Government reportedly considering schools going back in 3 weeks

[FiveFootTwoEyesOfBlue]

On BBC News 24 now, article in tomorrow's Sunday Times says that ministers are considering schools going back in three weeks time. Plus allowing some shops and social gatherings, but not pubs and clubs.

There is no education taking place in schools in terms of key worker children.

Our key worker and some vulnerable children are completing the same work as everyone else - just doing it in the library rather than at home

Our most vulnerable children are being taught on a rota by out most experienced teachers.

And they are never going to be handing out lap tops to vulnerable kids, how many hundreds of thousands of kids is that, did anyone even ask if they have ordered them? How long production would take? Recruiting the IT support for them?

@Bluntness100 my school has already given out almost 100 laptops. Some parents collected and others were delivered.

I take offence when people suggest that teachers are only doing a fraction of what they usually would.

I have given up two weeks Easter holiday willingly, voluntarily and worked without pay. Including bank holidays.

I have rewritten schemes of work for home learning. Filmed myself explaining tasks to upload (mainly so the kids get to see me and know I’m here) and created a whole host of new resources and digital worksheets.

I am happily on the rota to look after key worker children during term time, in addition to online teaching.

I have spent hours phoning all of my learner’s parents to see how they’re doing.

I have written form tutor reports to give parents some feedback on their children’s participation in the first two weeks of online learning.

Every day I check through the work children have messaged me or uploaded to our virtual classrooms. I mark it, feedback and return it on the same day, with ways to improve. Then I take it in, mark it again and provide a grade. The turnaround for feedback is very quick.

I respond to emails children send me, even when they are just saying hello or showing me something they’ve baked.

I am in school this week making and constructing 1000 face masks using the laser cutter.

We have only had an additional 2 weeks off so far and I’ve done way more than I would usually have done. I’m secondary by the way.

Funnily, other than my husband, there isn’t a person in the world who could tell you what I’m doing. If you asked my sister, she shrug and say she didn’t know what I was doing.
When my brother asked what I’d been up to my answer was ‘oh just making some work sheets and looking after key workers children’. I don’t go accounting for every hour of work I’m doing. So when all your ‘teacher friends’ don’t appear to be doing much...are you sure? Really really sure?

Because I can’t believe that whilst I’m doing all this (and being monitored doing it), other people are doing bugger all. I just don’t believe it.

Finally IF you are a parent and your children’s teacher is not engaging with them; not sending sufficient work (particularly when we’re back in term time) and has just gone quiet, please inform your school.

As for going back, I’ll go back when I’m told to. I would appreciate if that time was somewhat safer as I’m awaiting investigations to do with an immune disorder, but currently have no diagnosis. Either way though, I’ll go in if I’m told to.

But my only problem with these threads is that I’m exhausted. I’ve worked flat out since Feb half term (and even then I went in 2 days for revision). I’m working through half term and if they then cancelled the summer holiday, it’ll be October/November before I get a break. In teaching that’s a ridiculously long time and I wouldn’t last. I am hoping to go away for summer, but even if I can’t, I really don’t want to be in school.

Usual MN teacher bashing on this thread. MN always makes me feel really sorry for teachers. I know they have worked extra hours to deal with this crisis. And still they get criticised. I have seen them criticised on MN for phoning vulnerable children, criticised for not giving enough school work, criticised for giving too much school work, criticised for making their class do a daily online check in.
I suspect all the unreasonable parents who normally post on here about every petty thing to do with the school, are now on here saying the same type of things in relation to the teachers response to covid 19.
My sister is one if those types, and the teacher could be Jesus Christ and she still would not be happy. Some people just like to complain.

I’d like to say that my dc’s school had been fantastic in the crisis. The headteacher is still working hard (primary school) and they’ve given out suggestions and sheets for home schooling. With no pressure to do set work. Brilliant.

*How can you press home that teaching is a vocation, but not understand the value of kids being in school to learn.

During this crisis most vital workers have admirably continued with their roles, gone above and beyond, and appreciated compromise is appropriate.

Teachers are the only sector where this has not been seen. I've never known the public to have such a low opinion of the profession.*

Exactly. I am doing my best to deliver 'remote teaching' but the children deserve face to face teaching and interaction with their peers, not simply yet another digital interaction with them.
Supermarket workers are faced with endless dreams of strangers all day -they are vital and get on with the job. I'd education is vital, which I believe it is, we should be clamouring to be allowed to go back and do it. It is shameful yet so many teachers are playing the union card to try to avoid it.

Our schools have been fantastic - plenty of work set and marked. Teachers available to give support where needed. Various resources and platforms being used to give a variety to every day.

If anything it is too much - DH and I are both working from home and I’m finding it hard to ensure everything gets done.

Having said that I am in no rush for them to go back. DH is shielded and it’s a huge risk for him - our youngest is especially worried that he is going to bring Coronavirus home if he goes back to school.

I suspect all the unreasonable parents who normally post on here about every petty thing to do with the school, are now on here saying the same type of things in relation to the teachers response to covid 19.
That sums it up.
Fortunately the vast majority of people don't have massive chips on their shoulders and are entirely reasonable and accept schools are doing their best.

peoplepleaser1 - since schools have stayed open for key workers’ children and vulnerable children, your silly little opinion that the public have never had such a low opinion of teachers is, imvho, only held by the sort of people who never liked teachers anyway, and who spend their lives whining about their perception of other people’s inadequacies.

My children’s teachers and school have been working very hard to stay in touch, respond to queries and complaints, and find ways to keep teaching to the best of their abilities. I have no complaints about my children’s teachers whatsoever - they are doing their best in a shitty situation.

Thank you walkaround

peoplepleaser1 - the most ironic username on this thread.

Thank you Walkaround

Thank you BertNErnie for some very sensible posts too.

Not really tuber : teachers aren't people, you see.

@peoplepleaser1

U okay hun?

*

Good point, piggy

No one should be, across the board, teacher bashing, they should only be commenting on what they know about the schools they’re affiliated to drives me mad

🌷🌹🌷

Not even sure they should be doing that : they'd be better off sharing that with- y'know- the actual school!