To think it’s about time @MNHQ stepped up and did something about the teacher bashing.

[SachaStark]

This evening has been AWFUL here on the AIBU board.

@MNHQ, at what point do you actually plan to intervene and do something about the sheer number of teacher bashing threads, and individual posts? Should we expect any kind of moderation?

Or, is this in fact, “all in the spirit of Mumsnet”? Because at the moment, you’re making it look a darn sight like you agree by proxy.

Why are teachers so sensitive people are only saying what they think. Everyone has a right to an opinion doesn’t make them right or wrong.

Nearly every bloody thread in active is criticising teachers. If you think it's so easy and we're just feckless and lazy, you all do it.

It's not criticism. It's not an opinion. It's a pile-on, day after day.

D'you know, I've met some nurses who I didn't think did a great job (with regard to the care of my dm at the end). Would I come on during these difficult times and start threads about nurses? Why would I want to add to the stress anyone was under at a time like this?
Would I start my imaginary nurse thread with a click baity title, making sweeping generalisations about the conduct of all nurses based on my limited experience?
No, I would not; for I am not an utter cunt.

No one is making you read the threads. If you don't like it scroll on.
A lot of teachers don't want to return to classroom teaching, I understand but why is it okay for you to stay home when others have to work also without PPE? Some delivery drivers and supermarket staff are in contact with well over 100 customers every hour, they don't get masks so why should a teacher dealing with 15 children?
Yes I know you are all working from home but that's not the same.
Like I said no-one makes you read the threads.

It's interesting isn't it...you have nurses, doctors, social workers, health visitors, midwives, paramedics, health care assistants....all degree educated keyworkers. All prepared to rise to the occasion. Because they're key. All receive occasional criticism in their roles.

Then there are those traditionally perceived to be 'not so educated' and often the target of scorn and looked down on. The shop workers, customer care staff, support workers, cleaners, bus drivers, security personnel. It has been noticiable just how 'key' these are. They have plodded on virtually without a stop.

Then there's my son's teachers. A page of A4 with a list of online resources and some advice on staying mentally welll is the most that has been mustered thus far. My nephew has worksheets from his primary.

But we mustn't complain. Teachers are not just keyworkers. They're special.

Like this one?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3910388-To-not-want-my-child-to-return-to-a-school-full-of-reluctant-teachers

CatherineOfAragonsPomegranate best post I've seen on here.

Then there's my son's teachers. A page of A4 with a list of online resources and some advice on staying mentally welll is the most that has been mustered thus far

So what have you done about it?

It has been noticiable just how 'key' these are. They have plodded on virtually without a stop

The last time I looked teachers weren't allowed in to the building to teach.

But we mustn't complain

Yet here you are...:o

I salute all teachers on threads like these who valiantly try to defend the profession - the vocation - they clearly love. The so-called lazy, incompetent ones which PP are complaining about are off somewhere else, not giving a shite! It's funny though; I've been teaching for decades and I can count on one hand the amount of times I've met "lazy, incompetent" teachers.

The vast, vast majority of teachers are hard-working and dedicated. Like me, though, they probably resent being pigeon-holed into this "all teachers are crap" category. I don't mind being taken to task over MY failings, but what can I do about other teachers? Should we apply the same rubric to parenting? If my neighbours won't care for their children should I take the blame?

As PP have been advised numerous times on this and other threads, speak to your school if you have an issue. My classes are running fine through video links, but that's the policy of MY school; I don't dictate policy in other schools. I am also aware that remote teaching takes many different forms; some of my colleagues spend hours producing videos / recorded lessons, some produce works of art in worksheet form. These are not normal times, so we can't expect ANY job to be done "as normal". Everyone -not just teachers - is doing their best and our best HAS to be good enough.

The thing which really saddens me here is that, yet again, we appear to be incapable of embarking on a discussion without the conversation descending into chaos. This, alas, appears to be characteristic of a larger disgruntlement in society today; the pandemic and uncertain social and political environments have simply exacerbated an underlying resentment and inequality on people's lives, which they then project onto other people.

#bekind didn't even scratch the surface.

I have every sympathy for the frustration and anger of parents who feel that their children's schools are failing them. If I were in that situation (and I have been) I would complain to the school, not on a social media thread, full of people who can't really help you, other than to offer advice. If you're all simply venting your frustrations though, that's different, but vent responsibly!

It's annoying I agree but freedom of speech comes first. If you put a stop to teacher criticism what else can't we criticise? I don't want censorship on MN, and I ignore the teacher bashing threads.

I haven‘t seen many teacher bashing posts.
i have seen many posts asking why sone schools provide no home learning at all, some send some vague links, and some do pretty much normal curriculum.
I have seen posts of teachers explaining that its the senior leadership team that makes decisions, and they gave little influence. these posts were usually accepted well, as parents now know who to chase, and that this mess is not something the individual teacher can do something about.
i also saw a lot of very tone death posts along the lines of “like everyone else i now have so many free hours to fill, i can do loads of training”, or “i’m busy homeschooling my kids and going in once per week “ that didn’t go down well at all.
Fact is, provision from many schools is a disgrace. some schools do a stellar job. Parents are allowed to ask why this is so different.

@echt you shouldn’t have to chase school to do their job. a couple of vague links is cleary not sufficient.
if nurses would jyst walk by the beds once and declare it job done, there would be an outcry as well.
parents deserve an explanation for the provision offered (and decent schools did send one out !), having to chase it is a disgrace

Teachers haven’t been given individual choice about whether to return to work- most are not allowed to go in, so are working from home. Of course there’ll be different opinions, concerns and fears - we’re human. I teach Y12 and will basically go back when I’m told to, but I appreciate that some of my colleagues may feel more vulnerable and that accommodation will probably be made for this. I’m also glad we’re being defended by strong, vocal unions, whether or not I agree with every point they make. Agree with PP that if your child is getting an inadequate deal from their school, raise it directly WITH the school in question rather than assuming that your experience is representative of an entire profession’s work.

So glad the teacher's unions are stepping up and sticking up for the teachers. It's a shame there didn't seem to be as much union activity for the nhs workers or care workers, or even the people working in shops.

Why the hostility against teachers? They're doing their best to cope like everyone else

Twas ever thus. Teacher bashing was what introduced me to MN 15 or so years ago when a thread excoriating teachers was flagged up on TES. Shout out to Xenia there. In real life I’d never come across people who told me “there are FAR better teachers than you out there, in the nirvana that is private education”.

These past few weeks have been an eye opener here. I don’t live in the UK anymore. We won’t be back before September at the earliest. People aren’t directing their hostility at school staff. My U.K. teacher friends are running themselves ragged trying to provide work, mark and assess, stay connected with their classes, provide care for children of keyworkers, and care for their own children.

Echt, you shouldn’t have to chase school to do their job. a couple of vague links is cleary not sufficient

There's always an excuse for doing nothing.

Checking up is not chasing. It could be an oversight. However if you like pissing and moaning on MN instead of being the parent and supporting your child's work by following up, then fill your boots.

Are you seriously advocating censorship? That MNHQ check every post before it goes up as to whether it is "suitable" or not! The whole point of Mumsnet is to give people a chance to exchange ideas, ask for advice or even just vent! If that includes "teacher bashing", guests wearing white / black / other colours to a wedding / , the NDN's music in the garden, then that's what this forum is all About-

@echt my son’s school is providing a full online curriculum, every teacher available daily. so no need to complain (we‘ve send loads of thank you/praise). they wouldn’t dream of just providing worksheets. its shocking some SLTs think some links are fine

You can't compare working with a class of snotty snuffling small DCs, with no proper understanding of isolating, with others going to work in offices or abbatoirs without PPE.
We all know kids have constant runny noses, coughs and colds. And we all know they get sent to school when they should be home.
I don't blame teachers. But I'm not sure postponing school will ensure they don't get CV19. It's going to be around for a while.

All the parents I know back in the UK are really happy with their kids' schools and are actually pretty amazed at how the teachers and staff seem to have taken everything in their stride and just got stuck in, setting up a new way of working, really going the extra mile for the kids. I don't think that the examples of poor practice I've seen mentioned on these threads are the norm.

On the other hand, I don't think they have been invented by the parents, either. How do I know? Because in every profession, you'll always find some people who do a poor job. That's just the way of things.

Nearly all the teachers I know on social media and real life all take academic work very seriously for all their kids. I do know a couple who are very.... soft-centered/child-led. You know, their FB feed is full of memes and posts about "Don't worry about doing any work at home, just let them play" "Your child's mental health is the main focus! It doesn't matter if they don't do academic stuff at home" "Just bake cookies and plant things in the garden, that's educational too!" "I am a super-hero and will catch your child up once regular school resumes, no matter how behind they are" "There is no "behind" because everyone will be equally behind" etc. etc. The two people I am thinking of who are always posting this kind of thing, are really lovely people, but I suspect that if people like this are working in the SLT of a school, the school won't be setting a lot of work for the kids. Not based on "laziness," (which is the reason I keep seeing cited) but more likely on a genuine (if probably misguided) feeling that what the kids need right now are hugs and baking and not much else. My two cents.

As I say though, people like this are the exception not the rule. Most parents seem very impressed with what their schools have done.

echt my son’s school is providing a full online curriculum, every teacher available daily. so no need to complain (we‘ve send loads of thank you/praise). they wouldn’t dream of just providing worksheets. its shocking some SLTs think some links are fine

So what's your point about reporting the hearsay of others? :o

My response would be the same - what have you done about it?

Why the nurse comparison, there entirely different, I think it’s now become a bit childish.

@echt its not hearsay if you’ve seem it ;)
my best friends‘s kids school stated that they are not obligated by the DoE to provide education in the moment. which is true i think. question is, why do other schools do more? and why do some just block with “ we don’t have to, so we don’t“?
parents needed to exchange opinions on that, and face to face meetings in big groups are kind of difficult in the moment. leaves online forums.