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.

I have four teacher friends:

1. Full time primary. School closed completely (small, rural). Uploads 8-10 worksheets a week. No marking and no pastoral contact. I know this because she is a friend but also teaches my son. She has a great tan now though.

1. Full time, primary in a town. Full time at home until this week, Currently required to be in 2 days a week. Openly says her planning and prep for the others takes a couple of hours a week.

1. Part time, primary. Usually in four days, currently in 1/2 on rota basis. No additional duties on the other days.

1. Part time, primary. Was completely off for two months, is now back in her usual 4/5 days. Workload about the same hours wise, just different in content.

And then there’s me. Working full time in non teaching role. Ditto partner. Having to work extra hours due to colleagues being furloughed, IT issues created from working remotely etc. Contracted for 37 hours, currently each working 50+ hours whilst also being responsible for both children’s schooling.

Don’t tell me to ring the school and complain. There’s no one fucking there for a start, and secondly I don’t have time. Read the above for why.

I am not expecting other people to chivvy me up to do my job. I’m doing it, quickly, consistently and well, because I’m a fucking professional.

Why can’t I expect the same in return?

Relative who is a teacher hasn't done much at all unless you count decorating their house

They’ve done what they’ve been directed to do. You sound a bit jealous really. Come and be a teacher. It’s fabulous having ignorant people on the internet call you bone idle and ask for you to be sacked multiple times a day.

I wobder where all these teachers work?
I must be doing something really wring, or the slt hates me 🤔
I don't claim to know someone who is a teacher. Although I know many. I only claim to know my job and my hours aren't less, they are now more. I do 2 days extra unpaid a week to cover illness and am available at all times except when asleep. My kids are fed up with it, my husband is fed up with it and to be fair some people's views on my role make me fed up to.
I am sure that every job has slackers, it's unfair and should be picked up and dealt with by management. Complain to the education authority/ svhool board in ypur area, defriend them, tell partners to buck up and do what they are being paid to do. Please don't make out all are the same, because most are hard working, like in all other roles. But keep chipping away and we will go then you will be left with your lazy family members or friends who should be sacked for not doing their jobs.
Sorry, it's a rant, just finished online learning prep so feel rather grumpy!

I am sure some have worked very hard. Others not so much. One of dds teachers is in dh bike club and strava never lies - he’s spent most working days cycling!

I think the point is some teachers are doing a lot. And some aren't teaching at all. So that discrepancy is meaning the experience of children (and therefore parents) is wildly divergent right now. I can pay for tuition but many parents cannot.

My children’s teachers are not doing online classes and are not even marking work sent in or giving feedback
So I personally feel teachers have actually been exposed during this time about how little they actually do

Depends on school. Mine has provided a full day online every day for all students. We’re secondary.
Other local secondary schools haven’t. It’s been commented on by parents locally a lot. We’re either ‘slave driving’ the kids while they’re home or providing a great service to families in difficult circumstances. Can’t win. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I haven't rtft but the first few pages seem to contradict the OP in that many teachers in fact have admitted to doing much less than normal.

I don't blame individuals for taking advantage of a situation but it didn't have to be like this.

My dc are in a private prep school and before half term (now back in the school as in those years) had several hours of online lessons a day as well as assignments set which they were meant to do independently. They put their school uniform on every day and did the lessons.

Support staff were all furloughed but all of the teachers were there in the school teaching their classes using Microsoft teams every day. Funny when it is a business and not paid for by the state that there were no teachers shielding / living with someone who's shielding / shopping for someone who's shielding.

There is nothing that they did which state schools couldn't have done, apart from having the budget to send reading books to the home.

At first I was annoyed because I was still paying almost all the fees when they would be at home but I was pleasantly surprised about how well it worked and I'm so glad that my dc are at a school who are committed to teaching my kids whatever the circumstances.

The can't do attitude in many schools is quite frankly not good enough, children and their tax-paying parents deserve better than a few work sheets a week whilst their teacher tops up their tan in the garden.

@Lardlizard that’s an issue with your kids’ school. Not teachers in general.

I am sure that every job has slackers

I’m sure. However, I don’t know any other job where it would be acceptable to not deliver on your main function at all or do so in the most perfunctory manner (2 worksheets a week in our case) and face no consequences. For this amount of time.

That’s what people are shocked by.

And despite the excuses being hauled out by these schools, others are doing a very reasonable job in delivering good quality education. The disparity in standards is shocking and parents are rightfully worried about their child missing out.

Some are doing less for sure. We’ve got weekly deadlines for work for next year also. Knowledge Organisers, curriculum planning, lesson writing are all massive. We’re also doing hours of online cpd each week too. It’s not busier than normal, just busy differently.
Our school though. Others will vary.

Please don't make out all are the same, because most are hard working, like in all other roles. But keep chipping away and we will go then you will be left with your lazy family members or friends who should be sacked for not doing their jobs.

I dont think anyone on this thread suggested all are the same. The frustration of parents comes from the very fact not all are the same and children are experiencing very different levels of schooling.

Saying most are hardworking is not reflected in the votes. Parents appreciate every teacher who is, but a large chunk are not, surely mn'ers are allowed to talk about this, vent their frustrations on a parenting site? You should be raging at the schools and teachers that are letting your professional down while you and many more work your arses off, not threatening the parents at the receiving end concerned about their childrens education that it will get worse if they don't shut up.

I think there's a split of teachers either working extremely hard or doing virtually nothing.

I know a teacher in the family who's lovely but has bragged about all this time off doing 121 with dc and no work just play like an extra holiday etc. This person is very high up in the school too...

Our teachers have been doing sweet FA - in part time to supervise a dozen kids, little contact with families and sending a bunch of worksheets to the entire year on a Monday, mostly consisting of links to go to online.

The head teacher won’t entertain the idea of any contact or online learning, Zoom etc so not entirely their fault I suppose...

Saying most are hardworking is not reflected in the votes. Parents appreciate every teacher who is, but a large chunk are not, surely mn'ers are allowed to talk about this, vent their frustrations

Of course parents can vent their frustrations, this is only reflective of the vote on mumsnet rather than the general population. I can talk only of my experiences which cover my work, my children's schools and schools of friends children. I m lso very aware of what the expectations are behind the scenes in my authority.

In my experience of schools around me, mine, my children's, friends children's schools friends work in, this is not the case. It is not the case on the teaching forums where thousands of are trying to meet needs. It is the case of those who share on mumsnet, and of course people should be able to share their stories and frustration because everyone should be doing their job if you are lucky enough to have one just now.

Other teachers and myself get angry and frustrated at the schools/teachers who are being lazy and not doing at least the minimum. We can co plain to authorities, unions if we know who they are. However you guys have more power, you know who they are, lots have said they are friends and family members please say it's not acceptable all our children deserve better. Report schools to your local mps etc, the process will be different depending where you live. If there is a reason then the school should share it with parents. But everyone should be getting some work and feeback weekly at least
Erivo"
That is shocking, all my pupils have personalised learning plans, all the work I do is individualised to each pupil. Yes it takes time, but that's what I am paid to do. I have my own children so am working very early mornings and very late nights but it can be done and you and your children deserve better. If the school are not providing online work then please contact an mp or someone who can take this further for you.

Just read the school's official guidance to Covid learning. A few gems in there - teacher will try to set work on a Monday for the week but if they don't because they are not available - don't email them, instead find something else to do - plan your own learning. Don't listen to people on social media telling you their schools are doing more - they are probably not.😂🤣😂This is supposedly an Outstanding school!

Oh more from the school on Guide to learning through Covid and don't expect feedback from your teacher at the moment for your work - it really isn't needed, it's more important that you just do some work. Low expectations - being firmly set.

@FrippEnos

Frouby

Secondary teacher has done very little, his subject is a hands on one and not easily taught remotely.

Do you actually know this are just think it?

I teach a hands on lesson and have (and still am) completely rewriting (and inventing) SoW so that they can be done at home.

This is what I was told by the secondary teachers wife when we bumped into them out walking.

Dd is year 11 and has this particular teacher as well. Dd has not had any education in any form since March. Because exams were cancelled.

She might not have exams to sit but she was still entitled to an education for that period up until june. I think her last exam was 12th June.

Nothing. Nada. 1 phonecall from school a couple of weeks ago asking if we were OK.

So no, I haven't actually scrutinised this teacher for the last 12 weeks but his wife lives with him and dd is taught by him so am pretty sure he's had a lovely time.

RE and PE are compulsory on the curriculum. Even if not sitting a qualification. So where has the RE and PE been for our year 11 pupils?

And apart from do Joe Wickes ds has had no PE and no RE either which is surprising considering its a C of E school with very close links to the local church.

Seems these things are only vital when it suits. I'd like both to disappear from the curriculum tbh. The kids going back are going to need the time to catch up on maths and English and PE puts more kids off sport that it engages.

@MeglaFlop

A lot of primary school teachers have had it extremely easy yes.

And a lot haven't. Some teachers have been putting new assignments each day onto a learning platform, marking that work and giving feedback, been available online for the children to answer questions and help with the work, as well as working in school on a rota looking after key worker's and vulnerable children. Just because some schools have not provided adequately for their children, don't assume that all teachers have done fuck all.

Oh and just while I am thinking about this thread every monday morning at 9am we have had an update on class dojo for work to do.

Probably 70% of it is links we have been sent week after week. The other 30% has been 'make a box model, write in your diary, do joe wickes, do worksheet x from your pack (which has now all been done).

When it was announced year 1s could return june 1st we were sent a questionnaire asking if children were coming back. I said yes but with the caveat that if I thought it was making ds anxious with the social distancing measures I would like the option to withdraw after a few weeks. Head rang me, asked if I need the place for childcare and when I said no he said DS was happy and safe at home, keep him there as long as possible. So decided to keep him home.

We then recieved an email saying that they wouldn't be opening until 8th June but prioritising keyworkers children then essential workers children then working parents without childcare and limiting it to 13 children per class and once spaces full, that's it.

So ds probably won't be able to go back even if I wanted him to.

And for the first time this morning, no work set for the week.

So if they aren't setting online work, but also not offering a place to 17 children who is going to educate them? Obviously the email may come through later but if not I will not be impressed.

OneOfTheGrundys One if my kids is primary so obv has one teacher, One is in secondary so has about 20 teachers
So it might not all be all teachers but it’s all of the 21 plus teachers we come across and the people I know personally that are teachers are not doing much work at all

I keep saying this.

Why aren’t the hard working teachers pissed off with the useless teachers?

Makes no sense to be annoyed with the parents pointing out the useless teachers?!?