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.

fripp what are you talking about?
I’ve emailed and called relentlessly about our foster kids.
The teachers and SLT don’t care.

I have no criticism for teachers doing their best under difficult circumstances, or who are limited by the rules their management has set (though I might criticise that management).

However, I’m concerned that some teachers on this thread clearly believe all teachers should be above criticism at this time. Yes, the world has changed, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t still accountable for your actions. There is a risk that this sort of thinking could lead to abuse of power at its worst, and neglect of children’s education at least.

YOU might be doing your best to continue educating in difficult circumstances, But there are teachers who failed pupils in the classrooms who are now continuing to fail them from distance. And there will be teachers for whom I have huge sympathy who are struggling because they need more or different support at this time, and can’t get it.

Teachers, along with many other workers struggling on in these difficult times, deserve an extra measure of sympathy and understanding for sure. But no one should be above reproach because of their profession.

I haven't commented on MN on any of the hundreds of threads about education/schools etc since the start of this situation however there are a couple of things I would like to add in relation to 'behind the scenes' and the guidance we are given.

Exam boards generally send out emails regarding the next steps/changes to guidance/really important information about 4.30pm on a Friday, often in conflict with what I had spent the week doing so will have to change information again, get it checked again (this has happened 3 times just for 1 qualification as it's not just GCSE/A Levels that are to have teacher assessed grades).

Headteachers found out about the reopening plan the same time as the rest of the country...the little guidance he had through he began to work on only for other guidance to slowly come through that contradicts the previous day's communications so everyday he is having to start again with planning.

As previous posters have stated if parents are not happy look at what schools are being told/not told, look at the lack of resources we have (due to the chronic under funding we have faced), look at the lack of resources a lot of families face which prevents the magical 'teach as per timetables remotely because that is what my friends private school are doing' - it is not us lowly teachers that are at fault for this and we are trying our best as is the vast majority of the country

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

The poster's sister has spoken. Teachers just shut the fuck up, you don't know what you're talking about.

I think the clue to the intent on this thread was the word 'criticise' in the title.
How about "are parents not allowed to express concern?"

And it does seem like very obvious double standards.

Also, teaching is a female dominated profession, particularly at the primary level.

If teachers are so shit why is everyone so keen to have their children back in their care?

It’s swings and round about. When I was a teacher I put everything in to my lessons but had a complaint once.

But also I knew other teachers that’s didn’t and did the least amount possible

My dd teacher was very lazy and her work suffered because of it ( and I did complain and it was agreed that I was right) but now he has left and she has an amazing teacher to go back to and I’m over the moon. She has been an online presence this entire lockdown and I couldn’t ask for more.

The same applies to every other sector - including doctors and nurses.

But we should be able to have a discussion about it.

HelloMissus

I am saying that 9 out of 10 people on here haven't emailed or tried to contact the school.

Its not difficult to comprehend.

am seriously struggling and that is with one child (4) and a partner. If this goes on beyond September I will need to quit my job.

I think this sums up many families at the moment and quite rightly BUT the problem is there is no easy magical answer and it isnt a schools problem specifically as there are so many other issues in the mix.
It does show how dependent working families are on school and the wrap around care but again this isn't a school problem nor is it the employers problem either.
The problem is that covid has just created a big logistical nightmare that isn't easy to fix quickly and people don't like it and they are trying to simplify a complex problem by questioning the current procedures of the things most familiar to them which is schools a sometimes their employers. All this then does id piss off the teachers and employers cos they are frantically trying their best and it will never be good enough at the moment as its all just to complex.

I can accept this as can many of the teachers and employers I know but lots of people do struggle with things being as clear as mud and a bit uncertain for the unseeable future.
Until things are back to NORMAL there will be plenty unsettled people who create posts like this and it will just add to the strain of the teachers, employers and other people like that who are just trying to get their heads around a new way of doing things which are well out of their comfort zone and far from normal.

This thread has made it over to the DM.

@stopcock love it!

We're in the middle of a global pandemic and your children won't be receiving anywhere near the normal standard of education.

Your children's teachers may well like your children but not enough to potentially die for them. Or have a family member die for them.

Deal with it.

There are good and bad in all professions.

With children at home it has highlighted major differences in response from different schools. Some amazing and providing good quality work/teaching online etc and some very poor producing almost nothing. Some teachers working really hard and others doing very little.

Seeing online the differences means that parents are going to moan if their school/teacher of their children isn't providing what others are getting. Perhaps that comes from a place of worry that their child will fall behind others that attend private schools/schools that are providing online teachng or good quality resources... that is quite understandable.

I have experience of a good school and a poor school. I have contacted the poor school directly and that is all they say they need to provide (a weekly email with suggestions) and not to worry since all children (at their school in the same position)... so despite contacting them no improvement. There is little I can do but make a complaint or moan to others. I always comment about how hard the other school are working and have lots of brilliant things to say about that school and it's teachers.

This pandemic has highlighted the difference and on this site there are lots of parents so naturally lots of comments about poor schools/teachers - perhaps frustration?

I would say to any teacher - you know how hard you are working and so don't take the criticism personally since not aimed personally at you but at the ones/schools that let the profession down.

@HelloMissus I'm sure you understand that this is not normal. It would never happen in the school I work in (which is a tricky one), or any previous ones, this is a massive failing. What's the next step?

fripp how can you possibly know what parents have or haven’t done?

Whenever I mention our situation on here all I get from teachers is - well you need to email. They just assume I haven’t.

megatron
I’m not expecting one to one zooms with their teachers, but I need school comms to come here. And I need a basic overview of where they are educationally so I can home school (tho to be fair, I’ve probably worked that out myself by now).

HelloMissus

how can you possibly know what parents have or haven’t done?

Because they have said so on the thread.

What else do you expect the teachers on here to do?

fripp offer advice? Support?
But no. All concerns either ignored (like the foster kids actual teachers) or dealt with in a high handed dismissive way.

@HelloMissus

All concerns either ignored (like the foster kids actual teachers) or dealt with in a high handed dismissive way
On another, similar thread, you were given support and advice by teachers and a Headteacher. So your post is a bit disengenuous really.

This crisis has opened my eyes in terms of what/ how yhe teaching in our state primary schools is like!
Sadly it's not a positive way...

HelloMissus

Like we have on the thread that you asked for help and on many other threads.

And doing this whilst dodging the misinformation about not helping, working, being workshy, questions about what we are doing etc. etc.

It's almost as if the frustrations people have with their particular schools need an outlet, so they project that anger on faceless teachers on Mumsnet who are just doing their best. I don't know anything about teacher training but I doubbt there was a 'Teaching during a global pandemic and ignoring SLT' module in there anyway.

14 years of schooling for most won't be affected dramatically by a few months of this. If it were if just highlights bigger issues in the education system. Wait until September giving the country a chance to clean itself up and prepare for a safe and healthy return. Better late than never isn't it?