suffer little children

I'm finding it hard to post these days. I hate publishing a depressing post, but that's the reality so look away now if you're seeking upbeat.

It's depressing being back at work, our school lost 5 teachers this year, and they are not being replaced. The reality of this is classes are bigger, and students who were getting much-needed attention in small groups can't get that now. All our teachers are timetabled to the maximum hours, and extra duties will have to be done outside that time.

I know that the country is in a desperate state, and that we have to cut our spending. We are already overspending by something like 22billion euro.

What gets me is that so much money was wasted over the last few years, and that the "topdogs" are still not feeling the pinch- for instance, a levy was put on public servants' pay last November, which should have included judges. But, because of a loophole in the legislation, designed to keep the judiciary independent of the government, the pay of a judge can't be interfered with, so they were asked to voluntarily pay that levy. Very few of them have done so. At the same time, 4 year olds are now in classes of 35, children with special needs are not getting the attention they need, despite the government having lured them out of special schools for the last 10 years with the promise of support.

Our government holds onto the jet, ministers hold onto pensions and expenses, judges don't pay the levy, banks have been bailed out...

And all the time, it's suffer the little children.

And it's rained every day this week.

Rant over. I'll try to do a more upbeat post next time.