Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach made the point earlier that students and parents do not want a strike, with the implication that teachers in some way did want a strike, which is a ridiculous proposition. Teachers would far prefer to be in the classroom, doing their job. He is not just wrong in that. My daughter, who is a junior certificate student, is happy that the teachers are going on strike, not because they are getting a day off, but because she and her peers recognise the difficulties they would have if it was left to their teachers to evaluate them. They know how difficult that would be, human nature being what it is. As a parent of a junior certificate student, I am also happy that teachers are making that stand. I am not happy that they have to, but I am happy that the assault on teachers' working conditions and wages over the past number of years has not eroded their principles. It has not diminished their resolve to make a stand when it is important to do so. This is the only avenue they have to force the Government to listen. I salute them in that regard.

Does anybody out there support the junior certificate as it stands? Probably not, but delivering an alternative education system that is better for students cannot be done without engaging with the teaching staff who are at the coalface. That is, in essence, what this dispute has originated from. The Government has failed to listen and I am glad that the teachers are taking it on. Fintan O'Toole very eloquently addressed the issues with our education system. He made the point that exams are brutal, mechanical and depersonalising and the system we have devalues many of the things that should be stimulated in young people - creativity, cooperation and so on - but the examination system has a shining light to it in that it is impersonal. Everybody is treated the same; it does not matter who one is. That is a very valuable proposition in our education system. I hope the Government takes note and listens to what those at the coalface are saying.

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