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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

A letter we got about the teacher's strike...

27 replies

PasstheTwiglets · 17/06/2011 16:04

We just got a letter saying that our teachers are striking for one day and not to worry because it won't damage our child's education to miss a day of school. Fine so far, I agree with all of that. BUT how can the school then say (as they have in the past) that a parent choosing to take a child out of school for even one day can be damaging to them?! It works both ways, surely?

OP posts:
c0rn55ilk · 17/06/2011 16:05

because OFSTED won't care about that day

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow · 17/06/2011 16:06

yeah, and if the teachers can't get in coz it's snowing thats ok too

TheFlyingOnion · 17/06/2011 16:08

we've got so much to pack in this term that I think it would be damaging for the children to miss a day, and yes I am Hmm when the children are taken out of school for the odd day here and there too.

Sounds like self-justifying twaddle to me... (from a yr2 teacher)

MrsBethel · 17/06/2011 16:10

So what the teachers had planned for that day would have been a complete waste of time? Is that what they are saying?

mercibucket · 17/06/2011 16:10

as cornsilk says, it's cos ofsted won't count it as absence so it doesn't matter

Original poster
PasstheTwiglets · 17/06/2011 16:12

I do think our teachers are quite right and that the child won't lose out whatsoever (and I am suporting their strike)... but I just expect them to understand that the same is true if I choose to take my DCs out for a day! I realise that much (most?) of MN is anti term-time holidays but I'm not... I can't wait to see what the Head says if he turns down term-time leave :)

OP posts:
LineRunner · 17/06/2011 16:12

What's the point of withdrawing one's labour if it doesn't actually affect public services?

Original poster
PasstheTwiglets · 17/06/2011 16:14

merci, but what does Ofsted have to do with their education? It may count towards Ofsted's opinion of the school but they are still being educated the same, whether Ofsted count the absence or not.

Ooh, LineRunner, that is a very good point!

OP posts:
vickibee · 17/06/2011 16:15

they will lose public support when people are inconvenienced ny the strikess. Most of the GP do not support their cause. They are well paid and have generous benefits even with the proposed changes

RustyBear · 17/06/2011 16:15

If a parent takes a single child out for a day, they will be missing all the stuff the other children are learning. If the whole school is closed, there won't be any teaching going on, so they won't miss it, but the teachers will be able to plan to catch up.

When the school I work at had a snow day, they caught up by missing out on some of the extra stuff like 'golden time' on Friday afternoons.

dreamingofsun · 17/06/2011 16:17

if some of the teachers at my middle son's school were teaching it probably wouldn't make any difference at all. i think they let him sleep through the whole lesson and the other children riot

prettybird · 17/06/2011 16:19

Won't be an issue in Scotland (although we've got different teaching unions anyway) as school finishes next Friday! :)

Original poster
PasstheTwiglets · 17/06/2011 16:20

Rusty, hmmm, I hadn't thought of that. Ok, maybe they're right then :) Mind you, at our school they repeat the work they do so much that I still think our DCs personally wouldn't lose out. Honestly, we have done bloody colour wheels in every. single. year.

OP posts:
welshbyrd · 17/06/2011 16:21

Another supporter for the teachers strike, Im not a teacher, and do have DCs in school, so like everyone else, I WILL make arrangements for childcare

Also do agree that its almost double standards with regards to school objecting to a day off/outing with family/whatever the reason.

However, I feel teachers have tried to avoid this, and it has fallen off deaf ears from the Government, basically been pushed into doing something drastic.

Also in favor of future strikes
Probably pissed loads of MNers off here

somethingwitty82 · 17/06/2011 16:23

Take them on hols on strike day- 2 birds one stone:)

Groovee · 17/06/2011 16:24

prettybird Edinburgh don't finish til the 1st of July

MrsBethel · 17/06/2011 16:25

I don't buy this "one day doesn't matter" stuff.

One day less teaching means less stuff is taught. Just because the effect on exam results, for example, is likely to be small and difficult to notice that doesn't mean we can pretend there is no effect.

For many people the VAT change from 17.5% to 20% was difficult to notice (it rather got lost in the wash of the ridiculous inflation we've been suffering). But we don't just ignore it.

ddubsgirl · 17/06/2011 16:25

30th my ds1 will be away camping with his school,hoping the strike isnt going to affect the trip :(

JunieV · 17/06/2011 16:51

I support the strike because if their pensions are cut this will affect the recruitment and retention of teachers and which will have a much bigger impact on our children's education (I'm not a teacher).

prettybird · 17/06/2011 17:01

Groovee - fair enough, Glasgow finishes on the 24th.

MrsBethel · 17/06/2011 17:07

It's a bit much to ask private sector taxpayers to pay for their own pension, then dip their hand in their pocket again to pay for a much much much better pension for teachers.

Having been offered only a much much better pension than the private sector, of course teachers are entitled to strike, but I don't think they'll get very far!

Irksome · 17/06/2011 17:12

Probably they are just trying to reassure you that they will arrange things in such a way as to cover any work with the class before and after the strike.

pudding25 · 17/06/2011 17:13

The reason as a poster mentioned is that if one child is taken out for a holiday, they will need to catch up. If no children are being taught that day, the planning will be fitted in elsewhere. I am planning on striking and I am already working out how I will ensure that the kids in my class don't miss out on the lessons I would have taught on that day.

Original poster
PasstheTwiglets · 17/06/2011 17:30

MrsBethel, my take on it is that whilst they won't learn what they would have learned that day I don't believe this will affect their overall education whatsoever. Yes, if something crucial were being taught that day and never again then it would matter but this never happens as far as I can see. Much of the school day is consolidating already-learned skills - they aren't taught brand-new things all day, every day. Think of it like an athlete who has 4 years to train for the Olympics - missing one practice session is not going to affect their overall chance of getting a medal.

:)

OP posts:
spookshowangel · 17/06/2011 17:35

i have no problem with the teachers striking, good luck to them. i also have no problem with taking my kids out of school in term time as i see fit being their mum and all.