You've heard the old joke:
Q What are the three best things about being a teacher ?
A: June, July and August !
It captures a lot of people's ambivalent feelings about the life of a teacher. On the one hand people envy the hours, the holidays and the job security (if you can get a job). On the other hand a lot of people know that a teachers' working day can be very taxing, even nigh-on impossible at times as many of the problems, and dysfuctional aspects of our society land at the door of their classrooms every day. It's often said that the esteem in which teachers used to be held in the community no longer applies but if that's true why is it so ? Is it because a more materialistic society places little value on professions that aren't highly paid ? Or is it because teachers don't appear to appreciate the job security and reasonable, if unspectacular, wages they earn ?
In 2007 Economist Ronan Lyons used OECD statistics to come up with this analysis http://www.ronanlyons.com/2009/04/20/tackling-the-thorny-issue-of-teachers-pay/ of how our teachers' pay and hours compare to those in other Western European countries. By that measure our teachers appeared to be doing well and even though their take-home pay has fallen by around 15% since then, you'd still have to conclude that they're not getting such a bad deal out of the Irish taxpayer given the straitened times we live in. On the other hand, they are having to deal with the effects of cuts in the pupil/teacher ratio and in the services of special needs assistants, language support and other services.
If you have kids in school, do you feel teachers are accountable and that your views are welcome ? Or have you found that you're banging your head against a brick wall if a problem does arise with a teacher ?
We'll have all sides of the argument in studio tonight and if you have anything to add just post your comment below or email thefrontline@rte.ie
David Nally (Editor)
