Education, Education, er, Recreation?

It must be great to be a teacher. Especially during the summer months although the weather isn't great this year but with a couple of months to spare I suppose you could find the time to get some travelling done to sunnier spots.

After the publication of the Bord Snip report I heard the INTO General Secratary John Carr on the Last Word on Today FM. Now, I believe that education is paramount to the future of any country and I condemn strongly any government which attempts to cut education service. Along with everyone else, you say. John Carr agrees with this. He also wants the education of our children safe guarded. And to this end he was complaining about the proposals in the Bord Snip report. Specifically the proposals around cutting education. Good man, John!

However, Professor Ed Walsh of UL then came on and said that he had had the "misfortune" in the past of having to deal with teachers unions. He claimed that the unions and their members were not the slightest bit interested in the education of the children but were concerned only with maintaining their conditions and pay packets. He said that the unions were always trotting out the mantra that they were concerned only with protecting the poor, suffering children and if that was the case why don't they take a pay cut? As an example, he pointed out that in France the teachers get paid 75% less than they do in Ireland. I'm afraid that Carr just blustered at this point and had no real answers. Poor show, John!

We all know that childrens right to education is copper fastened in the constitution. We can't take that away. We also all know that FF has made a pigs tail-end of the economy and are having the most terrible time trying to balance the books. If the governemnt had "X" billion for education last year and has only "Y" billion for education this year then it stands to reason that they can only pay "Y" billion but they still must provide the service. If this means cuts in service pay then so be it. We simply cannot punish the children of today because of the ineptitude of the current government's handling of our economy.

So, let's get behind the children and get them what they need! Let's extract value for money from the education service. Let's have a long hard look at the benefit to the children, not to mention the economy, of having tens of thousands of people being paid for months at a time to do nothing during the summer. Let's have a look at why are teachers who attend training courses during the summer entitled to days off when they return to school at the expense of our childrens education. Let's have a look at why they are entitled to time off during school term in lieu of time spent travelling to courses during their extended holidays. Let's have a look at why they are entitled to 30 days uncertified sick leave a year. Let's have a look at why this sick leave is used, unchecked, as holidays by some. Let's have a look at why they get paid extra money for patrolling the yard. Let's have an understanding why they can't have staff meetings after the children go home but instead insist on closing the school early. Let's have the teachers and parents get together and demand a better system for our children. Finally, let's have this better system delivered for less money that it's currently costing.

To the teachers, unions, and Batt O'Keefe, please end this madness. You will find the parents, children, and voters deeply appreciative!