Teachers explain in their own words why theyre striking on Thursday [Video]

This article originally appeared in Emily Writes on Substack.

On Thursday, teachers and principals strike across Aotearoa. Teachers I spoke to were desperate for parents to understand just how seriously they took the decision to strike. Almost all of the teachers I spoke to said it was a last resort and they felt like they had no other option.

Some teachers talked about pay but most talked about teachers and ratios, support for disabled and neurodivergent tamariki, sick leave in a post-Covid world, more available relief teachers, more non-contact time and more teacher aides.

It struck me as interesting that much of what they’re asking for – particularly around more funding for disabled and neurodivergent children – is exactly what parents have been asking for.

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