I’m not a teacher but......

[Comefromaway]

I think it’s time you went on strike.

The government clearly don’t give a toss about you, our kids & subsequently our families.

My daughter is so stressed about the school/college environment. Everywhere she’s being told that she can’t do this that and the other because people are dying. But she’s expected to go into college and have her normal classes with overcrowding and no effective mitigation.

Medical officer woman has clearly not been into a school. The teachers & students are dropping like flies.

And how would a strike help your daughter, or any other pupil?

thanks but I don’t think parents would support us (obviously) plenty of parents would but many more wouldn’t.

You are right Jenny Harris clearly hasn’t been in a school recently. They aren’t Covid safe - not even close.

I don’t think enough teachers are member of unions for it be effective. You can’t just not turn up to work because you don’t fancy it.

@MaskingForIt

I don’t think enough teachers are member of unions for it be effective. You can’t just not turn up to work because you don’t fancy it.

Every teacher I know is a member of a union. Literally every single one.

I agree.

People are being stupid, once again, and blaming the teachers for this mess. How is it their fault? Teachers don't make the rules, they don't make any decisions, they get told what to do by the government we elected. It's about time we got angry at them, not the people very low down in the chain. The ones who make decisions don't give a damn, how have none of you realised this yet? They don't care.

I think you underestimate how many teachers are in unions - the vast majority I suspect, because to teach without the legal support they offer would be unwise.

However, I don't think the teachers union will even ballot for strike action. In thirty years of teaching and union membership there was only one strike that lasted for one day - and that was on a day of national strike supported by most other public sector unions.

Despite what you read on MN the teaching unions are not especially millitant. I doubt very much the unions will call for strike, or that teachers would take strike action.

I was thinking when reading the thread about Costco not allowing people in without a mask and lots of people agreeing with it, that people don't seem as concerned about school staff in classes of 30+ students for much longer than people stay nearby in a supermarket. Some teachers are 50 or 60+ and/or vulnerable and teach several different classes a day

@BritWifeinUSA

And how would a strike help your daughter, or any other pupil?

It would be a protest. To show that students and teachers are not prepared to put up with playing with their lives. That teachers should be prioritised for the vaccine (along with community care workers etc because covid IS spreading rapidly in schools

And that schools should be allowed and funded to put in measures that will allow them to be as safe as any other workplace.

Then persons my daughter can return to class without suffering another breakdown.

@BritWifeinUSA

And how would a strike help your daughter, or any other pupil?

I think OP was coming from the slightly novel perspective that the physical and mental health of teachers is also worth preserving, controversial opinion obviously!

Nope. I will not be striking and look forward to returning to school.

If this new strain is spreading with DC they'll need to set out a plan to reduce pupils.
Set up a workable arrangement for key workers DC.
It's such a mess but I see your point OP.

Nope. I will not be striking and look forward to returning to school

Are you not slightly nervous about the virus? If not for yourself then for people you love and the relatives of the children you teach.

I’m very worried about the new variant from South Africa. I teach a number of clinically vulnerable kids, I dread to think what will happen if they catch it.

Thanks op

Sadly I don’t see strike action happening and despite the constant sniping at teachers on here they will all go back when they are asked. To see even more colleagues and pupils catch this disease and spread it to their family.

Your right Jenny Harries doesn’t have a clue what’s going on in schools , just the same as the whole government.

The unions aren’t up for striking.

Not enough public support, too technically hard to call a strike apparently (nasuwt listed the steps and it’s virtually impossible), teachers want to do their bit and know the way it’ll be spun by Daily Mail types, plus frankly you don’t get paid when you strike and many have been impacted financially this year same as others.

I think the unions have been horrendous and toothless in fighting for our physical safety, but these are the reasons.

@MaskingForIt

I don’t think enough teachers are member of unions for it be effective. You can’t just not turn up to work because you don’t fancy it.

The vast majority of teachers are in unions. We had to drilled into us during teacher training. If you get accused of something you need legal help from a union, and that could happen to anyway.

I fully agree.

I'm a Primary School teacher and despite being super careful, following all of the rules (not visiting relatives, grocery shopping online etc) I caught COVID.

It's horrific. I was in bed for over a week. I have no underlying health issues and am a non-smoker. However, months later I'm still struggling and have now been put on medication by my GP to help keep my airways open.

Bottom line - most parents believe what the government tells them re: schools. It suits them to believe it because it's essentially free childcare.

I'd love to strike to highlight the appalling way teachers, classroom assistants, office staff, first aiders, janitors, lunch staff etc are being sacrificed to placate parents.

In Scotland you cannot attend a drive in film/panto HOWEVER you can sit in a room with 33 children. I'd love to hear the scientific logic behind that.

Before anyone dears suggest COVID is not a problem for primary school aged children - I caught it from a young child!

The thing is, I’ve seen from my son’s college that it is possible to be open and teach safely.

It’s an FE college so have been able to do things that schools have not been allowed to do (like blended learning, circuit breakers, strictly enforced mask wearing & students working in very small fixed bubbles with social distancing in all lessons) & they have competent senior management who have put this in place.

They’ve had a handful of cases, but no spread.

dares* (not dears)

@comefromaway that's all very well with young adults in Further Education setting however it's just not practical in a room full of 4/5 year olds.

@MaskingForIt

I don’t think enough teachers are member of unions for it be effective. You can’t just not turn up to work because you don’t fancy it.

I don't know a single teacher or TA who isn't in a union. I remember getting a bollocking 15 years ago in my NQT year for not being in one... I joined one pretty sharpish! Thanks so much for your words of support OP. As a teacher, I don't want to strike as I don't want my lovely class to miss anymore face to face education BUT I do want it to be safe for staff, children and their families AND for the government to actually give a shit about the health of teachers.

This is very area specific. We don't want to close 🤷

schools should be allowed and funded to put in measures that will allow them to be as safe as any other workplace

Funding would be nice, huh? I mean, ideally we’d not have voted in successive governments who’ve absolutely decimated education funding.

I doubt schools can ever be “as safe as any other workplace”. I just can’t see how that could be possible.

I’d love them to make them safer. But I cannot think how that’s possible.

It’s a shitshow indeed, but all solutions are terrible.

Pretty much all teachers are in a union @MaskingForIt. In fact most schools make it a requirement of employment. If you’re not in a union and are accused of something like injuring a kid it could bankrupt you and the school. You need the legal backup of the union.

Thank you so much for this OP @Comefromaway taking the time to recognise this really has cheered me up this afternoon. I honestly feel the general public don't care if we die or not. THANK YOU!!!!

[quote AnotherOneBitesTheDust2020]@comefromaway that's all very well with young adults in Further Education setting however it's just not practical in a room full of 4/5 year olds.[/quote]
My daughter is also a young adult (11-19 school) & due to obnky following the very limited guidance for schools which mostly consists of hand washing Covid has run rampant.

I take your point with primary children. Where I am however it’s secondary schools that are the issue and where it’s spreading.