this is the very first time i am experiencing the gravity of the consequences of teachers' strike (although it is not the first time that the teachers have striked -- i remember them doing so when i was an undergrad). i believe it is a deliberated and morally contemplated decision on the strikers' part because of the need to be heard. last weeks' classes were all cancelled on Wed and Thurs or boycotted by lecturers at the last minute..... today, we were told that there will be no German exam on Tuesday..... yes there were happy faces and i must admit i am quite relieved to hear the decision as i have quite a bit of work to do for my report before being able to sit down and string sentences together. but i am slightly saddened, not because i won't be sitting the exam in the Playfair Library (one of the oldest bit of the University which used to be part of the medical school but is now within the law school and administrative offices) with sculptured heads of famous luminaries starring at you while you try to scribble sensible responses on paper; but rather that the minority of the people grooming the next generation of employees or great thinkers are treated so badly, and yet i know of people with corporate jobs complaining that they are not earning enough..... it is not fair or justified to compare the kind of work nor the hours one spend in different careers ... but why should some work be paid less than others when they are equally challenging in their own respects and equally, if not more (when people can see beyond myopia) important?!
but you know... at least they have the freedom to protest. many in other lands, suffer the lack of empowerment, and listening ears.... and i am quite certain that it will have to end up in some sort of negotiation....
posted by ~overacuppa~ on Friday, 5 March, 2004 at 15:10 hrs
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