Comrades! To Arms! The Revolution is coming, the Workers are throwing off the shackles of the Imperialist Capitalist State! Finally, those who opress the people will be overthrown, and our new society will arise from the ashes, with all men and women equal as one!

I'm referring of course, to today's National Strike by the National Union of Teachers. Now seeing as teachers are generally middle-class graduate professionals, they are not exactly "The Workers", but will this strike perhaps be a sign that the Government can no longer choose to give out pay rises as they wish, and instead be drawn back to the negotiating table to decide a fair amount? Unlikely. For one thing, it is an independant body which decides the pay rise, not the government. Second, it seems unlikely that a strike will resolve anything. Education isn't a money making operation for the Government-all a strike will do is make kids happy and parents annoyed (although if they direct the anger towards the government, it might help) and as it was only one Union which went on strike, chances are very little will result from this.

However, that does not detract from the true issue behind the strike. Despite 13 weeks of holidays, teaching remains an incredibly demanding profession. It is not easy to face classes of 30 kids every day, dealing with behavioural problems and targets, all whilst struggling on low pay and student debt. Teacher's pay needs to be brought into line with other graduate professions in order to boost both recruitment and retainment. I am entirely sure the country could do with loosing a few lawyers or city banks, and the benefits for society of extra teachers would far outweigh any financial loss to the government. Considering that I am the child of a teacher, I may perhaps be biased somewhat, but it still remains, that teachers play an incredibly important role in the development of the nation's youth. Therefore, they should be rewarded adequately for what they do.