Well this afternoon there was no school as we had a big paid meeting. Everyone in our 'region' was supposed to be there and there was voting on whether or not we should agree to the current three year proposal. People were pretty happy with it, except it still hasn't sorted out the G-3-equivalent problem.
This is something that started a few years ago when a deal was negotiated for more pay steps for teachers, but only those who had at least a degree and a teaching diploma, or teaching degree. Now there are quite a few teachers who do not have these exact qualifications, especially in the various technologies as they might have done different training. Previously there was no bias to these teachers and many of them have been or are HODs or higher. They might have been teaching for years and years! But the government took back the fact that they are the same as other teachers and now they can no longer get paid as much as others. They're trying to sort out maybe a short diploma or something these people could do but it isn't at all figured out yet. Many people are understandably upset.
There was also a bit of excitement when a school brought up a proposal that we protest against Trevor Mallard's decision from earlier this year to change the school year. What he has proposed to do is to take a week of holiday out of the easter holidays and move it into the middle of the 3rd term. So that sports tournament week can occur more easily. The thing is that this would mean that the teachers that are required for this would have to take up a week of their holidays to represent the school, and the school that was complaining about it said they have about 150 out of 1200 go to this. More kids than that might be absent merely due to illness! Also kids and teachers are tired after 1st term. It is the longest term of the year and 2nd term is the next longest. That two weeks was practically vital! Then to go and disrupt the third term, the one where "Mocks" normally occur is ridiculous. What's even more crazy is that they are also requiring primary and intermediate schools to fall in line and do this as well! BAH! Idiocy!
What I want to know is what happened at the other regions meeting's. Please comment if you know. Matt and Debz I am looking at you!!
Oh, one really neat thing was seeing TCol ppl I hadn't seen since last year! Yay! Plus that whole not having to teach a class. Woot.
Posted by giffy at August 26, 2004 06:25 PM | TrackBack