Striking rhetoric from Michael Gove

Members of both the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) are protesting at the Government's planned pensions reforms.

Michael Gove, the Education Secretary, has warned that teachers are in danger of sullying the reputation of their profession, while they insist that they have no option.

Mr Gove blasted the teachers' unions for the "premature" strike which will disrupt the lives of thousands of students and their parents.

The Tory Cabinet Minister said that the Government are still negotiating with the unions in the hope they can prevent the walk-out and even appealed to parents to assist in schools.

Good teachers won't want to go into the profession because it won't be worth their while to do so.

Mary Bousted of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers

"I think it is wrong for people who are working hard to have their lives disrupted in this way," Mr Gove said on BBC1's Andrew Marr Show. "I think it is right that schools to stay open.

"I do worry that taking industrial action, being on the picket line, being involved in this sort of militancy will actually mean that the respect in which teachers should be held is taken back.

"The public have a very low tolerance for anything that disrupts their hard-working lifestyles.

"You don't see hospital consultants going on strike and I don't believe teachers and head teachers should.

"It's within their rights, it's a civil right, but I think it is wrong in terms of the reputation of the profession.

As for "damaging respect for teaching", in 2010 the Co-op undertook a survey of the general public to ascertain the most trusted and respected jobs. At the top of the list were doctors, nurses, paramedics, firefighters and, yes, teachers. Occupying the bottom of the league table were estate agents, journalists, bankers and traffic wardens. Propping up the table, fresh from the expenses scandal, were … politicians. As Mr Gove has already worked in two of the most disrespected professions, would it be possible for him to retrain as an estate agent or a traffic warden?