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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

School closed for strike - homeschool?

100 replies

imhereforcake · 25/01/2023 16:05

I don't know if I am being unreasonable but here goes

I do support the teachers right to strike and agree with their reasons.

Have 2 children one in primary one in secondary and has ASD

Primary closed to 3 classes and child is in one so is off school

Secondary today emailed to say school closed but they are expected to do home learning at check in points during the day.

My Aibu is I'm not a teacher and I don't need this fight. I have taken a day off work as have no other options and actually want to do something with them and not have the battle I know I will have with secondary school child. She doesn't have an EHCP as she "copes" with school

Do I send an email and say not happening

OP posts:

HikingHairDontCare · 25/01/2023 18:12

That last sentence made no sense, it should say,

Its a ‘reasonable adjustment’, as it’s only a day (or maybe a few)

Soakitup37 · 25/01/2023 18:13

JustWantedACat · 25/01/2023 17:16

It's unfortunate for those workers who's annual leave runs from april-march as many won't have any days left to book off until it resets in April, meaning they'll end up taking unpaid annual leave and who can afford that these days? Then, those workers taking the annual unpaid leave might have to cancel peoples appointments, some which could be serious or take months to reschedule and many work places could end up even more short staffed then they already are. It has such a ripple effect!

That’s the entire point. It needs to make as much mess as possible to show just how important teachers are. They are leaving in their droves, they have TAs covering staff absences and losing money and resources year after year because the government don’t give a fuck.

this is important - we should support them.

* a reminder to everyone they won’t be paid for striking, they will be expected to suck up 4 days loss of pay and then to pick up the pace for their pupils. But the principle is right here and anyone on the fence about supporting this needs to go and look at the shocking stats about teacher leaving rates and stress levels. No action will be catastrophic for schools and the children they teach if something doesn’t change soon. *

Cocobutt · 25/01/2023 18:13

I was told that teachers on strike aren’t allowed to set any work.

My DDs school has said they’ll be setting work but I don’t see how if the teachers aren’t setting it.

Hopefully if they do set work it won’t be much and they won’t need evidence so it will be more or less optional.

I wouldn’t bother contacting them beforehand over it though and if there ends up being loads of compulsory work then you can send them an email and explain.

Beachbreak2411 · 25/01/2023 18:13

IDugAnotherHole · 25/01/2023 16:54

Just tell them that as a homeschool teacher, you've also voted to strike

LOVE this!!!!
bad enough losing a days wage without having the hassle of home schooling. We will be doing something fun with our forced day off.

HikingHairDontCare · 25/01/2023 18:14

SeanMean · 25/01/2023 18:11

There is absolutely no need to send an email saying she won’t be doing the work.

There is if the child would hate to be called out for not doing it. My child with autism would hate that.

WineDup · 25/01/2023 18:31

handmademitlove · 25/01/2023 18:11

@WineDup All students other than vulnerables etc will be at home. Lessons set on teams for those teachers who are not striking. Non striking teachers will be on site supervising students who are in - who will be doing their work / revising / watching films / playing board games as appropriate...

No striking teacher is being asked to do anything. Teachers and support staff who are not striking will be supervising those students who need to be on site. All other students will be remote learning at home.

Union reps are happy with the arrangements.

That’s a different stance than here, than. We were told that striking teachers do nothing, non striking teachers only do their own duties and don’t do anything to undermine the work of another union (ie supervision)

Going forward, the unions have coordinated their strikes to prevent this happening again.

strongallowed · 25/01/2023 18:33

ArseInTheDogBowl · 25/01/2023 16:29

I support the strikes too, but no way would I be homeschooling my kids!

I work full time, public sector myself, working conditions aren't good for us either. Because of my job, I literally don't have the time/headspace/energy to pick up homeschooling and on principle won't do it.

Ditto.

School is closing for 4 days of strike. This is a headache enough. They will be doing their own thing while I work 🤷‍♀️

FlakyCroissant · 25/01/2023 18:36

Dinoboymama · 25/01/2023 16:30

Who is preparing this work, the staff striking should not be as that defeats the point of the strikes.

In Scotland our schools closed no work was expected for the kids. We have had 4 strike days so far with more planned.

This.

Teachers shouldn't be preparing any resources for strike days. Defeats the whole point.

I'll be interested to know if this 'home learning' actually materialises on the day or if it's a badly thought out plan by the head.

strongallowed · 25/01/2023 18:36

365names · 25/01/2023 18:12

Any child with an EHCP should be potentially offered support in school.

despite the fact that 7 primary teachers are striking - my son with an EHCP has been offered supervision

so ask

Our specialist school has already told us they are shutting fully for all 4 days of strikes. All of them have EHCPs.

Blube · 25/01/2023 18:39

YANBU. The teachers are being paid to teach your children. If they choose to strike (and I have no problem with that) then they don’t get to tell you what you do with your time.

Tell them that you will be supporting the strike from home by striking.

Definitely don’t waste a day at home with computer learning when you could be doing something much more fun.

ivegotthisyeah · 25/01/2023 18:39

No way I'll be homeschooling after lock down I just can't again - it nearly broke me

SnakeOiler · 25/01/2023 18:40

Our school have advised what resources are available but said no expectation.

if they did I would tell them where to go.

I live in the area most affected by restrictions during covid and I’ve done my bit.

they can also fuck off when I take them out of school for a holiday this year too.

LucyWhipple · 25/01/2023 18:44

This is because of the DfE guidance about strikes in schools which basically says drag any warm body in off the street just make sure you stay open.

declutteringmymind · 25/01/2023 18:46

I'd write back and say that DD won't be accessing home learning that day as her plans that day won't support it. If they need the child off school then you need to do what you need to do on that day.

clarepetal · 25/01/2023 18:47

Fuck that shit. I've had to change my day off so I can look after my kid due to the strikes. I'm planning on having a nice day out, just the two of us.
I suggest you do the same.

PuttingDownRoots · 25/01/2023 18:51

I have one in school, one home. The home has been told to look at Google Classroom as there may be extra homework tasks. Yr11 is in school, not sure how they are supervising and educating them.

I do have the extra fun of the it being the one in schools birthday on the strike day... so her sistergets the day off for her birthday.

slowquickstep · 25/01/2023 18:55

Email the teacher and say you will not be home schooling as you will be working from home as you still have a job to do. Nothing else needs to be said

User1643876 · 25/01/2023 18:55

If teachers are on strike why would parents be expected to take their place, how ridiculous.

BettyOBarley · 25/01/2023 18:57

edwinbear · 25/01/2023 16:31

I'd not be doing that. I mean if the teachers are striking, that doesn't mean you're supposed to take on their work for them are you?

Totally agree with this.

I support them in striking, but I won't be trying to WFH and teach my child as well, no chance.

dapsnotplimsolls · 25/01/2023 19:00

Schools can't win - don't set work, parents moan. Do set work, parents moan.

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 25/01/2023 19:00

handmademitlove · 25/01/2023 17:50

@WineDup the teachers who are not striking will be teaching their lessons as normal - for lessons where the teachers are striking there will be no lesson, just a note on teams that the lesson is not taking place due to strike action. Absolutely no covering lessons going on - just those who are not striking. So not at issue. Sorry I wasn't clear.

Your school need to be very careful with this- if they identify a teacher as a member of a particular union to the wider public, they are breaking GDPR.

Also, what about teachers who are unwell on the day?

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 25/01/2023 19:02

imhereforcake · 25/01/2023 16:05

I don't know if I am being unreasonable but here goes

I do support the teachers right to strike and agree with their reasons.

Have 2 children one in primary one in secondary and has ASD

Primary closed to 3 classes and child is in one so is off school

Secondary today emailed to say school closed but they are expected to do home learning at check in points during the day.

Do I send an email and say not happening

Say your child won't be crossing a picket line, by completing work on a strike day...

No, but seriously I would suggest emailing and explaining that due to her SEN, she will find working at home difficult on this day, and so will not be completing work, and ask for the school's support with this.

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 25/01/2023 19:03

BTW, to be clear, as a striking teacher, I don't expect parents to be asked to homeschool on a strike day at all! It defeats the point.

IMO, it should be the same as the bank holiday for the Queen's funeral. It was unexpected, but schools shut, no work was set, and everyone managed.

MarshaBradyo · 25/01/2023 19:06

Just email it will be too tough for her, don’t worry about it.

Dc miss the odd day of school due to illness and homeschool will be even less.

What else can you do

Cocobutt · 25/01/2023 19:09

If teachers are on strike why would parents be expected to take their place, how ridiculous.

They’re not.

That’s the point and why the teachers aren’t meant to be setting work.

But I guess so many parents have moaned about the lack of work and ‘impact on their child’s education’ that some schools have been pushed into setting some.

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