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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Work set for strike but kids told by teachers not to bother

120 replies

WellyBoot12345 · 31/01/2023 20:39

My children’s secondary school is closed tomorrow and some very generic work has been set by, I guess, someone in the senior leadership team. I quite get it that it’s generic stuff and won’t be marked, but children have both said that their teachers have told them they’d rather they didn’t do the work. I’m not happy about this - I don’t have a problem with the strike but school is closed, that’s causing the disruption that the unions need for things to get better … but suggesting to the children not to bother with the work impacts on my children’s learning and attitude to homework. Also seems pretty disrespectful to the person who has gone to the effort of setting it. I’m out at work tomorrow and there was only a slim chance that they would do anything anyway … but now they feel they have permission to do absolutely nothing at all tomorrow and future strike days and I’m the evil mum for saying that they should. AIBU for being peeved about this, and would you say anything to the school? (Or AIBU to believe my pesky kids that the teachers said this??!!)

OP posts:
bravelittletiger · 31/01/2023 20:41

I would just let it go to be honest. Sounds like relatively poor advice if it was actually said but it could have been said in a tone or context you aren't aware of and as you say it doesn't matter whether the work is done or not. One day won't affect their education or attitude.

ZenNudist · 31/01/2023 20:44

There's always some homework set that according to my ds is optional. Teacher has gone to all the effort of putting it on the homework app but apparently its nig necessary. I refuse to believe him and make him do it anyway. If its been set its being done. End of. Done care that I'm mean mum. Teaching my dc application and to make an effort.

SilverGlitterBaubles · 31/01/2023 20:45

Have the teachers actually said this or is this just teens who fancy a lazy day tomorrow.

Legotiger · 31/01/2023 20:47

They shouldn’t be setting work. They’re either on strike or not. Setting work undermines the strike.

Original poster
WellyBoot12345 · 31/01/2023 20:49

Good question. I suppose if I tell them tough luck and they’re doing it, then it doesn’t matter either way. Thanks for the answers … now, where’s my ‘World’s Meanest Mum’ t-shirt?!

OP posts:
chupachump · 31/01/2023 20:51

Legotiger · 31/01/2023 20:47

They shouldn’t be setting work. They’re either on strike or not. Setting work undermines the strike.

This! And they certainly shouldn't be marking it. Maybe that's what they meant. It would be a waste of effort for work done to go unmarked.

noblegiraffe · 31/01/2023 20:53

Not all teachers are on strike tomorrow, only the NEU.

PartyTips · 31/01/2023 20:54

SilverGlitterBaubles · 31/01/2023 20:45

Have the teachers actually said this or is this just teens who fancy a lazy day tomorrow.

This. It’s most likely that the kids (or someone in their class) asked if they had to do it and were told no, which then goes from “Miss said we didn’t have to” to “Miss said we shouldn’t” pretty quickly. I can’t imagine any teacher actively telling students that they shouldn’t do any school work.

MrsHamlet · 31/01/2023 20:58

Teachers striking should not be setting work.
No one should be setting work on behalf of striking teachers.
If I'm striking and someone sets with for my classes, I am absolutely not going to mark it.
Work will be set by teachers not on strike for their own classes.

Lkydfju · 31/01/2023 21:00

My DD said that they were told by their teachers who are striking that they won’t be marking any work they do so essentially don’t bother. I do understand why they won’t be marking work as it’s a strike day but with GCSEs looming I’d rather DD at least thought it’d be marked

GinClassHeroes · 31/01/2023 21:01

PartyTips · 31/01/2023 20:54

This. It’s most likely that the kids (or someone in their class) asked if they had to do it and were told no, which then goes from “Miss said we didn’t have to” to “Miss said we shouldn’t” pretty quickly. I can’t imagine any teacher actively telling students that they shouldn’t do any school work.

Show quote history

But they shouldn’t be!

Nobody should be setting work for a striking teacher.

The teacher won’t look at it. The teacher is NOT EMPLOYED ON THE DAY OF THE STRIKE. The teacher won’t make that time up, before or after the strike.

And teachers are within their rights to tell pupils that.

hanahsaunt · 31/01/2023 21:05

We have online work set by school for tomorrow as outlined in a letter from school which notes that the work does not to be submitted. I am content.

Mustreadabook · 31/01/2023 21:09

My boys have said the same, that their teachers said do no work. Despite the headteacher sending a list of work, which was pretty generic to be fair. I think i will just ask them to finish the weeks homework.

BakewellGin1 · 31/01/2023 21:12

Our Ds year 9 has been told if they don't complete work set by subject tutors they will get after school detention

GreetingsToTheNewBrunette · 31/01/2023 21:14

GinClassHeroes · 31/01/2023 21:01

But they shouldn’t be!

Nobody should be setting work for a striking teacher.

The teacher won’t look at it. The teacher is NOT EMPLOYED ON THE DAY OF THE STRIKE. The teacher won’t make that time up, before or after the strike.

And teachers are within their rights to tell pupils that.

Show quote history

Exactly. Do you know what the point of striking is, OP, or do you think they’re just doing it for the lolz?

hryllilegur · 31/01/2023 21:14

I would use the opportunity to teach my kids about how strikes work - and tell them not to do scab lessons set by the SLT.

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 31/01/2023 21:20

It's a bit of a different scenario, but I told my Y12s today that I was striking tomorrow. The school wants them all in and to register but I know their class won't be covered, and I haven't left any cover. For some of them, it's their only lesson of the day, and some of them asked if they absolutely had to come in. I said ultimately it was up to them and their parents, but I wouldn't be annoyed if they didn't come in.

Maybe you'd see that as undermining attendance? But I'd rather be honest with them.

In terms of being disrespectful to the person who set it, it's seen by a lot of teachers to be pretty disrespectful to set cover work for a teacher is on strike- that you're actively undermining them.

Have you actually seen the work, and do YOU think it is worthwhile for your children to do? I think it's worth having an honest conversation- if they agree the work from the school is not worthwhile, do they have something (e.g. homework, revision?) they could do instead as a compromise?

PartyTips · 31/01/2023 21:20

GinClassHeroes · 31/01/2023 21:01

But they shouldn’t be!

Nobody should be setting work for a striking teacher.

The teacher won’t look at it. The teacher is NOT EMPLOYED ON THE DAY OF THE STRIKE. The teacher won’t make that time up, before or after the strike.

And teachers are within their rights to tell pupils that.

Show quote history

Not sure what relevance that has to what I said or why you’ve decided to have a bitchfit directed at me…

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 31/01/2023 21:21

BakewellGin1 · 31/01/2023 21:12

Our Ds year 9 has been told if they don't complete work set by subject tutors they will get after school detention

Oh, that's ridiculous.

I wonder how that's gone down with striking teachers.

What if they aren't able to access the work set for some reason?

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 31/01/2023 21:22

Lkydfju · 31/01/2023 21:00

My DD said that they were told by their teachers who are striking that they won’t be marking any work they do so essentially don’t bother. I do understand why they won’t be marking work as it’s a strike day but with GCSEs looming I’d rather DD at least thought it’d be marked

Why doesn't your DD do some meaningful revision, then? Presumably she will do some revision over the Easter holidays (for example) which won't be directly checked by her teachers? So why doesn't she decide what would be meaningful for her to do tomorrow, and do that?

Cryingbutstilltrying · 31/01/2023 21:23

Primary school are not setting anything.
Secondary has said they won’t set anything but would suggest homework gets done if the kids have any already set. They have also reminded the kids about the extension level reading etc but that’s not required normally either.
The DC have got a hectic day of gaming with their friends planned, so I’m expecting nothing at all from them!

If it’s generic stuff then it sounds like a teacher who isn’t part of the union is doing this to be ‘in work’ when the school is shut due to insufficient staff being there to open to the kids. So it won’t be massively relevant or important.
I wouldn’t sweat it. I also wouldn’t criticise though, this must be a very tricky time for any staff who aren’t striking union members.

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 31/01/2023 21:24

Legotiger · 31/01/2023 20:47

They shouldn’t be setting work. They’re either on strike or not. Setting work undermines the strike.

Someone else will have set the work most likely. It may be a direct effort to undermine the strike, or it may not have been fully thought through, but IMO setting cover for striking teachers is pretty disrespectful and divisive.

ilovesooty · 31/01/2023 21:24

PartyTips · 31/01/2023 21:20

Not sure what relevance that has to what I said or why you’ve decided to have a bitchfit directed at me…

Show quote history

How is that a "bitchfit"?

Original poster
WellyBoot12345 · 31/01/2023 21:24

I quite get that striking teachers shouldn’t be working on or for a strike day and I absolutely wouldn’t expect them to mark it and won’t get my kids to hand it in. I’m sure that it hasn’t been set by the striking teachers but by someone in a different union.

Maybe it’s the ‘if teachers aren’t going to mark it don’t bother’ understanding that is getting to me. I don’t want my children to have the impression that school work is a means to an end, a way of just ticking a box and avoiding a detention. It should be about developing independence and self-discipline, being curious etc. I’m probably way too idealistic to have teenagers! Anyway, I’ll bow out of this, I’ll go and chase rainbows somewhere else!!

OP posts:
Sirzy · 31/01/2023 21:26

I am normally the kind of parent who insists every bit of homework is done even more optional bits. But I have already told Ds if anything goes on tomorrow then the only reason he should do it is if he would worry if it wasn’t done and explained why.