Did any teachers have it easy over last 11 weeks?

[PicaK]

I nearly lost my shit yesterday with someone who insisted most teachers have had an easy life and not doing a proper day's work during Covid.
I'm not a teacher but many friends are and I don't know any who haven't had a full workload. It's absolutely not the message that's coming across on social media either. Most teachers saying they've done more work.
But then I wondered if my snapshot was accurate.
Does anyone personally know any teacher who has coasted/had an easy ride? (I am not talking about your kids' teachers who you have opinions about but friends or family where you have more insight.)
I'm hoping it's a no tbh and I feel justified for feeling so put out.
Aibu
Yes - yeah the teachers I know have had it easy
No - you're right all the ones I know have worked as much if not more.

Parents are complaining, my sons special school has had complaints to the executive head, LEA and governors, charities and threats of judicial review as technically that is all that is now available as the government in one statement is putting the needs of vulnerable children first whilst at the same time removed the statutory duty and replaced it with the word “reasonable”. His school started well for two weeks and now it’s a five minute phone call once a week if lucky. The school has the specialist equipment, the access to the OTs and salt which they are refusing parents the ability to bypass the teacher and have a direct contact. over 50% of the children are shielded so in this for the long run. These children will never need a formal education but are entitled to some form of education. Parents have no choice in placement unless very rich. Unfortunately relationships have been destroyed. Not all school are like this, I think this is leadership policy and I have seen the effort my DD college teachers are putting in. It still does not take away that some children are being failed, and in my sons school case shamed if they dare to speak out.

loulouljh

mmm. My daughter's teachers don't appear to be doing much!!! I wonder why they are resisting returning to work. A disgrace.

I'm not a teacher but what a horrible assumption, how do you know this. How horribly judgmental. Are you day with the teachers then to state this? And returning to work a disgrace! FFS maybe they are worried about a virus that is around at the moment?

*sat

Whilst I haven't been working my usual hours (primary), I have been working. Planning lessons, uploading them and then answering messages from parents and pupils. When not doing any of these, I have been undertaking online CPD, writing reports and going into school (on a rota) for the keyworker children. Although I have to say that I am looking forward to going back next week!

@MsTSwift

Frankly I don’t want to sour relations. The heads sole focus is vulnerable families so I look like a witch if I question what is happening regarding education of everyone else. Believe me I appreciate teachers my default is teacher support most of my family teach both my parents now retired but struggling with this.

I’m sorry that you feel this would be the case. I’m sure it wouldn’t be. In my school we’re working as a team to help both parents and pupils. Teaching French, I’ve had the odd query or two about a piece of grammar and I’m more than happy to send extra explanations or call the next time in school. It would never sour my relationship with a parent!

I’m sure if you said something along the lines of the following either the teacher or another member of staff would be happy to help. ‘In relation to the piece of maths work set on 5th June, I was wondering if it would be possible for an explanation of the way to approach these questions could be provided. It’s not something I know a lot about but I would like to be able to guide my daughter through this work. She’s currently struggling with it so a clear explanation would be very beneficial. Thanks’

I'm not a Teacher but I work in a secondary school and I am so sick of these threads.
I am contracted to work 4 days a week term time only and have worked at least 5 days a week, every week, since we shut down, including over half term and Easter for no extra pay. So have many of my colleagues. I am absolutely snowed under and have basically had to ignore my own kids for the last three months in order to keep on top of everything. I have just been informed that my team and I will be expected to work unpaid over the summer holidays too.
A colleague emailed SLT saying this means we will have done 9 weeks unpaid work by the time we go back in September and that they would like at least some of that time back at some point was told that this was not possible. When she questioned this she was made to feel guilty for even asking as "we are public servants in a time of crisis" and apparently that means our terms and conditions no longer apply!
But I'm sure someone will be along shortly to tell me to consider myself lucky I'm not a Nurse in ICU working with covid infected patients.

@welcometohell

I'm not a Teacher but I work in a secondary school and I am so sick of these threads. I am contracted to work 4 days a week term time only and have worked at least 5 days a week, every week, since we shut down, including over half term and Easter for no extra pay. So have many of my colleagues. I am absolutely snowed under and have basically had to ignore my own kids for the last three months in order to keep on top of everything. I have just been informed that my team and I will be expected to work unpaid over the summer holidays too. A colleague emailed SLT saying this means we will have done 9 weeks unpaid work by the time we go back in September and that they would like at least some of that time back at some point was told that this was not possible. When she questioned this she was made to feel guilty for even asking as "we are public servants in a time of crisis" and apparently that means our terms and conditions no longer apply! But I'm sure someone will be along shortly to tell me to consider myself lucky I'm not a Nurse in ICU working with covid infected patients.

At the risk of incurring wrath by mentioning the U word, are you in a union? If so speak to them. You shouldn't have to do 9 weeks unpaid.

I’ve contacted my DD’s school a couple of times. I’m not expecting a full timetable on Zoom, just some acknowledgement of work uploaded and a little bit of feedback. School newsletter and messages on Dojo talk about the school providing support, feedback, phone calls. The only occasions we have had feedback is when I have asked for it and the following week it stops again.

Maybe those those dedicated, hard working teachers should be annoyed with teachers not doing much at the moment instead of frustrated and concerned parents.

"Maybe those those dedicated, hard working teachers should be annoyed with teachers not doing much at the moment instead of frustrated and concerned parents."

Maybe if the frustrated and concerned parents would stop making snide nasty comments like this it would help us stop replying to defend ourselves

Can you explain why this is snide Slothbuket? Some teachers are working really hard and shouldn’t have to defend themselves. My year 7 child’s school have been fantastic. Some teachers at my year 5 child’s school have been great from what I have heard. If parents complain about their own experiences we are told we are blaming all teachers and hounding them out of the profession.

I am a Year 1 teacher and I have never worked so hard. All through the Easter and Half term. Late nights and weekends.
Planning for a full timetable, filming lessons, editing, uploading, scanning in reading books and adding voice notes to pages, marking the 66+ pieces of work uploaded to me daily, answering parent queries and e-mails, being in school supervising key worker children, Zoom calling my class to check on wellbeing, clearing classrooms, taking down displays, attending endless Zoom staff meetings, sorting out tables 2m apart for every class and making sure each child has a pot with pencils, pens, scissors etc in and now I have to write reports for my class whom I haven't taught face to face for 8weeks! Plus now we are starting to make plans for the new classes in September - ordering stock, making tray labels, class lists etc. All the while trying to care for my own family on my own.
I am exhausted and will only rest in August for a few weeks.
Now I don't know if my experience has been different because I work at an independent school. But as I said I've never worked so hard.

ArabellaRockerfella You sound like an amazing teacher. I wish my child had a teacher like you. Many of fellow teachers, are sadly letting you down.

Maybe those those dedicated, hard working teachers should be annoyed with teachers not doing much at the moment instead of frustrated and concerned parents

Exactly. I don’t understand this. If I was a teacher working my arse off, I’d be livid with those doing the bare minimum, letting down their kids and damaging the reputation of the profession.

You see the occasional teacher poster on here with this view, but not many.

I don't any teachers personally who aren't working harder than ever, so I can't get cross with them!

The quality of education has been so hit and miss.

Primary school: Hardly any work has been set for my children. Photo of a maths worksheet emailed, occasional spag worksheet, and some spellings. No other communication.

Secondary school: They had gone to so much effort with google classroom, videos of lessons, links to websites that would be useful, daily communications. Teachers available if we have any queries.

Maybe those those dedicated, hard working teachers should be annoyed with teachers not doing much at the moment instead of frustrated and concerned parents

I would be if I knew exactly what was going on. What’s not quite clear is why some schools appear to be so quiet at the moment. Is it down to the laziness of individuals? Has the Head forbade teachers from setting work? Are there really high sickness levels? Are there more keyworker children than expected? Is there other work going on behind the scenes which may or may not be more important? Are they focusing more resources on specific families and leaving some families alone on purpose?

It’s really hard to be angry when you don’t have the full picture. But yes, of course I’d be cross if I knew of a teacher who couldn’t be bothered to do any work. I’m also a parent myself so I totally sympathise with parents in that position, I just don’t really know what the variation is all about.

Just met some friends for a socially distanced beer. Their schools even shitter than ours. Don’t know if that makes it better or worse.

"One of my good friends (primary) told me he's basically just been watching tv and going on bike rides apart from the odd day going in to watch key workers children."

Well if he's not doing the work, someone else is doing more than they should be.

Well if he's not doing the work, someone else is doing more than they should be.

Yes, in our case it’s the parents.

Can't comment on others, only advice speak to schools they will know whT is happening locally.
Me, yeah, I've kicked back in the sunshine enjoying being paid for all these hours...

Only that isn't true. I am paid for 21h a week over 3 days. Due to collegue off ill i have for the last 6 weeks worked 35h+ over 5 days, all extra unpaid. My parents have full contact with me 5 days a week, 7 if i feel it's needed all hours apart from when I am asleep. Everyday there is qork put up, it is marked and fed back upon within the hour. All work is differentiated and individualised, no work is pulled from twinkl but all made from scratch. Arents asked for less, they got less, somw asked for more they got extra, this week 1 has engaged maybe next week will be better. Lessons are recorded, worksheet, activity based, challenges etc, all parents receive contact at least once a fortnight via messages from myself and other contact from management. I also work in the hub weeklybwith some of my own pupils, which is fab.

I cannot and will not comment on other. I will not feel i should do/give more and i am happy that i am doing the best I can without leaving my kids alone 7 days a week. I am hppy I can prove my hours to slt and justify what I have done.

@DefConOne

I’ve contacted my DD’s school a couple of times. I’m not expecting a full timetable on Zoom, just some acknowledgement of work uploaded and a little bit of feedback. School newsletter and messages on Dojo talk about the school providing support, feedback, phone calls. The only occasions we have had feedback is when I have asked for it and the following week it stops again.

Maybe those those dedicated, hard working teachers should be annoyed with teachers not doing much at the moment instead of frustrated and concerned parents.

Can't I be both?

I am sure that some teachers aren't doing much. This is true in normal times because there are a huge number of teachers and the quality is always going to be variable.

I am cross with the ones in my school doing nothing because it will inevitably lead to parental complaints and then we will probably all be told to do xy,z so that we are all consistent and then bang goes my autonomy to what I think works best for the kids I personally teach.

I am NOT cross with parents who say my teacher or my school isn't doing x,y,z.

I am cross with posters, and there have been plenty on mumsnet in the last few weeks who generalise and say all teachers are lazy/workshy/a disgrace/cowards. It's like the worlds biggest whole school detention and I've had enough of those in my life because I was a very well behaved child in a very badly behaved class back when these were in vogue.

"Yes, in our case it’s the parents."

Surely the parents are just looking after their own kids, not preparing to reopen a school?

Surely the parents are just looking after their own kids, not preparing to reopen a school?

Naturally. However I’d love to know what DS’s class teacher is doing beyond the half an hour a week it must take her to send out the generic worksheets that she then never comments on.

Same!

The teachers aren't preparing to open the school here, the head and business manager are doing that.