A dad criticised teachers taking industrial action after his son missed lessons. Teachers in their thousands walked out on February 1, with over half of schools in England being affected.
As reported by Grimsby Live, Rob Lewis' said his son missed four lessons due to the strikes and believes he would have been better staying at home. "Rather than him just sitting there, he could have been at home doing something educational or on a trip to somewhere educational like York Castle," he said.
"I don't think this kind of action is acceptable when they're ramming it down kids' throats that they shouldn't have a day off during term time and that they're not to be late to school," he said. "As well, teachers are already paid quite a decent wage compared to the rest of us so striking doesn't feel like something they should be doing.
Last Wednesday's action involving thousands of teachers was the first of seven planned strike days throughout February and March, organised by the National Education Union. Rob argued that if teachers can take a day off to strike, parents should not be fined for taking their children out during school time.
He said: "I don't think this kind of action is acceptable when they're ramming it down kid's throats that they shouldn't have a day off during term time and that they're not to be late to school. As well, teachers are already paid quite a decent wage compared to the rest of us so striking doesn't feel like something they should be doing."
Teachers earn a starting salary of at least £28,000 when qualified. Rob said: "Teachers go on about making children's lives better with the work they do, but how does this help that? They're already earning a higher amount than most of us, but the rest of us aren't on strike.
"I feel like they're asking for more than what's reasonable if I'm honest. We've had two awful years with Covid and now the cost of living crisis, strikes is the last thing we need.
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"I'm struggling to afford my heating as it is and this country is supposed to be built on getting stuck in and making things work. The rest of us are doing this, but them striking is the complete opposite.
"I just think it's all a little selfish if I'm honest. I agree they deserve to be on a good wage for what they do, but I don't think this is the way to go about it. Striking gets people's backs up and for my son to come and say he'd missed four lessons was gutting and disheartening."
Further NEU strikes in England and Wales are scheduled for February 28 for North and north-west England, Yorkshire and Humber, March 1 in East Midlands, West Midlands, and the NEU's eastern region, March 2 for all schools in Wales (postponed from February 14, as well as south-east and south-west England, and London, and March 15 and 16 - all schools in England and Wales
