A selfish request

[ffutures]

There’s currently a petition on the 10 Downing Street site requesting that school science technicians should be given pay more in keeping with their responsibilities. If you're a UK resident and happen to feel like signing it, there’s just a tiny possibility that it might have some impact. Please note you do have to give a genuine name, UK address, and email or the vote doesn't count.

"Initiatives in the pipeline to increase the number of pupils taking separate Sciences will have a considerable knock on effect on the workload of Technicians. Technicians are already recognised by professional bodies as the "expert" in the Science Department on practical Science issues, often training teachers in practical techniques and advising on safety, yet we earn less than £10 per hour. This state of affairs needs to remedied quickly if Science Education is to be at the forefront of government policy."

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Technicians/

Deadline is 6th March

Please copy to anyone you might know who's interested in the future of science / science education in the UK.

I doubt very much this will do me any good, I'll probably be retired before changes are made, but it really does need to be done if we want to go on teaching practical science properly.

Comments

[ggreig]

Signed. Hurrah for Science!

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Yup - many thanks!

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

Signed. I share your doubts. But it can't hurt.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Many thanks!

[liliaeth]

I'll try and get my sister to sign it, or to at least use her name for it. She moved to England some time back.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[sirernest.livejournal.com]

Signed. Though, I wish I were a bit closer to the £10/hour myself.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Thanks - a lot are way below £10/hour, especially term time only staff.