Teachers!

[MsFannySqueers]

So retired/ex teachers are being asked to consider returning to the classroom because of possible staff shortages in the New Year. Is this something you would do?

What are you doing about it Noble?

So your workload hasn’t changed at all?

Anyone who doesn’t realise that teachers’ workloads have increased immensely over the course of the pandemic and will continue to increase in the foreseeable future largely due to changed ways of working (for example preparing two sets of resources per lesson, one for the class in school and one for ill or isolating students at home, training oneself in the use of entirely new and until the pandemic struck, untested technology, additional duties (supervising lunch in tutor bases, contacting families at home to check if children are OK), extra work to do with exams (the centre assessed grades created an extraordinary volume of extra work, unpaid, for teachers), not to mention providing the catch up sessions - where possible, and they’re often not possible due to for example school transport issues - being discussed, really doesn’t have a clue.

Not me, we’ve got a school strategy. We’ve ditched stuff from the curriculum at KS3 to reteach things they did badly on in end of year exams. Timetabled intervention for targeted pupils at KS4 and 5. After school catch-up.

We need more of it though.

Maybe some of the Ofsted inspectors could be redeployed ? They could also use this opportunity to show teachers what ‘outstanding’ teaching looks like .

@borntobequiet

So your workload hasn’t changed at all?

Anyone who doesn’t realise that teachers’ workloads have increased immensely over the course of the pandemic and will continue to increase in the foreseeable future largely due to changed ways of working (for example preparing two sets of resources per lesson, one for the class in school and one for ill or isolating students at home, training oneself in the use of entirely new and until the pandemic struck, untested technology, additional duties (supervising lunch in tutor bases, contacting families at home to check if children are OK), extra work to do with exams (the centre assessed grades created an extraordinary volume of extra work, unpaid, for teachers), not to mention providing the catch up sessions - where possible, and they’re often not possible due to for example school transport issues - being discussed, really doesn’t have a clue.

Exactly.

Exactly what? I can pick out your point. You seem to be disagreeing with people and claiming teachers are all after applause and it's pointless talking about any of this. Is that the main point? That we shouldn't talk about it?

Or did you have a suggestion of how we should tackle things? I may have missed it as it's a long thread now Pumper

Can't pick out* Sorry.

As someone who is quitting teaching this next term, all I can add to this is… you could not pay me enough. I’m currently islolating after catching Covid from one of the many mannerless, mask refusing, teens that I work with. Why anyone who doesn’t HAVE to be working in these conditions any longer would want to come back into the germ soup is beyond me.

*isolating. See, my ability to spell is the same as my sense of smell… non-existent

@swallowedAfly

Exactly what? I can pick out your point. You seem to be disagreeing with people and claiming teachers are all after applause and it's pointless talking about any of this. Is that the main point? That we shouldn't talk about it?

Or did you have a suggestion of how we should tackle things? I may have missed it as it's a long thread now Pumper

That poster suggested their workload hadn’t changed, that teachers should just use lunchtimes and after school to bridge the gap, and then said they’ve always done that anyway. So (overworked and under appreciated) teachers should both continue to do what they’ve always done and also build in additional time. I’m expressing surprise that they’re doing exactly the same as before - nobody else I know is. Maybe you should go back and read the thread.

That poster suggested their workload hadn’t changed, that teachers should just use lunchtimes and after school to bridge the gap, and then said they’ve always done that anyway.

Stop putting words in my mouth. You are being very disingenuous here. I said that is what I do in my subject in my secondary and that therefore, supply using ex teachers won’t help me or my students.
I am reapectfully asking you to stop twisting this thread into ‘teachers moaning about being under appreciated, teachers moaning about workload and teachers not wanting the best right now for their pupils hence they should be supportive of this initiative’.

Bad faith debate Pumper bad faith.

@ChloeDecker

That poster suggested their workload hadn’t changed, that teachers should just use lunchtimes and after school to bridge the gap, and then said they’ve always done that anyway.

Stop putting words in my mouth. You are being very disingenuous here. I said that is what I do in my subject in my secondary and that therefore, supply using ex teachers won’t help me or my students.
I am reapectfully asking you to stop twisting this thread into ‘teachers moaning about being under appreciated, teachers moaning about workload and teachers not wanting the best right now for their pupils hence they should be supportive of this initiative’.

Bad faith debate Pumper bad faith.

Has your workload changed or not?

My post quoted by Pumper was in support of @ChloeDecker and I’m puzzled as to how it could possibly be misinterpreted.

To labour the point: teachers’ workloads have increased significantly for many reasons, not just in providing catch-up sessions for students, where needed.

I've read the thread. You seem to be hopping from angle to angle to disagree with individuals and disagree with everyone and everything but I can't pick out what your point is or if you're making one.

The previous poster had not said that and it's not what the thread is about anyway.

I was genuinely wondering if maybe you had a point but hadn't gotten around to making it rather than just trying to criticise teachers and pick holes in or twist what people are saying.

It's odd reading that's all.

@borntobequiet

My post quoted by Pumper was in support of *@ChloeDecker* and I’m puzzled as to how it could possibly be misinterpreted.

Yes that 'Exactly' was very confusing.

I am a glutton for punishment as I shouldn’t have to explain my whole job to you but when I do a booster session, it still takes up my time if it is 1 pupil or 33 pupils.
My increase in workload has been covering for absent colleagues, dealing with more union queries with frazzled staff as union rep, re-writing resources, teaching both in lesson and on Teams at the same time to absent students, I have been writing double the amount of UCAS references due to absent colleagues, supporting more students than ever with their mental health, including one of my form currently suicidal and one hearing voices, marking extra mocks for Year 11 and 13 as they now need a fall back in case exams are cancelled. None of this list would be solved by an ex teacher coming in if I was to catch Covid again.

I could go on but this is making me very upset and I just know you will accuse me of seeking appreciation or something like it.

I’m not. I love my job. I adore my pupils and do whatever I can for them. I will not apologise for asking more from the government and I will not apologise for the work I do. Shame on you as a fellow teacher.

Who’s criticising teachers?

I’ll summarise my points for you:

Teachers, overworked and under appreciated as we are, cannot reasonably bridge this much missed education.

So the government’s suggestion is reasonable, even though I’m not surprised people don’t want to come back.

Some of us are now noting not just a lack of progress in education but a real step backwards in terms of skills - like dexterity, peer relations, mental health and so on.

The suggestion that teachers can just take on extra work at lunch and after school doesn’t work, because we’re already doing that.

And complaining about how hard all of the above is on an Internet forum is pointless because everyone has suffered during the pandemic and expecting other people to give a shit about how difficult we have it is tone deaf.

The solution, as always, is money. But there’s a conversation to be had about teachers’ control over their workload, and about how much we should care about public perception and why.

I think that’s all.

Teachers, overworked and under appreciated as we are, cannot reasonably bridge this much missed education.

So the government’s suggestion is reasonable, even though I’m not surprised people don’t want to come back.

Sorry, what do you think the government has actually proposed?

@ChloeDecker

Teachers, overworked and under appreciated as we are, cannot reasonably bridge this much missed education.

So the government’s suggestion is reasonable, even though I’m not surprised people don’t want to come back.

Sorry, what do you think the government has actually proposed?

They have proposed getting ex teaching staff in to cover covid absence. And as far as I know, only in England.

I’d suggest you stop speaking to me if you’re finding this so upsetting. There’s plenty of other posters here who have opinions.

@ChloeDecker I am not currently teaching but I hear you and I understand.

I am sorry you're having to deal with so much.

Anyone who criticises you for listing your horrendous workload isn't worth listening to.
If you need to offload a bit you've got a sympathetic ear here.

I really hope you can have some rest during this holiday.

@Pumperthepumper

I'm concerned you're a teacher that seems unable to read/comprehend the government's plan. Ex teachers are being asked to return to cover the anticipated staff absence, not for catch up.

[quote Hercisback]@Pumperthepumper

I'm concerned you're a teacher that seems unable to read/comprehend the government's plan. Ex teachers are being asked to return to cover the anticipated staff absence, not for catch up.[/quote]
They have proposed getting ex teaching staff in to cover covid absence. And as far as I know, only in England.

I wrote exactly that above. Ironic you’re concerned about my reading/comprehension.

Teachers, overworked and under appreciated as we are, cannot reasonably bridge this much missed education.

Then why are your previous posts banging on about catch up?

These "returnees" are nothing to do with catch up.

@Hercisback

Teachers, overworked and under appreciated as we are, cannot reasonably bridge this much missed education.

Then why are your previous posts banging on about catch up?

These "returnees" are nothing to do with catch up.

They’re stopping further gaps. They’re making sure some kind of plan is being followed, rather than isolating whole classes because of teacher absence.

Again, feel free to disagree - but please don’t tag me to tell me I’m ‘banging on’ or that my reading comprehension is shit. It’s unnecessary.