If anyone thinks teachers do not care about children and want what is best for them I suggest you take that up with your individual school and raise a complaint because that is not what I am hearing, reading or experiencing at all! Our number 1 priority is all kids AND their family's safety, not whether the parents can work or whether you are able to make them work at home. Yes some schools can be crap and some teachers can be crap but let's be clear, the government are running this shit show and it is them you need to be focussing your energy on, not us!
It is not schools that are doing this to our children, it is the government. We are doing as the government has asked. Instead of asking why schools cant create bubbles of 30, ask the GOVERNMENT because we are just doing as we have been instructed despite a lot of schools not having the space or funding to do so safely. School grounds have been sold off over the years to private owners so that rules out using the outdoor space in some schools.
To the PP who asked whether it was because of unions that we are not asking for extra funding... just wow! I wish every single one of you complaining about schools had cared this much about schools and education before the virus. Schools have been massively underfunded throughout this Tory government and we have complained and fought for extra funding but clearly that was just teachers moaning. A lot of children weren't getting the education and support they deserved before the virus because TA and LSA positions have been cut and if you take a look at how the funding for outside special needs and mental health agencies have been cut, you would be sickened. But that's all teachers fault isnt it! We just didnt care enough or do enough to fight this centralised defunding and destination of services and our education system!
I would implore those of you complaining about schools to research the underfunding in closer detail rather than bitching about schools. Even bitching about teachers because we are powerless and governed by our head teachers rule. Not saying I dont agree with my head but its laughable that some of you think us lowly teachers have power to sway decisions made by senior leadership or the government!
Yes I want to be back in school (teaching from home still as not in a year group that has gone back) but do I want it to be safe for the children, the staff and everyones families! Absolutely! Safety is THE priority and the fact that you think children missing 8 weeks of education ( yes, that's right, 8 weeks because of the holidays we have had!) Is the most important thing right now, then I despair of this country and people who think like that.by the time the holidays come it will 14 weeks of learning that children will have missed in school. In the grand scheme of life that is nothing. A lot WILL have been learning at home, although mumsnet seems to be some magical place where all the children go to shit schools where the teachers do nothing, so maybe your kids wont have been. Private schools have longer holidays, a lot will have been off for 2 weeks at half term maybe even a week extra at easter so let's say they have been off for 7 weeks now. Some wont even go back at all now as their long holidays start and others will be breaking up soon so will be stopping home learning. So I'm not sure I understand how out kids are losing out to them more than usual!They have a shorter term and we have longer to catch our kids up. Our larger class sizes, shorter days and lack of funding and equipment already outs our state system kids at a disadvantage but I dont hear anyone complaining normally! They also make up a small percentage of the children in this country so surely if most people are disadvantaged meaning it wont make a bit of a difference in how your childrens futures will pan out? Oh wait, I forgot, state schools arent doing enough! Teachers are crap! All the state teachers fault!
Children are resilient and will be fine. Yes some have mental health issues and other needs but do you really think school, in the current situation and how the government is dictating it should be run, is the best place for these vulnerable children! We are not childcare. I know it is hard to work from home with kids but this isnt forever and instead of wasting time bitching on here maybe spend time supporting your children with their mental health. That's what the teachers will be doing with far less resources and with a far bigger ratio of kids to deal with. Come up with some more practical solutions to actually help your school and these lazy work shy teachers you speak of. Find out about other facilities that can be used and propose these to the schools. Actually, dont! The schools cannot control this! Propose this to our feckless government who couldnt give a crap about our kids and their education and welfare, but do care about the economy over the lives of people.
I also suggest you read the guidance the government has given for schools to return just the initial 3 year groups. Give yourself a few hours though as there are a lot of documents that have been published, amended, contradicted and then rewritten, all in the few weeks since the government announced the return to school. School leaders have made plans then amended over and over, all with the childrens best interests at heart and no consideration of this from the government. www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-schools-and-other-educational-settings
There is a list on the .gov website if those considered clinically extremely vulnerable. They are not allowed back to work as it is not considered safe. The individuals haven't decided this, the government has. There is also a list of clinically vulnerable. This includes pregnant women which as we know, teaching attracts a lot of women of childbearing age so will affect how many staff are able to work. This is because we are not choosing to not go in, or cant be bothered, we have been instructed by the government (i hope you're noticing a pattern here!) To go to work ONLY if we can stay 2 metres distance from others. For office staff this could be possible depending on the setting. Teachers? No. And if you do think this is possible the you've clearly not worked in a school or want your children to receive the best care and support we can given as this is not possible from that distance. I am working from home and setting daily learning amongst other admin jobs I would usually spend hours of my own time doing outside of teaching. I have offered to take on extra admin but some of you dont seem to realise that a lot of this is personalised to classes and children and as I dont teach those classes, would be near on impossible for anyone to do other than that specific teacher who is in work teaching! I dont want to be off work. I'm not shielding but I cannot go in. I've asked for advice on when I can return but no guidance had been given, nor has it been given to those who need to shield and they should not have to risk their lives just because your precious little darlings arent coping at home, or should I say, you're not coping!?
We are doing what we can. Most are doing more than their best. Write to your MP, complain on social media to the government but can we leave teachers out of it as a general profession!? Complajn about individuals to your individual school of you feel you have a case, that's fine. But Its getting tiring and I'm not surprised teachers have been leaving in drives. To the PP who suggested there are lots of qualified teachers out there because of teacher retention... you really think they will come back to the shambles of an education system that the government has almost destroyed, especially in this climate with all the teacher bashing and not the slightest regard for our safety and wellbeing, let alone the children's!?
If any of this came across as parent bashing, I am sorry, it wasnt meant to be. My class have wonderful parents who email me queries or great work the kids have done and i feedback as soon as i can and love knowing how the kids are doing. I miss the children and miss chatting to the parents about their children. I know so many are doing all they can and are still struggling and i am supporting those parents the best that i can within my school's and government parameters. For those that are doing their best, I really do admire you but for those who bitch on here about teachers when they clearly haven't a clue what happens in schools or what is happening right now in these very different and challenging times, I have no sympathy. A little compassion goes a long way and you clearly have none of it which will affect how compassionate your kids will grow up to be. Be cruel to their teachers? Expect to be those posters on mumsnet in a few years complaining about the behaviour of your adult children towards you.
I have missed a lot of apostrophe. My phone is terrible to type on. I'm too angry to go back and read what I wrote and edit but I stand by everything I have said. Well done fellow teachers you are doing a brilliant job.