Teacher's Strike!!!!

So I'm a teacher. Comparatively I understand that teaching is one of the lowest paid professions. However, most teachers I know teach because they love teaching. Love sharing the future with their students. Love seeing the personalities grow from childhood into responsible adults. I don't know many teachers that teach because they're in it just for the money (although I expect that these people exist). Teachers live extremely busy lives. Often at the expense of their family life or personal pursuits. Again I'm sure there are plenty of other professions that work more than they rest. Contrary to popular belief a teachers day is rarely over at 3:45pm. I know many of my colleagues spend precious moments with their families and then set to work shortly after they've tucked them in bed. I suppose sometimes I do this too. So why this rant.

Well, simply put my colleagues may be going on strike on Wednesday. Because as a result of the nations austerity measures the government have decided to make savings by affecting public sector workers pensions. Effectively charging us more with a lower return. One fact has me gobsmacked! They expect me to be able to keep inspiring teenagers with current and relavant knowledge until I'm 68 years old. I can't imagine being able to entertain and inspire children when I'm that old. And why do they have the right to to take away my hard earned twilight years to spend them with my beloved wife Tamara and Jack with his future family. It just seems so incredulous that an arbitary number is thrown into the mix without considering the impact on people's lives.

I remember vividly the teacher's strike back in the 80's. I remember it because I was one of the students who was massively hit by the strike action (as many of my generation were too). I'm not even sure if the teachers realised what a long term effect it had on students like me. I deal with students who seem disaffected daily and as a team we find ways to inspire them and help them to develop self-confidence by building their self-esteem. At 15 years old I was expected to be a straight "A" student. In the same year all of the teachers who inspired me and made me feel like I could achieve good things went on strike. To begin with we thought it was a bit of a lark. But slowly things got progressively worse. Our relationships with these trusted souls broke down. Why weren't they their to teach us. What had we done that made them so angry. Teenagers don't often understand politics. My response was to switch off! I figured if they don't care about me then why should I care about them. My grades dropped, my attitude changed, I became disinterested and disillusioned by education as a whole and swore to never become a teacher even though my mum spent her whole life working towards that one goal. I truly only did "A" levels and went to college to stop my family pestering me.

What scares me is what effect is this going to have on our children. The young lives I encounter daily. If I stand with my union colleagues to shout at the government that we won't tolerate being mistreated then my students will suffer. They too may become disillusioned and angry. However, if I choose to protect the students I teach by offering them stability, then my family could suffer. It makes me so angry that a small number of politicians get to play God like this so often and seldom think of the consequencies. Or if they do then finance outweighs compassion. We live in a democracy yet it often feels like a dictatorship.

I think it would be wrong for me to state whether I'm striking or not on this blog for many reasons. Whatever the outcome I want my students to know that they are important to me and want them to also be aware how important my families future is too. Those who know me closest know what I will be doing on Wednesday. What would you do in my circumstances? "To strike or not to strike" that is the question.

Family Day Out

Baby seal chillin' at Donna Nook

I love spending time with my special people and today was one of those special days. Tamara has been poorly all week and I've had one of those insanely busy weeks. Loads to do at school and brass band rehearsals 4 nights this week. It's all taken its toll on both my poorly girl and Jack who's missed his bedtime stories from me. So this morning when we woke I expected a day at home giving Tamara chance to build some strength and Jack time to play with me. However, Tamara had other ideas. Not shopping! She gently but firmly encouraged me to take us to Donna Nook to go and see the annual spectacular that is the birth of hundreds of baby seals. None of us have ever been before and I was intrigued. So after my protestations about Tamara being out in the cold off we went, armed with a camera and a football.

On the way there we decided to stop at a fish and chip shop for some lunch, We saw Dolphin chippy in Sutton on Sea and enjoyed a lovely meal there. Then on to Donna Nook.
I really didn't expect what we saw when we got there. The first thing that struck me was just how many cars were there. When we finally found a space to park we ventured over the dunes. The strangest sound emanated over the dunes and I begun to realise just how many seals were there. We got to the fence that separated us from the stars of the moment and marvelled at the sight of hundreds of seals with their pups littered over the vast expanse of beach. I wondered how long it would take a seal to waddle the great distance from the sea to their nurturing place. And so many people came to watch with us. It did make me feel a bit strange and I wondered how the seals felt about us staring at them. My question was soon answered as we walked a little further down the pathway and we saw a young pup looking extremely content lying on his/her back. I think the little thing must have been dreaming as it jumped and jerked in its sleep. Jack was fascinated by the little creature and watched waiting to see it move. When it eventually opened its eyes it seem to look straight at us then shuffled around and promptly broke wind, which sent chuckles down the line of onlookers. All three of us thoroughly enjoyed this amazing spectacular and I'm sure we'll go back next year.

Now it was Jack's request to play football on the beach, so we jumped into the car after negotiating the dunes once more, and off to Mablethorpe beach. I love to see Jack running around and laughing and jumping with joy. It's such a delight to see him smile. I remember a line from one of Michael Cards songs that reads, "I would wander weary miles, would welcome ridicule my child, to simply see the sunrise of your smile..." How true those words are. Both Tamara and I feel so lucky to be able to share our lives with this fabulous gift of love that we see in Jack.

My day ended with a performance at New Day Christian Centre in Skegness. I had to leave my poorly girl and sleepy boy behind which left me feeling a little sad, but I had a fabulous time with the good folk at New Day who were busy raising money for The Storehouse a new home for the New Day fellowship. I hope they enjoyed the music I shared with them and wish them success in their vision to be a centre for revival in Skegness.

When I got home I was expecting to see my wonderful family watching the X-factor, instead Jack was fast asleep in bed and Tamara was dozing, watching the X-factor in our bedroom. I am such a lucky man to have these two special people in my life. They give me joy daily and I can't imagine being without them. I loved our family day out. I long for our next special day like today.

R.I.P. Jerry

Got home from our shopping trip today and after getting our tea and settling Jack down for the night I went to give our pet guinea pig Jerry some attention. I've recently bought him an inside run so he can "watch the telly" with us. It's funny how pets become such a big part of the family. So as is my habit I went across to talk to him. The usual response is a couple of squeaks and a look at the edge of the cage with expectant eyes for either some fuss or some nice green treats. Unusally he didn't reply. On closer inspection he didn't seem to be moving. But heart broke when I realised he had died. Next January he would have been 5. He's been an excellent pet and we will miss him dearly. As I write Jack doesn't know, so I'm not looking forward to telling him. So goodbye Jerry Berry, it's been a pleasure having you in our family - you will be sadly missed.