Families across the county faced disruption on Thursday due to industrial action by scores of Kent teachers.

And so far, opinion has been divided amongst Kent Online visitors as to whether the action was selfish or justified.

At least 20 schools closed and dozens more suffered partial closures because of the National Union of Teachers' strike against a Government-offered pay rise of 2.45 per cent, which falls below the rate of inflation for the third year running.

First to comment against the strike on our SpeakOut was mum Sonja Norwood, from Ashford: “Many parents have to take the day off work to care for their children in teachers’ absence - teachers striking has a knock on effect for everyone but mostly on the education of the children!”

But Steve Fish, from Swanley, said: “I think the teachers have every right to strike. They are overloaded and over-stressed to levels way beyond the private sector.

“Thirteen weeks holidays - I don't think so. Most of the teachers I know work at least half of those as well as 60 hour weeks during term time. Most people don't see that.”

Neil Smith, from Ashford, remarked: “No one forced them to become teachers. Surely most people would investigate the possible remuneration of a career before embarking on training/qualifications to follow their chosen career.”

Barbara Neill-Bottle from Marden accused striking educators of ‘double standards’: “I find it a little hard to swallow that our children's education is likely to suffer immeasurable damage if we take them out of school for a holiday and yet this seems to be forgotten when the teachers decide to abandon them for the sake of extra pay for themselves!”

Rochester resident Adrian Wright pointed out: “Children learn appropriate behaviour by example and typically they will copy what adults, particularly those in authority do.

“What kind of example are the teachers setting for them tomorrow? Shall we soon see the kids themselves to follow suit by organising strikes if they don't get their way?”

But there were others who felt the teachers’ cause deserved an ear.

Kent trained teacher Emily H, from inner London, said the fact that this was the first NUT strike in 21 years showed how seriously the action was taken.

“I would prefer to be in school today, not on strike, but it is vital that these issues are realised.

She added: “Teachers work long and hard hours and work when they shouldn't, including when their pupils are on holiday. Why? Because they care.

“We do it because we want to give our young people the best possible chances in life. But the government continues to belittle this profession…by increasing our pay by only 2.45 per cent when the rate of inflation and average pay rises in the private sector are both over 4 per cent.”

Fellow teacher M Halligan agreed: “Many young teachers, starting out in a graduate profession…are finding their starting salary so low that they are struggling to make ends meet.

“For many of the teachers striking today, myself including, the decision was a very hard one to make as the very nature of the teaching means that teachers take their pupils' learning and wellbeing extremely seriously.”

~ Read the full story on the strike >>>