Thousands of strikers in Amsterdam: "The measure is full"
Calm, but determined, an enormous string of teaching staff moved from Amsterdam's Stopera to Museumplein this afternoon. An estimated 15 thousand teachers, directors and educational supporters showed that the measure is full. "This situation is unsustainable."
Picture: Fred van Diem
The 30-year-old Lanikai Husslage stands on Museumplein. She has been holding up a banner for less than an hour: 'We are looking for new stars for education'. Husslage has only been working in education for a year, but effortlessly sums up the pain points. “I work until six o'clock every day, but it's never finished. I also do things for the school on my day off, while I actually need that day to recover. It's my passion, but at the same time I wonder how long I can keep this up. ”
Working full-time in education, substitute teacher Karen Fekkes doesn't want to think about it. It is XNUMX pm and the area around the Stopera is filling up. She shares a bench in the sun with an unknown colleague and soon starts talking about the problems in primary education. Fekkes fills in at the schools of one board, but is "all the time called by obscure bureaus, asking if I wouldn't want to do substitute work through them."
Lanikai Husslage: "I also do things for the school on my day off, while I really need that day to recover. It's my passion, but at the same time I wonder how long I can do this full to hold."
The teacher shortage is also the order of the day for school director Daniëlle Rodenhuis. At her own school, where it is often no longer possible to find a replacement – "I refuse to teach myself, hello, we provide education, not childcare" – but also through her daughter, a third-year teacher training student. “My daughter is already receiving vacancies from boards, as are her friends, but in fact they are not yet ready to run a class independently. I'm very concerned about that. That young, enthusiastic teachers also drop out because they are already given too many responsibilities.”
'We are devilish'. One of the 15 strikers who joined the demonstration in Amsterdam.
Procession
Once up to speed it is an impressive sight, the procession of teachers, directors and educational supporters on strike. “I don't think I've ever seen so many teachers together,” says a cyclist who is stopped so that the teaching staff can cross the Vijzelstraat in peace. A school team has made a banner asking motorists to honk when they stand behind the teacher, who is on strike again today for less workload and more salary. Hardly any driver leaves his horn untouched. Master Klaas Henk de Jager emphasizes that he would never have chosen this profession if he had wanted to become rich, but the reality is that because of her higher salary, his wife works five days a week and he four. "There is a second child on the way, but I wouldn't be able to support the family from my salary, absolutely not."
"A second child is on the way, but I wouldn't be able to support the family on my salary, absolutely not", Klaas-Henk de Jager, master of primary education.
A little further on, Maaike Bouwman tries to guide her bicycle with three children - one in front, one on the back and one sleeping in the baby carrier - safely along curbs and the slots of the tram track. She herself is a teacher at a cluster 3 school, but also sympathizes with the team at the school of her two eldest. “I now also see what it does to my own children when they get a different face in front of the class. That shouldn't happen that often. And I'm on strike because more hands are needed in the classroom and for smaller classes."
The strikers gathered today at the Stopera on Waterlooplein. The turnout was high: 15 thousand teachers, educational supporters and directors joined the demonstration across the city.
Teacher Shirley Caster would go up the barricades for a week if necessary. She is still cranky from her latest overtime action. "Yesterday, on my day off from XNUMXam to XNUMXpm, I updated my administration, but I'm not done yet." At her school, a teaching assistant is structurally in front of the class one day a week, a very good strength 'but it doesn't make sense'. A new teacher cannot be found. “The measure is full,” says her colleague Yvonne Kneijber. “If you yourself are ill, you go back to work as soon as possible, because you don't want to burden your colleagues even more. This is an untenable situation. ” A teacher from Daltonschool Nellestein from Amsterdam: “Lately people have become overwrought that I had not expected at all.”
Passion
Almost without exception, the teachers speak of passion for their work, dedication and enthusiasm. It is a difficult position: they do not want to deter anyone who is considering choosing the profession and find - less and less, but still - moments when working with the children gives them great satisfaction. But awareness is also beginning to emerge that the same enthusiasm is killing them. Master Klaas-Henk de Jager: “We are a soft people, the teaching staff. Traditionally easy to paste and keep wet. But something has started to move. And now we will continue. ”
