INTO conference: Amid fears that new working hours could reduce their summer break, primary teachers yesterday demanded that their traditional holidays in July and August be preserved.
The conference adopted a motion calling for the integrity of the current summer holiday arrangements to be respected. This is in marked contrast to the agenda set by the Minister for Education and Science, Mr Dempsey, who has spoken about the need to protect the integrity of the school year for pupils.
Ms Moira Liddane (Athy and INTO equality committee) said there was a popular conception that there were two good reasons for being a teacher: July and August.
There were many others, including job satisfaction and enjoyment. But the holidays were still a key factor in attracting some of the best and the brightest to teaching, she said.
School openings in August had been proposed to increase the number of flexible days available to schools. More flexibility could be given, but not at the cost of the traditional summer break.
"Eating into holiday time is non-family-friendly," she said. The INTO enjoyed best practice with a 10-week break over the summer, and this should not be undermined, she said.
Primary teachers work a longer year (183 days) than their second-level colleagues (167). Holiday periods for the next four years for all schools have already been agreed as part of the benchmarking deal.
Ms Mary O'Sullivan (Tullamore) said the current holiday arrangements worked for the benefit of the children. While arrangements were in place for the next four years, many teachers would still be working long after this. "I am one of those who do not want the integrity of the school year to be eaten into as the years pass," she said.
Ms O'Sullivan said the new arrangements were a slippery slope, where so-called flexible working days would soon become part of the school year. "I cannot understand how we have a situation like this when so many INTO members are opposed to working in August," she said.
Ms Miriam Mulkerrin (South Co Dublin) said very little had been achieved by the Minister's dogged pursuit of a common school year. The flexible days should be agreed by management and staff instead of being imposed from outside.
Her school in Knocklyon, Dublin, had already worked to dovetail its school year with the local secondary school. She said the common school year plan was already crumbling.
The Easter holidays will be reduced to seven days next year, while the post-Christmas term will not begin until January 10th.
On pensions, Ms Catherine Byrne (INTO general treasurer) said the union was fully committed to protecting and improving the living standards of retired members, while parity of pension was a legitimate expectation of members.
