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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:
PussyWillowPeach · 19/03/2020 15:32

I really feel awful for those who have lost their jobs, I can’t imagine the stress. It’s a shame they can’t keep them but be given statutory pay so they’d at least have something and something to go back to when things blow over.

However there are a lot of people who you may think are not working but still being given full pay - a lot of people are having to work from home and adapt their situations. I’m a social worker and as I have a health condition, I’m being supported to exclusively work from home. However some of my colleagues are on the front line, it may look like we’re not working but behind the scenes we’re trying our best to do our best to support our colleagues on the front line eg virtual visits, meetings and keeping their casenotes up to date so they can focus on the practical face to face side of things.

AlunWynsKnee · 19/03/2020 15:38

Dd's TA is at home in isolation. She's still communicating with dd and other members of staff through email.

GenderApostate19 · 19/03/2020 15:39

If course Teachers are fucking working 🙄
My daughter will be supporting students, printing and sending out work packs for children with no internet at home. Will be going here there and everywhere between different schools plus writing a whole new curriculum for when schools do go back.
Thankfully she has me for childcare as she has a 7 month old and another set of grandparents recently taken very early retirement.

ineedaholidaynow · 19/03/2020 15:40

Our local school seem to be planning to be teaching the children coming in not just being childcare. They will be delivering the same work as they are emailing to the other children.

Langbannedforsafeguardingkids · 19/03/2020 15:45

My daughter's teacher seems to be working harder now than ever. The school closed today for all but key workers children. She is teaching those children in school - in new conditions where they're trying to social distance between staff and students, plus more handwashing etc - plus has provided a pack of work and instructions today for my daughter and all students at home, and will continue to do so. She has phoned us today also to check everything is clear, has set up a new email account just for her class to respond to queries on the work from parents or pupils. Her job just got 100x harder and I bet she'll be working into the evening responding to queries most nights.

Poetryinaction · 19/03/2020 15:45

As a teacher I am now working from home, looking after my own children and paying full fees for nursery.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 19/03/2020 15:52

I'm a lecturer. I went in and picked up my laptop and a load of other stuff from work this morning, and have set up "office" at the kitchen table. Since coming home, I have set up online chat things for my two main classes, put coursework on our virtual learning environment, and answered about 100 emails about ongoing work from students. It would all be far, far simpler face to face, if I could look at a student's work and say "do X, Y,Z" instead of it going back and forth over a load of messages.

I'm glad I'm being paid, because I'm working. Also my DP has been made redundant, so we are relying on my salary as our sole income.

Aragog · 19/03/2020 16:06

Thats isn't realistic- for example nursery, EYFS etc.

Why won't EYFS teachers be working?
Our three reception classes, along with our key stage 1 classes, are all having online teaching materials to access in a variety of forms, via our learning platform.
Some will still be in school teaching key worker and vulnerable children.
Yes the little ones can't access online home learning entirely independently but it doesn't mean materials aren't being prepared for them on an ongoing basis.

ktjb39 · 19/03/2020 16:10

I can't be bothered to read the whole thread but just to be clear that many of us teachers are still going to school to teach in this country at this time. Many children with EHCPs, the children of key workers and children from vulnerable families will be attending school as usual on Monday.

BGD2012 · 19/03/2020 16:12

My husband is working from home, but will shortly be redeployed to provide support to businesses.

maa1992 · 19/03/2020 16:14

Because teachers are essential.

Onelankwen · 19/03/2020 16:45

I'm a teacher in Belgium. Schools closed last Friday and since Wednesday we are in lockdown. Teachers are still working, either teaching from home, taking care of key workers' children or caring for children with special needs.
My husband is a civil servant. He is working from home at the moment, but as soon as there is no more work available to them, they are expected to go and help at the hospitals. My husband has absolutely no medical training at all.
Yes, we are lucky, we are still getting paid, but to be honest, we have never worked as hard as now.

teachandsleep · 19/03/2020 16:47

I'm a teacher. We are working from home and delivering food to free school meals pupilsand packs of work weekly

Mrskeats · 19/03/2020 16:49

I just don't get why you posted this.
It's so mean-spirited.

Itsmybirthday19 · 19/03/2020 16:55

You wonder why people need to be taught to wash their hands...

Then you read posts like this and realise.

Cornettoninja · 19/03/2020 16:57

Hmm any business/organisation that can retain their staff through this are in a fortunate, sensible position. They can literally open their doors and be ready to go.

There will be a time society needs to function again you know.

ByAppointmentTo · 19/03/2020 17:01

I'm support staff in a secondary school. All teachers and support staff in my school are going to be working normal hours. I now have to decide whether or not to send my nine year old to school or let him stay at home with DH who is WFH.

goldface · 19/03/2020 17:03

Teachers will be working more than ever. Whatever happens with the GCSEs year 11 teachers are going to have an enormous job on their hands
My dh has just come home from school having been at a meeting where they were working out who was going to be in over the Easter holidays to cover the kids who cannot be at home.
He won't have any Easter holidays let alone 'not be working'

CookieDoughKid · 19/03/2020 17:08

Because teaching unless you are in the independent sector is non-profit making. And that education is a continuous process because it follows childhood and doesn't necessarily mean classroom teaching. That is small part of their job. I think you're getting a hard time because you lack knowledge on how the education profession works.

thetideishigh · 19/03/2020 17:12

@StrangeTimes

Did you honestly think that a generation of school kids would cease all education on Friday until possibly the end of August ?

I'm worried that you were unable to think it through for yourself. What job do you do ?

P.S. If the teachers were made redundant they'd possibly be competing with your friends and family for those supermarket jobs...…. So be doubly "glad that they're still being paid" and "not in your position".

SwimForBrighterDays · 19/03/2020 17:15

Teachers will still be working. Still be teaching, just from a distance.

I wish people appreciated teachers a bit more.

My sons teachers are absolutely devastated that this is all happening.

We took them in a few boxes of chocolates and snacks for the staff room today.

Nonnymum · 19/03/2020 17:17

Teachers probably will be working still some will be in schools looking after vulnerable children and children of key workers. Those that are not will be making resources etc and I guess a good few will have to work on how the GCSE and A level students will be assessed/assessing assignments looking at predicted grades etc. Frankly it sounds a nightmare

RuffleCrow · 19/03/2020 17:17

because at some point the schools will reopen and presumably you'll still want your children educated? Because teachers also have children and rent/mortgages. How many reasons do you need?

You are being goady btw. Just because you're miserable about your husband being laid off why should everyone else have to suffer?!

83maddog83 · 19/03/2020 17:20

I am a TA in a primary school and all our staff will be working from home, aswell as going in to school to look after key worker's children and vulnerable pupils on a rota basis. Many people seem to think we are home for a long holiday, but none of the staff are happy about school closures. We work so hard for our pupils and have all been tearful over shutting our doors. It's so sad that we may not get to finish the school year with our classes. We genuinely care about every child and their wellbeing, and this is heartbreaking for school staff.

Lordfrontpaw · 19/03/2020 17:21

Some are still teaching. BIL teaches at a special school so it looks like they won’t be closing.

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