Parents support teachers - Boycott Sats - Kids' Strike May 3rd

[SuzieAllkins]

I am hoping that parents have heard of the Kids' Strike on May 3rd which has been set up by an anonymous group of parents who say 'Enough is enough'?' Their campaign supports schools in trying to reach the Government with the message that we need to stop national testing and let teachers teach in the way that they know is best. As a former primary school teacher (who used to administer Year 6 SATs) and a parent of two young children I shall be fully supporting this campaign on 3rd May by taking my school aged child out of school for a fun day of learning. I do not want my children to become stressed and develop a negative attitude to learning. Although the school my eldest attends is wonderful in developing the 'whole child', the pressure is on the teachers to 'perform' and submit figures to reach unreachable targets. It is wonderful to see, on the Letthekidsbekids website that so many head teachers and teachers are supporting this campaign and are saying thank you to parents for helping their voice to be heard. Our children are too young to be put under pressure like this - the new curriculum's demands are bewildering to me! Children at the age of 6 and 10 years are expected to know grammatical knowledge which even scholars in the subject can't answer!! These are not skills which will set our children up for life. There are many around the country who are supporting this campaign. If you haven't heard about it, check out the website to see if you'd like to join in on Tuesday!

[Fairenuff]

You do realise that any teaching they miss will have to be caught up don't you. So this means teachers and/or assistants will have to find the time to go over it again.

If you want to support teachers, make sure your children are in school every day, on time, with the correct equipment, a decent breakfast and a good night's sleep. Also, if their homework could be kept on top of that would be great too

[SuzieAllkins]

Thank you for your reply and your views. I'm wondering how many teachers you know and whether you know how many of them are feeling? Many are leaving the profession due to stress, particularly due to the new curriculum. Lots of my friends who are teachers have left without a job to go to as it has become too much. This day will help to send a message to the government to listen to teachers about what is important in a child's education. A happy child is a child who will learn. Pressure on a child as young as 6 years is not acceptable. My child goes to a wonderful school with fabulous teachers. It is the system which needs changing and that will only happen if the government listen.

[Fairenuff]

I work in school so I know lots of teachers and am aware of the stress. Taking a day off will not help their stress, it will add to it. There are other ways to campaign, to raise awareness, to approach this political agenda which don't involve the children themselves and doesn't obstruct their education,

Start a petition to get it discussed in parliament, approach your local MP, lobby, etc. What's wrong with using the usual routes to change?

[Feenie]

I don't know any teachers in rl who do not support this campaign or who consider that the protest will add to their stress.

[ReallyTired]

I dint think the new curriculum is as bad as is made out. Dd is in year 2 and us happy. She is obvious to the fact she is going to sit tests.

[Feenie]

Oh, my class are oblivious. Your ds is one child - try teaching this curriculum to a class of average 6/7 year olds. It's ridiculous.

[Feenie]

Sorry - dd.

[ReallyTired]

Maybe the curriculum is ridiculous, but taking a child out if school is not the way to protest against it. Sorry I meant dd is oblivous to the up and coming sats tests.
Dd likes school and would not like to play truant.

I am more upset by schools getting rid of the Christmas play and the relentless obcession with two levels of progress.

There were daft aspects of the old curriculum like writing in different genres.

[Feenie]

It's significant that at last a group of parents are making a stand. Good luck to them!

[Witchend]

This strike is sponsored by LEGOLAND....

[sparepantsandtoothbrush]

I can imagine someone rubbing their hands with glee at all those £60 unauthorised absence fines...

I really can't see how this will make any impact at all but I know from speaking to others I am in the minority

[PatriciaHolm]

haha Witched - I think I might be less cynical if the strike weren't nicely timed to give everyone a 4 day weekend!

(and yes, I'm a Governor, I know plenty of teachers. Don't know any who think a handful of parents deciding to have an unauthorised day off is going to alleviate any pressure on them though. On the contrary, their unauthorised absence rate will just go up.)

[mamaslatts]

Suzie - surprised at the lack of support on here but I will be taking my children out on that day. I won't be taking my children to legoland

[Feenie]

No one in my LEA would be fined for one day.

No one said it would alleviate any teachers' stress,but it definitely won't add to it.

Their Facebook page is rammed with posts from supporting teachers and headteachers.

[Feenie]

I'm surprised too. Mamaslatts.

[EarthboundMisfit]

I'm in two minds about this. I can't really see what it will achieve, and it does feel as though it could make life harder for teachers.

I have a Y1 child and the thought of him sitting SATs next year, unaware or not, is appalling. I think his teachers do an amazing job of keeping the magic of early childhood alive, and I want to support them in a profession which seems to be becoming increasingly unbearable. DS' teacher was off for three days this week and when she returned with a streaming nose and lost voice I was actually RELIEVED the poor woman had a nasty bug, because the alternative was going off with stress. She shows no sign of being under pressure, but it was where my mind went straight away.

The trouble is the school can't really come out and say whether they support this action or not, can they? If a large number of teachers I knew, or here, said they were for it, I'd keep my children at home.

[bicyclebell]

I'm wondering whether to take my children out too.

Please could teachers give their opinions on here ...

I want to ask our school, but know they're not allowed to say.

I want to protest against the Year 2 and Year 6 SATs, but only if its going to be counted and make a difference and not just make more work for the school.

[EarthboundMisfit]

Precisely bicyclebell. Come on teachers! Would you like us to take our children out, or would you prefer us not to?

[Feenie]

I think I've said what I think!

[EarthboundMisfit]

Absolutely you have. But I think you're the only teacher to give their view so far.

[mrz]

Agree with Feenie, if my children were primary age I would join the protest

[EarthboundMisfit]

Right then. 100% attendance to be destroyed...
I wish. DS broke his arm earlier in the year.

[iGoogleSoYouDontHaveTo]

Could the teaching unions instruct their members (Heads & teachers) not to adminster the SATs?

[h0rsewithn0name]

I'm not a teacher, but I'm an education professional. Keeping your children off for one day will not do any good at all. Teachers plan their lessons meticulously, taking each individual child into account for every lesson. When a child is absent their plans are altered to move that part of the lesson to another day for that child.

I'm afraid it will just be viewed by the schools as parents enjoying a long weekend. There won't be any fines, just extra disruption for an overworked system.

[Feenie]

One Head's letter to parents regarding the protest.