.

Maybe if the standards of their taeching went up then they could ask for more pay but at the moment the standards are pretty poor.

Also the government should stop paying more money to PRIVATE schools, who should be self funding with their fees, and put this into the PUBLIC school system. Why should we support the rich people's children more than we support our own?

Posted by Craig Thursday 28 February, 2008 07:52 AM

I have a child in year ten that has watched three DVD's in the first two weeks of school and a child in year 12 that can not spell. I do not support the teachers at all on this strike! There have been times that my children have been given homework that they have not understood and when I have spoken to the teacher about the work they just copy it from a book! Come on teachers if you want a pay rise earn it! They have closed the school for 1/2 a day and then they will expect me to supply a note as to why my children did not attend school today. I'm fed up with hearing about the poor teachers.

Posted by Julie Thursday 28 February, 2008 07:07 AM

its a shame the teachers gord not wait untill the easter hoildays teachers should. have gone on strike befor the kids whent back to school

Posted by janine cole Wednesday 27 February, 2008 05:13 PM

i have to relli on taxis i wish i
dident i need the taxis to get to wark

Posted by janine cole Wednesday 27 February, 2008 05:08 PM

Just typical that they strike the same time as the taxis.. bring some bad press to what they are doing

Posted by Oogle Wednesday 27 February, 2008 04:33 PM

Yep, they need a pay rise

Posted by Danno Wednesday 27 February, 2008 03:30 PM