Our children have the right to an education.

[NameChange738676756]

So many posts about whether schools will be safe when they reopen but I’m not seeing this point made. Lots of discussion around the childcare that schools provide and the importance on children socially.

My 11 year old has lost all interest and I can’t get him to do anything significant. We’ve had one zoom social with his teacher and classmates. So pretty much zero learning going on.

We know children are less susceptible and there is some discussion around whether they’re transmitting less. The children of key workers (i.e. the ones more likely to catch and spread it) have been at school the whole time and as far as I know there haven’t been massive outbreaks in schools.

So I think I just want to loudly shout: our children have the right to an education.

Teachers are working

Many are delivering in a very limited way, far below expectations and far below what’s merited their salary.

Like DS’s teacher’s case, two worksheets a week and the occasional video.

While I appreciate some are doing more, teachers have to accept the impact those who are doing fuck all are having on the profession. And the problems when there is no comeback and no consequences for that.

I'm really happy to see this thread. I thought I was going mad. I felt like no one seems to care about our children's education. This is so incredibly hideous...my children haven't spoken to another human being in the flesh apart from our own household group for two months now. Home schooling is a huge challenge.

I want my children back at school asap. I don't want them to social distance either.

Personally I feel like the biggest risk to my children when it comes to going to school is the danger of traffic on the walk there. That doesn't stop me sending them in.

Also, why isn’t the sector itself working out the details of how to protect themselves and others, rather than demand the government do it? That’s what everyone else had to do. I didn’t see supermarket workers refuse to work until the government made them ‘safe’.

Because unless it's a private school they need funding to implement changes, which comes from....the government. The government will only fund them if they are stipulating the changes, because their guidance is basically saying work with what you've got they cannot secure any additional funding. Also individual schools making it work through having a year group in once a week, for example, is problematic without government backing. Supermarkets etc can pay for alterations to the workplace, and people are unlikely to be outraged because a shop just down the road has different policies which directly affect their children. Therefore of course it should come from the government.

It's all very well to say teachers who dont like it can leave and they will be replaced; there's a massive shortage of teachers, and despite substantial bursaries training courses still aren't getting filled (loads leave during the training and the first few years anyway). So as interesting of a plan as that is, not sure it will work.

@echt

And where are the unions’ own constructive proposals for what might work instead? Because I haven’t seen any of those. Or is there literally nothing that would induce teachers to return to work at this point short of a) a vaccine or b) some kind of unicorn wholly socially distanced school setting where the needs of the children come a poor second to the perceived ‘safety’ of the staff? Because that’s the impression that’s being given.

Because unless it's a private school they need funding to implement changes, which comes from....the government.

So go to the government with proposals. Be proactive.

It's all very well to say teachers who dont like it can leave and they will be replaced; there's a massive shortage of teachers, and despite substantial bursaries training courses still aren't getting filled (loads leave during the training and the first few years anyway). So as interesting of a plan as that is, not sure it will work.

Given the soaring unemployment levels we’re about to see and hiring in most sectors plummeting, I don’t think this will be a problem for much longer.

Parents meanwhile are doing two full time jobs, their own paid job AND that of the teachers posting on here, and no time to vote or post!!

Indeed the irony of a lawyer who is complaining about how they have no time to homeschool because they work 60 hours a week whilst they post on MN...

I think the impact will last for a long time and the solution will be to provide additional funds and resources over the next few years, to enable those who have dropped out to return to education and to ensure that children who have struggled have adequate support. It may be necessary for some children to stay in education for longer or to shorten future holidays.

Cue the complaints from parents who can't go on a nice holiday because their child has been asked to come into school during the holidays for catch up classes. (Who is going to be doing this teaching during the holidays at the expense of their own holidays and probably at no extra pay?).

Teachers aren't going to win on this... no matter what they do.

They are either too shit, too bothered about their own safety, too bothered about the conditions in school and how it might affect their children, not giving good enough work, lazy because they are on rotas and therefore not in school enough (and obviously aren't doing any work from home either), not putting in extra effort, don't care, aren't mind readers, aren't going above any beyond enough, are to blame for government policy, are solely responsible for all education your child gets, should work more during the holidays, are to blame for the economy and the pressures other parents currently have, are to blame for parents taking careers where they work 60 hours a week (whilst being so very efficient at their job they can afford to post on MN about how hard they work)....

... any more excuses and blame I've forgotten that we can level at teachers and not at government?

Just so I can add them to the list of bullshit.

It’s not just education, it’s everything else that goes with school, socialisation, routine, exercise. I understand for the government this wouldn’t be a big concern, let’s face it, Boris didn’t get where he is today by working hard at school, and for children in a similar situation 6 months off wouldn’t be a big deal. It’s those children in deprived homes I really feel for, and fear the knock on effect of this will cause many more deaths in children than the virus.

I make time to homeschool. It’s going relatively well. We do our best.

Not that I need to justify my time, but I have a few days of annual leave right now. End of the holiday year and we need to use them or lose them.

I want my children back at school asap. I don't want them to social distance either

Fuck anyone else, eh?

If only. Tell that to the children of the junkies living in the high rise flats in Glasgow

Who should technically BE in school atm as they will almost certainly be known to social services.

Again... have a strawman.

Kids in China had six weeks of proper, rigorous online classes, with their own teachers delivering live classes, and children able to communicate - fully interactive. Yes China was slow in the first couple of weeks to respond, but between February and now they have put the likes of the UK and US to shame. Not to hard to see where the future centre of the world lies, in fact 2020 could be the year the pendulum decisively swung.

Tbh, I’d be happy just to see my child running around kicking a ball with another child. I’d be happy if school chucked them in the playground, took them on a nature walk, allowed them to build dens and have a packed lunch. I wouldn’t care if they received no formal education, I would be happy for staff to keep a distance. This is much harder with younger children.

Developmentally, this lockdown is pretty disastrous. Educationally I think they will catch up, with the exception of Y10/12, who are going to have a tough time.

The other groups need social contact, I can’t honestly say they are desperately in need of maths and English as a priority over play/socialising.

I’d like to see the kids just set free to run in the parks!

Are you a paid poster by any chance

My mum teaches in Glasgow. Many of these kids have disappeared from the radar. They aren’t in the hubs. They are young Carers. Social services don’t have the resources to deal with it.

I don't blame teachers at all REd - I just cant understand why some teachers and schools have managed to "seamlessly" continue education on line and others have not even tried? And have hidden behind all sorts of reasons.
I can't understand why some Primary schools have managed to send out a small learning pack each week whilst others have only given direction to various websites but with no actual guidance expect vagaries?

Some teachers at primary are still marking their classes work from little learning packs - others are moaning about having to make a bi weekly phone call?

No provision for SEN kids either.

When some do it so very well - it does rather show the wheat from the chaff.

But it all made sense when I saw the Unions advise to schools!

Fuck anyone else, eh?

Well if people are vulnerable or don't want their children in school, then they should isolate themselves.

I think the damage to education, mental health and socialization is worse than the risk of covid for healthy children.

Given the soaring unemployment levels we’re about to see and hiring in most sectors plummeting, I don’t think this will be a problem for much longer.

Many people leave their jobs to retrain as teachers, they aren't likely to in a recession. I expect those graduates who decide they would like to be saddled with more debt (unless they do a shortage subject) still aren't that likely to be queuing up around the block. There will just be more responsibility pushed onto minimum wage TAs who don't require certain qualifications, the guidance already says they can fill in for staff members if they're short. And the unions have outlined what they think is reasonable, an actual testing programme and evidence that children don't transmit- or guidance that can actually be implemented. Where are all of these additional classrooms going to come from?

How are some schools/ teachers able to avoid setting any work? This is something I've seen on various threads and heard similar from friends and colleagues.

I know a load of teachers will now pop up and say parents are mistaken and they are working, but the fact so many parents - especially those with primary age children - are saying they've had almost zero contact from schools, means there MUST be some truth in it.

Why should parents have to find resources to engage their children, isn't that the teacher's job, that they are still being paid for? Many parents are WFH full time AND trying to homeschool.

And where's the oversight on what teachers are doing? In my industry we are still answerable to regulators for any drop in performance even in the current climate, and therefore output is being constantly monitored to ensure we are performing at the required level. Why are the SLT not ensuring regular contact takes place, and a consistent level of work is set?

Cam77

But many schools/ FE settings are managing this! They are teaching on live and do manage interactive classes.

Seriously most of you should hang your heads in shame, being paid by us the taxpayer to post endlessly on here. I have seen the teaching profession in a whole new light, and it is not flattering.

I have to go, and work and look after my children. You can carry on trying to convince yourselves that you are worthy of the profession.

You have zero public support to take even more time off, zero, and the damage you have caused to your profession and public image will be tarnished for decades. The public will not easily forget that in the middle of a crisis you only made things worse for our children, the same children that have already suffered so much.

You have lost the respect and admiration I once held for you as a profession. Do the decent thing and resign, please.

Many people leave their jobs to retrain as teachers, they aren't likely to in a recession.

Huh? Many people won’t have jobs soon. I suspect teaching will look very attractive to the newly unemployed.

Ditto grads because the opportunities just are t there. Who’s hiring right now?

Everyone can NOT do something. I'm so glad you have access to a printer and broadband and the equipment to access the internet. I am glad you dont have to use foodbank...because if you did you wouldn't be able to afford to buy paper and pens

Myopic thoughts from your own window on the world do not justify your views on other parents parenting skills

You have selective reading skills.

I've said that the problem here lies in no small part with ACCESS to these things which is a GOVERNMENTAL issue which shouldn't be the responsibility of teachers to plug the gap in.

And that should be being addressed, rather than expecting teachers to be at extra risk.

Thats a different question to the one about saying kids should be in schools to get an education.

The right to an education DOES NOT have to be in a school setting.

Its not right that children face many of those problems when schools are open either. The government having policies such as closing libraries doesn't exactly help.

Maybe we should be donating things like paper and pens to foodbanks too? Thats very much viable and maybe thats a conversation we should have too. But we aren't. We are giving the teachers a good kicking, cos lets face it, thats what the thread is REALLY about.

Why are the SLT not ensuring regular contact takes place, and a consistent level of work is set?
Because they have politicized education.

They come from the "woe is me " school of teaching, we are the most poorly paid put upon public service workers there are...
I am appalled that in my town, one school of DC are getting regular work set and feedback - mine are left to languish.

Its awful.

There is a small cohort like this. Many others just get on with it.

Who should technically BE in school atm as they will almost certainly be known to social services.

Who do you think is chasing that up?