Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the only way forward now for school staff is to strike in Jan

595 replies

OverTheRainbow88 · 17/12/2020 07:19

Sadly, I believe, the only way forward now for school staff in to strike in Jan.

Schools are unsafe, understaffed and not ‘covid secure’. This will get much worse in Jan when people are allowed to meet inside in a 3 household bubble and travel freely around ( in England at least).

OP posts:
TheRubyRedshoes · 17/12/2020 19:17

I do feel covid has shown up glaring in consistences between sectors but many state schools did manage to go on line....its clear that IT provision needs raising Uk wide.

2020out · 17/12/2020 19:19

@quietish

No, teachers should not strike. I'm very anti-striking anyway, in the time and place we are, so am definitely opposed to relatively pampered public sector staff striking at huge cost to the rest of us.

The difference between state schools' and private schools' responses has been staggering, as many other PPs have noted. A great many state school staff have been lazy and cowardly, and searched for every excuse possible to not work, to not deliver remote learning, or to under-deliver, and blame anyone else for it, rather than helping to find solutions.

It's quite pathetic really.

Yep. Lazy and cowardly. That's me. That's why I went to work every day this term, doing the absolute best I can for my students. What do I have to show for it? Your disdain and a case of covid. Oh, and 30 children who've learnt a hell of a lot. That one I actually do care about.

Your comment is disgusting.

HipTightOnions · 17/12/2020 19:19

A great many state school staff have been lazy and cowardly, and searched for every excuse possible to not work, to not deliver remote learning, or to under-deliver, and blame anyone else for it, rather than helping to find solutions.

Ok, this suggests your experience was not good.

Does this mean (all) school staff somehow “deserve” poor working conditions?

GrumblyMumblyisnotJumbly · 17/12/2020 19:20

@GetOffYourHighHorse

'Sensible to test but I can only concude that the DFE HATE school staff to give them one day to prepare for this so the leadership team have to work over the holidays AGAIN!'

Surely they're all set up for live lessons now as we've been on/off for months? I can't imagine giving various year groups different start dates takes that much preparation.

Silly me, of course it'll be a doddle! How about notifying the parents of vulnerable children that they can still go in? Working out through contact with parents which children still need to attend as their parents are critical workers? Working out a rota of staff to cover vunerable/key worker children while still trying to keep year group bubbles separate Advising parents of the process of getting tests done in the new year.

I don't work in a school but I'm pretty sure that won't all be tied up by lunchtime tomorrow or do you think that won't take that much preparation?

mrshoho · 17/12/2020 19:21

@quietish

No, teachers should not strike. I'm very anti-striking anyway, in the time and place we are, so am definitely opposed to relatively pampered public sector staff striking at huge cost to the rest of us.

The difference between state schools' and private schools' responses has been staggering, as many other PPs have noted. A great many state school staff have been lazy and cowardly, and searched for every excuse possible to not work, to not deliver remote learning, or to under-deliver, and blame anyone else for it, rather than helping to find solutions.

It's quite pathetic really.

What have you personally done then? I dread to think what sort of individual you are.
GrumblyMumblyisnotJumbly · 17/12/2020 19:21
  • vulnerable
HermioneWeasley · 17/12/2020 19:22

65 people who work in education (including teaching assistants, lunchtime staff and secretaries) have died with Covid 19. That’s 0.000093% of that workforce. It’s half of what supermarket workers Covid death rate is. Do you think supermarkets should stay open, or would you prefer rioting in the streets over food shortages?

Children have missed enough education and parents have been unable to work.

You might catch it. You might have symptoms. You might even feel really ill with it. That’s a risk that all of us going to work take.

mbosnz · 17/12/2020 19:23

Well, given how many kids we have off, and teachers off, from our school, since they went back, with positive covid results and close contacts, I think teachers are thoroughly justified in being at the end of their tether.

I also am quite dumbfounded that anyone could call teachers 'relatively pampered', they're freezing their buns off along with the children, there's no money for heating, there's no money for extra cleaning or sanitation, there's no money for extra IT support or basic resources like a decent goddamned computer. I'm private sector, I have a 2020 laptop, three screens, a kick arse docking station, it's easy enough for me. And I'm not trying to connect to people who possibly have four family members to one phone and dinosaur/snailtrail internet connection. I'm also not expected to provide pastoral care to my clients.

GetOffYourHighHorse · 17/12/2020 19:23

'You don't just "set up for online learning" once and then magically all lessons can be taught that way at the drop of a hat. Each lesson we teach is planned for progression of every student'

Oh please. I meant set up, as in ready to go. I know of course lessons still need planning, the system doesn't magic those up for you correct.

As the phased return will be over days rather than months I dont think it will be that disruptive. Mind, I know people who their kid's teachers don't even include them in the lesson or forget to unmute so yes, some supervision and assistance tech wise is obviously needed.

noelgiraffe · 17/12/2020 19:24

65 people who work in education (including teaching assistants, lunchtime staff and secretaries) have died with Covid 19. That’s 0.000093% of that workforce

That’s up to May when schools were closed to all but vulnerable and keyworkers.

Do you know what the figures are now? No you don’t because the government is refusing to release them.

Why are they refusing to release them?

Pugdoglife · 17/12/2020 19:26

I don't think we should strike, we don't want to inconvenience parents, we don't want to harm children's education even make.
I think we should absolutely refuse to be involved in testing students, as should all school staff. Tests should be carried out by qualified medical professionals with full PPE.

Pugdoglife · 17/12/2020 19:27

more not make

2020out · 17/12/2020 19:33

@GetOffYourHighHorse

'You don't just "set up for online learning" once and then magically all lessons can be taught that way at the drop of a hat. Each lesson we teach is planned for progression of every student'

Oh please. I meant set up, as in ready to go. I know of course lessons still need planning, the system doesn't magic those up for you correct.

As the phased return will be over days rather than months I dont think it will be that disruptive. Mind, I know people who their kid's teachers don't even include them in the lesson or forget to unmute so yes, some supervision and assistance tech wise is obviously needed.

Ah, thanks for patronising me. You obviously know more about online teaching than I do.

You should probably get a job with the dfe as you seem to have just as hard a time as they do imagining what schools are like.

houseinthesnow · 17/12/2020 19:34

A 'can't do' attitude is whats really going to break the country not covid.

noelgiraffe · 17/12/2020 19:34

As the phased return will be over days rather than months I dont think it will be that disruptive

The DfE previously said that it was vital that children were in school every day of the school calendar. Is it not vital anymore?

mbosnz · 17/12/2020 19:38

A 'people should have a can do attitude and magic solutions out of thin fucking air with no goddamned resources because that would suit the Government and the smug bastards who have an 'I'm alright Jack, so fuck you' attitude' is what's going to break this country. Well it would, but the country's already on its knees. Mainly because of bastards like that.

noelgiraffe · 17/12/2020 19:40

@houseinthesnow

A 'can't do' attitude is whats really going to break the country not covid.
How come Serco got 22 billion pounds and schools are expected to test millions of kids with nothing but a can-do attitude?
Viviennemary · 17/12/2020 19:40

How ridiculous. Good job nurses and doctors don't feel the same way.

GetOffYourHighHorse · 17/12/2020 19:43

'You should probably get a job with the dfe as you seem to have just as hard a time as they do imagining what schools are like.'

Yes I probably should, or a head teacher maybe. The snap shot I see on here of some teachers constant negative attitudes demonstrates that a firm hand is needed Xmas Grin.

mbosnz · 17/12/2020 19:44

@Viviennemary

How ridiculous. Good job nurses and doctors don't feel the same way.
From what I've been reading, a fair amount of them are planning on leaving the professions in droves too. Along with teachers. Good thing we have a surfeit of all of 'em, hey? Oh. Wait. . .
AaronPurr · 17/12/2020 19:45

@noelgiraffe

65 people who work in education (including teaching assistants, lunchtime staff and secretaries) have died with Covid 19. That’s 0.000093% of that workforce

That’s up to May when schools were closed to all but vulnerable and keyworkers.

Do you know what the figures are now? No you don’t because the government is refusing to release them.

Why are they refusing to release them?

What are the chances that posters conveniently ignore this post. I suspect the up to date figures would certainly make for interesting depressing reading.
noelgiraffe · 17/12/2020 19:45

If you want to see the head of the DfE being bollocked for this utter shambles, there’s a video here: www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/eb893fa5-7468-48b9-96ad-ec08ff14f21c

GetOffYourHighHorse · 17/12/2020 19:47

'The DfE previously said that it was vital that children were in school every day of the school calendar. Is it not vital anymore?'

No no it is vital, but so is safety! So after flouters flout in the hols a phased return is safer.

'From what I've been reading, a fair amount of them are planning on leaving the professions in droves too. Along with teachers'

You mustn't believe everything that the msm say. Everyone I know in the nhs have been well looked after throughout the pandemic and none are planning on leaving, anecdotal of course.

LucyLastik · 17/12/2020 19:47

@Rollingpiglet

In the middle of a global pandemic the last thing we need is any key workers refusing to do their jobs. Teachers, like the rest of us, need to accept there is a risk, minimise it as far as humanly possible, and get on with it.
No teachers I know are refusing to do their jobs. Make schools safer! That's it. If strikes are going to happen, I will be taking part.
mbosnz · 17/12/2020 19:48

I'd love to know the up to date figures. And the reason why they are not openly available. Why the lack of transparency to add to the lack of accountability? Not to mention adding to a complete lack of consistency. . .