to feel beyond annoyed every time someone says 'schools have never been closed'

[thisisthebestoftimes]

Because to the vast majority of children they have been. I feel it completely dismisses how serious this is for most dc and their families. Schools may have been open to 15 or so keyworker dc throughout this, and now to a couple of years worth of dc in years which seem completely illogical (except for the few hours years 10 and 12s have been afforded which is essential).

@thisisthebestoftimes but this isn’t the experience of children in my school. From 1st June all children in rec, yr 1, yr 6 plus vulnerable and key worker children have places at my school. They attend full time and are doing proper lessons.

My frustration comes with the government. It would have been so much better for all year groups to come back part time this half term. The government guidance prevented this. I think it’s due to the economy. They didn’t want part time attendance or rotas as they wanted people to go back to work. They hedged their bets hoping all children would go back full time for a month but this didn’t happen so now we’re stuck with some children getting full time school in school and others doing home learning.

@KoalasandRabbit

It's unfair on the kids who are not allowed in school and their parents who have supported them and provided all the childcare element to say they are not closed as if they are open to all.

"not closed" is not the same as "open to all".

You do understand that if schools can't accommodate all the children who want to return it's because they're following government guidelines re: space each child is deemed to need, size of bubbles, ratios of adults not because they just feel like it, don't you?

This is not an ideal scenario at the moment and so things are not going to be as good as if the kids were at school. Sadly I think that a lot of parents are short on patience and have unrealistic expectations of what can be achieved in the circumstances.

Remember that many of the places you work have completely shut down for a period and furloughed staff (or just made them redundant) and are now opening with very limited services and implementing health and safety measures that schools are being told they cannot apply to keep staff safe, yet all I see are hugely positive stories in the media and social media about these businesses reopening. All teachers get is a wave of negativity and a nationally organised media smear campaign in media and social media to try and shame them into working over the summer.

I’m a bit guilty of this (saying “schools have never closed”). Sorry. It’s frustrating as a teacher when you’re still using public transport and going to work but lots of your friends are enjoying wfh and the media pretends teachers aren’t working.
That said - I do genuinely take your point and will be careful about saying that in future. As both DH and I are keyworkers and working FT outside of the home, our DC have school places. If they didn’t I expect I’d be seriously pissed off. FWIW, all the teachers I know are desperate to get all the children back to school. I know it doesn’t help the situation but we do really miss the ones at home. I can’t wait till everyone’s back.

I'm beginning to see educators and politicians in the same light - they have no interest in answering your questions, helping you or finding the right answers - they defend the indefensible, will never admit they are wrong and save face at all costs.

Hollyhobbi wow, I didn't realise that was the case in Ireland.

What have families done if both parents are key workers? Have they had to work opposite days/nights so there's always someone at home for their children or have extended family been allowed to help?

@GazeboParty what question are you asking?

Schools have not been closed in as much as they are still working and educating children, the same way many businesses have remained open with staff working from home. We wouldn't have a business if we had adapted as poorly to distanced working as my dc's teachers - the school have most definitely not behaved like a business that wanted to survive.

[quote Cookiecrisps]@GazeboParty what question are you asking?[/quote]
Sorry were question compulsory? I hadn't realised.

GazeboParty

they defend the indefensible, will never admit they are wrong and save face at all costs.

The same can be said of many on here

Teachers are savage on here! The OP is clearly talking about effect of this on kids and here are the teachers making it all about them.

School premises were closed. Schooling did not stop however.

I get annoyed when people say universities are closed. There campuses are closed but all staff are still working and students are still learning . The same is true for schools

The vast majority of teachers have been working, so no, schooling hasn't stopped even if the buildings have closed. All those struggling to work from home while juggling home-schooling their own children, forget that thousands of teachers are in exactly the same boat. It isn't a situation they'd have wished on themselves, and as soon as it's safe I'm sure they will be only too relieved to return to their classrooms. All this anger at teachers is utterly misplaced and unfair. A global pandemic meant school buildings shut. With scarcely any preparation or training and often with hopeless, outdated tech, teachers are trying their best and could really do without the constant carping. For every parent telling the teachers they're not setting enough work, there will be another moaning their child is overwhelmed.

@GazeboParty you said educators have no interest in answering questions that’s why I asked you what is your question? Perhaps people on here could help you?

By that logic, OP is making it all about her.

She's annoyed when people point out that schools haven't been closed, despite the fact that schools indeed haven't been closed.

The premises haven't been open to her children - as they haven't to the vast majority cos, you know, global pandemic.

It is interesting how the concensus changed from early March - 'why on earth are schools still open? I've taken my children out and will keep them out until it's safe', through to May - 'they're using children as guinea pigs, it's too soon to open up schools to more children' to now - 'my child is being denied an education/teachers are really savage/it's really serious that my child probably won't be in school until September'.

Yes, the global pandemic has disrupted schooling and education across the world. Yes, the UK govt has been spectacularly bad at dealing with it. Yes, most state schools are already on their uppers due to years of funding cuts.

But no, none of this means that schools have been closed.

Schooling did not stop however.
For SOME schooling didn’t stop (my children were among the lucky ones and continued online, and the teachers worked their butts off).
However “Normal curriculum has been suspended, and you should not be carrying out proactive teaching.” (From national education union), so for many, schooling was suspended. This has nothing to do with the teachers wishes btw.

[quote BelleSausage]@Suzie6789

I’m not sure what his online lesson look like but they sound nothing like mine.

I am checking the work- that has been handed in. Is he actually handing it in?

A parent of a Yr10 I teach sent me a very vexed e-mail about lack of support. He was most embarrassed when I pointed out his son hadn’t actually attended any sessions or handed anything in.

Are you actually checking?[/quote]
Would you not normally report a child, let their parents know if they weren't turning up to a lesson?

GazeboParty

Have you thought that schools have not behaved in a business like way because they are not businesses?

That's not from the Union, it was from the government.
-as was the closure of schools
-as was the limited opening of schools

THE GOVERNMENT, not teachers, not schools.

Genuinely sad to see that response @GazeboParty I really hope I’m not in the same box as the politicians What is it you’d like to see from us? I genuinely don’t know what more I could be doing.

[quote Cookiecrisps]@GazeboParty you said educators have no interest in answering questions that’s why I asked you what is your question? Perhaps people on here could help you?[/quote]
I doubt it - educators on here are no different to real life, they seem more interested in defending themselves than finding a solution - your way of dealing with issues is very unique to teaching - I doubt you see it and very similar to the way politicians answer questions.

GazeboParty

Would you not normally report a child, let their parents know if they weren't turning up to a lesson?

Normally it would be a member of the office staff that checks the registers.

Asks the teacher then chases up in the most appropriate way.

@FrippEnos

GazeboParty

Have you thought that schools have not behaved in a business like way because they are not businesses?

And the ones that are businesses carried on educating their pupils.

My daughters school has certainly been closed apart from a VERY small number of key worker kids.

She's had some dull, lazy work packs and no live lessons or similar. (Year 5)

I have no clue what her teachers can possibly have been doing to justify a full time salary. They aren't looking after key worker kids or teaching, so WTAF as they doing?

DP is a headteacher and agrees it shocking. Some teachers have worked incredibly hard. Some have blatantly had a holiday.

I'm so angry at how badly my daughter has been let down.