Let's boycott all school threads outside of Education

[Everyexitisanentrance]

Honestly guys we are getting a kicking on other threads. We repeatedly have to explain our contracts, holidays, why we are not doing more online, why we should be doing less on ...... it is never ending. So far we have been off for the Easter break plus a max of two weeks. There is a lot of the population that do not need childcare. We are open for key worker children but that gets ignored. All the social distancing issues are ignored. All the ppe requirements are ignored. Now it could be that the trolls just see us as an easy target, hence all the forlough calls. So as a union member, I am requesting that teachers do not have to explain themselves on other threads as we are just fueling the fire. (I have been guilty of this).

So I am calling for a union boycott!

[echt]

The troll and culpably thick hang around The Staffroom and pile in there, too.

Tossers.

[FrippEnos]

They would just move in to the staffroom.

We have seen it on several threads.

[Musicalmistress]

I've had to step away as finding it flips between upsetting & angering me - we'll never win the popularity vote I know but what a kicking we seem to be getting from some quarters at the moment!

[Piggywaspushed]

To be fair, the venom has spread. The police seem to be getting it, too. However, I think there are fewer actual police on MN to join in the threads.

People are spending so much more time in front of screens at the moment and are bored/frustrated/angry.

I wish MNHQ would get rid of duplicate threads. They used to didn't they? Instead there are concurrent threads saying the same things with some posters literally hopping from thread to thread saying the exact same thing ad nauseam.

There have been a few people say really nice things about us (I saw a GP and a nurse recently on one thread) and occasionally someone comes in to staffroom to start a nice thread about us. Maybe we should stop ignoring those people. You are right OP that we have a tendency (guilty!) of fanning the flames sometimes in our righteous indignation.

[StillDumDeDumming]

I would just like to add some solidarity if that’s ok. I cannot believe how neglected teachers and other education staff have been. (Actually I can). The safety element is hardly ever discussed and you are right on the front line. Especially when it comes to germs and a sanitised work place. You have been so taken for granted, to put it mildly. As though teachers don’t have health issues, vulnerable family members, all sorts of situations. My heart absolutely goes out to your profession.

[Piggywaspushed]

Thank you.

[StillDumDeDumming]

You are right OP that we have a tendency (guilty!) of fanning the flames sometimes in our righteous indignation.

It’s hard not to defend yourself- my dd’s Head of year has one working lung ffs and there he is emailing my dd because he thinks she’s vulnerable and he doesn’t want her to disengage. He must be terrified of going into the workplace again. Sorry I’ll leave you to it.

[Everyexitisanentrance]

Gosh on the coronavirus schools thing there is real goady baiting. As one poster said a number of people seemed to have missed the #bekind call.

I am concerned that MN never calls any posters out on things said.it has made me glad that I am not subscribing to it. I feel safer on TES.

[ScorpionQueen]

I'd have to sit on my hands but yes, I am going to try really hard not to engage.
It's just too upsetting.
For my fellow teachers, tas, school staff, lots of people do recognise what we are doing and we know that we are not enjoying an extended break.

[Appuskidu]

I am concerned that MN never calls any posters out on things said.it has made me glad that I am not subscribing to it. I feel safer on TES

I agree-MN used to be great at deleting duplicate threads on things. There have been some vile posts recently and I know I get far too involved.

Maybe we should all just post 💐 on any school-bashing thread to share some joy. That may be better than the 100 things we’d really like to say!

I’d stopped using the TES forums years ago-they went a bit strange and it was only the ‘Workplace Dilemma’ board that was used-full of frantic teachers being got rid of at work because they were suddenly incompetent (expensive!). Have things changed-which boards are busy?

[Everyexitisanentrance]

They don't seem to realise that we are fellow mums (some of us) and what they do just goes against the old ethos of mumsnet. I have reported some posters recently but MN never do anything as I guess they are worried about other things.

I really misses my classes and I enjoy chatting to the on Teams. I even do a form time quiz. My year 11 keep submitting work and some year 12 worked over Easter. I don't mind because I am not going anywhere.

But the sheer nastiness and vindictiveness on MN against teachers is soul destroying.

[Everytimeref]

I have also stopped commenting on teacher bashing threads. None of us want to be "teaching online from home" we want to be in our classroom with our students.

[ScorpionQueen]

I love the idea of spamming the teacher bashers with flowers.

[TubereuseNordlys]

I think the posting flowers on to the thread if you have to post anything is a lovely idea. No rational arguments are ever going to work with these people. They're really quite bitter and angry.

I came over from TES too, some years ago, when the boards there changed. I do miss the people from over there - some became RL friends.

[Everyexitisanentrance]

I found that lovely positive thread about teachers. Lovely to read - it has made me feel much happier

[Everyexitisanentrance]

I like the term 'armchair teachers'. The bitterness maybe a hangover from their time in school which is quire sad really as their views will impact upon their children

[Piggywaspushed]

a good idea. Bit like the scroll on by...

[mnahmnah]

I don’t even open any threads to do with school/teacher/education. Had enough of it too. All the usual things - people don’t know what else our job involves, the work behind the scenes, our own home circumstances etc They assume it’s still the same as when they were at school. That they can tell us what we should be doing. This is all hard enough as it is for everyone at the moment.

[CatAndFiddle]

I'm up for this.

[DoubleTweenQueen]

I honestly don't think social media is an appropriate place to look for balanced discussion and opinions. Certainly not MN, which is why it has had it's day. It's a nest of vipers. Try to ignore rude people where possible, avoid giving them your energy, and keep yourselves sane. There truly is so much rubbish on here.

[Whiskas1Kittens]

My experience of remote learning - from a teacher and parent pov - has been so positive. I have been enjoying supporting children and parents on our online school. Parents are becoming more in touch with their children's stage of learning, parents enjoying their time with children, me helping to advise children / parents how children can be supported. A few parents who were always busy working have equally valued the time to sit and enjoy educating their children. At home i know that some of my own children are self motivated, some not so. It's fascinating and wonderful and such an eye opener. Online teaching takes up far more planning. I am directing activities for other people to understand. I write plans quickly in note form for myself usually so this new way is far more time consuming!! For each day I plan, it takes two days to plan, respond and support. Like many parents I am working and supporting my own children. This quarantine time (ignoring the illness itself) has been so valuable. However, when I come on to mumsnet, the posts show none of this. Mumsnet has lots of teachers, who like me, will end up only coming on to mumsnet very rarely. The aggression and basic lack of intelligence / thought is showing up in many - fortunately not all. Agree with the flowers idea - I like it!!

[FaFoutis]

Sorry you are having to put up with this. MN is a nasty shithole at present.
I teach online (HE) and it is a very poor substitute for face to face. I wouldn't want that for my children.
Thanks for all you are doing.

[avocadotofu]

I totally agree OP. It's making me so sad and upset to read all the school threads at the moment. I really like the flower idea too.

[RigaBalsam]

I think the posting flowers on to the thread if you have to post anything is a lovely idea. No rational arguments are ever going to work with these people. They're really quite bitter and angry.


I love this idea

[BlackboardMonitorVimes]

I am not a teacher but I work in education and help support teaching staff delivering online. (I'm one of the techy people in the background trying to make things work). I've been so bloody impressed with what teaching staff have been able to do and I have a new love for my DS's teacher who has been supporting his learning online.

Have a huge round of applause 👏🏼 from me to all of you, you definitely are key workers in this (I think many don't do this as their kids aren't in school so it's easy to forget that you are).

You are hugely appreciated.