News, SCHOOLS

PHOTOS: Tralee Schoolteachers United On The Picket Line

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Colaiste Gleann Le teachers on strike were from, left. Norma Breen, Cheryl Hegerty, Micheal O'Sullivan, Myrna Egan and John Cray. Photo by Gavin O'Connor.
Coláiste Gleann Lí teachers on strike on Thursday. From left; Norma Breen, Cheryl Hegarty, Micheal O’Sullivan, Myrna Egan and John Cray. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.

TEACHERS of Tralee’s secondary schools joined 27,000 other educators across the country on strike yesterday because of plans to reform the Junior Cert cycle.

The teachers unions, ASTI and TUI are unhappy with plans to make their teachers assess 40% of the work of their own students.

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Thursday’s industrial action followed a similar work stoppage in December.

Teachers from five secondary schools in Tralee were on the picket line on Thursday and TraleeToday.ie asked them their views on the strike action.

“It’s getting a little bit frustrating,” said CBS The Green teacher, Fionán Fitzgerald, speaking on the picket line. “We’d all rather be inside our classroom doing our daily work, helping our students prepare for state examinations,” he said.

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“The key problem is that state examinations should be fair and they should be impartial. To put teachers in a situation where they’re correcting their own students’ examinations is just simply not on,” said Fionán.

“We’re on strike – not because of money, not for a pay cheque, not for pay rises or anything like that. It’s purely for the standard of education that we’ve experienced and we want to see our own students getting in the future,” he said.

Speaking to teachers in Mercy Mounthawk, they are very much united in their views on reform of state examinations.

“We’re frustrated. We’d prefer to be back in the classroom teaching. This issue needs to be resolved with the union and Department of Education,” said Norah Quane.

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CBS The Green teachers on strike were from, left. Finula English, Karen Tobin, Fionn Fitzgerald, Gearldine O'Dwyer, Norah Scanlan and Mairead Cahil. Photo by Gavin O'Connor.
CBS The Green teachers on the picket line. From, left; Finula English, Karen Tobin, Fionán Fitzgerald, Geraldine O’Dwyer, Nora Scanlon and Mairead Cahill. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí teachers on strike were from, left: Elma Nh Uilleabhain, Karen Ni Artaigh, Eddie Murchu, Honor Ni Cgloinn. Photo by Gavin O'Connor.
Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí teachers on strike were from, left: Elma Ní Shuilleabháin, Karen Ní Artaigh, Eddie Ó Murchú, Honor Níc Gloinn and Fiona Uí Mhuiris. Photo by Gavin O’Connor
Mercy Mounthawk teachers on strike were from, left. Kathleen Ni Dhubhda, Amanda Brosnan, Catriona O'Sullivan and Mary Ready . Photo by Gavin O'Connor.
Mercy Mounthawk teachers on strike on Thursday. From left; Kathleen Ni Dhubhda, Amanda Brosnan, Catriona O’Sullivan and Mary Reidy, Margaret Leen. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
Mercy Mounthawk teachers on strike were from, left. Aileen Flanagan, Grainne O'Connor, Noreen O'Connor, Norah Quane and Catherine Hartnett. Photo by Gavin O'Connor.
Mercy Mounthawk teachers on strike were from, left. Aileen Flanagan, Grainne O’Connor, Noreen O’Connor, Norah Quane and Catherine Hartnett. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
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Presentation Tralee teachers Catriona Walsh, Lorna O’Callaghan, Nora McCarthy, Kay O’Mahoney and Margaret O’Connell on the picket line on Thursday. Photo by Gavin O’Connor