A chara, - Further to Alex Moynihan's reply to my letter of November 14th, the IT courses mentioned were cited merely as an example of the extent of the voluntary work undertaken by the typical secondary schoolteacher.
For a more comprehensive picture of life as a teacher allow me to elaborate on some of the voluntary activities undertaken by me personally and I'm sure by many thousands of other teachers; the coaching and preparation of debating and drama teams for local and national competitions (usually nocturnal activities requiring much time and travel); the drafting, implementation and supervision of our transition year programme; the production and editing of a 200-page school yearbook; theatre and cultural visits; and weekend-long adventure courses for transition years students.
All of these activities occur outside normal school hours and, fortunately for students and parents alike, the value of our education system is much the richer for it. Many other colleagues provide similar educationally enriching services in their own time as well as promoting the various sporting codes - not to mention yard supervision during their morning tea break!
It is difficult to know where Mr Moynihan is coming from and it is difficult to identify any area of the private sector where such endeavour goes unrewarded, whether it be in the form of bonus payments, profit sharing, under the counter payments or time in lieu. Perhaps he would care to elaborate further on the areas of the private sector he has in mind?
We are not seeking an item-by-item payment, merely a salary commensurate with our worth to society. - Yours, etc.,
Sean Higgins, Former president ASTI, Beabeg, Drogheda, Co Louth.