Films during school hours

[Tigofigo]

My KS2 age DC seems to watch films, YouTube clips etc more than I thought would be the case at school.

Apparently they watched an entire film today (not during play time) as the teacher had marking to do.

I don't mind a bit of TV at school but feel they could at least make an effort with finding something vaguely educational, and also I thought teachers usually did their marking in evenings or during PPA time.

AIBU to ask the school's policy on TV during school lesson hours or should I be more empathetic and forgiving towards teachers given the incredibly hard job they do?

It's July and at least the teacher is marking.

@GCRich completely agree. There's no glory in burnt out teachers but such a bad culture.

The teacher is at work 8-4 at least, a full working day. Marking assessments is time consuming and a requirement for the job and absolutely not possible to do in the measly 10% of PPA time and that’s not including report writing which most schools don’t give time for. Would you expect supermarket workers to stack shelves in their own time so that they can be with their customers for their entire shift? Why is this expected if teachers?

Just ask!!!!

'but my DC is a year behind in core topics and more like two years behind in some areas.'

Lets be honest. The teacher wont be able to fix that. Regardless of YouTube films or not. Tutoring and extra help from mum and dad would be the only way to go.

It's pretty outing with or without the film name

I’m confused how you’d know ofsted aren’t in tomorrow?!

I feel this is part of a bigger issue you have with the school, and it’s not really about the film though.

Good for the teacher. One film isn't going to harm the children's learning, it's impossible to get marking done during ppa time and working in the evenings although it happens regularly isn't good. Do you do hours of work every evening outside of your hours essentially for free? Teachers aren't paid 24/7 they're paid a set amount of directed hours, most if not all do way above this and its not fair or sustainable. One reason lots are leaving. What are you doing to support your child being a year behind?

If my class have been particularly good or (more likely) I’m feeling like I want a chilled end to the week I will VERY occasionally let them watch some David Attenborough while they finish their work for half an hour on a Friday afternoon.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a bit of tv, maybe some video clips while they’re washing their hands for lunch or something, I don’t personally do that but I guess teachers do. Some schools have planned things like films as a treat or teachers do it as part of a reward system but it’s the bit about the marking that isn’t ideal (if true).

I can't say why as it would be VERY outing! But I am 100% sure.

Well as it happens I have done 2+ hours unpaid work per day in most of my career but my current job thankfully doesn't expect that except occasionally.

Re my child, we're trying to understand why he's struggling so much. Just doing more of the same doesn't seem to be helping, and there's a year+ wait to see an educational psychologist even privately to unpick what's going on so we can support him properly. If you have any ideas I'd love to hear them.

We had a few films or TV programmes shown in school but it was usually when we were closer to GCSE age. Sometimes linked to what we were learning (Good Morning Vietnam, Blackadder, Schindler's List) but often not (Predator, Red Dwarf, The X Files, some Bob Monkhouse stand-up video). Ultimately the teachers had to come up with something to fill our time while they did marking/went to the bookies and as pupils we didn't really care. The deal was, keep quiet or we wouldn't be allowed to watch stuff in future.

I have an idea that watching a video one afternoon won't be affecting his learning much if that helps? I'm sure the teacher would love to have the time and resources to try and figure it out, if more of the same isn't helping then I'm not sure what difference an afternoon of the same would make. School budgets, staff and support has been cut so much that unfortunately he is one of many that gets left behind, that's not on the school teacher but on the shit show that is education in this country currently. Honestly being aggrieved about this is just next level, if it was every lesson then of course, but no wonder teachers are leaving in droves- there's a real crisis brewing which I'm sure is going to have a much bigger effect than a teacher doing some marking in school time.

Well I certainly agree with you that the education system is a broken shitshow... And I know it's not on the teachers. It does stick in the craw a little when there is so much emphasis on attendance though.

Ultimately, while I have empathy with teachers and the school, my priority is my child who is currently being failed by said system. What am I and the many others you reference meant to do?

Obviously the usual don't vote in the Torys when the time comes, don't make petty complaints that have no real effect on your children such as one afternoon of watching a video, support teachers if they decide on strike action for better conditions as this might help the critical resourcing issue the sector faces, report actual concerns to the governors ie I am concerned with x or can you please provide y for assurance that my child is being adequately supported (often class teachers are shouting into the wind about needing a TA or other support staff but it's not listened to and they're left to just cope- and as this isn't formally captured anywhere nothing gets done), as you have done be pro active in trying to secure support outside of school for your child- this shouldn't be needed but sadly it is due to many years of cuts. Not really sure on the relevance of attendance, a video was a part of one day- fines etc are enforced by government, most teachers if able would apply more nuance to approving absence.