Action week starts with noise and applause
Five days of campaigns for more investment in education started noisily this afternoon. In several schools in the country, pupils, parents, teachers, educational supporters and students made noise or applause to mark the start of the action week.
Image: Angeliek de Jonge
At primary school De PassePartout in Tegelen, Limburg, parents, pupils and teaching staff gathered in the schoolyard around 12.00 noon to make as much noise as possible (see video below). AObdistrict manager Perry van Liempt was present at that moment with a few colleagues and put flyers in the staff room with the strike requirements for next Friday. "Here too the workload is too high, so everyone came together after the lessons."
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Applaus
In the east of the country, in the Gieterij of Roc Twente, the teaching staff was applauded for five minutes. AObdirector Tamar van Gelder addressed those present through a megaphone and drew attention to the high workload, fair wages and investment in the future.
AObdriver Tamar van Gelder kicks off the action week at Roc Twente.
Hans Rutjes - stage name: Di Stephano - single-handedly provided the music on drums and saxophone and also made noise with his feet.
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Whistles and pans
At 13.00 p.m. Utrecht students walked in a modest march with whistles and pots and pans through the Utrecht University Library. They carried a sign with: 'Good education comes at a price. ' One student stood on the tables to explain the demands and concerns.
Hearts
No noise in Amersfoort, but hearts and red notes. At primary school De Malelande they had a large board on which parents pasted notes with compliments. The teaching staff also had hearts pinned on them. “We asked parents to encourage them,” says team leader Els Siebers. “Together with the school leader, I handed out notes this morning.”
Primary school de Malelande had a wall of compliment. Parents could compliment the teaching staff there. The school has a different promotion every day.
All compliments give one boost explains Siebers. “It's cool to hear that. We take action, but we want to do it in a beautiful way and also show the nice sides of education. ” The school has a different action scheduled every day and will be closed on strike day on Friday.
Investments
In Groningen there was a moment of noise and applause on the Academieplein, followed by a conversation with President Jouke de Vries of the University of Groningen in the Senate Chamber. AObdirector Henrik de Moel and AObdirector Marjan Dijkema argued there for more investment in education. Local media, such as RTV Noord en Groningen broadcaster, reported on the kick-off.
This morning we kicked off the action week on the Academieplein of the University of Groningen. After a noise campaign outside, we received speeches in the Senate Chamber from Jouke de Vries (chairman of the Executive Board of the University of Groningen) and Marjan Dijkema ( AOb and FNV) about the need for investment in education. pic.twitter.com/lH2gCalGDK
— AOb North Rayon (@AOb_regionnorth) March 11 2019
[/blockquote]Did your school also have a special kick-off of the action week today? Let us know! Share images of the campaign via the hashtag: #investeerinonderwijs. You will find out more about the program this week in this article.
