School not re opening

[Onone]

Just that really,just had an email from my daughter’s school to say that they won’t be opening on 1st June, don’t know when it will either,Thanks to the mayor of our town,I’m quite upset for my daughter,Hardly any cases in my town

To be quite frank schools can never be totally safe environments until there is a vaccine. We need to start reopening in a safe and phased manner and the unions need to be told that is what's happening.

I usually spend 2.5 hours a day commuting/doing the school run. I’ve been working my full time hours but gained over 12 hours a week from not travelling or having to get kids dressed, bags packed etc. That’s loads of walks and activities time. I’ve certainly still been working as much and had as much stress, my Outlook account will testify to that.

Missing 6 months of school - in reception!
Oh my goodness, firstly they learn through play in reception particularly so what harm to play with them at home instead of having to remind 4 year olds that they can't actually play with their friends at the moment.
Also 6 months- in calendar terms yes 6 months from March to Sept however you are discounting the 9-10 weeks of holiday that they would potentially have during that period (also bear in mind the fact that not only have our schools not been shut, but the teachers and other school staff have still been working over Easter and this half term as well as potentially into the Summer holidays by setting & marking work, keeping in touch with pupils and parents and also being there for key worker's children and vulnerable children.

MargeryB

Of course those doing essential work...one might say key worker work in fact, you know, like teachers...have it hard. But I am just saying that there are a lot of ways that time has been freed up for teachers (whether through flexible working hours or things we simply cannot do that we normally do) that means we can actually spend time with our children whilst also NOT not doing our jobs.

A commute doesn't free everyone up but if you work from now and don't usually then you HAVE gained that time. Use it however you see fit but don't have a go at teachers or anyone else who chooses to use that time to be with their own children.

Those who still have to go in to do their work and also do childcare, home educating etc have my huge sympathy, it's hard, I get it. And it's not nice to have people rubbing your noses in "what a gift this time is" type posts. But that doesn't mean that a few people out there are simply not allowed to find any positives...it does mean they should be sensitive enough not to gloat about it though!

And btw, I hugely disagree with MrsTtobe's shitty parenting comment.

We have more keyworker children in from next week, in part because of schools going back meaning that their children need to come back to school. Mine will be coming in, because as other businesses start opening up DH (also a key worker) will be busier and busier and can't always be there.

@GravityFalls

Individual teachers may well be working hard, but there is certainly a perception among many parents that most teachers are not doing much. My DS's school has been sending very little work home and I know from speaking to friends that other schools are the same.

This is in stark contrast to independents which are offering live online lessons- another innovation blocked by the teaching unions.

I don't think most teachers are working as long hours as normal and that is causing resentment I think as of course they are still receiving full pay- while others are having their pay cut.

@HakeFish and that is what we are doing. We just need the guidance to be consistent

@WombatChocolate it's not a race to who has the most miserable life.

People were pissed off by the arrogance of the poster who happens to be a teacher, as you have to explain on MN all the time no one is criticising all teachers.

Saying things like if your child is being disruptive or playing up means you're shit at parenting doesn't make it sound like she knows what she's doing in the teaching profession.

Online learning has not been blocked by unions. I am a union member but happily use teams. Lots of friends across a number of schools are also delivering online lessons. We are all union members

What I would add is that I think if teachers offered to say, work for 80% wages to justify their decreased workload, hours and provision, I think a lot of the parental anger would dissipate.

@HakeFish it’s interesting that’s your perception. Mine is very different. My and my friends have all be surprised at how much our children’s schools have been doing. Providing care for key worker children, sending work home, contacting parents and planning for the children’s return all while having fluctuating staffing due to some staff having to self isolate, arrange childcare and shield themselves.

Just interesting that people’s perceptions can be so different. I do think there is probably less for some teachers to door they are having to work from home and so do home learning packs so read of teach classes but I certainly don’t get the impression that most teachers aren’t doing much.

My children's school's aren't either and when they do they will only be having a few children in at a time and it won't be for a full week.

I'm in no doubt most teachers are working very hard.

However most parents are not able to fully support secondary school age kids in science, maths, English, foreign languages, computer science, DT, Re and all manner of other subjects let alone replace their peer group which at 11-16 is extremely important for their decision making and social development.

The government are now failing our children.

A reasonable plan needs to be made and implemented in order for all schools to fully reopen in September or august if your in Scotland.

Many halls and community centres are out of use. Maybe we can set up temporary classrooms for subjects that don't require specific equipment.

There has to be a way as we can't do this to an entire generation.

Very happy the teachers’ unions are taking safety concerns seriously. Our school has delayed opening until mid June - I think this is a good decision- gives plenty of time for schools to get ready and for the tracing app to be up and running.

@HakeFish - if everyone who is wfh also takes 80% then that could be an argument.

If you feel your child is not being supported then contact your head. Heads like to be on par with other schools in the area. In my area it is like an online arms - we are even running extracurricular clubs online - including a ‘cook with me club’ where a member of staff cooks a dish which about 25 students!

This is in stark contrast to independents which are offering live online lessons- another innovation blocked by the teaching unions.

My son is at a state school and has had many lessons using teams. The school sent out a letter detailing the process and what they had put in place fo safeguarding (for both teachers and pupils benefit) and it's all going really well.

DN’s school have said they’ll only take Reception children who are children of key workers on June 1. DN is in YR and school have said no to her returning.

Interesting ....I never heard people coming out complaining when teachers worked into the evening marking work, or over the weekend planning lessons or into the evenings for parents evenings or plays.
Funny everyone is coming out the woodwork now there’s a perception teachers might not be working themselves into the ground like the status quo!

@HakeFish

So people who are furloughed, and thus sat at home with no work to do, are on 80%.

And teachers should be too - despite the fact most of them are working their official hours (and through the holidays)? But because not all of them are having to work as hard as YOU think they should, let's just pay them less?

@Oakmaiden

As I've said, I'm sure there are a number of teachers who are going above and beyond for their students.

However, many appear to be sending home little work, not doing live lessons and generally not doing very much.

Anecdotally, a neighbour of mine is a secondary English teacher and I saw her go for a 2 hour walk during the 'school day' today and almost 3 hours yesterday!

Unless extended, shielding will end on 30th June.
Staff with shielded family members do not need to stay at home.
Vulnerable staff also do not need to stay at home, they need to have measures put in place to minimise risk.
Pregnant staff are only advised to stay home during the last trimester.
Teachers are acting like the children are covid patients!

I work in the NHS and if we followed the nonsense spouted by teachers on here there would have been no one at work during the pandemic.
In the NHS shielded staff and last trimester pregnant staff are working from home. Everyone else is in work. Vulnerable staff now have some measures in place (avoiding working on covid wards). They didn’t at the beginning. Otherwise we’re all mucking in. We don’t know the covid status of most patients and at the beginning we didn’t know the status of anyone.
Another difference is at the beginning covid was rampant and now the community spread is really low. Much lower than in the weeks on the run up to lock down when we wee all happily in work and school. So this seems like hysteria to me, sorry.

[quote HakeFish]@Oakmaiden

As I've said, I'm sure there are a number of teachers who are going above and beyond for their students.

However, many appear to be sending home little work, not doing live lessons and generally not doing very much.

Anecdotally, a neighbour of mine is a secondary English teacher and I saw her go for a 2 hour walk during the 'school day' today and almost 3 hours yesterday![/quote]
You do realise it is half term week? So technically she could be enjoying her (unpaid) holiday. Although our school is still open and has been since throughout...

When the world is overrun with zombies people will still be complaining that teachers aren't doing enough. Why wasn't she at work, it was only a slightly gnawed limb?