I think there are two separate topics here. No issue with teachers getting a better deal, no issues in the past with teacher training days after the holidays.
This year however we see more parents struggling financially because of a number of reasons. The fact many, myself and indeed even teachers themselves included, have had no option but to take leave to care for my children during teacher strikes, or pay for additional care, has contributed to lots of us with no time or money left for a holiday this year, having to cancel subscriptions, buying that not-quite-so-expensive birthday gift, setting strict food shopping limits, and overall essentially worse off financially at a time when we are all feeling the squeeze. It's harder to see the bigger picture when that happens and affects you personally, either way.
As i say, absolutely no issue with teachers striking and they fully deserve better. They care for and educate my kids daily, I want that to be done well and therefore well rewarded. We live very locally to my daughter's school and we see them arriving before eight and leaving about six, though some have young kids themselves.
I think it is just that this year, as we approach the end of the year, more and more will find there is a shortfall in remaining leave or finances as the autumn holidays and then Christmas approach. And, maybe somewhat naturally, people get a bit frustrated looking at train drivers and the nhs and teachers for wanting whatever it is in percentage terms, and teachers cop for it again for (albeit reluctantly) passing on costs to parents when many are already at breaking point, when they are getting no pay rise themselves, or maybe even a redundancy, and they can start to resent those that they feel have cost them, rather than the politicians that sleep walked us all into this mess.
It's also a particularly emotive subject. You can get a bike or a car or walk to work maybe if the trains are cancelled. But, as schools themselves tell us, even a day missed of education is potentially damaging and disadvantaging our kids. So if we as parents get caned for taking a day out to go to Disneyland because the flight arrives back at 8am on the Monday (personally never done it but I know others who have and faced fines over a hundred quid), of course people react when you're told you have to compensate for six, eight or ten days of strikes.
As I say, absolute cast iron fact that teacher strikes have cost me and my family this year both financially and with days off. I have no idea what I'll do for October half term currently, maybe we have to do some childcare sharing with other parents on a rota. I'm sure nobody wanted this situation, but I'd rather have a happy, well paid teacher educating and caring for my little ones daily, than an overworked, underpaid stress ball, or have a teacher shortage and see my kids prospects drop overnight because the renumeration wasn't enabling them to make it a viable careers choice.
