Whingeing is never a pretty noise, particularly when unjustified. Members of the National Union of Teachers are engaged in a mass whinge right now.

The tone is caught by the NUT's Essex boss, Jerry Glazier, who claims lack of money is sapping "living standards, motivation and morale". This culture of whingeing does a disservice to the teaching profession. Their 2008 pay rise is handsome compared to many other sectors of employment.

It has been arrived at by the teachers' own independent arbitration panel. Other teaching unions have accepted the rise with no complaint.

Only the NUT sees it as a justification for extreme measures. Now the strike called by the NUT has disrupted the lives and education of thousands, in Essex and beyond. How can they justify it, and what do they hope to achieve? The strike will have no effect on pay negotiations.

NUT members should be smart enough to know whingeing never achieves anything other than to alienate anyone within earshot.

LET'S BACK LIZ

Liz Hosford hasn't let a mere kidney transplant deter her from a lifetime ambition to swim the English Channel.

But the 26-mile endurance test is enough to sap the morale of even someone as brave and tough as Liz. It will no doubt be a tremendous boost to her effort if Essex people can pledge the £10,000 she is trying to raise for transplant charities - and do so before she takes her first step into that cold seawater.