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.

NeverTwerkNaked

They are the people I am referring to as working just as hard if not harder from home.

You have no evidence for this at all.

Not for everyone @FrippEnos but it is certainly the case in my organisation because our workload essentially doubled overnight because of lockdown.

NeverTwerkNaked

then don't generalise and put it as a fact.

Easier, not easy. 40 hours instead of 55-60. I won't be going back to doing 60 again either. No point if people are just assuming laziness because they know 3 teachers out of half a million.
Loads of my friends are working fewer hours by the way, in lots of industries. I'd ask what the have all been doing on forums, but I'm not an arsehole.

@FrippEnos is it only teachers then who are allowed to claim that if they are working hard then all teachers must be?

@NeverTwerkNaked

I find it ironic that after 11 weeks of trying to stop posters lumping all teachers together as workshy and lazy,

You post with a generalisation that all other workers from home are working as hard or harder.

If you can't see the problem then you probably never will.

My bil was walking his dog near the beach at his home last week during the nice weather. He overheard a bloke heading down the beach path saying, "well this isn't a bad way to spend time on 80% pay."
To clarify, he clearly wasn't a teacher.

I'm a teacher and there is always loads to do! I've been in a few days per week (with my own children coming into my school with me)
Uploading daily work for my class, marking I and replying to children/ parents requests.
There is loads curriculum work to do and reports. It's a never ending list!

I've not been busier than normal though as I'd normally be doing this stuff before or after a full days teaching!

They are the people I am referring to as working just as hard if not harder from home.

You have no evidence for this at all.

But it so much harder to get work at the moment - to generate sales, so in the private sector people are in in overdrive trying to secure work - being a teacher you don't have to worry about jobs coming in...whether you work hard during the lock down or not - you won't be sacked, the school wil;l still be there and you will still be paid.

GazeboParty

Thank you for mansplaining private business to me, its almost as if you believe that I have only ever been a teacher.

I can tell you from experience that the private sector has its fair share of slackers. Many of which are highly skilled in hiding their inability and laziness to work.

@GazeboParty

I might not be sacked but I do want my students to pass exams. I am working hard to ensure that the syllabus is delivered in the right way to maximise their potential under the current circumstance

GazeboParty, Yeah, that same private sector that dd's boyfriend works in (as just one example), where every Friday afternoon is spent either playing pitch and putt in the office, or actually out on the golf course (with the bosses).
He is a recent graduate, and is earning the same as I am, after nearly 35 years in teaching.

Thing is. I know I am working my butt off (public sector, delivering emergency response) so I dont feel any need to call you lot rude names or get aggressive about the generalisations. I have no doubt there are people having an easy time right now, particularly those furloughed. The difference is, their not working /minimal output doesn't create more work for me.

NeverTwerkNaked

Whatever teachers do at the moment it will create work for parents.

This is as far as I can tell a fact and doesn't change whether we give you everything that you want or not.

Some schools have tried to negate this by online streamed lessons, others record over power points, some send detailed sheets out and others send out twinkle work sheets any many many more.

Some are complaining that its too much, others too little, some are calling all teachers workshy and lazy. Others are ignoring and stonewalling the reasons for this happening and reply with a condescending if only you had a "can do attitude".

So frankly, the rude names thing goes both ways. the ignoring and stonewalling is just showing intransigent views. This has been hgoing on for 11 weeks.

Even the patience of teachers is going to wear thin.

As far as I can see , the people whose schools are producing plenty of resources and are "teaching" (whether live or recorded) are generally quite happy actually.

I've switched our boys to private school now and it is 2-3 hours max in interactive classrooms and then they get on with the work because their teachers have explained it all. I am sure there are many set ups that don't go to those lengths that could also work.

But some of our children are getting nothing. Neither boy had heard their teacher's voice since before lockdown. Their worksheets took 10 minutes and came with no explanation. Their feedback at most was a "like" in seesaw. All the good teachers I know agree that this was and is unacceptable. Their teachers sent cheery class emails about how much they were enjoying teahjbf their own children at home. It is schools like these that have people angry.

People need to chill their beans. If some people are having an easy time, so what. My wife is a teacher and she has had it fairly easy. My job has been the same workload wise but without the commute. I still have plenty of cups of tea etc, like I would in the office. It’s not the end of the world if some people have had it easier than others.

It’s not the end of the world if some people have had it easier than others.

So you don’t see why parents would be concerned if, for example, their child is doing exams next year and while they’re getting a bare minimum of teaching, other children are getting much better provision?

Really?

NeverTwerkNaked

That level of work is unacceptable. I would never deny that.

But neither is it an acceptable excuse to vilify an entire profession.

My school also has interactive classrooms. We are also available by email. etc. etc.

As has been said over and over the problems are with the school/teacher, complain to them.

No-one is saying don't complain or rant on MN but be specific about your situation and school.

We are now finishing the 11th week of teachers are lazy, workshy, why can't they etc. threads.

It would wear down anyone.

I think the problem is there are clearly great schools around, but there are also a huge swathe taking the approach of my sons' schools.

Some of the thibgs teachers have described doing on here sound brilkiant. Some of my teacher friends have shared excellent online lessons with me to support my sons. But the fact there is lots of angry parents shows something has gone wrong in patches up and down the country. People moan like crazy about my profession (law) and I often agree with their view of some solicitors as there are some truly awful ones around, particularly in certain fields. I don't take it personally. And I try and share best practice through running training sessions (by video now)

A race to the bottom with how little workers can get away with - our staff are paid well and treated well - and we expect them to work or the company is fucked - sorry of it's mansplaining but teachers will be able to refuse to work without worrying about the impact of the viability of the state school - their private school colleagues will have a different experience. If our staff refused to work we'd have to shut down.

Nobody is refusing to do anything. How many more times FFS.

FT primary teacher and it’s been full on. I’ve supported KW and vulnerable children, set and marked work online, called families weekly, emailed parents regularly and communicated daily on google classroom with my class. Also participated in CPD for my subject lead and participated in weekly team meetings and whole school meetings.
I know the SENDCO in our school, who is shielding, has been working flat out.
It’s not the easy ride it’s been portrayed as.

My youngest’s primary has not been so full on and I appreciate it, as there’s less pressure for me and my husband to do work with them. The school’s main concern is the mental health and well being of its community.

My other children are in secondary school and have been well catered for.

Nobody is refusing to do anything. How many more times FFS. to quote a previous poster - have you got proof of this?

Within my circle of family / friends:

• 2 teaching assistants who have been given nothing at all to do since 20th March.

• 1 special needs assistant who is supposed to be preparing materials for her 3 pupils, but says she finds it too stressful and has failed to achieve anything. She thinks going back to school might ‘help her concentrate’.

• 1 primary school teacher who was already on a performance improvement programme has had the odd phone to make, but has otherwise spent most days on an extreme fitness regime.

• 1 primary school teacher who has gone way above & beyond to find inventive ways of engaging with her class every day, whilst also leading many of the hub activities.

• one deputy head primary who says he doesn’t know how he’s ever going to settle back in school now he knows what life is like with no work.

One secondary maths teacher who went into shielding 2 weeks before lockdown, and switched off his google classroom and rendered himself uncontable.

Seven...surely your teacher wife hasn’t had it easier recently?