Escalating Ban on “Practicals” If Mediation Fails

Media Release: Education Reporters
Friday 27 September 2002

Escalating Ban on “Practicals” If Mediation Fails

“Our Committee will ask all secondary teachers to join or support an escalating ban on practical classes if the Ministry continues stonewalling at mediation this week, ” Martin Cooney, spokesperson for the September 20 group said today. Mr Cooney stated that this was the decision of the September 20 Committee which met on Wednesday evening.

“September 20 considered the specific proposals for industrial action decided on at PPTA Annual Conference and decided action needed instead to be taken from the start of Term 4 (7 October),” said Mr Cooney. “PPTA has however, helped clarify what September 20 had been claiming, when it announced that industrial action is legal in this situation.”

“Practical classes are mainly taught by the type of teacher who is in Group 1, 2 or 3 equivalent since they are in the skill based areas where degrees were normally not available when they trained. This involved home economics, text information processing, technology (wood, metal, plastic), physical education, music, drama, art and so on ”

“September 20 knows that students will be upset at missing what they claim are the most enjoyable lessons in school,” said Mr Cooney. “However, degree equivalent teachers feel if they are to be paid as second class teachers, the community can only expect second class lessons. Theory lessons where students copy down notes will replace the practicals so the curriculum content will still be covered. “

ENDS

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