What does Nicky Morgan not seem to understand?

[theluckiest]

Nicky Morgan urges teachers' unions to 'do their bit' www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-35899478

No Nicky, teaching is not wonderful at the moment. No, teachers are not just moaning yet again (because that's what we usually do, isn't it?). No, your constant interfering, moving of goalposts and unnecessary 'reforms' are not helping anyone. In fact, you are damaging education irreparably.

Here's an example: the 'more rigorous' testing that you insist all 11 year olds should be put through are actually damaging. They are demoralising teachers but much more importantly, they are seriously damaging children's mental health. Yes, really. The stress these children are being put under is unforgivable this year. As a school we are held to ransom because of these tests (let's be honest, tests that we teachers, parents and schools know are bullshit).

They feel like they have failed already because your 'rigour' is inappropriate, unnecessary and completely pointless. They despise learning this nonsense and I can't blame them. At a time of their lives when learning should be exciting, they are force-fed inaccurate, archaic grammar and given the message that their writing cannot be good enough if it doesn't have a semi-colon.

Sounds crazy doesn't it? Because it is. So forgive me if I don't "Use the tools available to them to build up teachers, promote the profession and tell the story of what a rewarding job teaching really is" at the moment. (how I laughed when I read that one!!)

And don't get me started on academisation....Nicky, take your fingers out of your ears and listen. Before it's too late.

[rollonthesummer]

The whole thing is a complete mess. Interesting that she's saying they'll be no reversing of this white paper (unlike the disability cuts, I presume).

What can we actually do? Will the unions strike?

[jellyfrizz]

I think they're goading the teachers to strike to turn public opinion against teachers. There's no other reason to be so totally objectionable.

[jellyfrizz]

theluckiest agree with everything you said there.
What can we do?

[rollonthesummer]

True-strikes don't seem to have a very positive outcome. Parents just get pissed off about having no childcare.

What can we actually do?!

[PlaymobilPirate]

Totally agree - I feel like leaving every day. I fear for our education system, I really do.

I'm in FE - gcse group sat mocks last week. I marked them (with feedback but not college standard feedback) but didn't have time to log and track them. The students were desperate for their grades... so I gave them back! No tracking, no stupidly unnecessary feedback. .. only genuinely useful stuff.

You know what? It felt right! I also hugged a student last week. He's had a horrible week and he broke down when I spoke to him. I didn't maintain the robot like professionalism that the college policy seems keen on. I hugged him and let him cry on me.

What can we do? Bugger the rules and the testing. We need to take our profession back.

[YakTriangle]

As far as I can see, she doesn't just not understand, she also doesn't give a shit what teachers, governors, parents etc think. It's quite disturbing, the ideas this govt come up with, that affect so many people, that they're determined to force through with absolutely no intention of listening to anybody who actually has any experience or knowledge about it.

[ilovevegcrisps]

It does seem it will happen then, so I guess in that sense she's correct.

[Leslieknope45]

I've never known so many students off with anxiety. I feel so awful being part of a staff doing controlled assessment after controlled assessment to get them nearer to target grade and doing intervention and taking them out of other subjects for an intensive day...before school after school lunchtimes, assemblies about revision etc etc etc
Having to talk about attendance when they're off school ill.
And then they're making appointments with the school counsellor because they can't cope with the pressure. Terrible.

[rollonthesummer]

I just don't see how they can bring in such a massive change without it being in their manifesto and with so much opposition?

[PlaymobilPirate]

leslie you're right. I feel like I'm meant to say 'I know that you're 16, crippled with anxiety, on medication, taking your little brothers to school because Mam's in prison again and your Dad's sleeping off a session, but can you make sure that the plaster covering the new cuts you've done on your arm is clean and boost your Controlled Assessment to a B+ because the government will say it's mu fault if you dont'

[jellyfrizz]

It does seem it will happen then, so I guess in that sense she's correct.

No! We can't just let this happen.

[ilovevegcrisps]

What can we do though jelly?

Genuine question :)

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Gove in a wig.

[jellyfrizz]

ilovevegcrisps, I've already quit teaching. I'm almost angry enough to chain myself to something! For now I'm making do with sharing information about this with fellow parents. You'd be surprised how many don't know what it will mean.

[ilovevegcrisps]

It'll still happen though :)

[rollonthesummer]

Why does that comment need a smiley face?!

[ilovevegcrisps]

If I was saying it to you, I'd have smiled.

Right now I'm

[jellyfrizz]

Exactly what I was going to say rollon! The evidence so far doesn't suggest it's going to be a good thing for students or teachers.
How does that deserve a smiley veg? Who gains?

[ilovevegcrisps]

jelly, it really was just an attempt to be polite!

[jellyfrizz]

Ok veg. A sad or angry face would have been more appropriate unless you are happy about schools being forced to become academies (which is an opinion you are perfectly entitled to hold but expect to be questioned on it.)

[ilovevegcrisps]

I'm just neutral to be honest jelly; it was always going to happen and now it is, so I don't really 'feel' anything. I want to add a smiley face but I won't!

[WrenNatsworthy]

I'm not a teacher - lots of my friends and family are though. The whole situation is worrying. I'm not ruling out the possibility of home education in the future.

I can't understand why MN isn't inundated with threads about it either!

[rollonthesummer]

corbyn

Why is the news all about Nicky Morgan's speech but no-one is mentioning Corbyn's speech to the nut?

[WrenNatsworthy]

I want to help. How can I?

[rollonthesummer]

Strikes are threatened over workload.

I presume teachers can't actually strike over the proposed academisation?