To tell teachers bashers to go and complain to their own fucking schools

[Frozenfan2019]

Aibu to be fed up to the back teeth of ignorant comments like "do your job like everyone else" and " it's your vocation" aimed at all and any teachers who happen to be on a thread. If you have a problem with the teaching provided by your own school contact them. People commenting have no idea of the workload that the people they are trolling online might be struggling with. It's bullying plain and simple and wouldn't be allowed to be aimed at other groups.

Do you honestly believe that every single teacher in the UK is lazy? If not why not contact YOUR school about the issues you have with YOUR child's teacher instead of starting yet another general teacher bashing thread.

As a teacher on here I have to say I have never been more demotivated. I work hard for my kids at school while also homeschooling my own three like so many of us. How dare you make me feel like I am failing because you have an issues, unfounded in some cases I am sure, with your school?

They are your children take some responsibility, contact the school if you have concerns and accept that most teachers are fired for the children they each but we don't make many of the decisions. They are made at a much higher level.

[VashtaNerada]

I’ve genuinely not heard this IRL. Sending children home at the start of lockdown was very upsetting and we’re gutted not to be teaching as normal. I feel so, so sad for the children at home. This may be the safest way to do things, I really don’t know, but that doesn’t stop it being tough. When it was just keyworker children in, we all fought to be on the rota. I was always asking for more days because it was so lovely to be around children again. Now I’m back FT I’m tired but happy. I know my colleagues still at home are jealous of the fact that I’ve got a bit of normality back. I obviously don’t speak for all teachers. Perhaps some have a good reason for being fearful and are relieved they’re not back yet. I’m sure in every profession there will be people feeling that. But teachers enjoy being around children and are used to hard work so coming back to school is a privilege. I’ve been so shocked by some of the attitudes towards teachers here and in the media. I don’t do it for the praise, but it’s jarring to realise that some people see us as the ‘bad guy’ when we were given embarrassing ‘hero’ status at the start of this!
I must admit parents IRL can see what we’re doing and are full of praise. Perhaps my school is a particularly good one, I don’t know.

[Settlersofcatan]

What I see on mumsnet is:

Parent: I have an issue with my school
Teachers: why haven't you contacted them?!
Parent: they don't reply
Teachers: STOP TEACHER BASHING

[VashtaNerada]

If schools aren’t replying I’d contact the governors if you can or the local authority. They may have a good reason for disappearing but they may not! I do think all schools should (at the very minimum) communicate to parents exactly what is going on and why.

[IrmaFayLear]

Hopefully school improvement plans etc should now be obligated to have a plan in place in case of future closure.

Back in about 1980 my secondary school had to close for a month because of the boiler exploding (hurray!). A system was instituted straightaway in which each child had to phone the next on the register with home learning for each subject (boo!). In those days we had weighty textbooks instead of the internet.

[Iggi999]

So pinkprosecco you're talking about teachers expressing fears on here rather than any actual real life teacher refusing to go to work in real life. Those key worker hubs must be running themselves then?

[louisthetrumpetswan]

VashtaNerada I think it's true that most parents/carers are appreciative of teachers IRL.

Even on MN, the same posters come up on thread after thread saying the same things.

Teachers that I know LOVED being in school with the smaller groups during lock down, despite the reality of them being more exposed to the virus than if they were wfh.

[pinkprosseco]

So pinkprosecco you're talking about teachers expressing fears on here rather than any actual real life teacher refusing to go to work in real life. Those key worker hubs must be running themselves then?

I'm talking about teachers stating they wouldn't go in and some surveys reporting children having little or no contact from teaching staff during lockdown. I'm not aware of any NHS nurses, doctors or social carer workers who stated on Mumsnet they wouldn't be going to work despite the lack of PPE they faced and caring directly for people with suspected or confirmed COVID. This is my opinion and I'm saying teachers (some not all of course, some have been vocal in advocating for continuing education) have stood out as being reluctant to support the country at this time as opposed to other key workers in health, social care, supermarkets etc.
The fact you are determined to try and shut me up just underlies my perception that some teachers have not acted the same as other key workers in this crisis.

[GazeboParty]

@louisthetrumpetswan

VashtaNerada I think it's true that most parents/carers are appreciative of teachers IRL.

Even on MN, the same posters come up on thread after thread saying the same things.

Teachers that I know LOVED being in school with the smaller groups during lock down, despite the reality of them being more exposed to the virus than if they were wfh.

Same parents come one here because the schools have not improved the distanced learning (or lack of) their kids are receiving - despite contacting the school etc.

Teachers loved going into school with smaller groups during lockdown? I'm glad they enjoyed it but they weren't teaching - they were childminding.

[averysuitablegirl]

If a teacher simply refuses to work, they will be subjected to the usual disciplinary procedures.

But you know that.

[averysuitablegirl]

Gazeboparty yes they were childminding not teaching as that's what they were told to do by the govt.

This involved organising, setting up and clearing up a range of socially distanced activities eg playground games, baking, lego, arts and crafts etc.

What they loved wasn't the fact that were skiving (3 weeks of this was during their holiday) but that they had the gift of time to give to children, in small groups without the usual pressure of the timetable, marking etc.

[averysuitablegirl]

Although the weeks trying to sort out rhe FSM vouchers on the phone talking to families which don't have an adult who speaks English and hearing about the awful situations that people were in was more a 'loved as at least I can try to do something for these families as no-one else knows about this'way.

HTH.

[GhostTypeEevee]

I have to admit I'm a bit of a wuss about contacting the school in case there is any repercussions for my child.
The vast majority have been absolutely amazing and I have sent emails saying that. His HoY has been sending year and personal emails and they have really given ds a boost. I think it's important to also acknowledge when things are going well but I find a lot of people don't do that.

[Iggi999]

No one wants to "shut you up" pinkprosecco, just wanting you to back up your claim that many teachers are refusing to go into work with some facts.
Which you haven't.

[GazeboParty]

@GhostTypeEevee

I have to admit I'm a bit of a wuss about contacting the school in case there is any repercussions for my child.
The vast majority have been absolutely amazing and I have sent emails saying that. His HoY has been sending year and personal emails and they have really given ds a boost. I think it's important to also acknowledge when things are going well but I find a lot of people don't do that.

A lot of parents feel awkward about complaining to the school - they worry that the school will in someway make life difficult for them if they complain. Seen it over and over again - parents complain to each other but when asked by the school they smile and say everything's great, complaining is hard - it creates tension and difficult conversations - confrontation is a hard, people are not good at it.
My kids don't want me to complain - they are teenagers and get embarrassed - they'd rather be completely ignored by their teacher. After my complaint to the school dd was contacted by all her teachers asking if she was ok. She was mortified - despite the fact that the teachers had not asked her how she was coping in 12 bloody weeks - she did not expect them to care! She doesn't want them to get into trouble for not putting much effort in and she doesn't want them to pick on her because I complained about them.

[VashtaNerada]

Teachers loved going into school with smaller groups during lockdown? I'm glad they enjoyed it but they weren't teaching - they were childminding. I certainly did some teaching with my keyworker group. Yes, it was different but I enjoyed the challenge of teaching children from 4-11! It was very very different to normal, but that’s not the fault of the teachers, we’ve done the best we can. I’m certainly teaching now though. We’re doing pretty much the same lessons with the years who are back that we would have done in summer term anyway.

[pinkprosseco]

No one wants to "shut you up" pinkprosecco, just wanting you to back up your claim that many teachers are refusing to go into work with some facts.
Which you haven't.
There's some news articles now saying a headteacher has agreed some teachers have refused to go in to work. Seems fairly factual. I know there are lazy people in every line of work but I'm disappointed that teachers are not behaving like other key workers