I am not a teacher but, as a passionate supporter of our education system, I walked with teachers on their march on October 17th.
Contrary to the Government and media this campaign is about protecting teachers and defending education.
Yes, teachers object to the abolition of the work-load agreement and national pay scales which allow movement around the country on the same grade and to the lack of clear guidelines for performance related pay.
Yes, teachers are concerned about the changes to the pension scheme without a proper actuarial valuation (particularly as many now have to pay more in contributions than they have received in increased pay) and about the increase in the retirement age to 68 but it is a long time since a promoted post such as Head of Department has been a sinecure.
But those of us who are supporting the campaign are equally concerned about the changes to the system being made by Michael Gove.
Changes are being made to the curriculum of young children without theoretical or practical basis, and against the advice of those with experience of the way children learn and develop.
At a time when children learn best through an informal environment they will be expected to spend more time on formal learning, which may damage their attitudes and abilities in the long term.
Methods used in private prep and pre-prep schools will not work with class sizes of 30 children.
Children attending free schools do not have to follow the national curriculum and do not have to have qualified teachers, but the operators of the schools receive the same money per child as schools that do follow the national curriculum and employ properly qualified staff.
It does not take much arithmetic to see that state money in the form of profits will end up in the operators' pockets.
I am not asking everyone to march with the teachers but know that they are acting in the best interests of children now and in the future and rather than moan about the action ask how you too can support the action.
The changes now in the pipeline are designed to ensure the rich get richer and the poor are deprived of opportunities.
Please help us fight them.
Penny Ryan; Tooting
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here