I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA wrote: » Which one? There are three teaching unions - the INTO, ASTI, & TUI. If the unions actually banded together on the main issues and then went looking for a better deal on behalf of teachers, then I might be more inclined to believe that anything would actually happen. But usually they end up breaking ranks, and nobody gets a decent deal out of it. They just keep been bending over backwards for the Dept. of Education and Teaching Council to do whatever they want. I very much resent the tone of "oh the teachers are at it 'demanding' things". It comes across as "why don't they just shut up and put up with it. They should be grateful that we even pay them at all". Not the first time I've heard that actual sentence either. Teachers give more than enough as it is. Terms & conditions, pay, job security, and funding for schools have been decimated over the last decade. It's about bloody time we actually get something back for all that we've had to give and conceed! And that's not me being 'entitled'. We know when we go into teaching that we're never going to be rich. But we are highly qualified professionals, who are treated worse than dog sh*t by a lot of the public. We can't plan for our futures because most of us don't know if we'll even have a job next year. A lot of us still live at home with our parents (if we're lucky enough), because we can't afford to rent (never mind the pipe dream of applying for a mortgage!). I don't think it's unreasonable to want to be able to move into somewhere of our own and not spend the rest of our lives living with our parents! I don't think it's unreasonable to want to be comfortable, and not be constantly stressed and worried about how we're going to afford to pay our bills, or what we're going to do if an unexpected expense comes up. I don't think it's unreasonable to want fair remuneration for the work we do. It's not a 9-4 job. Most teachers are in school an hour before school starts, and and hour or two after school ends. We take work home with us every night (school holidays included) so that the students aren't left waiting for work back. We come into school during midterms and dedicate hours after school to give extra classes to exam years. I don't think it's unfair for us to want to be able to afford to heat the school in the depths of Winter, to have smaller class sizes so that we can focus more on each individual student, and to have the funds from the Dept. of Education so that we can have up to date resources to actually teach the kids in the first place! The Teaching unions give/conceed more than anyone should have to, to the Dept. of Education and Teaching Council. It's about time that some of the "demands" as you've phrased them, are actually met. But I won't hold my breath. No teacher wants to miss class time with their students if it's unavoidable, but it seems that the only time anyone actually starts listening is when parents are going to be inconvenienced by school closures. Not that teachers ever get much support for wanting decent conditions for themselves and their students. Usually it's just used as another stick to beat us with. Funnily enough, everybody (rightly) supports the nurses when they strike for better conditions, but the very idea of teachers striking for better conditions is met by a lot of people with nothing short of absolute rage. People seem to forget that we all had the same CAO form. No, there are no teaching unions in the UAE.
cloudatlas wrote: » Dubai isn't a place I'd like to go (full stop) I find their obsession with money and tacky trinkets vulgar, their treatment of poor migrant workers reprehensible, (and) their refusal of options for citizenship insular, and (remove comma and 'and'. Begin new sentence) I just view these places (put 'Qatar included' in brackets) Qatar included as just desolate (comma) backward, conservative sand pits. If all else failed (comma) what career would you choose outside of teaching?
finisklin wrote: » Hi again, I have been to Dubai before and it strikes me as a completely different reality to probably anywhere else in the world. The opulence of the hotels, food, cars and luxury available is so far removed from anything I have experienced previous. How do you stay grounded because it's just not real or couched in any Irish or perhaps western world reality? Also, for those within your group that are saving, how much would they expect to put away every month/year? 60-70% of their income? For those saving for a house or whatever when they move back home, how committed are they? Or do they let their hair down and go nuts in the dubai mall every pay day?
BorneTobyWilde wrote: » Do you ever wine and dine with billionaires? Would you marry a Guy From Dubai, a local/
DaMorganator wrote: » How do you feel about supporting a regime with such a terrible human rights history?
cloudatlas wrote: » Dubai isn't a place I'd like to go I find their obsession with money and tacky trinkets vulgar, their treatment of poor migrant workers reprehensible, their refusal of options for citizenship insular, and I just view these places Qatar included as just desolate backward, conservative sand pits.
I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA wrote: » the rich are very rich over here, and you can see that with some of the shops and yachts that you can see. There's no homelessness in Dubai - if you don't have a job, or a means to support yourself, you're repatriated back to your country of origin.
I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA wrote: » Right then.... We have this marvelous thing called free will. If you don't want to go to Dubai, then you'll be delighted to know that you don't have to. I have never been to Qatar, so I can't presume to speak for what things might be like over there. You make a lot of assertions about somewhere you've never been to. Dubai is many things, but I think you might be a party of one in calling it "desolate and backward". It is most certainly not desolate, and as I have already said further back in the thread, it's actually very westernised. Yes it is a bit conservative, but the younger generations coming up are certainly becoming more liberal. Being conservative isn't necessarily always a bad thing either. You are correct in your assertion that there is a lot of sand in Dubai. It was originally a desert, so this is to be expected. It also means that there are a lot of beaches to choose from, where you'll be surprised to know, people can wear as little or as much as they want. Please could I ask you to ensure that you use correct grammar if you are going to rant again. It is more difficult to figure out what you're actually trying to give out about when you don't. I really don't know what career I would choose, if I was not a teacher. It's what I've always wanted to be.
Horusire wrote: » Well this AMA deteriorated quickly. People really do hate teachers for some reason. Best of luck OP. You know your worth and arnt sitting around moaning like most others around here. I applaud that
recedite wrote: » So just to be clear, homelessness problem solved, all immigrants work, no asylum seekers or welfare tourists, no junkies, drunks or beggars on the streets, yachts and Ferraris are as common as muck (or sand). Sounds absolutely reprehensible and insular alright. Do you not miss O'Connell Street on a Saturday night?
Gloomtastic! wrote: » Can’t find the link to the story now, I think it was the both TUI and ASTI. They were, once again, demanding that ‘new’ teachers get the same pay/allowances as ‘old’ teachers even though they were the ones who agreed to shaft you and peers. I have kids, now in secondary school. I agree with you on the over and above work most teachers carry out but then you have the useless teachers who don’t even bother showing up to take class. Yet there is absolutely nothing we as parents or the school management can do about it and they know it. How many totally useless/unsuitable teachers have the Teaching Council expelled in the last decade?
Horusire wrote: » I am a public sector worker. Already been shafted by the previous generation in terms of pension and conditions. Still haven't ever felt that anyone hated me for my profession. OP do you feel that people have exaggerated how much money there is to be made in the middle east? I have several friends out foreign and wrongly assumed they were making a lot more then 2300 a week. I've heard rumours of 1000 a week to work in hotels etc.
Wanderer78 wrote: » To some degree, it's understandable why people don't like teachers and many public sector workers, with the deunisation of our work force, and increasing worker insecurity across both public and private sectors, we really need to stop this from advancing, we cannot continue to shaft our younger generations. Best of luck op, very interesting discussion
The Black Oil wrote: » How is it for students with autism, dyslexia, etc? Do they get much support or is that under-developed?
I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA wrote: » No, I do not wine and dine with billionaires. They do not even exist on the same planet as the rest of us! That's an interesting one. I wouldn't say "never", but it's just not something I see in my future. If I were to marry a local, he'd have to be someone that has the same values and general outlook on life as me.
I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA wrote: » I feel a lot safer walking in Dubai by myself, or getting a taxi on my own, after a few drinks, or late at night, than I would back in Dublin, if that helps?
BorneTobyWilde wrote: » Sure they do, you just need to seek them out in Dubai. Lots of billionaire clubs in Dubai. You should join one, never know your luck.
emilymemily wrote: » Hi thanks for the informative posts. Is there adult education in Dubai? like a second chance education system that we have here in Ireland? Do many Irish teachers teach in this area? Also, is there special needs education in Dubai or the middle east in general? if so, does it extend to education for special needs adults like in Ireland and the UK?
recedite wrote: » I'm not asking you personally whether you are male or female, but is it possible for a woman to walk home at night, or does she need a male chaperone? (I'm thinking for cultural reasons, more than for safety reasons) I think a lot of Irish people are under the illusion that the money in Dubai must be ridiculously good in order to make up for the oppression and the general lack of craic. Would it be fair to say its actually a good lifestyle over there, maybe even more enjoyable than living in Ireland for many people, if they were taking home the same money in both places?
FixdePitchmark wrote: » Does the cultural difference not bother you at all ? So many aspects that are off topic, like, sexual preferences and basic freedoms we enjoy in Ireland are lost, hard to see how these are worth any upside. If there was an outragous reward , you could go with it. But you have shown , it is not the case for all over there. I hear , it is hard to pull certain kids up on bad behaviouir , because of their status ?
SirChenjin wrote: » Very interesting AMA, thanks for doing it. I haven't a question at the moment, everything I wanted to ask has been asked, and answered.
FixdePitchmark wrote: » Again not worth the money to live in such a country. People complaining about Ireland and talking about Dubai, forget the freedoms, identity and lifestyle they enjoy here. As for equality, forget it. People march in the streets for that here. Personally you couldnt pay me to give up that freedom. I couldn't live in a Muslim state. 6.5 K is a comical amount considering the sacrifice of your very existence.
