To say thank you to all the teachers out there

[countbackfromten]

I have watched in horror as the number of threads about teachers has increased over recent weeks and the overwhelming majority of them have been horrifyingly negative. Yes you can be worried about your child’s education, yes you may have concerns about the impact of them currently not being in school and being taught but can we please realise that the constant horribleness about teachers is totally unnecessary?

Teachers have always had, and continue to have, my upmost respect - I do what others consider is a challenging job but bloody hell, I could never ever teach. I see what friends and family who teach go through and the pressure they are put under constantly with diminishing resources.

This is an extraordinary time. This is not teachers having a jolly. It is a bloody pandemic.

So am AIBU to say that we should remember that teachers are fellow human beings and seeing a constant stream of negativity about them and their profession may have an impact on them? And so often it is from posters who will pull out the “be more kind” line when it suits their agenda.

I am definitely not being unreasonable to say thank you to the teachers out there. How on Earth you put up with all of this I will never know.

I can’t imagine seriously considering giving up my job because of criticism of my profession on an anonymous message board. I think it’s legitimate to criticise teachers (and any other profession but this is mn and education is particularly important to mums) as long as it’s fair comment and to discuss education.

All of the criticism I have seen on mn has been perfectly fair. Yet very many teachers (but not all) have instead tried to shut down and censor the discussion (none of which was ofc in any way personal- this being an anonymous message board) posting silly flowers and so on. That concerns me a lot - I cannot imagine that in another profession.

Our children’s education is very important and it is right we should be able to discuss it.

Thank you it's nice to have some acknowledgement of the fact we're still working hard. I spend all my working days, luckily part time, replying to or waiting for emails from students about the work

mbosnz, I had that thought about sending a couple of cases of wine to school this morning too!

Our children's education is very important, and yes, we should discuss it.

In a balanced way.

That acknowledges that those entrusted with the education of our children are working in an unprecedented situation, with extremely uneven resources betwixt schools, and also uneven policies and procedures.

I think it's quite half witted to expect a struggling academy to be providing what Eton does, and yet I've seen that suggested in all seriousness on here. Especially when any child going to Eton is going to have devices up the ying yang, and extra fast and unlimited band width. Also, quite often, two very well educated parents, one who may be a full time SAHP on tap.

Finally, while our child's education is naturally our focus, we need to perhaps keep in mind just how many children that teacher is having to try and educate from a distance, and just how diverse their resources, needs, and challenges may be.

Which is not to say that this is at all easy for parents and children, not stressful, worrying, and challenging.

Teachers are bloody amazing! You deserve so much more respect than you are currently (or ever) receiving!
I don’t know how you all do it day in, day out! You deserve medals (or pay rises!).

My son is really missing school, his teachers and friends. He’s 14 and I think time away has opened his eyes to how important it is.
One teacher in particular has made a huge impact on him. I’m very grateful.

Thank you teachers

Hear hear 👏. Thank you teachers. Let’s hope you are able to return to work in a safe way as soon as possible - we know you miss your students and hate this situation as much as parents do

Thank you all for your kind words.
I've been sending achievement postcards out to my classes parents this week and the emails back have been so lovely.
Most parents do appreciate the work that's going in, even when it's hard to see past the haters.

I can’t imagine seriously considering giving up my job because of criticism of my profession on an anonymous message board. I think it’s legitimate to criticise teachers as long as it’s fair comment and to discuss education.

That is the essence of bullying -constantly undermining the value of people until they feel worthless. It is sustained on Mumsnet- constant criticism- of course it make people feel down. They start to think that what they do has no value.

I actually think I might love my DS's teacher. The level of home schooling work is fantastic- she's setting fun, educational stuff, Which she marks really quickly - giving really appreciated feedback ( esp when DS is feeling abit cross with it all!). She has even gone above and beyond with extra help - not just for DS. She's fabulous.

While I agree with the sentiment and think (most) teachers are amazing...this is AIBU. Posters come here to complain, moan and get things off their chests so of course the majority of things posted here will be negative.

The teacher bashing is getting boring though!

Thank OP.

Appreciate it and thanks for what you do, too. Which is amazing.

Thanks! Medication helps massively.

Thankyou to all the teachers who are working so hard and Thankyou op for this thread

I am a teacher and a parent - I think some posters forget we can be both. Your post has really brightened my day.

Sunday night I sat and sobbed in the bath not knowing how I could do another week. I’m in a state school teaching live lessons, have form periods, marking to school policy, continuing meetings and parents evenings etc. I feel like I’m failing at parenting as I make my children so their school work at 6am so that can then sit on devices/watch tv all day whilst I teach to my usual school timetable. I have been managing but the press and social media broke me Sunday.

I am very thankful to my children‘s teachers. They set work each day, post motivational messages and have been a source of support.

Thank-you , that’s cheered me up !

Great thread. Shame about the lone twat, but I guess you get that.

Thank you for this thread, it's truly appreciated. I felt the kicking junior doctors got when they were striking was awful, and now it seems like it is our turn, when all we want is a safe workplace.

@CayrolBaaaskin can you share your profession? I'll start a thread inviting others to kick your profession- I'm sure I can come up with some reasons, ideally whilst you're already stressed out for lots of reasons, and then we can see how you feel at the end of that.

Last week, I think a lot of teachers were genuinely scared and facing continuous kicking from the press and people on this site did not help. For some people, the awful attitude from all sides has really taken a toll on their mental health- I would not be proud about being part of that.

Alternatively, you can go into school and be sworn at by an aggressive teenager who won't follow social distancing/lockdown rules, if you like.

While I agree with the sentiment and think (most) teachers are amazing...this is AIBU. Posters come here to complain, moan and get things off their chests so of course the majority of things posted here will be negative.

The teacher bashing is getting boring though!

Agree especially when parents are coming on upset that their children’s educational is not being met, to be advised it’s yet again another teacher bashing thread when in fact the OP isn’t teacher bashing at all or generalising the profession and that they are upset about THEIR situation.

What is evident Is that parents are crying out for help to be shit down by posters simply not reading the thread and content and just see teacher so it must be another bashing generalising, that’s bullying as essentially those posters are not allowing that OP to have a voice.

Oh the irony of your final sentence.

Perhaps , just on this thread , you should heed the advice of your own user name and read the room.

I’ve managed to avoid any of those ‘teacher-tearing-threads’ on here for which I am truly thankful

However, I do feel that my voice could be added here in saying that my sons school / teachers have been Really Great. So thank you guys, all of you.

It makes a huge difference, having that solid sense of leadership and also just, belonging. Knowing they’ve got our backs in more than simply setting DS a times table.

Thank you

Excellent thread timing @countbackfromten!

Thank you to you, and others on this thread that have been kind and supportive.

Thank you.

The bullying, condoned by MN HQ, has been depressing.

I'm glad I'm retired but I have friends driven to the brink still teaching but very much wondering why they bother.

I hope the teacher bashers are proud of themselves and can sleep at night.

From a fellow teacher and parent, thank you for all that you do.

My two secondary age students have received nothing but patience, understanding, and the message that their mental health is far more important than the work they set.
I am a former teacher, so I understand the vitriol, and the misperception that teachers don't really work full time, and that the job is easy. Don't listen to that noise...you are all doing an amazing job in a truly bizarre situation.
Thank you💐

Totally agree too. My son's ex teacher (we totally deregistered as he's shielded and it's easier) is still sending us work and said she will continue to do so.
The way they have been vilified disgusts me.