"We are being treated like we are the enemy ... this is not just about teachers' welfare, it's about the future of our kids."
Stressed out, over-worked and frustrated teachers say children are suffering, their own health is suffering and they will do what it takes to change what they say is a broken education system.
More than 200 teachers took part in the planned strike action today that started with picket lines first thing this morning at busy intersections.
Teachers protest through the central city. Photo / Stephen Parker
The teachers then moved to a meeting at Destiny Church before hitting the streets to vocalise their protest.
Primary teachers and principals throughout the district went ahead with the rolling regional strikes after their union, the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI), rejected the latest offer.
The teachers at today's meeting were asked to give an indication between one and six of whether they intended to accept the offer or continue to fight. A formal vote would take place in a couple of weeks.
It's not just a day off school, it's about children's futures, says teachers. Photo / Stephen Parker
NZEI Rotorua branch president Aimee Goldsmith told those in the meeting that according to the Oxford Dictionary, a teacher was a person who gave information about or instruction in a subject or skill.
"But how would we define being a New Zealand primary teacher in 2018? A person who feeds, clothes, transports, offers counselling, mediation, sports coaching, first aid, somebody who administers medication, manages behaviour, plan, assess, oh and when there is time in the day, maybe teach."
She said the balance was "all wrong" and it was time for "drastic change".
"When teaching is the smallest portion of our job, there's are issues. Wake up Government. We do all these things for the children in our classes and schools and go home and have nothing left to give our own children and families. And that is not okay."
She said teaching was so stressful and tough she had made her own decision to leave the profession full time next year and opted instead for a role relieving.
"It is time to show our Government that enough is enough. We love what we do but we are exhausted and the kids, students in our classrooms and our own children deserve us at our best."
Strike meeting MC Glen Law from Mokoia Intermediate told the teachers that becoming a teacher or principal needed to be a choice people wanted to take.
Glen Law. Photo / Stephen Parker
Law said if teachers wanted what was needed to fix the crisis, they needed to fight for it.
He said the Government had the money but was unwilling to give it.
"The Government keeps saying they want us to wait but we know the crisis and we need something now.
"We are in crisis, the system is broken."
He said while the current coalition Government was more on their side, it wasn't enough.
"The last Government left things in such a mess in their drive for surplus."
Lynmore Primary principal Lorraine Taylor delivered a powerful speech to the teachers telling them they were clearly "not worth it" to be considered valued professionals.
Lorraine Taylor
She said the Government's message was clear that their classrooms were not fit for purpose and the children's teaching needs were not met because staff and students were "not worth it".
"Minister (Chris Hipkins) you can cover the cracks over in the New Zealand education system but they will still show through. This is about having modern classrooms, enough resources, enough time, pay equity, support for our students with special needs and respect for our profession because we in this room and in rooms all across the country are worth it."
Striking Rotorua teachers on the corner of Te Ngae Rd and Fenton St are gaining plenty of support this morning.
Following the meeting, the teachers marched from Destiny Church down Fenton St, along Amohau St and up Tutanekai St.
As they are walking they are chanting "What do we want? More teachers. When do we want it? Now". They were also chanting they wanted time to teach and their lives back.
Earlier in the day, teachers on the picket lines said not enough new blood was coming through and children were coming to school with emotional needs as well as needing breakfast and lunch.
Teachers gather in Rotorua this morning to be heard and seen as part of rolling strikes happening throughout New Zealand this week. Photo / Kelly Makiha
Westbrook School Year 4 senior teacher Jackie Barrett, who was standing at the noisy picket line on Fenton St outside Pak'nSave, said the Government's offer of 600 extra teachers would do little.
Barrett said when you considered there were 2500 schools in New Zealand, that equated to about only one teacher for every 2310 students.
Teacher Dana Bolton shows why she is striking today. Photo / Kelly Makiha
"Staff morale is really low and we have got really good teachers who are walking."
Barrett said teachers did not have relief capability to allow them to do the testing required which meant at times they were trying to test and teach, which was impossible.
Westbrook School Year 5 team leader Jules McLaughlin said it was difficult for teachers to help children with emotional needs but teachers still did.
"How much time is catering to those students' emotional needs before we even start teaching them?"
Westbrook School Year 4 teacher Pam McDowell said schools were losing experienced teachers fed up with the conditions.
McDowell said there were not the same number of new teachers coming through, let alone those with the experience like the ones leaving.
Special needs teacher Dana Bolton said the lack of resources for special needs students was heartbreaking.
Bolton, who works for Kawaha Point Primary and Te Kura Pounamu/Correspondence School, said currently children were falling behind because there simply wasn't enough funding.
Schools were being asked to pick up the slack for special needs children but they were already under resourced.
She said as a mother of three children, it broke her heart she couldn't do more to help.
