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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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

466 replies

Frozenfan2019 · 17/06/2020 12:07

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.

OP posts:
DottyDetective · 17/06/2020 20:14

I’ve had to drop my baby off at a hub nursery where he knew none of the staff. I’ve also had to use the keyworker school providion where my very bright and able children would not be taught (they have been very clear that it’s childcare and no teaching would be provided). We’ve had to try and plough through the homeschool work on evenings and weekends (my evening and weekend shifts have been massively increased in frequency as a frontline medic). My husband is also a keyworker- we’ve had no choice.

It’s been a really tough time for lots of us. I can’t help but feel that my children are getting a very raw deal though as with 2 parents working full time in the health service they can’t be homeschooled. I’ve never before considered private education but am starting to think we might need to. God only knows how we would pay for it though.

Pixxie7 · 17/06/2020 20:35

Why so defensive? There are good and bad in every profession if you are doing the best for your pupils ignore people.

Italiandreams · 17/06/2020 20:36

I agree some teachers are not doing what they should but most are working very hard. The thing is most things I have seen people complain about are things that individual schools/ teachers have not control over. When posters are told this or this is explained to them they don’t accept it. I understand it is easier to plan the most visible person but it’s mostly not their fault in the current situation. People see their own situation which is understandable but like anything, it is more complicated than that.

nuitdesetoiles · 17/06/2020 20:45

I do emphasise with you OP. I'm not a teacher, I'm a clinical nurse specialist who used to work as a camhs practitioner...believe me when it comes to criticism and vitriol I've got the t shirt. Wink

I used to be very defensive of camhs. However now I no longer work in it I can see that yes actually a lot of camhs is crap. Myself and my colleagues were extremely hard working and dedicated but stuck in a system that was utterly ineffective, having to toe the line with ridiculous pointless practice. Oh and we got lots of abuse from parents too. Relentlessly.

BigBadVoodooHat · 17/06/2020 20:46

Teachers are all amazing.

That is logistically unlikely. It’s not possible that every member of a profession is universally ‘amazing’.

That’s like saying:

Actors are all amazing
Shop assistants are all amazing
Airline pilots are all amazing
Hairdressers are all amazing

In every area of life, some will be amazing at what they do, some will be absolutely shite, and the rest will be ranged somewhere between those two poles.

Some teachers are doubtless working very hard right now and going above and beyond what is required of them, others will be doing the barest minimum they can get away with. That’s life.

Malbecfan · 17/06/2020 20:49

I'll bite. I work 0.5 FTE in a secondary school rated outstanding the week before lockdown, and 0.2 in a primary. That should give me 1.5 days off per week in theory. In practice, I check in with my y7 tutor group every day, even days off. I have supported a couple with serious safeguarding concerns to make sure that they are ok and accessing work. I speak to at least one parent per week on the phone.

I go into the primary every week to work with my bubble. I also provide work in my subject for 4 other bubbles. I have written reports on all those children, plus those not in school. I set work on a weekly basis (non core subject) for 2 classes and provide written feedback.

My secondary school requires 2 assessed assignments each half term. I would love to do live teaching, but in this area, the internet cannot support it. Some students are sharing devices with siblings and parents. One kid in my tutor group is not allowed to have a smartphone or computer. I need to ensure that they can access work too.

It takes me way more than my paid hours to do this. Don't get me wrong; I take my pastoral responsibilities very seriously. I have had to provide typed individual feedback on every task I set. Normally, I give verbal feedback for group work. 5 groups per class means 5 sets of feedback. 32 kids in a class each uploading individual work means more than 6 times more work. But I do it, willingly because I care about my students. I teach over 250 different kids just in the secondary school each week.

Do you know what? I am completely pissed off with people claiming that all teachers are lazy slackers blah blah. I'm NOT! Yes, I have sat out in my garden at lunchtime, but that is instead of running an extra-curricular club or two, I have taken only 30 minutes instead of 60 and seen my family.

Most parents have been really appreciative of my efforts and those of my colleagues. However, some have chosen to moan. Because I'm in my 3rd decade in this profession, I have the hide of a rhino. I bat it back at them: what other work would they set that was meaningful and fitted with the scheme of work? I can't do live lessons because this government's promise of super duper internet is like everything that spews from their bloated mouths: hot air. Our internet can only support one person speaking online at a time. I live with 2 uni students and a self-employed person trying to make ends meet. Yet still people want to moan.

You chose to have your kids. Take some responsibility for them and educate them yourselves. Teach them a foreign language, algebra, calculus, cooking, map-reading, local history, English Literature, reading music... No, you probably can't because you are too busy online, knocking me and my colleagues but refusing to take responsibility for your offspring. Rant over. Complain to my face, but be prepared for my reaction.

CallmeAngelina · 17/06/2020 20:51

(they have been very clear that it’s childcare and no teaching would be provided)
Whilst that is technically true, we found very early on that it was easier all-round to allow them time to complete it. It gives structure to the day. We are on-hand to support if necessary, and it so happens that most of those attending have needed a bit of a hand.
It is slightly galling though, that when those kids don't attend for a day or two, because their parents are off-duty, they then return having done none of the intervening days' work.

DottyDetective · 17/06/2020 21:01

Angelina see our school don’t allow them do schoolwork or teach them when at school. This is part of the problem- guidelines have been interpreted differently everywhere. My child is coping very badly with the loss of her normal school and normal routine- attempts to teach her at home at weekends lead to tears and more upset. She’s only in reception but can’t rejoin her usual year group as that’s only offered 2 days a week and with 2 healthcare staff parents we need the keyworker provision.

UmbrellaHat · 17/06/2020 21:02

am genuinely concerned that some of our most brilliant, hardest working teachers will throw in the towel after this.

No those brilliant ones won't . They are not the hysterics on here endlessly moaning. The mediocre ones will -but...good riddance. Maybe a Darwinian moment to cull those who are just in it for the holidays and the pension.

UmbrellaHat · 17/06/2020 21:04

It would be good to have total disclosure on a school-by-school basis on what has been provided, so parents can compare.

havefunpeleton · 17/06/2020 21:07

@callmeangelina

No. You clearly don't.
Why is it a risky strategy? You (as a parent) need us more than we need you.

Think outside your narrow viewpoint. I genuinely don't need state education. I could afford to privately educate my kids if I'm not happy with state provision. That's not my concern.

All I'm saying is if the Press went with your quote tomorrow can you imagine the uproar. It's a strange thing to post on a public forum. Not my problem

Some teachers may well leave. Most wont. However there will be a lot of people out of work desperate to do the job you guys all apparently struggle so much with...

KittyD1 · 17/06/2020 21:09

I’m posting on here for the first time and with genuine interest in what schools have advised their respective staff. As clearly some teachers are in daily / weekly contact with their pupils whereas others the contact has been minimal. Totally get the OP posts request for people to contact their child’s school; though are there teachers on here who can comment on whether I’m right to assume schools And even teachers have made individual decisions re how they work; I work in the NHS and with immediate effect we moved from 5 to 7 day working , this was voluntary and everyone was willing knowing it was a temporary basis 3 months, to your knowledge have similar conversations taken place at your schools. I will ask our own school though curious as to what discussions schools are having internally. Also the 6 week summer holiday coming as schemes of work being suggested : our experience has been no contact from school except some you tube videos Which dwindled off though As of this we have been Offered a telephone call .

louisthetrumpetswan · 17/06/2020 21:10

UmbrellaHat that's a great idea.

Teachers have got plenty of time to compile lists like that. Honestly, they'd love it.

At the same time, let's have dentists, opticians, civil servants all explaining what they've been doing on full pay when they haven't been permitted to work.

JimmyGrimble · 17/06/2020 21:11

@UmbrellaHat

It would be good to have total disclosure on a school-by-school basis on what has been provided, so parents can compare.
I’ve posted mine umbrella. Am I an ‘hysteric’ or am I just shit and fit to be culled? I’m curious.
louisthetrumpetswan · 17/06/2020 21:12

DottyDetective honestly, if your child is in reception and is very bright and able, her not doing school work during the day won't impact on her educational attainment at all.

I agree that the disruption to ordinary routines, peer groups etc does impact on children's emotional well-being and that's going to be the real challenge for parents and teachers over the next few years.

Bottleup · 17/06/2020 21:16

"You chose to have your kids. Take some responsibility for them and educate them yourselves."
You're missing the point - my DH and I are WORKING FULL TIME.

DottyDetective · 17/06/2020 21:17

I’m a lot more worried about her emotional well being and the fact that she’s having nightmares and missing her friends terribly than her education.

Mistressiggi · 17/06/2020 21:21

I have an in-school day this week but that doesn't lesson the online work I needed to set and mark, so I'm off now to do another hour or so of that before bed, having worked during the day and for four hours yesterday, meant to be a day off.
I've decided I don't have the time to get upset at what ignorant strangers think of me anymore.

JimmyGrimble · 17/06/2020 21:22

I think that’s the hardest thing at that age Dotty - in terms of work, just reading with her when you can and doing counting will keep her on the boil. Our school are planning to have a very ‘Reception like’ Year 1 in September to make the transition easier for the little ones but it’s going to be about settling back, routines and emotional well being for a while.

CallmeAngelina · 17/06/2020 21:26

@LaurieMarlow

No it doesn't matter here

I think you’re very naive to decide that public opinion of your profession doesn’t matter.

But it’s teachers that will suffer from that naivety in the long run.

Well, good luck with that then, seeing as I recall you saying the other day that you were thinking of training to be a teacher. This will become your problem - not mine. I'm on my way out, and I can't wait.
fromdownwest · 17/06/2020 21:29

@Mistressiggi - Why are people ignorant for having an opinion on an exposure of your profession? Are only those within able to have an opinion?

GuyFawkesDay · 17/06/2020 21:38

Well I can have an opinion on anything...Doesn't mean that I'm not talking horseshit though.

I mean, have an opinion. But have the good grace to listen to those who have better knowledge than you and listen to them.

JimmyGrimble · 17/06/2020 21:40

I think some posters are misunderstanding the use of the word ‘ignorant’ ... many are commenting without the knowledge to make a reasonable judgement therefore ignorant = without the requisite understanding.
Having said that, when posters point out the realities of their situation many many of the more vociferous choose to simply ignore it and make their own pronouncements. Here ignorant = not being willing to listen!

Mistressiggi · 17/06/2020 21:48

I am ignorant about what my dentist is doing in lockdown. I am ignorant about what it's like to work in Amazon during lockdown.
Doesn't mean I'm stupid, I just don't have the knowledge to claim to know so I don't

Twinklelittlestar1 · 17/06/2020 21:54

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/15/teacher-shaming-britain-reopening-schools-classrooms-coronavirus

This

(It's a month old, written just as schools were told to reopen,but pretty much sums it up)