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AIBU?

This headteacher is right - so why suspnd her

279 replies

Whysomanyexcuses · 26/06/2020 19:51

This headteacher has said what many parents have been saying yet suspended .....
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8463765/Sunderland-head-teacher-suspended-saying-staff-sat-home-doing-lockdown.html#comments

We need more head teachers like this - our children have been failed.

YABU - she should say nothing - let it go - ignore the ones who have done nothing to help children
YANBU - she is correct to say it as it is - children have been let down

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Am I being unreasonable?

735 votes. Final results.

POLL
You are being unreasonable
34%
You are NOT being unreasonable
66%
Whysomanyexcuses · 26/06/2020 19:53

There are many excellent hard working teachers - as this lady is.

There are also some that have let down children.

This head said it as it is and gets suspended. Why cover up what many parents have said all along - SOME of our children have been let down by their schools and others have received a brilliant home schooling experience. Time to say thanks to the great and call out the poor.

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CatWhisperer86 · 26/06/2020 19:54

Your options are not exactly representing two different views so nothing to vote for.

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Justheretobeclear · 26/06/2020 19:55

She's absolutely right. My husband is a teacher and he hasn't even been expected to do anything. But, in teaching, she's an idiot for thinking you can say anything against any member of staff. The unions have all the power and they'll have her blood for even thinking that any teacher isn't perfect. It's the same as how you can't say a bad word about people on benefits or women who choose not to breastfeed - they're completely untouchable.

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Babymamaroon · 26/06/2020 19:55

YANBU - I don't get it either. She told the truth Confused

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OliviaPopeRules · 26/06/2020 19:56

Yanbu

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JimmyGrimble · 26/06/2020 19:57

Oh behave yourself. Such a great head that she exposed her staff to criticism for things that are totally her responsibility. If her staff aren’t working where does the buck stop? Poor management.

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PicsInRed · 26/06/2020 19:57

She's potentially created a legal employment issue in her own staff. That's why she's been suspended. She has spoken very unwisely.

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HollyGoLoudly1 · 26/06/2020 19:58

If she feels certain staff in her school aren't pulling their weight then absolutely say something to them, as you would at any other time. Speaking publicly in such a negative way about your own staff is totally unprofessional, I'm not surprised she's been suspended. I'm a teacher for what it's worth.

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Bargainhuntbore · 26/06/2020 19:58

People dont like the truth to be told.

But its true. My friend is a teacher and has been pretty bored. I worked in a school and i can see where thus report comes from

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JimmyGrimble · 26/06/2020 19:59

@Justheretobeclear

She's absolutely right. My husband is a teacher and he hasn't even been expected to do anything. But, in teaching, she's an idiot for thinking you can say anything against any member of staff. The unions have all the power and they'll have her blood for even thinking that any teacher isn't perfect. It's the same as how you can't say a bad word about people on benefits or women who choose not to breastfeed - they're completely untouchable.

And yet you just did. Your husband is a teacher and you think unions have all the power? Aye all right then.
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AnnaBanana333 · 26/06/2020 19:59

YABU for reading the Daily Mail.

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SomewhereEast · 26/06/2020 19:59

Judging by conversations with other parent friends, the quality & level of support has varied massively. Of the two secondary schools in our town, one has been excellent & one (the hovering-on-the-edge-special-measures-anyway one) has been woeful. My primary age DCs' teachers have genuinely done their best I think, but some friends' DCs have been really let down.

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heartsonacake · 26/06/2020 20:01

YABU and totally missing the point as to why she’s actually been suspended.

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HavelockVetinari · 26/06/2020 20:03

I think she was likely factually correct, but I imagine there are things in her contract to state that she can't bring the school into disrepute, which she has undoubtedly done through this interview. She's probably also alienated some of her staff, although others will be silently applauding her as they will have had to pick up the slack.

In every profession there are saints and sinners and many in between - teachers aren't all marvellous human beings.

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spanieleyes · 26/06/2020 20:04

But it is her responsibility to ensure that her staff are working. So she has effectively said she wasn't doing her job!

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AIMD · 26/06/2020 20:04

I don’t understand. Why have Some teachers at her school also been doing nothing at home? Surely as head that her job to address?

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YoureAllABunchOfBastards · 26/06/2020 20:04

YABU for reading the Daily Mail

This

I am a teacher/senior leader. I am knackered. I am also stressed to death with the constant changes to guidance. Of the staff I manage, if I haven't been happy with their commitment, I have told them. Would I tell the papers I had lazy staff? No, I bloody wouldn't because it is unprofessional and it is my problem to deal with!

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pooiepooie25 · 26/06/2020 20:04

Well- the buck stops with her. If teachers in her school aren't doing enough, that's her fault.

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averysuitablegirl · 26/06/2020 20:05

It doesn't matter whether she was right or not.

What she had been suspended for is her utter disregard of professional boundaries and - possibly - incompetence in managing her staff competently.

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Cookiecrisps · 26/06/2020 20:07

Is she talking about her own staff or teachers in general? If it’s in general then I don’t believe you can generalise at all due to the different approaches individual schools and academy trusts have adopted during lockdown.

If the head is taking about her own staff then she should be leading and managing them properly. After all a teacher’s directed time is directed by the head teacher and staff will be held to account by her.

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LifeIsHardButSoAmI · 26/06/2020 20:07

It's the same as how you can't say a bad word about people on benefits or women who choose not to breastfeed - they're completely untouchable

What is it you would like to be able to say about these groups that you feel too can’t? Hmm

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Whysomanyexcuses · 26/06/2020 20:08

Ah... there you go then similar story from 'schools week' online

Does that make the story better?

schoolsweek.co.uk/head-suspended-for-potentially-disparaging-remarks-about-teachers-hits-out/

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Scarby9 · 26/06/2020 20:08

Yes, this is absolutely a failure of leadership. Not in anyway suggesting there aren't many staff in difficult positions and that heads have not had to make horrendously different decisions weighing up competing priorities and considerations. But if you think staff are not working for no good, agreed, reason, that is down to management to address - with the staff concerned. Not to complain about them in public.

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Bridecilla · 26/06/2020 20:09

She's had nearly 4 months to get her staff in line if she thought they weren't doing enough. She's not highlighting her amazing leadership.

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LloydColeandtheCoconuts · 26/06/2020 20:11

@LifeIsHardButSoAmI

It's the same as how you can't say a bad word about people on benefits or women who choose not to breastfeed - they're completely untouchable

What is it you would like to be able to say about these groups that you feel too can’t? Hmm

Yes, I'm interested in that too...
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