Western Bay of Plenty Year 9 students missed class on Thursday and more disrupted school days are likely to continue until the end of the year.
Post Primary Teacher's Association chairperson for the Western Bay, Jason Smythe, is disappointed an agreement has not been reached.
'In terms of the timeline for getting a settled ratified agreement, the window is fast closing, which the Ministry was well aware of.”
Year 10 students will be rostered home next Tuesday and Year 9 students again on December 1.
'It seems there has been a lot of game playing from the Ministry.
'They are saying what we are doing is disruptive but our argument is that it is more disruptive to have large class sizes.”
The PPTA wants a four per cent pay increase and a cap of 30 students per classroom.
The Ministry of Education has offered teachers a 1.5 per cent pay rise, but is not allowing the 30 maximum class sizes at this stage.
'We're still hoping parents understand that what we are tying to do is to ultimately benefit the schools and their children in the future.”
5 comments
Fed up Parent
Posted on 18-11-2010 19:00 | By l.meyers
Teachers give it up this has gone on too long, started thinking about what you are trained to be.... Sort this out in your own time not our kids
Teachers get a new job
Posted on 19-11-2010 08:12 | By craig lacy
As a parent and like all other parents I have had enough of these greedy teachers. I know several teachers and I know what they are getting paid. I work in a goverment job, and don't get anything near what the teaches get paid, but work more hours than them. I also have not had a pay rise for a couple of years now. Do the teaches think they are special? When these greedy teachers are on strike it costs me for child care, that will be coming out of the money that was for school fees (donation). Teacher's if you don't like the money you are getting, go and get a new job.
Teachers Totally Unrealistic
Posted on 19-11-2010 09:29 | By Honedaman
I think that it's about time that Jason Smythe and the PPTA realised that their demands are totally unrealistic given the current economic times. They should use their brains (if they've got any??) instead of their mouths for a change. I no longer have kids going to school, but if I did I would be really brassed off!
Class size
Posted on 19-11-2010 09:44 | By tabatha
Pay increases are always nice to get, but there is a real need to reduce class sizes so that ALL students get a fair education. Over the years class size was reduced but from information fed to us it seems to be on the increase. Parents if you want the stikes to stop, write to your MP's Minister of Education etc. Draw attention to the fact how money has been fed to private banking and not to the real need of the country.
Teacher demands
Posted on 19-11-2010 14:13 | By Socantor
Let's be quite clear on this dispute. Teachers are doing the demanding. "We demand this - we demand that!" If I tried that with my employer I'd be down the road, make no bones about that. I hope they aren't being paid for their days off, when parents are having to pay for child care or lose money because they have to take time off to be home, looking after children the teachers should be teaching.
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