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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be confused that DD2 has to go into school on Thurs cos her teacher is NOT on strike...

131 replies

PuppyMonkey · 22/04/2008 11:05

... while the other teacher in Year 6 IS... so the kids in his class are all off for the day.

DD2 is livid.

DP works from home so no prob really for us either way. But still, bit silly imo.

OP posts:
Original poster
PuppyMonkey · 22/04/2008 14:49

Thanks for the advice fiery, love .

You're right it's not confusing at all that dd's best mate in the same year is getting the day off while dd has to go to school. Happens all the time doesn't it? Don't know why she's so annoyed about it.

OP posts:
bigfatbump · 22/04/2008 16:49

I work for a local authority, and all our primary schools are only closing classes depending on who's striking. So most will be 'partially' open or fully open. DDs school is not closing, which is good as I am on a cushy course in a swish hotel that day .

UnquietDad · 22/04/2008 16:55

What should happen, though? They can't all be on strike, or all not. It depends which union they are in. And even some NUT members have chosen not to strike.

Original poster
PuppyMonkey · 22/04/2008 17:00

Well I thought they should just shut the school to make it fairer for all the kids. Teachers could go in and do paperwork etc if not on strike. But have been told that would be illegal.

OP posts:
CaptainUnderpants · 22/04/2008 17:13

do you know what Puppy perhaps its a good time for DD to learn that in life not all is fair , I cannot honestly see where the problems lie .

Life is tough at times , especially for a Yr 6 pupil who can't take a day off

fieryfiery · 22/04/2008 17:16

It's only one day, I think it's a mountain/molehill situation.
Just tell her that she can get by without her best friend for a day, and they will miss out on a days education.
I wouldn't sweat the small stuff though

Squirdle · 22/04/2008 17:56

I've just had a cryptic newsletter via e-mail for my DS (Yr 9) It was entitled letter 1. Now apparently if we get a letter 2 or a letter 3 sent home the children are off on Thursday, if not they are in....what???? He isn't home yet, so I have no idea either way. We did have an e-mail a couple of weeks ago saying they were all off on Thursday.

Ds will be mightly peeved if he has to go to school

Squirdle · 22/04/2008 17:58

Must have taken quite a few admin hours working out who should be in and who shouldn't!

Flamesparrow · 22/04/2008 18:04

How random Squirdle!!!

I agree that even the ones like DD who would be a state at some going and some not, will cope. It is only one day.

Squirdle · 22/04/2008 18:18

Mind you Ds will probably have to go in cos he is rubbish at bringing letters home

And rubbish at bringing himself home tonight it seems

Peapodlovescuddles · 22/04/2008 18:30

At my DCs secondary all Y11,12 and 13 are going in, 12 and 13 don't need cover teachers and will just have frees if their teachers aren't in but the yr 11s do, so the headmistress (the only teacher who can cover striking staff members) is sitting in the school hall, teaching them herself all day in a class of about 130, quite sweet IMO (though the woman is very scary, what is it about headteacher and that 'look' they have all mastered????)

cory · 22/04/2008 20:11

TenaciousG on Tue 22-Apr-08 11:30:15
"Puppy, you could always keep your kids off on principle, eg not wanting them to cross a picket line. up da workers! "

Genius, pure genius! I was wondering how I would be able to fit dd's physio in with picking ds up from school- this solves all my problems.

(pity I wouldn't have the nerve)

No seriously, we've got the same situation (dd's best friend off, dd not, ds's best friend off, ds not), I can't see it's a major problem, particularly not for dd who still has some catching up to do for her Yr 6 SATS, let's hope the maths teacher is not a NUT member.

Squirdle · 22/04/2008 20:18

Ds does not have a letter 2 or 3 so will be going to school on thursday, much to his disdain
There are about 6 of his tutor group who don't have to go in and are teasing the ones who do (in a jokey way btw)

Alambil · 22/04/2008 20:36

She may not be in the NUT - it's only NUT (if they choose) that are striking.

It is against strike rules if a child gets taught by another teacher on the day of the strike - I overheard that in the staffroom today.

Alambil · 22/04/2008 20:38

NAB they are striking because their pay hasn't risen in line with inflation (along with a LOAD of other workers in the UK!)

I don't wholly agree with it - they aren't the only ones being stung by non-inflation-pay-rises.

twinsetandpearls · 22/04/2008 20:46

Teachers should not be covering for striking teacher. I think they would have to use supply which would be expensive. Our school is shut as about 25 per cent of our teachers are nut. But we are laying on booster classes for year ten nine and eleven as well as a few other students. I am working and will be using the day to catch up with marking and re do my displays.

1dilemma · 22/04/2008 21:20

FWIW since when was it illegal to arrange 'some sort of INSET day' or similar for the day teachers are on strike? The school can arrange what ever it wants up to the teachers to go or not (NUT members only obv.) It is also NOT ILLEGAL for the others to cover for striking teachers their union will probably have told them not to. Strike breaking is not the done thing.
What about TAs are they in a union don't see why they can't do it.

I am extremely p*&^^%d off about this

School told me yesterday they weren't striking letter home at 7PM today saying dd class and 1 other can't go in, I'm v.v.v. cross head or TAs aren't covering it's only about 40 children. dh and I both have major committments at work and we will seriously piss people off to cancel them the day before and they have all had to be cancelled the following week for the election too.

(I know thi is a bit ranty I've had a REALLY bad day, doesn't stop me from wishing my union was as militant as the NUT with my sub 2% pay rise!

ilovewashingnappies · 22/04/2008 21:30

I thought pissing people off so they noticed was the point of striking.

ilovewashingnappies · 22/04/2008 21:33

What an arse

1dilemma · 22/04/2008 21:35

Sure it is nappies and I'm happy to have the day off playing with my dcs but the lady whose divorce case I'm doing on Thursday won't be so chuffed, nor will the 6 patients who are about to have their operations cancelled and I guess that child protection case I was taking to court for a custody order will just have to wait too!!!

1dilemma · 22/04/2008 21:35

BTW I'm not that busy on Thursday just didn't want to post my job!!

twinsetandpearls · 22/04/2008 21:37

I suppose it would be a pointless strike if no one was bothered. Teaching assistants are not allowed to take a whole class while no one is in the room. They will mostly be in unions but not nut.

boredveryverybored · 22/04/2008 21:41

DD's school having weird day on Thurs too. DD's class along with I think, 3 other classes have the day off cos their teachers are striking, all other classes have to go in. Lots of annoyed kids I think!

1dilemma · 22/04/2008 21:48

Really TSAP so the class being left alone with the TA when it suits the school is not allowed? How interesting. Head or deputy could do it with them.
Like I say I'm sure the courts, patients, battered children et al will understand

SmugColditz · 22/04/2008 21:50

OUr school is closed but I think it's the only one in the area!