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.

[Solidaritea]

@thenortherner

Another thing is that a centralised curriculum can take some of the passion away. Passionate teachers motivate children, and no one can be passionate about everything.

Delivering the curriculum is such a minor part of what teachers do. I mean, it's a very important part of course. But there's a reason that Oak Academy lessons can't just work for most children on a long term basis. There is no connection with the teacher and so no reason for the children to work really hard. Even my motivated children who really like working for their own sake work harder when they know how much I care about what we're doing (and about them).

That said, I think oak academy and white rose teaching videos are a remarkable resource that have given me as a teacher of over a decade confidence in how to teach certain topics more effectively. I think if they continue to be online long term they could help to increase standards of learning and also teacher workload.

[TheNortherner]

@Ineedaholidaynow my mum suggested i should listen in to my childrens live lessons, why on earth would.i want to do that? That's a chance for me to go and do my own work for 40 mins!

[EffYouSeeKaye]

@TheNortherner I read your post as disingenuous, you read mine as dismissive. I’m glad someone else has attempted to sum it up in a paragraph for you though.

[Londonmummy66]

The problem I have always had with teachers (and I've been one) is that they seem to think that they have the hardest job in the world when it is actually no more stressful than a lot of others. What has really done it for me this pandemic is that not only have they played the "welcome to my world card" to so many who are home schooling and trying to wfh in other jobs at the same time and trying to say it is the same, but the teaching unions have also been so obstructive in first lock down about a) teaching children not at school and b) going back to do their job again. I don't think that parents will forget this.,

[TheNortherner]

@Solidaritea doesnt the passion come from the delivery rather than the plan though?
As a parent the white rose PowerPoint explanations and followup questions I have found really good and written in a consistent manner, which is.why I would think centralised resources would be good...doesnt in my mind stop the flair/individuality coming from the teachers delivery of it, but again not being a teacher maybe that is a naive viewpoint.

[AllAroundTheWrekin]

I don't think that parents will forget this.

I doubt the teachers will forget some parents, especially the ones who don't think unions should highlight safety concerns.

[sherrystrull]

@Londonmummy66

The problem I have always had with teachers (and I've been one) is that they seem to think that they have the hardest job in the world when it is actually no more stressful than a lot of others. What has really done it for me this pandemic is that not only have they played the "welcome to my world card" to so many who are home schooling and trying to wfh in other jobs at the same time and trying to say it is the same, but the teaching unions have also been so obstructive in first lock down about a) teaching children not at school and b) going back to do their job again. I don't think that parents will forget this.,

I've not heard any teachers say they have it harder than others. I've heard teachers say they are struggling and be reminded by others that many others have it harder than them which wasn't what they were saying anyway.

[whatwherewhywhenhow]

Some teachers are brilliant and some are terrible. Like every profession.

Teachers have had to adapt, work longer hours, and often do all that whilst having to look after or teach their own children. Like every profession.

What bothers me is that teachers can claim to know what happens in other jobs (and be plainly wrong - zoom training for three days?!) but if anyone makes the slightest comment that isn’t wildly appreciative of teachers it is immediately labelled “teacher bashing”.

Why don’t we have threads about if we appreciate nurses more? Or cleaners? Or CEO’s battling to save thousands of jobs? Because many teachers need constant validation and acknowledgement for their efforts.

Many of us just get on with it.

[Freddiefox]

@Bluewavescrashing

In any other sector, staff would be given 3 days' paid training on teams or zoom with a cushy lunch.

In school we are shown what to do and told to 'play with it' until we feel competent 😁

This is so wrong and it’s comments like this that can cause harm. The assumption that if you are
teacher you have a really difficult job, no one understand and no one cares. There are plenty of professions that aren't appreciated by society, who work really hard, above and beyond what they are paid for. Who have to just get on with things (wrongly) Social workers, care staff, nursery staff, TA, sen support.. the list goes on. It’s not something unique to teachers.

[spaceghetto]

I have massive respect! My ds teacher has children of her own too and i see from her videos that she's working late! I'm a teacher but sahm at the moment and would find this so hard! I worry about all my old pupils as it is!

[Puzzler333]

[quote TheNortherner]@Solidaritea doesnt the passion come from the delivery rather than the plan though?
As a parent the white rose PowerPoint explanations and followup questions I have found really good and written in a consistent manner, which is.why I would think centralised resources would be good...doesnt in my mind stop the flair/individuality coming from the teachers delivery of it, but again not being a teacher maybe that is a naive viewpoint.[/quote]
Not really, or rather, I think you're setting up a false question. The plan and the delivery are all tied up in one. You can't pick up a plan and immediately deliver it. You have to understand, make adjustments for A, who has little English; B, who has dyslexia; C, who is very able but lacks resilience; D, who is colourblind... You then have to think about timing - what you will omit, what you will add. You have to prepare resources. You have to discuss with support staff of you're lucky enough to work with them.
In other words, you have to plan the lesson.

There are plenty of resource libraries available to teachers, including ready made, high quality plans. But this doesn't reduce planning time much.

As for the passion, what I mean is that if you just pick up a plan and try to teach from it, your lesson will at best feel flat.

[purpleme12]

Less
I had no real problems with my child's school before this lockdown
But the pressure I've been under this lockdown is awful. The pressure from school, how my child reacts, my child's behaviour, me working from home.
It is just me and her
So no I don't appreciate our teacher

[Coffeeandcocopops]

I haven’t changed my opinion of teachers. There are fantastic ones, great ones and Ones that should not be in teaching. I’ve been impressed with other sectors that have adapted amazingly for example Nhs frontline staff and supermarket staff. My milkman and postman have been brilliant. My staff are responsible for paying out the GOvt discretionary grants. They have been amazing. They do it from home having never wfh before. So many people have been great who we don’t hear about.

[grassisjeweled]

Yes I appreciate teachers. Do I think they've stepped up to the plate more than any other professional group during covid? No.

I think a lot of what we do behind the scenes is still unrecognised. Making a 5 min video may take a few takes, then uoading, converting to the right file type etc.

^^

Genuine question: what do you think other people, who are not teachers, actually do in their jobs? They have the admin to do, too! The background shit no-one sees, or appreciates! Why do you want recognition for it?

'still unrecognised'???? What do you want? A prize??

[grassisjeweled]

In any other sector, staff would be given 3 days' paid training on teams or zoom with a cushy lunch

^

😂

[grassisjeweled]

I've never seen an AM/PM glitch either. Been using teams for 12 months

[noblegiraffe]

And yet there’s that Facebook post discussing the time glitch problem. Maybe some people are having an issue that you’re not?

[kindlingtwigs]

My view hasn't changed at all. I respect the teachers who do a good job and who helped DCs with SEN and not the one who was as thick as two short planks or the one who deliberately said vile things to DC who still remembers it ten years on. I thank the ones doing a great job, make sure the head knows how good I think they are and if the are truly awful I'll express my views on that privately and appropriately.

[Roastednotsalt]

@Coffeeandcocopops

I haven’t changed my opinion of teachers. There are fantastic ones, great ones and Ones that should not be in teaching. I’ve been impressed with other sectors that have adapted amazingly for example Nhs frontline staff and supermarket staff. My milkman and postman have been brilliant. My staff are responsible for paying out the GOvt discretionary grants. They have been amazing. They do it from home having never wfh before. So many people have been great who we don’t hear about.

Exactly it’s a bit bad to start focusing on one sector. In not sure why OP needed to seek validation on here given how teaching threads end up as a battle.

[Bluewavescrashing]

Not seeking validation. I know I'm doing a good job 🙂

[Gwenhines]

Less now in our current situation. But that will revert back to how much I appreciated them when this situation is over and all kids get back to school.

The reason it's less isn't the teachers' fault either, face to face they are brilliant (well most are and a few aren't). It's the two tier system that in school learning Vs home learning has created.

Half of DDs year are in school being taught full lessons face to face and thriving. And half the year are at home being given tasks that take too much parental input because 6 yr olds can't write a paragraph on their own with only two minutes of teacher instruction, and can't take recycling and make and decorate a pen pot independently. I'M WORKING!!! Then we go on a Google meet lesson and the kids in school show off the lovely pen pots they've created and talk about the topics they've been learning much more in depth than those at home can.

"Just do what you can" being spouted at me while I know my child is receiving less of an education with the same resources as those in school, doesn't cut it with me. I've asked what plans will be put in place to catch my dd back up to where she was working above rather than dropping behind her peers and had no answer.

We've opted out of it and are concentrating on finding our own maths and English resources. It's been nearly two weeks since we disappeared without warning and no one has contacted us, anything could have happened .

And I used to be a teacher. Yes it's a hard job under normal circumstances. Is teaching from home harder than my job now? Absolutely not. DDs teacher was full of stories about spending afternoons going for long walks and doing yoga etc, watching films all evening, after online teaching for the morning. Meanwhile I'm tied to my computer from dark til dark, barely leaving the house trying to do my normal working day plus extra hours of supporting DDs learning (hence the opting out).

But other people will have a different opinion as they will have a different experience. Mine is valid, as is theirs.

[inquietant]

Slightly more, I guess, because I always appreciated their work but now see them working even harder during this time.

I also think teachers/school are being less petty and more communicative than normal times, and between teachers and parents we are focusing on what really matters.

My school is not making a fuss about silly things, and I feel so relieved. I have friends with children who are still getting uniform codes FFS. Priorities???

[Avaganda]

I already think teachers are amazing. I was planning to train as a teacher once my youngest started school, but that is now a big fat no!

To be honest, I don't feel our school have put much thought into teaching the children at home. Our school has 70% still in so the focus seems to be mainly on those children and the home school kids are being forgotten.

It's really tough to get one of my DC's to do the work. He hates the constant repetition and doing the same work day in and day out. I've had to start doing my own thing with him now and he's much more responsive. I would love to home school in my own way but I also want my children to gain qualifications, and sadly those exams are designed with a typical curriculum in mind.

[alliejay81]

Teachers aren't a homogeneous group. Some have been amazing; patient, innovative, supportive. Others have clearly struggled with the tech but are doing their best. A few have been bloody awful (DS's PE teacher who set up a zoom class but didn't turn up I'm looking at you here ).

There's a lot of focus on teachers at the moment and I'm not sure it's particularly helpful to anyone. There are no other professions under such scrutiny at the moment. Most teachers are competent professionals doing their job in difficult circumstances. Which is also true of a lot of other people, both in the public and private sector.

I think we'd all do a lot better if we all appreciated that life is so hard at the moment and cut each other a bit of slack.

[GalesThisMorning]

I appreciate teachers the same amount, should be an option. They may be working harder at teaching right now, but that doesn't mean my child is getting a better learning experience. Clearly it is the other way around. This is not the fault of the teacher, but it does not give me any reason to appreciate them more. Also, no one needs to 'recognize' the planning and admin that goes into teaching. Why would we? I don't recognize the planning and admin that goes into any profession aside from my own - I just assume it exists and is done by people who know the hows and whys of it.

To be honest the people I have a newfound appreciation for are my postman and milkman.