SEAN McGLADE,
Madam, - In the coming week members of the ASTI will be voting on the proposed Government scheme for supervision and substitution in second-level schools.
This is a very important issue and I hope all members will go out and vote. A low turnout would reflect badly on our profession and undermine the excellent work that many teachers are doing to promote an understanding and appreciation of democracy among our students.
The members of our central executive have recommended rejection of the Government scheme. They are, in fact, asking members to vote for the permanent employment of non-teachers as substitutes and supervisors in our schools. This will undoubtedly undermined discipline and damage teachers' working conditions.
If teachers vote No they will be preventing some of their colleagues, who are nearing retirement, from adding to their pension entitlements. They will also be voting to prevent younger teachers, who may, for example, be saving to purchase a house, from earning much-needed extra cash.
Teachers have already voted to accept this scheme. I urge them to do so again. The scheme has not changed since the first vote and, contrary to protestations from the central executive, no teacher will be "on call" for substitution. The agreement for the implementation of the scheme, worked out between the Department, the Joint Managerial Body and the ASTI last January, makes this abundantly clear.
Consequently, I urge teachers to vote Yes to the Government proposal and end a needlessly prolonged period of bitterness and wrangling in our schools. - Yours, etc.,
SEAN McGLADE,
Ballinteer,
Dublin 16.