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?

I know a couple teachers who have done this. They loved teaching and were great teachers so they have been happy to step in, but to their old school only. I don't think money was a factor, though I'm sure it helps.

The vaccination centres are stuffed with volunteers, doctors and nurses went to the hospitals …

we aren’t making ourselves look good with the ‘fuck no’ responses.

There are reasons this isn't ideal and none of them are because the retired teacher can't do the job as has been suggested.

First of all the reasons we need more teachers is because so many have Covid so putting vulnerable people into that situation where there are pretty much no mitigations against covid is ridiculous begin with.

In primary at least , it's really difficult to teach children you don't know properly as so much of it is based on what you know about children, so while supply may keep things open , it certainly isn't a solution to helping children catch up up - depends what we are trying to achieve. While I can see the argument for helping to with childcare etc, currently we are expecting schools not only to maintain standards but also accelerate it and OFSTED are expecting this too and not making any allowances. Who would want to volunteer for that amount of scutiny, it would be an impossible ask for anyone. Unless we get more realistic about things like that people would be mad to put themselves in the situation.

I think clear leadership from the government is needed , with what they want to achieve and a realistic plan of how this can be done, at the moment it's all an impossible task. Schools are trying their best but they are too often being asked to achieve the impossible with the resources they have.

The vaccination centres are staffed with volunteers in PPE who ask every person who passes through the door about their health. They refuse entry to anyone who is maskless. They have contact with each person for a matter of minutes.

Teachers are in poorly ventilated rooms with sometimes 30 plus other people, many of who are unvaccinated. Some of whom have covid symptoms but have been sent in anyway.

You simply cannot compare the two.

I don't care about 'looking good'. The system didn't care about me when it was breaking me.

I am putting my health and the health of my family first - after 30 years of putting work first I think they owe me that much.

I understand that and it’s up to you @amillionmenonmars

But we aren’t the only ones who’ve been asked to volunteer. We are the only ones being so vocal in saying no, though.

@manysummersago

I understand that and it’s up to you *@amillionmenonmars*

But we aren’t the only ones who’ve been asked to volunteer. We are the only ones being so vocal in saying no, though.

Is anyone else being asked to volunteer in similar circumstances though? Do you understand the differences that amilliinmenonmars is trying to point out to you? I had a brief Meldrew moment when I heard OFSTED we’re back to inspecting, but after over three decades in the classroom, it was only a moment.

I believe that so many are saying 'no' for very good reasons. You cannot treat a profession with such disdain and expect anything else. Schools have been propped up with the good will of teachers for years.

IF anyone had thought this at the start of the pandemic, perhaps we would not have been in this mess. How many teachers were at the very back of the queue when it came to vaccinations? How many HTs refused to allow mask wearing in schools? How many schools have windows painted shut so that even basic ventilation can not happen?

Why should retired and former teachers be expected to put themselves at risk now when the health of school staff has been ignored?

I do volunteer. In a vaccination centre. I feel perfectly safe there, and I am happy to play my part. I don't give a damn if I am judged for 'letting the side down'. I was let down too. So were my colleagues in schools across the UK.

I don’t really care if anyone volunteers or not. I’m just pointing out that when cries of teacher bashing go on, this is why.

People are free to say loudly they won’t volunteer but it doesn’t look good. That’s all.

Sweetie, people have been bashing teachers for decades, for countless different things. So the idea that not volunteering will result in more abuse fills most of us with indifference. Many will not even notice.

@manysummersago

The vaccination centres are stuffed with volunteers, doctors and nurses went to the hospitals …

we aren’t making ourselves look good with the ‘fuck no’ responses.

Except those who are volunteering with the booster programme are going to have some safety mitigations to protect them in the nhs. They also won’t be awaiting ofsted to come in and scrutinise them. And they also won’t have been likely managed out of their job for a multitude of reasons previously.

Teacher bashing is a public sport in the UK. I don't want any retired teachers to put their health at risk just too make the profession look 'better'.

A million former teachers could sign up and many on MN would still be on here complaining that Johnny had a 3 minute detention he didn't deserve and that all teachers are workshy bullies with too many holidays.

@manysummersago

I don’t really care if anyone volunteers or not. I’m just pointing out that when cries of teacher bashing go on, this is why.

People are free to say loudly they won’t volunteer but it doesn’t look good. That’s all.

Teacher bashing goes on regardless so it makes little difference.

Maybe manysummers is still one of the young, enthusiastic teachers with some experience, rather than elderly and excessively experienced like many of us responding. 🤣

Education, care work, NHS. How on earth are we going to make these work? Its depressing reading on MN about these industries and I have no idea who can change it.

DDad at 75 was called out of retirement in a completely unrelated industry to any of the above. He was happy to do it but is now tired and I hope he doesn't carry on for too much longer. Its been 6 months so far.

manysummersago - I am wondering - what is the situation like in your school? Hand on heart - do you think it is a safe place for someone in their 60s, or even older, to be working?

Perhaps you are lucky and work in a school where the children follow instructions to wear their masks, perhaps you can open your windows, perhaps you don't have 35 people in a room designed to hold a max of 25 (and if social distancing were in place no more than 14 people). Perhaps your HT isn't allowing parents into school for parents evening.

If this is the case then I can understand why you think that former teachers should be volunteering.

My reality is that I have former colleagues who have none of those things in place. I am really scared for them. I would not want to see any older colleagues working under those conditions. reputation of th profession be damned. It is time teachers stood up and said enough is enough.

Supply teachers weren't given furlough last year so they went into other jobs.

It's a definite no from me ;)

I am a teacher - I have volunteered to help at my childrens school on my day off - so I am kind of doing my bit. I could probably do similar at my own school but my day off is something I have in place to manage my life. Sounds selfish but I am a better parent/teacher because of it!

at being young.

Supply teachers have been treated like shit on a shoe for two decades and more. I don’t blame them for moving on.

Except those who are volunteering with the booster programme are going to have some safety mitigations to protect them in the nhs. They also won’t be awaiting ofsted to come in and scrutinise them. And they also won’t have been likely managed out of their job for a multitude of reasons previously.

This. The two are worlds apart and if you can’t see that, it is quite worrying.

No, I can’t see that, tbh. I’m not trying to be obtuse but if I was in my sixties and had gone back to my former school to help, I can honestly say OFSTED would not even feature in my list of things to worry about!

manysummersago
*The vaccination centres are stuffed with volunteers, doctors and nurses went to the hospitals …

we aren’t making ourselves look good with the ‘fuck no’ responses.

There’s a group on fb called ‘aGet out of teaching’ it’s got 42k people who think like the ex teachers on this thread.

42k desperate to get out. Not an inconsiderable amount.

So me and 42k teachers are saying ‘Fuck no’

If parents don’t like it, I’m sure Boris will help them🤷🏼‍♀️😂

Do you think schools are safe for people of retirement age to be working in manysummersago?

I have been finding that those responding to people quite rightly questioning the DforE on this, on here and other places like Twitter, by saying that teachers are not covering themselves in glory, are either not volunteering themselves or who have not fully worked in their school this entire time and therefore, haven’t really a clue as to where people who have worked tirelessly in unsafe conditions all this time and know how awful this has been for children’s education and why this is not the solution DforE should have plumped for are coming from.

I’m not saying people can’t get out, or want to get out of teaching and I’m certainly not saying anyone should have to volunteer.

What I am saying is that this ‘how dare they even fucking ASK’ doesn’t really reflect very well on us as a profession. Sorry, but it doesn’t.

Can’t argue about it all day, I know I’ll be flamed, but there it is.

As for whether schools are safe for people of retirement age, only they can answer that. I wouldn’t expect or want someone to do something they aren’t comfortable with, but I do notice a massive difference here between ‘If you don’t want to get vaccinated, leave your job’ (NHS and care) and ‘if you don’t want to catch covid, leave your job’ (appalling to say, apparently.)

That’s a bit of a badly written post but adults have choices that children don’t. And they might not always be palatable choices but they are choices.

I know I haven’t had covid yet and seriously even I don’t know how as I’ve had children who tested positive breathe ON and but there we are. It seems almost random.

For the record, in my forties, teaching for nineteen years. I’m not some fresh faced just out of college graduate eager to make a mark