Do you appreciate teachers more, or less now than in normal times?

[Bluewavescrashing]

Genuine question. I'm a full time infant school teacher. Our school is offering more than most in terms of online education, personalised learning, 1:1 zoom sessions etc. But I wonder how parents feel. Has lockdown showed you how much teachers give to your children through planning lessons, making resources, delivering lessons to cater for all levels of attainment? Do you find it easy to teach your child? When lockdown ends would you carry on with home learning and deregister as they have made more progress 1:1 with you or are you looking forward to sending them back to school?

Nb I have a large group of key worker children, up to 25 each day whom I teach in person in school - this is aimed at parents accessing home learning rather than key worker / vulnerable provision in school.

Can’t be bothered to read whole thread but was the OP actually a teacher?
I’m a support worker, shit money, not had a day off since the pandemic started, diligently looking after the vulnerable with no chance of furlough...no union either 😏
Out of interest OP, how much time have you thought about whether you appreciate support workers more than you used to? None? Great, that’s the way it should be because you and I know we are doing our jobs to bring home a wage, no more, no less.

@Moneyfornothingkerbsforfree

Can’t be bothered to read whole thread but was the OP actually a teacher? I’m a support worker, shit money, not had a day off since the pandemic started, diligently looking after the vulnerable with no chance of furlough...no union either 😏 Out of interest OP, how much time have you thought about whether you appreciate support workers more than you used to? None? Great, that’s the way it should be because you and I know we are doing our jobs to bring home a wage, no more, no less.

Well said

Jelly you seem to be completely ignoring what I've been telling you about the astroturfing group deliberately targeting teachers on MN.

I’m not ignoring it, I know there’s been a wider politically driven campaign to challenge school closures and that inevitably has meant teachers have taken unfair flack - which I’ve seen mumsnet address. I’ve also seen parents with very honest concerns for their children being told they don’t care about teachers and are putting teachers lives at risk, some of those discussions have been very unpleasant on both sides.

What I’ve seen here from teachers in no way reflects what I see in daily life, and my role cuts across social work, health and education so I’m around teachers a lot. Most of the teachers I know want kids back in school as quickly as possible, and are nowhere near as vitriolic as some of the comments here would suggest, which I guess is part and parcel of social media.

More!

I watched a primary school assembly last week and while my son's teacher is young and THE BEST at zoom classes (as well as in person classes), the principal and vice are my vintage and oh god it was so difficult (even to watch). I hate being on camera never mind having to be animated and enthusiastic and failing connections.

Yes I'm sure other jobs are difficult but my local primary school staff are being amazing and while I was always a fan (14 years of dc going through their doors at this stage) I'm in awe of them now.

Jelly - I don’t work in any of the jobs you mentioned but god they have my utmost admiration for a job that is excruciating hard work, particularly mentally I imagine. This wasn’t a thread on whose job is the hardest, if it was I would say anyone working in the NHS or mental health services would be high up on the list.
But I do see the videos my child watches every day and it is filmed in that teachers house so they are working all day in school and then going home to prepare the work for the online lessons. When it wasn’t online learning they would go home and mark the 3 pieces of homework a week that 30 children did.
There are a lot of professions that are working hard at the moment, can’t we just appreciate them all?

I've always been impressed by teachers' abilities to herd 30 kids. Whether I've been impressed by their teaching, differentiation, behaviour management etc has varied from teacher to teacher. Perhaps a reflection of weak leadership in our primary, for DS at secondary teaching has been great across the board.

For DD - lockdown has opened a window onto how little is expected of y4. I hope there may be more differentiation when they're in class but tbh I doubt it.

Could we teach her? Academically much better. She would miss all the social/sport/drama aspects though. And there's the small matter of earning a living. Do we feel guilty for not living near better schools? Yes. Are we going to do anything about it? Probably not. The secondary is good.

inevitably has meant teachers have taken unfair flack - which I’ve seen mumsnet address.

I don't think you appreciate just how much flack, nor how much effort has gone into getting MN to address it.

Most of the teachers I know want kids back in school as quickly as possible

They do on here too, of course. 'As possible' should, of course, mean 'without causing infection rates in kids to soar again'.

@noblegiraffe

Jelly you seem to be completely ignoring what I've been telling you about the astroturfing group deliberately targeting teachers on MN.

That's why it has been particularly toxic for teachers on here since last summer.

Yes, but this group has become a convenient way for some to shut down any discussion of schooling at all.

As I say - the teachers I know in RL - brilliant, can't fault them. The teachers on Mumsnet appear to be a different breed however and there's a definite, and sometimes irritating, sense that they have it worse than absolutely anyone, at the same time as having a job they don't have to worry about losing.

This wasn’t a thread on whose job is the hardest,

I’m it isn’t, and I don’t think any of those roles are hardest particularly - we all have our challenges. I was replying to your assertion that teachers work in a way that others don’t (ie other people might check emails at night). There are many many jobs that involve significant work out of hours, it’s not remotely unique to the teaching profession.

There are a lot of professions that are working hard at the moment, can’t we just appreciate them all?

You’d think so.

@Jellycatspyjamas

This wasn’t a thread on whose job is the hardest,

I’m it isn’t, and I don’t think any of those roles are hardest particularly - we all have our challenges. I was replying to your assertion that teachers work in a way that others don’t (ie other people might check emails at night). There are many many jobs that involve significant work out of hours, it’s not remotely unique to the teaching profession.

Try running your own business in the face of Brexit! Dh hasn't had more than 4 hours sleep for weeks.

Absolutely, so many people are struggling with so many challenges at the moment. Brexit has been a shit storm for businesses.

@Jellycatspyjamas

They need to be reported before MNHQ deal with them.

Just like any other inappropriate thread then. Or should mumsnet scan the whole site for anything that might offend the sensibilities of teachers?

Yes, just like any other thread or specific post that is unacceptable. MNHQ have never been able to scan the whole site; they rely on posters reporting things and then they're always happy to take a look and act on it if they agree. But you go right ahead and turn this into snowflake teachers having their sensibilities offended and wanting special treatment.

Yes, but this group has become a convenient way for some to shut down any discussion of schooling at all.

There has been lots of discussion of schooling. And like I said, lots of individual support for posters who have been concerned about school provision or looking for extra resources.

In all the talk of how terrible MN teachers are, they provide a lot of support.

@Jellycatspyjamas

Of course, Jelly but how many threads have you had to report recently that have been deliberately trolling your profession?

How many threads have you seen started by social workers talking about how hard they work, how unappreciated they are, how no one understands the challenges they have? It’s chicken and egg. Parents are much more likely to come into contact with teachers than social workers so of course there will be more threads but I’ve seen a fair few critical of social work - which is fair enough, everyone is open to criticism.

Zero I’ve never seen SW post threads complaining because I probably assume they are too busy and wiped out. I’ve been on MN seven years. I’ve seen threads where posters have complained about social workers but again the majority response is always positive.

And on MN everyone is open to criticism it’s the nature of the site. Midwives were getting it in the neck the other day

"As I say - the teachers I know in RL - brilliant, can't fault them. The teachers on Mumsnet appear to be a different breed however"

Or how about, "the parents I know in RL - brilliant, can't fault them. The parents on Mumsnet appear to be a different breed however."

The parents at the school I teach in have in the vast majority been so nice and supportive. I'm glad that's my actual reality.

"And on MN everyone is open to criticism it’s the nature of the site. Midwives were getting it in the neck the other day"

So, it IS a race to the bottom then? Or are you saying all professions should suck up unpleasantness and just take it on the chin? And follow the "Oh it's MN, so it's open season" school of thought?
Lovely.

@Moneyfornothingkerbsforfree

Can’t be bothered to read whole thread but was the OP actually a teacher? I’m a support worker, shit money, not had a day off since the pandemic started, diligently looking after the vulnerable with no chance of furlough...no union either 😏 Out of interest OP, how much time have you thought about whether you appreciate support workers more than you used to? None? Great, that’s the way it should be because you and I know we are doing our jobs to bring home a wage, no more, no less.

Quite. My relative moved in to the care home she works at and didn’t see her family for a few weeks. Everybody is putting effort in.

on MN everyone is open to criticism

But not everyone is being deliberately targeted by a shady campaign group with dubious beliefs and unclear funding sources.

www.theguardian.com/education/2021/jan/26/group-campaigning-for-uk-schools-to-reopen-wins-backing-of-17-tory-mps

@CallmeAngelina

"And on MN everyone is open to criticism it’s the nature of the site. Midwives were getting it in the neck the other day"

So, it IS a race to the bottom then? Or are you saying all professions should suck up unpleasantness and just take it on the chin? And follow the "Oh it's MN, so it's open season" school of thought?
Lovely.

Eh? If that’s what you took from my post says more about your mind set tbh.

MNHQ have never been able to scan the whole site; they rely on posters reporting things and then they're always happy to take a look and act on it if they agree.

I don’t know what point you’re trying to make. I pointed out that if teacher bashing threads are being deleted before people see them, mumsnet are clearly dealing with it. I was told that’s only because they are reported, I was pointing out that that’s the mechanism for raising concerns - if threads aren’t reported mumsnet won’t know about them. So basically I’m in agreement with you.

pointed out that if teacher bashing threads are being deleted before people see them, mumsnet are clearly dealing with it

How much of your time on MN is spent reporting threads/posts trolling your profession? It's all very well saying MNHQ are dealing with it, when actually its other people first.

Some teachers don't post on the main boards anymore. Some quit MN due to the vitriol which has been pretty overwhelming at times.

I have endless respect for and gratitude to my son's year 1 teacher. She's amazing, and I tell her so whenever we've communicated.

Less so for some of the posters on here who claim to be teachers.

What if your dc's year 1 teacher is actually on here?