A chara, - My Leaving Cert English class and I would like to voice our support for the teachers in their wage-rise campaign. We feel that teachers do deserve a rise in wages - even the grumpy, power-mongering ones - if not simply to make them happier people and hence more pleasant to deal with, then to reward them for doling out an internationally respected education. This they do despite our struggle against it, the paucity of facilities and the distinct lack of funding.
The teachers' strike is something we, as students, have been plugging for years. However, teachers should be warned that our exercising of a "go slow" and "work to rule" policy for the past six years has reaped very little reward. We, the students of today, propose that a rise in pay, a re-energising programme for the teaching profession and a new positive public attitude toward the muinteoir would ensure an improved education for the nation's children.
Teaching is a very tough but worthwhile job. Having been around the profession for the past six years and having dealt with teachers on a day-to-day basis, I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly. I have built a respect for people who try to earn a living by controlling and then educating a classroom full of hormone-charged, wise-cracking, boundary-pushing, acrobatic Celtic Tiger offspring. It ain't easy! Anyone who braves this circus ring, tames and teaches the tiger cubs deserves to be better paid.
If the wage-rise campaign does not succeed, may I suggest the taking of a couple of brown envelopes, additional monies in exchange for additional marks - a very lucrative market and a real win-win situation! If we are discovered, we can simply start a tribunal at which many teachers would testify. This would leave us, the students, with plenty of free classes on our hands - perfect!
Walk on out, teachers - but please correct our Leaving Certs! - Is muidne,
Nora Bairead (and 6D English class), Colaiste Iosagain, Baile an Bhothair, Co Atha Cliath.