Hundreds of volunteers ready for demonstration
The many volunteers who will help with the demonstration in Amsterdam today gathered in Tuschinski this morning for a briefing from half past nine. A new strike day in primary education has started: today the teachers in Noord-Holland, Flevoland and Utrecht are leaving their work for a better salary.
Picture: Fred van Diem
Three directors from Haarlemmermeer are present at the briefing in Amsterdam. Their teams join the demonstration, the directors volunteered. They are very concerned about the future of education. Two of them regularly jump in front of the class when they once again cannot find a replacement for a sick teacher.
Director Julia Weytingh of De Tovercircle: "We also want good education for our grandchildren. People don't realize how big the problems will be when this teacher shortage continues. And that will happen if nothing changes." Daniëlle Rodenhuis, director of the Zevensprong, therefore deliberately does not stand in front of the class: "I provide education, not childcare. If we keep solving it, nobody will feel the problem."
"I provide education, not childcare. If we keep solving it, nobody will feel the problem", director Daniëlle Rodenhuis
In addition to the volunteers, the students of the Security College of the Roc van Amsterdam also help. Together they form the order service today and ensure that everything around the demonstration runs smoothly. The MBO students gathered at Waterlooplein this morning. That is the starting point of the demonstration at 12.00 noon.
Registration points
In the morning, strikers also walked in at the registration points to register offline. AObdistrict driver Perry van Liempt is in Lelystad, where it was already pleasantly busy around 10.15 am. “There are about seventy people here. They come to hand in their strike registration and hang around for a while to talk to colleagues about what is needed in education. In my opinion, most schools here are closed. ”
Action Calendar
Teacher Menno Kolk, who works at primary school De Flambouw in Nigtevecht, is campaigning today with his students. “I'm going to sail with groups 5 to 8 in a boat on the Vecht to make noise for a better salary. We have made banners and the students will be vlogging about the trip. That will certainly stand out because many cars drive along the Vecht. ”
Primary school De Flambouw from Nigtevecht is going up the Vecht with banners in a boat to draw attention to a better salary. Group 5-6 teacher Menno Kolk: "The message with this action is: Don't let us sink."
According to Kolk, the actions are desperately needed. “Education must be made more attractive. We have not sent any classes home yet, but it does happen that part-timers return on their day off or that classes are split up. I also notice that men often choose professions in which they can earn more. That is why we are going down: do not let primary education sink. "
