Are teachers sending us the message they want to?

Niki Gunning

Teachers may be struggling to get the public behind their cause, says communication expert, Niki Gunning, over the latest strike actions.

At a time when many people in business are facing cutbacks, pay freezes and increasing hours to make ends meet, there may be little sympathy with teachers’ latest attempts for a wage rise.

“As an ex-teacher I know the stress teachers face on a daily basis. I do wonder if the PPTA are missing the point.”

Gunning says that talking to the public exposes a frustration amongst families trying to juggle jobs with school holidays. 

“The public looks at 10-12 weeks holiday for teachers a year and wonders what the issue is about. For many self-employed people I know, their hours are disturbingly long and 4 weeks holiday is nothing but a dream. That is coupled with no job security and often, incomes that are barely livable.”

At a time when the government has clearly stated on a regular basis that there is no more money to the public, teachers appear greedy and self-serving.

“I think most people would admit they have no desire to teach the children of today. However, the message that is being communicated to people is greed at a time of real hardship for many of the families they teach.”

Gunning goes on to say that she is fairly sure this is not what teachers want to communicate.

“No one would argue that teachers do not work hard. However, the message that comes across is that teachers work harder than anyone else and this is just not the case. They have more job security than anyone else in society. They need to value that for currently this is priceless.”

“In business, trying to manage what we are communicating to the general public is really important. What our brand and our actions say is a tangible thing. I am concerned that the teacher brand is being damaged by these latest actions and it is creating a public that is losing sight of the tough side of being a classroom teacher.”