Sick of all the 'advice' written by anonymous teachers etc

[SouthWestmom]

Honestly ever since that head teacher wrote some speech years ago for post graduating students in America it seem sharing crappy 'advice' on social media is a thing.
The latest one is when anyone posts as they are worried about keeping their kids education up they get the 'don't worry no one is behind, no one is ahead, I'll catch your kids up that's my super power' post thrown at them.
Why can't people genuinely be allowed some anxiety without some vomit inducing bilge chucked at them which is inaccurate and patronising? It's like people are children needing saccharine reassurance.

Over-sentimental waffle. There's so much of it nowadays. I blame social media and the internet for creating so much space that needs filling. Nature abhors a vacuum, so the space gets filled with utter bilge. Then that bilge gets monetised.

Feeling better now?

I’m a teacher and that post drives me mad. It’s utter nonsense for a start and as professionals we should be very wary of making promises we might not be able to keep. None of the people I’ve seen sharing it are actually teachers though. Certainly not secondary ones anyway. I think most of us find it as vomit-inducing as you do.

If you have a 4 year old it might be less ridiculous, but if your child is in year 10 or 12 it’s total bollocks. Some kids are surging ahead right now and others are falling behind. We’re going to be racing to get the syllabus finished in the 2020-2021 year and, with the best will in the world, we are not going to be able to catch everyone up. If anything there will be less intervention next year for those who fall behind because we’ll need to use our after school and Saturday lessons just to get everything covered.

Yes thanks viques it's not always healthy to bottle things up

I've got a year 10 and a 12. I'm really worried - they were behind already due to AEN. Of course no teacher has a super power; it just shuts down any discussion. Someone had posted about work and got that in reply.

Agree, saw this post on my local mum's page. Much eye rolling ensued.

I think there is a difference between Primary and Secondary schools particularly Y10 and above. I assume that is why the Government have particularly targeted Y10s for the free laptops.

But even with Primary School children if parents aren’t doing the bare minimum of reading, maths and writing they are going to be at a huge disadvantage if we don’t go back until September.

I'm with you. I hate overly sentimental stuff at the best of times and this situation has not made me feel any more benevolent towards it...

Teacher here and I can't stand that sort of sentimental shit on social media.

The one that really annoys me is 'a teacher is like a candle, they burn to light the way' or something similar. It glorifies some sort of saintly self-sacrifice.

This situation is hard. It's tough on teachers trying to educate in totally uncharted territory. It's tough on parents trying to support education provision, often doing their own jobs. It's tough on students who have had their routine and social groups disrupted.

I agree. If schools could genuinely use 'superpowers' to catch kids up then no one would ever leave year 6 or secondary with gaps in their knowledge

Some kids will catch up easily, some never. There wont be time to reach gaps in the syllabus unless teachers and unions agreed to teach in summer holidays or weekends....tumbleweed.

Our schools are doing a fab job in the circumstances -
Live lessons, tasks which are in real time, interesting projects - I'm very grateful.

But, my dc are not going to be in the same position they should have been no matter what. I can't even pay for tutors (original plan) to help at the moment.

Maybe I need to write a little poem to post back and set it against a pretty background. Like those anti posters

despair.com/collections/demotivators/products/failure-is-not-an-option

Any meme involving the words ‘teacher’ and ‘super-power’ is vomit inducing - and that’s in normal, non-COVID situations.

However, I think although what is said is rubbish (the harsh reality is the gap in my class is going to increase massively), it’s being said in an effort to reassure parents who are understandably worried. So the sentiment behind it is probably well meant. Unfortunately it won’t soothe anybody’s fears.

I just wonder who writes this stuff and starts circulating it.

Pp is right it doesn't allay fears at all.

It's not even academic waffle, there is an abundance of 'kids are resilient' posts and even in emails from schools. Bollocks. Some kids will lose loved ones,some will struggle to reestablish friendships, some will develop health anxieties, some will end up children of divorced parents as numbers skyrocket after lock down. Etc.
The effects of this will be long reaching for a lot of kids. I would prefer if schools and teachers were posting on how they at least acknowledge these issues.

I agree OP. It's also not the case that all schools are reasonable. Ours is setting the full school day timetable every day, attempting to teach new work, and generally ploughing on with the curriculum. Those without able, involved parents are going to be genuinely and seriously disadvantaged if schools are not back for the final half term in June/July. The amount of pressure it's putting on students and their parents is considerable.

Please write share your poem - make sure the background is really meaningful - a sunset, or a cute kitten will do it

Agreed. It’s absolute shit. If a teacher can make sure every child catches up, why do some children leave school seriously behind?
Mine are young primary and were ‘ahead’ at school so I’m not too worried, but a year 10 or 12? No way they can ‘catch up’ in September if they have months away from doing any work.

On the topic of Y10 and Y12, I wonder how they'll go about exams next year, because there is a huge difference between the approach of certain schools (and even certain subjects) in the regularity/amount of work they expect to be self-taught at home. Also no live lessons here which has made it harder.

I would say the school work is beyond me anyway (secondary x 4) and I'm working from home. I'm not even trying to help - they have access to laptop desk paper space to work etc so luckier than a lot of kids.

I don't know why it's infuriated me today in particular

That is exactly why I chose to come off social media for the meantime. I have deactivated Facebook as I was fed up of these types of posts. Now I don't feel inadequate and like I am not doing enough for my kids. My kids are happy and stress free. Me too!

Oh god it’s so dumb. My friend is a nurse on a covid ward and needs to vent on the group chat about how hard she is finding things and the problems they are having and all anyone ever says to her is ‘You’re a superhuman, you’re a hero you’re not like the rest of us heart emoji’ and shutting down any real discussion gaaaaaah so annoying

Not seen any of those

Talking of schools though, my youngest DS (16) is to go into school each Monday , for 2 hours per Monday, for 3 weeks . Its to do with their GCSEs and the fact the exam board wants to see work . Its only a small school so the kids will be apart . He is actually , I think, looking forward to getting out for a bit even if it is to school

Oh that teacher meme annoys me.

It’s clearly not true, even in normal circumstances some children leave school way behind.

I’m sure it’s well meant, and I’m sure that the teachers will be trying their very best to help the children catch up, but I’m far from convinced that it’s possible for them to succeed in doing this with each and every child.

WhentheRabbitsWentWild, that sounds like your son’s school is... well, cheating a somewhat pejorative term, isn’t it? Perhaps playing the system sounds a little less harsh.

Is it state or private?

I just wonder who writes this stuff and starts circulating it.

I know someone who writes Facebook posts very clearly hoping that they'll go viral. Always some heartwarming story about something, with a little lesson at the end.

She genuinely is lovely, but she aspires to be someone who is known as being as person of great wisdom, as she has career aspirations as a life coach, and Facebook and LinkedIn are her medium for getting that off the ground.