To be really angry on behalf of teachers

[Jessicabrassica]

I know mumsnet loves a bit of teacher bashing.
I'm really angry that once again the Department for Education has put out guidance for schools in a Friday night before a long weekend with some schools having already started and others back next week.
I cannot imagine how many iterations of risk assessments have already been completed to make schools as safe as possible given the constraints of staff numbers, building size and requirements to get every child back in school.
They are getting enough PPE to tick the box that it's been issued to all schools but not enough to be useful.
Teachers mostly haven't stopped working since the pandemic began. They have continued to teach, to support vulnerable learners, provided meals and good parcels out of school funds in lieu of FSM, they remained open through school holidays for key worker provision.
I really feel that they have been well and truly fucked over, left massively vulnerable and will be left to carry the can for community outbreaks.

I'm a parent and work for the NHS if it's if any consequence.

People who blame our apparently militant, aggressive unions can rarely name them.

It was Clap for Carers.

It's only teachers who seem to need extra protection.

What? What extra protection are we supposedly needing? Beyond what every other worker has secured already?

@Jimtimjimtim do you think Private schools might have a bit more money than state schools?

Most private schools were still charging full fees or only slightly discounted, they had to justify that.

@Rosebel

Clap for key workers included teachers. My husband is a key worker and clapping didn't help protect him or anyone else. Nor did the pictures my children drew for key workers (again including teachers). Everyone else has just got on with it. It's only teachers who seem to need extra protection. And yes, I'm glad they're going back and I get that teachers work really hard (well most of them anyway) but they aren't the only ones.

Not asking for EXTRA protection, asking for the SAME protection as others.

Jimtimjimtim
Teachers need to get a grip, things change, sometimes quickly and unexpectedly, as with many jobs.

Yes they do well done,

They seem to be looking for any excuse not to go back to classroom teaching

Such a crock of shit, but sometimes you can't argue with stupid.

@Eskarina1

YANBU. My children's school (which has been fantastic throughout) saw this coming. They put inset days on for the first two days of term in case of last minute guidance changes.

I work in healthcare. We had a fairly major change announced to the press before we were formally notified. We were literally in a meeting planning what we'd need to do if the guidance changed when patients started calling in.

Timely guidance helps changes be implemented safely. No one wants lockdown to do on forever. But giving the people responsible for implementing guidance 0 hours notice of major changes increases the chances of mistakes being made and a new lockdown happening.

Yup. What she said.

Gaarrgh! NOT extra protection! Just not deliberately LESS protection!

@Jimtimjimtim

Teachers need to get a grip, things change, sometimes quickly and unexpectedly, as with many jobs. They seem to be looking for any excuse not to go back to classroom teaching which would be okay if they were providing an alternative but they aren’t. Somehow the private schools have all managed to teach almost full hours during lockdown despite facing the exact same challenges. Is it helpful for the DofE to change guidance frequently? No. Should teachers stop whining? Yes.

How about you go and educate yourself about the actual, real situation in schools before making a twat of yourself on the internet with your ignorance?

‘I'm sure the teacher haters on here will be withdrawing their children from school and home educating them.’

Ouch. Sensitive much? No-one hates teachers. We’d just like them to go back to doing the job they’re paid to do ( with our money) and to stop whining about everyone hating them, or having to constantly adapt because of Covid etc etc
We’re ALL having a shit time because of Covid, at least teachers are still getting paid, unlike many of us.

@Rosebel teachers want some protection, what more protection do you think they are asking for?

If you ran a business and someone presented you 23000 words of guidance with zero working days notice and without highlighting changes from previous versions , you'd sack them, or refuse to work with them.

Teachers pay taxes too...

@Piggywaspushed

Teachers pay taxes too...

Did we really have the ‘I pay your wages’ comment?

Well as I pay taxes it’s pay myself so no-one else has to 😊

*I not ‘its’

'Moaning' 'crack on' 'snowflakes' 'whining' 'get a grip'.

Just keeping a wee list of the shitty things people are saying to teachers on this thread.

Just for my own amusement.

‘If you ran a business and someone presented you 23000 words of guidance with zero working days notice and without highlighting changes from previous versions , you'd sack them, or refuse to work with them’

You realise that in the real world people work to deadlines like this all the time?
If it was a client you’d work all weekend with your team to accommodate them and if it was from the boss you would just crack On with it because you have to - that’s what your paid for. You’d do your best, no-one would be refusing anything.
No-one would be getting sacked.

@Jimtimjimtim

‘I'm sure the teacher haters on here will be withdrawing their children from school and home educating them.’

Ouch. Sensitive much? No-one hates teachers. We’d just like them to go back to doing the job they’re paid to do ( with our money) and to stop whining about everyone hating them, or having to constantly adapt because of Covid etc etc
We’re ALL having a shit time because of Covid, at least teachers are still getting paid, unlike many of us.

But I have taught a full timetable of lessons online, in line with the specifications, using Teams. I have also done assessments and written reports. So I have done the job I am paid to do and so I do not have to get back to it

@MilesJuppIsMyBitch

'Moaning' 'crack on' 'snowflakes' 'whining' 'get a grip'.

Just keeping a wee list of the shitty things people are saying to teachers on this thread.

Just for my own amusement.

Ooh, I can add 'paid with our money'.

@ukgift2016

Boo hoo

Many of us have still worked through the pandemic. Teacher must play their in our society.

And @Piggywaspushed we have to put up with shoddily written guidance too.

There was this little nugget last night:

"Prevention

1. Minimise contact with individuals who are unwell by ensuring that those who have coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, or who have someone in their household who does, do not attend school.

2. Use of face coverings in schools.

3. Clean hands thoroughly more often than usual.

4. Ensure good respiratory hygiene by promoting the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ approach.

5. Introduce enhanced cleaning, including cleaning frequently touched surfaces often, using standard products such as detergents and bleach.

6. Minimise contact between individuals and maintain social distancing wherever possible.

7. Where necessary, wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

Numbers 1 to 5 must be in place in all schools, all the time.

Number 6 must be properly considered and schools must put in place measures that suit their particular circumstances.

Number 7 applies in specific circumstances"

Now unless the Government are trying to slip full-time face coverings through the backdoor without anyone noticing, Point 2 should have been treated as 'must be properly considered .... their particular circumstances' or 'applies in specific circumstances' not 'must be in place in all schools, all the time'.

@MilesJuppIsMyBitch

'Moaning' 'crack on' 'snowflakes' 'whining' 'get a grip'.

Just keeping a wee list of the shitty things people are saying to teachers on this thread.

Just for my own amusement.

Yes, I think a fair number of teachers will remember especially when they are purchasing resources out of their own money as there is nothing left in the school budget.

Primary school teachers spend a fair amount. I am just going to point secondary students towards Amazon from now on.

@noblegiraffe

but so are all people who have to work with the public and they get no support and no one sticking up for them.

Eh? Did you not clap for keyworkers or donate to Captain Tom or put pictures in your window?

I don't want you to clap for me. I want you to stand up for me with your vote. Next election day, local or national, make your voice heard outside of mumsnet. Don't be one of the 33% of people who couldn't be bothered to vote at the last general election.

@Jimtimjimtim

'Moaning' 'crack on' 'snowflakes' 'whining' 'get a grip'.

Well if it walks like a duck, and it quacks like a duck...

How about some self reflection and wondering why teachers have gone from being such a respected profession to not in 6 months.

Oh you must be new to MN