Must do better for teachers

July 28th, 2008

It’s a phrase most parents and grandparents will be familiar with by now – ‘I’m bored!’.

Every childminder dreads that particular battle cry at this time of the year as they try to stave off the summer holiday boredom and keep their little cherubs entertained.

Of course, things have improved in recent years and there is now a range of clubs and groups that provide fun stuff for children during the break, albeit at a cost.

But most parents would be forgiven for wishing away the months of July and August and be over-eager to send their children back to their teachers.

It’s worth remembering that many of the teachers out there will be having a far more anxious wait for that reunion this summer.

Recent figures show the squeeze on our probationer teachers is becoming greater and many face the prospect of not getting full employment when the new term begins.

While as many as 93 per cent are in employment, only half have full-time posts.

In some cases, their probation period can last up to five years while commitments to find places for all new graduates bring even more pressures on the system.

Much of this is down to financial resources available to educational services, which work within tight budgets.

But its worth remembering our up and coming teachers have committed to providing our children with the tools needed for when they are adults and have to tackle the working world themselves.

It is a commendable undertaking and they deserve to be treated with much more respect than they currently are now.

In the end, how can we expect our young and enthusiastic recruits to supply our children with a bright future when their own is so uncertain?