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Original poster

Is the fact that many of England's schools are closed today not newsworthy?

107 replies

Lonelyplanet · 27/04/2023 08:05

If it was a snow day it would be on all the front pages.

However school funding issues that have become so bad that the majority of teachers are taking action and refusing to work, doesn't appear to be of any consequence. Do people really care that little about the state of our education system, or are we being manipulated yet again by the press?

OP posts:
slamfightbrightlight · 27/04/2023 08:16

I wondered the same OP. I even had to go back through my emails yesterday to check there was a strike today! Weirdly quiet online about it compared to the headlines a few weeks ago when strikes started.

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 27/04/2023 08:22

I agree, it seems to have dropped off the news agenda altogether.

As if it no longer matters whether or not our kids get an education. Must be incredibly frustrating for the striking teachers to effectively be ignored.

The government seems to have shrugged their shoulders and walked away, and the media is letting them get away with it. Maybe just a sign of how bad things have got.

mdh2020 · 27/04/2023 08:24

It was a main item on the Today programme before 7.30. It might have been discussed later on as well but I switch off.

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Stillwearingskinnys · 27/04/2023 08:26

I had no idea!

Our school has been open throughout

TheYearOfSmallThings · 27/04/2023 08:27

Yes, this one crept up on me tbh.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 27/04/2023 08:27

And yes, other local schools are open, so lots of people aren't talking about it because they are unaffected.

Iwasafool · 27/04/2023 08:29

It was on the news this morning, Gillian whateverhernames is saying how it damages children and they've asked schools to prioritise vulnerable children and children in exam years. I think Head's have probably worked that one out for themselves.

Blossomontree · 27/04/2023 08:30

I was thinking it was strange too.

Original poster
Lonelyplanet · 27/04/2023 08:56

Stillwearingskinnys · 27/04/2023 08:26

I had no idea!

Our school has been open throughout

If you have a child in a state school and are totally unaware of the issues and difficult choices facing school (eg which staff to cut, which equipment not to update, which leaky roof is most in need of repair) then you are burying your head in the sand.

Your school may well be open and unaffected by the strikes (but it will be in a minority here). It will not however be unaffected by the constraints of inadequate funding.

OP posts:
Blossomontree · 27/04/2023 08:58

Tbh @Lonelyplanet that is a bit unfair. Some schools are struggling. Many aren’t. Some are but don’t let on.

katyperryseyelid · 27/04/2023 09:01

I am completely ignorant of it too.

Dds school has never been closed. The only thing we have ever had in relation to the strikes was an email before the first ones saying that the school wouldn’t be closed. Not a word since.

I’m not unaware of the difficulties faced by schools and teachers, it’s just not on my radar as dds school not closed (and I have a world of my own stress to cope with).

RudsyFarmer · 27/04/2023 09:03

I think because there are so many ongoing strikes at the moment it’s no longer that newsworthy. If the teachers were burning tyres then it would creep back up I’m sure.

Original poster
Lonelyplanet · 27/04/2023 09:04

I feel frustrated that the press don't feel that thousands of children missing school today is of any concern. Or that reporting why or what is happening to our nation's education system matters.

I wonder how many younger parents, starting out on their child's life-changing journey through the education system, are willing to fight for something better? I hope some people care.

OP posts:
DyslexicPoster · 27/04/2023 09:05

On bbc news right now. Bbc 1

CurryandSnuggle · 27/04/2023 09:19

Yep that sounds accurate, I didn’t even know about today’s strike until I got a school email a few days ago! Why are NHS strikes all over the news but teacher strikes aren’t!

Desperatelyseekingcommonsense · 27/04/2023 09:19

I’m in Scotland in one of the areas targeted for extra strikes. I was really surprised at the time how little coverage there was. I think the media moves on easily.

Also with the evolving situation in a Sudan they don’t need as much “filler” in a week they will have moved on from Sudan and we will just here snippets about how fighting is preventing aid, refugees and displaced people and concerns about fighting spreading to neighbouring countries.

IhearyouClemFandango · 27/04/2023 09:21

My primary kids' classes have been in throughout (reception and yr 6) but yr 8 daughter is out.

That said, there are so many bank holidays this month as well she's laughing

RoseAndRose · 27/04/2023 09:22

Yes, today's news coverage is odd. Top story is about gambling regulation (newsworthy, but main story?) and even the Sudan crisis is relegated to "in other news" by the BBC at the moment

TheBrokenCracker · 27/04/2023 09:26

It isn’t really “news” because it keeps happening. And when it keeps happening it stops being news.

Dc school has been shut in full every strike day and whilst I have a lot of sympathy with teachers and their predicament, as a parent it is getting very challenging to keep covering.

Doagooddeed · 27/04/2023 09:33

This is a really problem for Labour.

Negative coverage effecting the Tories, will not, as we approx elections, get the headlines.

It will all about our brave boys in Sudan, stories on how the Govt is doing x y or z to improve our lives, the bad news stuff will be on page 6 or on Newsnight/Ch4.

Doagooddeed · 27/04/2023 09:34

CurryandSnuggle · 27/04/2023 09:19

Yep that sounds accurate, I didn’t even know about today’s strike until I got a school email a few days ago! Why are NHS strikes all over the news but teacher strikes aren’t!

NHS/Nurse/ Junior Doc strikes are off the agenda now.

Bapbap · 27/04/2023 09:34

It's on the news websites?

noblegiraffe · 27/04/2023 09:36

TheBrokenCracker · 27/04/2023 09:26

It isn’t really “news” because it keeps happening. And when it keeps happening it stops being news.

Dc school has been shut in full every strike day and whilst I have a lot of sympathy with teachers and their predicament, as a parent it is getting very challenging to keep covering.

It's not 'teachers and their predicament' you should be concerned about, but your kids and their predicament.

And their predicament is that if teachers aren't successful in getting the government to fully fund with new money any pay rise next year (which the government are very committed to not doing, they had a webinar yesterday to explain this to heads), then your kids will lose out because their school will have to cut things from the school budget to pay for it. Teaching assistants, school trips, IT equipment, even teachers. They're all being lost from schools over this funding dispute.

And that will affect your children. It already has, because the government didn't fund the teacher pay rise last year either.

mogtheexcellent · 27/04/2023 09:41

Didnt even know it was a strike day. DDs school has been completely unaffected. In fact all the local schools are open as normal.

Beezknees · 27/04/2023 09:43

DS's school isn't fully shut, just certain year groups but he's off today. They're prioritising Years 11 and 13 which is fair enough.