To feel like parents aren't allowed to criticise teachers anymore?

[velaryon]

I have the utmost respect for the teaching profession, especially the hard work and dedication of many teachers despite a pandemic and nationwide lockdown.
But at the same time, I've seen a lot of parents genuinely concerned about the teaching & communication at their DC's school who were immediately accused of 'teacher bashing' and being too lazy to teach their own children.
AIBU to think this is absolutely ridiculous?
I don't see anything wrong with questioning the level of teaching a school is providing, provided it's done in a sensitive and understanding way. IMO it's ridiculous how quickly someone is accused of teacher bashing for asking a legitimate question.

Thanks a fucking bunch MNHQ.
As long as those clicks keep coming eh?

Thanks a fucking bunch MNHQ.
As long as those clicks keep coming eh?

That’s a ridiculous response. The thread doesn’t break talk guidelines. Do you want them to censor people and discussions?

We know that Mumsnet is a sounding board for a lot of parents who are currently trying to work out if their children are receiving the same care and attention as others - perhaps they are preparing to contact their children's teachers, perhaps they have already done so

Spot on @HopeMumsnet

Maybe Mumsnet could do some articles for balance eh? Perhaps one on why the government won't release its "science" to the teaching unions, the stuff that's meant to prove schools are safe. Maybe an article on yesterday's briefing when the scientist said that they had said schools should open only when an effective track and trace programme is up and running.

Much more interesting to let parents bitch about teachers who are working all hours setting work, responding to kids emails, have given up their holidays to spend time in work looking after key worker kids. The hatred and bile that seems to be directed to teachers is ridiculous. We're trained to risk assess EVERY THING, now we're being asked to throw all that down the toilet and then scrub it clean after

@velaryon my sis is a teacher who hasn’t had to go into school once, hasn’t had to teach via zoom and is only doing a few hours every few days. She is not run ragged and 10% of schools are setting no work whatsoever. Some pupils were told to enjoy time with their family, all schools are different.

What annoys me is the “make it stop”, as no one is saying stop talking about delivery drivers or supermarket workers. Who never got to stop and in low paid jobs and they are far more at risk and getting daily abuse.

Everyone knows it’s the government not the school that tells them to open.

Like in every profession there are good staff and shit. Even in hallowed nursing at the moment there are shit staff, I would be scared to be looked after by some of the clinic staff in outpatients and some of the nurses who walk around at nights only ever doing night shifts and getting deskilled saying “they hate their job” to patients.

It’s not just teachers, everyone is scared and struggling and I’ve seen more people appreciative of how hard it is and those who wanted to home school say actually they can’t make it work and they’re sorry they thought that way.

@Mistressiggi Like anyone, if you dislike the content/tone/anything about a certain site then you are not obliged to use it?

I think teachers should start their own thread about lazy feckless and thick parents. See how you like it.

Teachers are not a protected species. From what I can see, the threads that pop up in regards to teachers, including the non inflammatory ones are bombarded with flowers and quite nasty replies. There's no need!

@JimmyGrimble you did the argument no favours. Generalising about people yourself in your post. You can't have it both ways.

Some of our children are not being taught. Some schools are not listening, some parents are worried about the divide its creating. It's hot topic, if you do not like it, hide the thread.

I've hidden enough social worker bashing threads over the years to know enough about generalisation and profession bashing. You're educators and professionals, but some of these replies really don't show you at your best.

If your aim is to stop @mnhq from allowing posts like this to stand. It's not going to happen. It's a discussion that's needed, not every thread that dares mentions teachers needs to be adorned with these pathetic flowers (they really do undermine your stance and look childish) or parent bashing replies, because that's exactly what they are, parent bashing!

I can see it from both sides. However, saying that teachers are responsible for getting the country up and running again is complete rubbish. As for getting the country up and running, what about lorry drivers, shop workers, factory workers, bus/ train and tube drivers who are keeping this country up and running and they are putting themselves at risk everyday!

My husband is a police officer so has been going to work throughout this pandemic. I am also classed as a key worker in the education sector but because I can work from home, my oldest’s school refused to take her. Therefore, I have been wfh, hone schooling and generally everything else.

My sister is a primary school teacher in an inner city school and those teachers who say it’s just as hard as when they are in the classroom teaching, it isn’t.

According to the government they want me to get back to work. Not sure what they call what I have been doing from 7.30am -7pm every day. I call it being a teacher to the best of my ability in a global pandemic. Wish I could spend all day moaning on MN (I am on a loo break between lessons).
All teachers ask is you don't generalise. Say my school and teachers aren't doing this. Not teachers aren't. Because lots and lots of us (yes in state schools) are and we feel bullied and victimised at the moment. We can't get back into schools until it is safe, so publish the science and get testing and tracking up as you promised Mr Johnson.
We are not the enemy despite what Daily Fail says.

FFS. Another one?

I have asked this question on about 6 other threads and not one person has answered - if you are unhappy with how school work is being set/monitored/communicated, anything that will affect your child's education at the moment, what have you done about it? Have you contacted the school to tell them it's not working? Have you spoken to someone directly? Have you gone through every single channel (incl local council if necessary) possible to rectify this? If so, what was the outcome? Or do you just say 'this school are shit and so are all the teachers in it' then cry to the 'huns' on the internet?

No way would I just sit back and allow it to continue if I was unhappy (DC's school have been fantastic, so I have no issues in that respect), so if you're not, do something about it.

Not all schools/teachers will be getting it right, but most will be doing their damndest trying. Not that it makes any difference, as being a teacher is probably the most hated profession in this country to some people.

Why is it when parents discuss teachers they’re generalising?
Yet teachers seem to know what every other teacher in the land is doing - working very very hard indeed to support their pupils.

And why is it when parents bring up their personal situation that doesn’t fit with the narrative of working very very hard to support their pupils, they’re dismissed and told to email directly - as if they’re some stupid 10 yr old who hasn’t done that repeatedly.

Not sure what they call what I have been doing from 7.30am -7pm every day. I call it being a teacher to the best of my ability in a global pandemic.

@mumsneedwine it wouldn't matter what you did, some people will never be happy with it and will look for a way to criticise you. For a start, they won't believe you and will think you're spending your time sunbathing and drinking wine. I'm not a teacher, I'm a cover supervisor so I know how hard the teachers in my school are working and I have so much respect for them.

@HelloMissus if you're emailing directly, repeatedly, and not getting anywhere who else have you contacted?

This thread is now online in the papers. Well done OP

HelloMissus
Why is it when parents discuss teachers they’re generalising?
Yet teachers seem to know what every other teacher in the land is doing - working very very hard indeed to support their pupils.

Is this an ironic question? General question answered with general answer. yet still gets whiney response for being wrong, go figure.,

And why is it when parents bring up their personal situation that doesn’t fit with the narrative of working very very hard to support their pupils, they’re dismissed and told to email directly - as if they’re some stupid 10 yr old who hasn’t done that repeatedly

Because 9 times out of 10 they haven't.

And what do you expect the teachers on here to do? Set the work for pupils that aren't theirs?
Teachers often post links to websites etc. to help and still the responses are that teachers are (generally) not doing enough.

If only MN applied the same criteria set out here to trans threads. But they are too scared. Teachers are easy targets.

How many more goady threads will they allow? As long as it's about teachers and not people claiming women can have penises as many as you like.

megatron
Both me and social services (we’re talking about foster children) have whisked the teachers, the SLT, the LA. They may have tried other folk as well I don’t know.

Honestly it took 4 weeks for a teacher to even acknowledge that one of their pupils had been taken into care and moved to us.
I sent over 20 emails.

Teachers are not a protected species. From what I can see, the threads that pop up in regards to teachers, including the non inflammatory ones are bombarded with flowers and quite nasty replies

For the umpteenth time... that's because posters almost invariably refer to 'teachers' in general, when what they mean is their school or even a particular teacher at their school.

Or they post about policies on which class teachers themselves have no input or control, but still phrase it as "Why aren't teachers doing x, y or z.

If I'd had poor treatment in a particular hospital, or disagreed with NHS policy on an aspect of nurses' jobs, it wouldn't occur to me to start a thread on MN saying "Fgs, why aren't nurses doing x, y or z?".

If only MN applied the same criteria set out here to trans threads

You want them to silence women?

LemonPudding

Careful, YetAnotherSpartacus was deleted for for saying similar and giving someone the 'hurtz'

I don't think I have ever been deleted before. Must have touched a nerve.

@Megatron it is tempting to do just that sometimes when the crap thrown our way is so relentless. So thank you.
And I was asked how I know what some other schools are doing. Because I talk to them. I have given some of my lessons to a few schools and they have shared some stuff with us too. It's what we do normally. I honestly think some people just hate teachers. Still, the government has got people away from talking about care homes and death figures, which I am starting to think might be the narrative they wanted.
Right tea made,10.30 lesson awaits. Wish you could join me as it involves jelly babies,peanuts, and my kitchen hob. Fingers crossed the fire alarm doesn't go off like last time. And dog goes mental at the screaming babies so need to hide him.