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Original poster

Why do teachers still have jobs?

478 replies

StrangeTimes · 19/03/2020 08:06

So my husband has just lost his job from next week. He's a coach driver. My best mate has lost her job from this week, she used to work in a cinema. I have many friends now out of work and desperately trying to get jobs in supermarkets.

However teachers will not be working now for many months, so how come they're not being made redundant?

I'm not being goady I genuinely want to know. I'm glad they are still being paid, I'd hate for them to be in our position. But why?

Are other jobs "safe" like this too?

OP posts:
jomaIone · 19/03/2020 21:24

So you just think everyone should be sacked, and after the pandemic is over, we will start again with recruitment from scratch? You are deluded.

Waitingfirgodot · 19/03/2020 21:29

In answer to something I've just read above, the exam years still do need something. As yet, it is uncertain as to how they will be assessed and they need to keep producing high quality work in case it is needed as evidence. They also need a massive amount of reassurance. I could have easily cried all day today, but instead I faced them with a smile because currently, just like everyone else, they are terrified.

DakotaFanny · 19/03/2020 22:24

I feel genuinely scared tonight. I completely want to support the unbelievable work that the NHS and many others are doing, but the prospect of still being exposed next week is scary.

So I will have to send my kids to their schools, so that I can go to my school, to look after the children who are most likely to have been exposed to CV because their parents are doing frontline jobs. And one of my kids has a condition listed on the high risk list. So....well, shit!

Theworldisfullofgs · 19/03/2020 22:34

Teachers are working.

They are setting work so a child gets some education . I have to say both my ds's school looks like they are going to fo it brilliantly.

They are ensuring some children get feed.

They are providing school and care for key workers children and knowingly taking risks with their own health.

They are looking after children on child protection plans.

Many workers are in your husband's position. We all have to just get on with it and taking pot shots at other professions isn't helpful.

Metagoth · 19/03/2020 22:38

It is awful anyone loses their job however schools will re-open at some point in the near future (despite the fact some people act like they'll be closed forever) where then teachers will be required to step neck into schools.

angell84 · 19/03/2020 22:38

The OP means - why are so many other oeople completely losing their jobs in this time.

Surely - the government should not allow that to happen

angell84 · 19/03/2020 22:42

@mintandcoral lots of people have a degree though. In the grand scheme of things, it is not hard to do a degree.

I think what people are angry about is one orofession getting treated better than other professions.

PumpkinPie2016 · 19/03/2020 22:43

Firstly, it is exceptionally sad that anyone is losing their job.

However, as a teacher, I find your post offensive.

We will not 'be off for months'. We are providing care and support for key worker children and some of the most vulnerable in our society. We are setting and monitoring work for the pupils. We are supporting those who should have taken exams to ensure that they are not disadvantaged. We are still writing new curriculums, resources for the next year etc. None of which any of us have any problem doing but please don't think we are not doing anything!

TheMistressQuickly · 19/03/2020 22:45

We are still working and will continue to do so until the virus takes us! Our pupils are not in en masse after tomorrow but we certainly will be in my school. I have to arrange childcare for my children to look after nhs and key workers’ children. I am not moaning about this or questioning It in any way. I’m glad to still have a job with a regular income. Saying this as a single mum of two. Am also devastated for my year 11 class who I spent the day sobbing with.

Please keep your goady comments to yourself. You have no idea what it’s been like in my workplace the last two weeks.

angell84 · 19/03/2020 22:47

Yes, but why didn't the government make sure that other people don't become unemployed in this time. More could have been done

angell84 · 19/03/2020 22:48

Some people on here says it takes years to train to be a teacher. They do as much as anyone else. It is a degree and pgde.

In this era, most of us have a degree. We have all studied for the same length of time!

GuyFawkesDay · 19/03/2020 22:49

Yup. Been pulling massively long days trying to organise isolation work, school closure work, all the Yr11 & 14 revision work (now wasted), keep kids calm.

Now I'm going to be teaching remotely. Marking, talking to kids via email or message system. Helping out in school including over what was supposed to be holidays we aren't paid for.

And also trying to homeschool my own two.

It's a scary, shitty situation. But I am most definitely still work and will be doing so indefinitely because we fucking need to. It's my job, and if I feel like I've done my bit at the end of this then that's all I need.

SuntanC · 19/03/2020 22:50

Isn't it funny how people think how easy teachers have it? HILARIOUS yes? So after this outbreak, every person who thinks teachers have had an easy life doing nothing for loadsamoney can just retrain and become a teacher- hurrah! Because, of course, teachers are so easily replaceable. Good luck to all of you in your new career! Oh wait...

Sotiredofthislife · 19/03/2020 22:51

in this era, most of us have a degree

Most? I am far from past it and went to uni at a time when less than 10% of people went to uni. The figure now is around 45% but that’s still a long way from ‘most’.

angell84 · 19/03/2020 22:51

I have to say, I have been a remote teacher in the past. I have taught from home. It is really easy. It is not "work". It is not my career right now. But as some one who has done it in the oast, I am going to say, it is not work.

angell84 · 19/03/2020 22:52

@Sotiredofthislife absolutely everyone I know has a degree. Everyone. And they are from all different backgrounds.

MyHipsDontLieUnfortunately · 19/03/2020 22:56

I'm feeling really fucking down about this. It sounds like we will be in throughout all holidays until September, when of course we all start again. Hopefully it would be on a rota but if the key worker rule applies to only one of a two parent family there will be a lot of kids in. No mention of being paid for that yet either. Life seems pretty joyless at the moment.

MyHipsDontLieUnfortunately · 19/03/2020 22:57

And I don't just mean for teachers. I wouldn't be a HCP for millions at the moment.

FizzyBug · 19/03/2020 22:58

absolutely everyone I know has a degree. Everyone.

You've never met a person who doesn't have a degree? Ok dear.

Glaceon · 19/03/2020 22:59

Considering the co op have just opened 5000 new positions I cant see my dads job going anywhere. He does store safety assessments and was in a conference call earlier and heard nothing since so I'm assuming hes busy with work.

Glaceon · 19/03/2020 23:00

So yeah plenty of jobs are safe. Just that lots arent.

angell84 · 19/03/2020 23:02

@FizzyBug my point is teachers are no more educated than many of the rest of us

ispepsiokay · 19/03/2020 23:02

Be kind - we all have a value in society.

The op is worried, her husband (like many others) have lost their job, we're looking at bleak futures with no income but we still need to pay bills/rent/mortgage and we all want to know how we're going to manage that.

The OPs husband is a driver, has a responsible role but obviously cannot do that from home in the way other professions can.

Slurpy · 19/03/2020 23:04

I've not read the thread, but your lack of understanding, thought and empathy has absolutely boiled my piss.
Many teachers will still be working at school, looking after key worker kids and vulnerable children.
Plenty are distraught that they haven't had a chance to say goodbye.
Others, like me, will be expected to deliver classes online with their own kids in the house.
I'm sorry that your husband has lost his job, but to suggest the same on those who educate and care for kids, often going above and beyond is the worst example of humanity that I've come across today.

angell84 · 19/03/2020 23:05

Look, I have been a teacher myself in the oast. I changed career.

I know that alot of people's problems with teachers is that:
They think they are better than everyone else
They think they are more educated than anyone else.

I have seen this attitude in teachers. Three different teaching assistants, in different schools, told me that they were made to feel absolutely terrible by teachers. That the teachers treated them like shit, and told them that they were more qualified than them, all the time.

Everyone else is as valuable as a teacher.
Every job is as valuable as a teacher