to think Gavin Williamsons views on teachers have been found out and he is trying to back pedal

[cakeorwine]

Leaked WhatsApp messages about schools during Covid and re-opening.

www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/01/leaked-messages-boris-johnson-bemoaning-face-masks-u-turn

In October 2020, Williamson said publicly the following year’s exams would be postponed for a few weeks to make up teaching time. According to the leaked messages, Hancock then got in touch with his cabinet colleague to say “what a bunch of absolute arses the teaching unions are”.

Williamson replied: “I know they really really do just hate work.” Hancock then responded with a laughing emoji and a bullseye.

Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said in response to the leak: “Why am I utterly unsurprised to now have it absolutely confirmed that Gavin Williamson was unfit to be secretary of state for education?”

According to Williamson, these comments were about "some unions" and he has the utmost respect for teachers who went above and beyond during the pandemic.

Yet it's the teachers who would be doing the work, not the Unions. So who was he saying who "really really just hate work"

Gavin Williamson's views are something we've known about for a very long time. Not new news.

We know how much contempt they have for us. It's the whole lot of them. Our children deserve so much more than they're getting and it's not the fault of teachers.

As someone who's child has lost more than 12 days of school to strikes since November and has another 5 days scheduled I agree with him and I don't know of any parents round here who support the teachers and their pay demands or who will be upset by this

Why did your child lose so many days because of strikes?
Maybe there are MASSIVE issues in your child's school and you should be concerned about bullying, harrassement an dunhealthy atmosphere over there rather than blame the teachers (who equally lost 12 days of pay to improve learning conditions for your precious child?)

Those views are re unions, surely. And I don’t think he is entirely wrong. I certainly don’t have a high opinion of the main teaching union.

The teaching unions were absolute arses during covid though

Who the hell does he (and those of you agreeing with him) think 'the unions' actually are? They have a very few officials, who are led by the wishes of the members, and are overwhelmingly comprised of members; in this case, teachers.

Classic tory obfuscation.

I’m a teacher. I’m not in the NEU and I don’t agree with the NEU. I haven’t taken the above conversation personally.

I also agree with him, as do the vast majority of parents that i know.

His own brother is a teacher and his wife was a primary teacher. I forsee some awkward moments at family gatherings. He has been a disaster in every single ministerial role he has ever had. That he has such a low opinion of teachers was probably considered a bonus when he took over at the DFE.

It's such a shame that so many people are misinformed about how hard teachers work. Even right to the top :(

It's an unsustainable role at the moment hence so many people are leaving. If people want their kids in a functioning education system so much has to change now.

Teachers don't just strike to take the day off for a jolly.

If your children's school has been striking that much, it's all the more reason for you to investigate WHY they are striking and - dare I say it - get behind them.

Very few teachers I know feel 'good' about striking, including myself. But it's a necessary evil to get education funded so it functions better for your children's futures.

Where are you? I've not heard of anywhere that's had twelve days of strikes in the last three months. The most any child should have missed to strikes is two days in England, and many won't have missed any.

Why because I'm in Scotland in 1 of 4 areas specifically targeted by the union for 6 extra days of strikes not because of teaching conditions but because they want 10% and have refused every other offer

I am so shocked at how few parents support the teaching strikes. Yes it is an enormous pain having to arrange childcare at short notice. But schools aren't childcare; they are about education; and at present they are unable to fulfil that role due to understaffing, overworking, overlarge class sizes, negligible funding for SEN, lack of funds for basic resources, and having to pick up the slack for dozens of other failing underfunded public services to ensure children are safe, clothed and adequately fed before even STARTING to think about whether they are educated.

How can people be so entitled and blind as to drop their kids off at the school gate each morning, FOR FREE, and be utterly indifferent to the conditions of those who are there every day for your children - not to mention the quality of the educational experience of your own bloody kids??

Seriously who are these people? Why are they so callous, ignorant and passive?

@saraclara

Mine have lost 6.

3 lots of 2 days since December. Might be 8 actually. With another 2 in a few weeks

Plus certain constituencies are being targeted with more

The country is made up of more than England

@herewegoroundthebastardbush

I support the strikes.

Absolutely think that (especially in England) the education system needs overhauled and teachers work load and contracts reviewed

Absolutely needs more (much more) funding especially for SEN provision.

But it's not free and not every school is the same

It is possible to have broad sympathy for what the strikes are trying to achieve and also acknowledge the very real disruption that it’s creating for families.

For a lot of people, if they don’t turn up to work, they don’t get paid, so if they’ve had to take days off for childcare, it will hit them hard, especially as these people are most likely to be living hand to mouth.

It’s easy to support something when it is a minor inconvenience.

I know it's made up of more than England, which is why I asked the question.

But thanks, I knew there was industrial action in Scotland as well but handy realised that it was more extensive. I've learned something.

Those are big numbers, which union?

The NEU is on to its second strike day (today in some places, it has been regional) with two more coming. I thought the NEU were the only union to pass the strike threshold in a vote?

Sorry, just seen you answered above, I thought I was on the last page but I wasn't.

I agree with him, he was talking about unions. And everything is coming out, masks etc

I agree with Gavin Williamson. Remember he’s talking about the unions not the teachers.

The unions were totally obstructive dicks during covid.