School as child care

[Differentforgirls]

From another thread.

A poster said that state schools are there for helping parents to work. Therefore teachers are childminders. Teachers!

I think schools are there to educate our children and, though the staff go above and beyond these days, that is their primary function.

AIBU?

Seriously?
I have been perfectly polite. I’ve challenged you on some of your points but I’ve done it in a respectful way.

Please can you highlight where I’ve been rude or in anyway abusive to you?

I’d also like to know what I’ve posted that makes me appear unwell as that’s quite a serious thing to say.

I think when people are losing an argument, accusing another poster of being mentally unwell is appalling. It happens a lot here.

Mental illness is a serious diagnosis. It should never be used as a flippant insult and is below the belt. I actually think it should be a reportable ‘offence’ on here. You are being disingenuous and are not remotely concerned about that person‘s mental health, you are just having a snide dig. I’m shocked that people behave like this, especially when they are older and would have presumed gained some maturity.

Oh and I work in mental health and have done for almost 30 years and there is nothing to suggest that that poster is mentally unwell. You owe them an apology.

I really don’t think that poster has done anything wrong and you seem to be targeting them unnecessarily.

you’re coming across as a not very nice person.

not everyone will agree with you. It feels like you started this thread to have an argument.

The fact that the OP started the thread to have an argument was very evident from the start.

No it wasn't closed half way through the day...we had an email saying the school would be closed but they would remain partly open to provide childcare

👍😊

I am a primary school teacher. I am employed to teach, not baby sit. I've got a degree, a PGCE, plus various other qualifications as well. Yes we care for the children in our classes but we are far more than baby sitters and free child care!

Agree!

No schools are not free childminding service. School are there to educate because everyone should have the right to free education but not free childcare. That’s on your shoulders.

Nobody has said you are babysitters.
I’m university lecturer who teaches on Primary QTS programmes.
We never refer to you as babysitters.

Who cares for the children while you teach? Do you have childcare staff in your classroom while the children are there?

I really don't understand this upset over the word childcare. They are in your care while the are in your lesson. That's it. You literally cannot argue that so why the outrage?

Thank you.

How would you stop people using schools as free childcare as well as free education, though?😬

Those times were extreme, once in a century event where key workers had to be sacrificed to keep us fed and alive while the rest of us made videos on tik tok.

I imagine that people who say school has no role in helping people to work are middle to upper class people who can afford to have only one parent work. Either that or they are on benefits. Sorry/not sorry if that annoys folk.
Of course the primary purpose of school is to educate children. But only a naive fool would not be able to see that they also enable people to work. What are we supposed to do? Send our child to school yet sit at home perfectly capable of working just because ‘school is not childcare’. It’s like saying ‘your child is legally required to be there, we’ll fine you if they aren’t, but don’t rely on it, don’t do anything else that prevents you being available at all times. Better have a back up plan. Even though there is no alternative childcare provision for school age children. Hell mend you if you don’t have family available at a moments notice’.
Not agreeing that school is childcare is essentially saying you don’t agree with parents working. Oh no, sorry, you don’t agree with mothers working.

Agree with this. The primary goal is education yes, but over the years society and norms have shifted and so has the role of a school.
years ago a school could perhaps be considered more purely for teaching but as society has evolved they are far more involved (rightly so) in identifying care needs of abused children, knowing the children and caring about them beyond “do they know their times tables”. That is literally caring for the child and therefore child care.

I like teachers are more emotionally invested than purely an emotional institute given how much kids spend time there.

OP - do your teachers not care for your kids? If you’re a teacher, don’t you care for or about those in your class? The pedantic nature of viewing it as “childcare” is daft. Nurseries and child minders also have curriculums and goals/targets for developmental goals. Some may say these foundational years are more important to set them up to learn at school - that’s also childcare.

Also, yes provision exists to get the work force out working so we can all be taxed. Imagine if we didn’t have school and care provision - country would collapse.

My whole problem with this thread is that people are taking my op personally, and not actually reading it properly.

1. Please point out where I said schools are a free childminding service.

1. Whether everyone should have the right to free childcare is another issue entirely.

1. Wow, this thread has escalated 😅

I knew I recognised your user name. You’re the person on the thread where a grandmother has been asked to cut her hours at work to look after her grandchildren while the parents won’t. You think that it’s ok to ask a woman to cut her hours while not asking the man. But, for some mad reason think that men have never actually parented and your generation can teach them. Stop following me about.

Wish this was x and I could retweet this.

No I don't. Perhaps those on older contracts might but I'm unsure of that. I'm significantly less.

How? You’ve asked if you’re being unreasonable to say it isn’t childcare and is solely education. The general consensus is yes, it’s more than just education. Therefore yes YABU as per your original question.

I don’t think people are taking it personally, they’re simply, largely, not agreeing with you.

Having re-read your post - perhaps you need to provide more clarity if you feel it’s everyone else misunderstanding your op.

Well regardless, many people are not authorised to use their annual leave exclusively during school holidays when lots of people want time off or WFH. I'm not sure how you expect them to remain in their job when you appear to be so against any sort of childcare that isn't parents.

I agree. I don’t think anyone has taken the original post personally.
The direct digs and insults from the OP have been unwarranted and quite personal at times but I can’t see how disagreeing with OP means you’ve taken it personally?! The whole nature of this forum is to generate discussion. If you can’t cope with that I’d suggest not starting a thread in the first place!