Community Action Day for the NZEI Kua Tae Te Wa campaign today. A campaign within the negotiations for Teachers and principals. What do they want the community to know?
This is NOT all about money, yes there is a % increase they would like to receive. There are more claims that are as important, if not more important: Support for students with learning and behavioural needs, more time to teach - class release time. Training more teachers can only come about with incentives for people to look at being a teacher as a great career choice once again!
Why did I decide to not train as a teacher but remain as a low paid Support Staff member? Every day I see the pressures that teachers are put under to make the students in front of them perform. The students in our charge are not performing seals, they are humans who's intricate brains all function slightly differently and they all learn at different speeds.
Teachers and Principals have voted to strike. Why now? Is it because they feel safer with a Labour led government? They are worn out and schools are struggling after years of under-funding. Who will fill the gaps opening up in the sector? Classes can only be split for so long. That will affect the learning of all students.
Kia Kaha to my colleagues in NZEI. I stand with you in support while Support Staff are still on their Pay Equity journey.
