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.

[Bluepolkadots42]

YANBU I'm a teacher and a parent and sick to death of hearing people gripe. At our school we've had complaints there's not enough work, there's too much work and we're stressing their kids out, there's not enough contact, there's too much contact and don't we know they have their own job to be getting on with from home too etc. etc. Basically schools and teachers can't win. The whole situation is a shitshow for everyone. Working from home when you have no childcare is a massive ball ache for everyone- irrespective of what sector you're in. There are some easy fixes though for some of the complaints I hear frequently:
-'they're setting too much work'. Simple- get your kid to do what you feel is reasonable each day e.g. 2 hours or 3 hours and let your kid's school know that's all they will be doing. Done.

• 'there isn't enough work.' Contact school- if no more work is forthcoming then there are TONS of resources you can find yourself online with a 5 minute google. Use this. Also know that learning doesn't only happen with books and worksheets, time outdoors or cooking can be just as much a learning experience.
  
• 'there isn't any contact.' Contact the school as frequently as you would like to speak to them.
  
• 'There's too much contact.' Tell the school politely that you'd prefer to only be contacted xyz times a month.
  

In my head it really is not rocket science- I don't understand why people have to endlessly make such an issue of it. Our post service had to reduce for 10 weeks during the pandemic- I didn't spend all day slagging the postal workers off cos my parcels/letters were taking longer to send. I just dealt with it by sending stuff early or expecting stuff to take longer. Adjust your expectations people- these aren't normal times we are living and working in for anyone- and that includes for schools and teachers.

[dontgobaconmyheart]

I used to teach, my sister is a teacher.

The endless aggressive debate on here is so frustrating. Quite obviously not all teachers work in the same schools, or have the same union. In the same way not all threads that happen to bash teachers are not bashing you personally OP, what you are saying doesn't apply to everybody either.

Teachers, like MANY other professions work very hard in a job role that is underappreciated, many of us know this, and support them the same as we do all hardworking employees. I know from having been a teacher that it is difficult and that parents expectations and opinions were a huge grind. You are doing a good job OP, but it IS the profession you chose and you are paid for it at a salary that yes should be higher, but is not low either.

My sister is a primary teacher, over lockdown she worked (in her own words) an hour a day online, had no other commitments other than going into school 1 day every 3 weeks to teach they KW kids( a class of about 8) and most of those were cancelled because nobody turned up. She has mainly been enjoying the time off and enjoying total job security to the extent she has bought a new car. She will not be the only one that applies to and she has come out of this situation bloody well compared to a lot of us. I live with a key worker and they have been run ragged and risking their life without PPE for the entire time for less money.

People are airing and sharing views, teachers, and people are not homogenous. A criticism of another teacher is not a criticism of you the same as your comments do not apply to me.

[cardibach]

@pigeon999 while provision from your schools does sound rubbish, I’d love to know how you know this: We will be down to zero deaths in a few weeks, and the infection rate will follow to zero in around six weeks
How amazing that you have found this out when nobody in government or health care has!

[Ellisandra]

The vast majority of teachers are working their arses off, definitely.

But I have certainly seen on MN recently that people wanting to gripe (or genuinely ask if they are unreasonable) about their individual experience are shot down as bashing all teachers. They’re not.

Yes, you’ll achieve more going to school not posting here... but what if you genuinely are not sure if you’re asking too much? Or want to let off steam but not rock the boat as your child still has years left at that school?

For 4 weeks out of 10, my Y6’s teacher hasn’t loaded the weekly online maths app with any work until prompted by a parent. That’s not a pile in at 09:05 on Monday morning - twice it was Thu morning, once it was Tue afternoon. I haven’t just whinged online - I was the Tue afternoon parent 3 weeks ago. The teacher isn’t creating content - just selecting exercises to set. It’s maths, a core subject, and yet on multiple occasions NOTHING has been loaded. It’s shit. It’s one example, but it’s no the only one. It isn’t teacher bashing as a profession, to let off steam about one situation.

Sometimes, posters can be educated. Why doesn’t my school do zoom classes? (not because they can’t be arsed, but because they don’t have the tech, or their catchment doesn’t, or because of safeguarding issues) It’s really helpful for responses on here to explain what else teachers are doing, that we don’t see.

My child only got one phone call in 10 weeks...? Maybe it’s because her class teacher is going daily calls with a very vulnerable child.

BUT... some things are not defensible - like not bothering to load maths exercises for a fourth week. And it’s not fair to jump on people who are venting about that!

[FleurDaxeny]

YANBU

Teachers have become the new SAHM on MN, they used to be the target of bitterness and jealousy, now it's teachers for now.

[FleurDaxeny]

All schools will be expected to open fully and on time in September, and they will. It is not even an optional as some would believe on here, but a legal requirement

if a random thinks it on MN, it MUST be true!

[Clavinova]

crazychemist
We have continued lessons for Y11/13 this term, when normally they would have been on study leave

Surely you teach at a fee paying school? My year 13 dc is continuing with online activities/lessons/lectures but we are paying for this.

[saraclara]

I suspect the reason people whinge online rather than approach the teacher or school directly is because they would rather be a dick anonymously online than address a problem like a grown up.

That. It seems that some are too scared to actually talk to the head, so vent here instead.

It would be really nice if MNHQ could come on to some of these threads and encourage people to contact their own school rather than clutter up the board with the 185th OP that no-one can answer unless they happen to teach at the OP's school.

[ilovesooty]

@FleurDaxeny

All schools will be expected to open fully and on time in September, and they will. It is not even an optional as some would believe on here, but a legal requirement

if a random thinks it on MN, it MUST be true!

I wouldn't take any notice of that poster quite frankly.

[RangeOfMovement]

Just a reminder to teachers - you are "keyworkers" so if you need your children to attend school/nursery etc so you can work you can ask for this.

[CallmeAngelina]

@pigeon999

We have complained to the school, board of governors, the local MP AND the Prime Minister.

So not exactly sitting back and posting on threads and nothing more.

We are going back in September so almost not worth worrying about now. It is a non issue. We will be down to zero deaths in a few weeks, and the infection rate will follow to zero in around six weeks.

All schools will be expected to open fully and on time in September, and they will. It is not even an optional as some would believe on here, but a legal requirement

Wow, pigeon! Are you a member of the Government's advisory committee? You seem to know an awful lot about it all. Possibly much more than Boris, Witty and Valance. And Mystic Meg.

Please give us a direct link to where this "legal requirement" comes from.

[Davincitoad]

I agreee 100%

Now just waiting to see whether I should
Bash myself over the head a few times rather than read the teacher bashers on here who
Are licking their lips and typing furiously because they know best.

[Biensur40]

[pigeon999]

callme

I. Right to Education
The right to education in the United Kingdom is provided for in Schedule 1, First Protocol, Article 2 of the Human Rights Act 1998, which provides as follows:

No person shall be denied the right to education. In the exercise of any functions which it assumes in relation to education and to teaching, the State shall respect the right of parents to ensure such education and teaching in conformity with their own religious and philosophical convictions.[1]

[pigeon999]

www.loc.gov/law/help/constitutional-right-to-an-education/englandandwales.php

[pigeon999]

I will add that it is the legal right of every child to an education, in the same way we prosecute for non school attendance when children do not attend.

It is one thing closing the education system in the very short term fas an emergency measure, and quite another to keep them closed illegally when the risk has entirely diminished.

The schools will be reopening in full in September - so be reassured that even the most rebellious ardent head is unlikely to break the law. The unions are in retreat, and soon the confirmation emails will be sent and we can move on talking about holidays!

[pigeon999]

**for

[Rosehip10]

Many teachers seem to think they are in a profession that can avoid any criticism what so ever - this is ridiculous, there are good/bad/indifferent in all professions!

This is a parenting forum - people are of course going to have concerns and criticisms about education. If teachers don't want to see any such content then why not stick to TES forums or similar?

[LakieLady]

@pigeon999 I think you might just find that the emergency Covid measures trump the HRA, the 1944 Education Act etc,

Not a teacher (and would rather sweep the streets than be a teacher ), but I have several friends who are or were teachers. I have seen for myself how hard they work and how incredibly stressful it can be. I've seen them utterly burned out by it, too.

There's the odd lazy bugger in any profession, who does the bare minimum they can get away with and for people like that, lockdown has been a gift. But they are a tiny minority and not representative of everyone who does the same job.

It’s this nonsense historic prevalent right-wing narrative that it’s Unions vs Ordinary people when it’s the absolute opposite. Unions are there to protect worker rights

This, absolutely, and I said something similar on one of the (many) teacher-bashing threads.

I am in awe of what teachers do at the best of times, and the fact that children are getting any education at all in the current circumstances is little short of a miracle and wholly down to the commitment and dedication of teachers. They've had no bloody help from the government, but have stepped up to provide childcare for keyworkers, which we all benefit from.

So, for teachers everywhere, and for those who are really tearing their hair out .

[CallmeAngelina]

What the fuck are you on about, pigeon?
Has it completely passed you by that we have a national emergency going on (still) and therefore the ordinary legal requirements about school attendance are kind of irrelevant at the moment?

[GuyFawkesDay]

I know people who are more in the know than most who are saying January for full time, everyone in.

It'll be rotas for September.

Now it's third hand info but it's probably just as accurate as anyone else's.

We have no idea if we will be in. Which kids will. What the exams next year will look like or include. What to teach the kids, therefore. How the lack of SATS will impact data.

And this is before one considers the practicalities.

[Ylvamoon]

Don't spend your free time on MN, and get worked up by Stupid People.

[snowballer]

I don't think the teachers at my children's schools are lazy, work shy or incompetent, or any of the other things that teachers say they're being called. However, given all teachers are human and all humans are different, I don't doubt there are lazy, incompetent and work shy teachers, just like there are in literally every job or profession you could think of.

I also don't doubt that people posting on here have experienced a very real lack of anything that really resembles an education for their children over the last 13 weeks.

It's so basic to shout "teacher bashing" over and over again and throw daffodils around when posters raise these issues by venting about it on here.

Here's an idea - perhaps stop voluntarily taking personal offence when a poster you don't know posts about a school you don't work in and you're not the teacher they're moaning about.

[LaurieMarlow]

I did complain to the school. I got stonewalled.

Plus grownups should not require to be nagged to do the job they’re actually paid for.

I’ve no doubt many are working hard. However, they will have to accept that provision for some children has been downright abysmal and naturally that will affect how the sector is viewed by the public. No amount of flowers or shutting down debate on here will change that. It’s not just MN either, it’s being talked about very widely.

Hardworking teachers should be furious with their colleagues who haven’t delivered.

[IrmaFayLear]

You might as well say no mil threads - take it up with individual mils.

Dd’s teachers have been great. In fact dd, who is very shy and quiet, has enjoyed having individual feedback and no classroom dominated by the loudest voices.

However, there have always been a few bad apples - or lazy apples - as there are in any organisation, and the coronavirus crisis has exposed them. What doesn’t help is unions seeing it as a political opportunity and so rather than thinking they want to protect their members, it looks as if they just have an eye to the main chance and if pupils - including vulnerable or low achieving pupils suffer, well, tough.

Dn’s primary school teacher refused to set any work as it would disadvantage disadvantaged pupils (!). The school and governors were approached. The teacher (who had gone to stay with her parents 200 miles away) was spitting feathers when she was tracked down and told to set work. In fact the parents banded together and helped those parents/dc who were esl .