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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To sue Gove for ruining my back

138 replies

teacherinpain · 02/06/2014 17:10

3 prolapsed discs Sad Sad Sad

This is down to the crippling weight of paper work and marking I've had to lug round with me all day every day since Gove came to power. ( The hospital confirms this)

This will never heal Sad

What if every single teacher who has been physically or mentally damaged by this mad man sued him personally for the results of his insanity.

OP posts:
pleaseaffixstamps · 02/06/2014 17:12

My kid will be next in the queue at the suing-Gove counter, as the bag he has to lug every day to and around school (no lockers or pegs) is just ridiculously heavy. Five and a half kilos is usual, and he complains his back and neck hurt. Many in his year are much smaller than him.

WorraLiberty · 02/06/2014 17:16

Sorry to hear that OP.

Can you not use one of these? They come in lots of different sizes.

To sue Gove for ruining my back
Original poster
teacherinpain · 02/06/2014 17:25

Thanks for the suggestion worra.

I have been using these, but in an average day I'm up a flight of stairs at least 20 separate occasions ( and down 20 too, of course), + lifting them in and out of the luggage racks on buses, + lifting them onto chairs or desks at the start and end of every lesson to be filled or emptied, + the fact that 2 quite often isn't enough....

They help, goodness knows what state my back would be in without them!

I agree that the amount students are expected to carry is also too much. I just don't understand what is wrong with Gove. Doesn't he get that schools are populated with actual real flesh and blood human beings???

Angry

I'm quite a peaceful person, but his bulldozer attitude just leaves me frustrated and enraged.

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 02/06/2014 17:28

Oh I hadn't thought about stairs, sorry Sad

Noappointmentnecessary · 02/06/2014 17:31

Do it - sue him - he is a complete arsehole whom I would give anything to whack around the face with a frying pan. He has a face made for being hit with a frying pan!

Nomama · 02/06/2014 18:10

Sorry, but I would have to start a save the frying pan petition.

Gove deserves better, maybe Bluewater shopping centre.

Yeah, smacked in the chops by Europe's biggest retail experience. That'll larn 'im.

Teafairy · 02/06/2014 18:32

My DH, also a teacher has developed a hernia and a torn leg muscle from carrying all his books, he also has a book trolley thing...maybe teachers should get extra danger money! Grin

Whathaveiforgottentoday · 02/06/2014 18:38

Decent rucksack and always put it on properly (not just slung over your shoulder).

Never thought of blaming my bad back on Gove but perhaps I will join you in suing him even though I did my back in long before he came into power

Allegorical · 02/06/2014 18:39

Cry my a river!
Seriously what will teachers think of to winge about next?
Why don't you quit and get an actual physical job such as a nurse on a busy ward, a roofer, a plasterer to name but a few.

Snargaluff · 02/06/2014 18:46

What paperwork? I don't carry much about, sounds like a nightmare!

Nomama · 02/06/2014 18:59

Alle, ha ha ha!

So predictable. But nurses etc get training and a 20kg load max.... teachers just lump stuff across campus at the end of every hour's lesson, with about 0 minutes to make a 5 minute trip and no-one really asks any questions or puts H+S procedures into place.

You see, it is easy to make daft comments, to sneer, but I would bet that a nurse, roofer, plasterer etc would find the physical aspects of a busy teacher's job quite taxing.

Well, actually, I know I would win that bet as my latest recruit is a nurse and he as just put his back out moving end of year exam papers from one room to another for marking - he couldn't believe how heavy a small pile of paper can be. He has said all year that he did less unaided physical work on the wards.... and we have and use trolleys, rucksacks, lifts etc.

So... sneer on. If OP wants to make a lighthearted post about being bone tired and aching and physically damaged at the arse end of the year she can. And we can laugh at you for being predictable and boring in your response too Grin

pleaseaffixstamps · 02/06/2014 19:02

Wow, Allegorical - way to show your ignorance, much? Try doing it for one day, then sneer at how much/little physical activity it involves.

Feenie · 02/06/2014 19:04

And we can laugh at you for being predictable and boring in your response too

And for misspelling 'whinge'!

vitaminz · 02/06/2014 19:39

Who is Sue Gove? Is she an osteopath or something?

whatsagoodusername · 02/06/2014 19:44

Why is Gove the reason for lots of paper in your bag? Not saying he isn't - I'm just a little confused?

sonlypuppyfat · 02/06/2014 19:50

The saddest thing I've ever read.

CuntWagon · 02/06/2014 19:53

Nurses have a 20 kg weight limit? What a load of rubbish. You don't have to defend your profession by putting down another one.

ifyourehoppyandyouknowit · 02/06/2014 19:54

If a teacher is pregnant, does this sort of thing get put in their risk assessment?

PourquoiTuGachesTaVie · 02/06/2014 20:00

Oh are we playing top trumps Who Lifts the Most in Work Edition?

When I was 16 I worked in Argos... fucking microwaves are stupidly heavy and at the back of the warehouse as the delivery men can't be arsed dragging them any further into the store. And then customers would ask me to carry their new microwave to their car as it was too heavy for them to lift.

Of course, this doesn't make the complaints of teachers (or nurses etc) any less valid. Walk a mile in anothers shoes/grass is always greener and all that.

LadySybilLikesCake · 02/06/2014 20:05

Isn't there a lift at school? How do children and staff in wheelchairs get around?

Ds uses a packpack but it has wheels. He's now able to get to school as his back is no longer sore.

MyUsernameIsPants · 02/06/2014 20:06

Can I play too?

I've done nursing, up until this year actually. Back breaking work, especially care of older people. Unpredictable weight bearing, for example, confused,, aggressive or scared fully grown adults using your body to steady themselves.

Thought a change of job (admin based, still NHS) would be better. My mistake.

Carrying around patient case notes to departments/for photocopying etc. I don't work in medical records so don't have those lovely little trollies. Can't always find a wheel chair to use either.

I get bad neck, shoulder and back pain just from that. Years of nursing has caused wear & tear I think but dear lord, it hurts.

pleaseaffixstamps · 02/06/2014 20:14

LadySybil, my DS's school has lifts, but almost everyone is forbidden to use them. I've complained on parents evenings, seeing other parents using sticks, carrying buggies up the stairs, etc., but sod-all happens.

Squidstirfry · 02/06/2014 20:15

DO IT !!!!!!!!!

MostWicked · 02/06/2014 20:26

Sod suing him, I'd rather put him up against a wall and shoot the bastard.

Nomama · 02/06/2014 20:28

I wasn't putting down another profession - why would I? It pisses me off enough when someone does it to mine!

And the 20KG is one of those rules of thumb - have you looked at building supplies recently? Single man lifts, bags of stuff, weigh 20 - 22kg, very few small bags weigh more.

I know this because of DHs work...he is one of those poor sods who has to sit through a wide variety of HSE and other workshops every few months. It came out as a rule of thumb about 20 years ago, the HSE, EU etc won't put an absolute weight to 'too much' but manufacturers do... if you start looking you will find that boxes small enough for 1 person to carry usually (not always) weigh about 20 - 22KG at most.

MyUserName - my new colleague said the same thing. Lifting people could be unpredictable, but you knew it would be as you approached them. Piles of paper look so innocuous...