When the Australian Education Union announced this Thursday's two-hour strike, parents braced for yet another disruption.

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Nobody likes a sudden school closure, particularly working families, but Canberra's teachers have not taken this action lightly.

Education Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith herself has acknowledged this.

She said teaching conditions dictated student learning conditions, and thanked educators who shared their classroom experiences.

This was a welcome departure from the overtly hostile rhetoric that governments often deploy against public servants during industrial disputes.

Teachers do face significantly more pressure than their predecessors. Social media, artificial intelligence and increased violence in schools - both student-on-student and against staff - have escalated daily challenges.

A bulging curriculum and an administrative workload that expands relentlessly hasn't helped either.

The daily reality involves managing complex behavioural issues, navigating rapid technological changes and fulfilling endless reporting requirements.

The Australian Education Union's ACT branch council unanimously rejected the government's updated pay and........

© Canberra Times