Should teachers be going on strike ...

[Ms Sue]

School staff to strike over job cuts

Thousands of educational staff from regional Western Australia are set to take part in state-wide industrial action tomorrow to protest against education cuts.

They are angry about State Government plans to cut 500 education jobs and cap teacher numbers from next year.

The main stop-work meeting will be held in Perth but 18 regional centres will hold additional meetings including Busselton, Bunbury, Manjimup and Margaret River, as well as Albany, Narrogin and Katanning.

About 10,000 staff across the state and 4,000 from regional WA are expected to take part in the action.

The State School Teachers Union says the meeting will cause disruption to classes but the Education Department has urged parents to send their children to school regardless.

Premier Colin Barnett told the ABC, it is an unnecessarily disruptive strike that will make no difference to the Government's plans.

Anyone a teacher on the forum and could comment more
Ms Sue

 

[johnlou]

i am not a teacher but i believe the teachers like all of us be allowed to do what ever is the right thing to do for any situation .

we do live in a free country , that is why we have a big influx of foreigners every day .

 

[HappyPirate]

Ahoy;- Its truly shameful, reducing teacher numbers only means that class sizes(student numbers per class) will increase. What does this mean to parents and to students? very simply individual children will have less contact time with their teachers.
I truly belive that education is the only tool we have to change society, educate our kids for a better, stronger, smarter Australia tommorrow.

 

[johnlou]

so true HP and the parents need to participate in their children's education more often than not . when i went to school there was 40 to 45 children in every class room without air-conditioning as well not like now . and also no teachers aid like they have now

 

[Madam Jacqui]

They Are on Strike Today......

 

[SAO26.2]

I don't understand a one-day strike or lunchtime walkout. I can't see what that accomplishes. It seems if you're disappointed enough to go on strike, it makes sense to walk out and stay out until your demands are met, even if it takes months.

Of course, I come from a place where unions are universally hated, and I've always been in management. So, my perspective is admittedly skewed.

 

[EmilyDarke]

I support the strike, as it has affected my child greatly, she is in special Ed and has had many opportunities removed that her older peers had access to.

For example, most children in special Ed get the chance to do 'dual placement'. This is where they spend half the week in a special Ed class, and the other half in a mainstream class, with a special aid. Even if they are developmentally far behind thier mainstream peers (as my daughter is), it's a great chance for them to integrate into the 'real' world and also gives the mainstream children a chance to understand and learn about disabilities, break the stigmas etc...
But this year due to funding cuts and changes, my daughter was not allocated an aide and therefore either had to attend dual placement without an aide (which is not fair or safe for either my daughter, the other students or the mainstream teacher) or attend special Ed full time and be segregated from the 'normal' kids.
As much as it broke my heart, due to her safety I had to choose the latter.

 

[homer]

Everyone has the right to go on strike and protest against unfair govt policies. Teachers is a subset of everyone, therefore they can. Better still they are backed by union. No better reason to go on strike.

 

[Master Yoda]

I don't understand a one-day strike or lunchtime walkout. I can't see what that accomplishes. It seems if you're disappointed enough to go on strike, it makes sense to walk out and stay out until your demands are met, even if it takes months.

Of course, I come from a place where unions are universally hated, and I've always been in management. So, my perspective is admittedly skewed.

The job cuts do hurt society. I agree with strikes but I don't believe in the way it is done. I agree with this post on how a one day strike with signs...packed lunches. ..and bottled can make any difference.

Take a month. ... save for it. Get fundraisers going. Barricade a main road...something. something that actually gets there attention.

I know its extreme. ... but how has doing it this way been going so far?

 

[JasonC]

They were so many on St. Georges Terrace today

 

[DickieWu]

Problem with strike is that most people would have personal financial committments (bills to pay). In addition, since our state government is broke, I think they are very happy for any form of strike during working hours, as workers who strike do not get paid for the day + they also lose their long services...superannuation etc. I actually think the state government has just save hundred of thousands on teachers' salary today. Schools/teachers should consider cutting back the extra (after hours) activities such as graduation nights, school ball, before & after school classes/testing, supervision during term break exams etc. (But in most cases, teachers will always do those extra duties regardless.)

 

[johnlou]

Problem with strike is that most people would have personal financial committments (bills to pay). In addition, since our state government is broke, I think they are very happy for any form of strike during working hours, as workers who strike do not get paid for the day + they also lose their long services...superannuation etc. I actually think the state government has just save hundred of thousands on teachers' salary today. Schools/teachers should consider cutting back the extra (after hours) activities such as graduation nights, school ball, before & after school classes/testing, supervision during term break exams etc. (But in most cases, teachers will always do those extra duties regardless.)

if the state govt is broke then how is it the politicians give themselves a pay rise ??

 

[EmilyDarke]

if the state govt is broke then how is it the politicians give themselves a pay rise ??

Because technically, money doesn't exist!

 

[sunyun]

I'm not a teacher, but I support the idea of no cuts to frontline service.

In my experiences with any Govt dept., there are usually huge savings to be made from cutting red tape instead of cutting services like Tattoo_mama's child's aide.

Cheers.

 

[Dez]

I'm never more happy than the decision that we made earlier this year to move to an independent school. The kids teachers have always been fantastic- but the government school system is a let down. The element of community in the new school is incomparable and this first term has seen many changes to the kids learning and behaviour. Which does nothing less than confirm what I'd been suspecting for some time- My kids were falling through the cracks, so being able to afford (financially speaking) to change the style of education and opportunity for my kids has been the biggest blessing.

 

[Farm Boy 2]

This has nothing to do with next Saturday of course has it Bill ?

 

[Storm Elite]

I think they should do it on their own time and not on a weekday so kids are messing up my quiet weekday movie session

 

[Miss Chloe]

I completely support teachers and education staff! This should be seen as the biggest investment a government can make for the future of a country and they keep cutting! It is so frustrating. I know it is an inconvenience to many parents but in the long run your children will benefit from it.

 

[Lingham]

I completely support teachers and education staff! This should be seen as the biggest investment a government can make for the future of a country and they keep cutting! It is so frustrating. I know it is an inconvenience to many parents but in the long run your children will benefit from it.

I agree 100% that education is the biggest investment the govt can and should make; however, the investment can't be measured only in dollars. Quality of teachers, appropriateness of curriculum, discipline and values are also vital components of the investment if we are to achieve the outcomes we're looking for.

 

[Dez]

Quality of teachers, appropriateness of curriculum, discipline and values are also vital components of the investment if we are to achieve the outcomes we're looking for.

Exactly- the boys new teacher is tops in this area! All the children have to line up before class and greet/shake hands before entering, they do the same at the end of the day. They all have to stand up at the beginning of class and wait to be asked to sit, or they answer maths questions to earn their seat. I know it might not seem like much, but the discipline and structure has made a big difference. The teacher has respect and understanding and control - though that might too aggressive for the word I'm intending here- of the class.

I have not seen a teacher in the years watching my brother and sister go through, and now my kids, have the same approach. They should be putting more into the training of our teachers. It's not always what they are being expected to learn, but how the education is being delivered.