How/when did the tide turn on schools?

[LaceCurtains]

In the beginning the mood here was almost desperate calling for schools to be closed.

In the last week or so there's been a marked shift to getting them open (from peope here).

Is it the same people who wanted the closed, now calling for them to get back to normal or have the original campaigners gone quiet/new people got louder?

FWIW I always thought schools closed as early as they did because of public pressure and it seems to me that "other" things are getting back to normal more quickly than originally planned/expected (because of DC and the need to distract?) but schools don't seem to be included in that.

I'm at a loss as to why schools are being treated so differently. I'm SLT in school, if that makes a difference and the government guidance is a shambles. Changes daily but doesn't seem to have any clear aim.

And we don't get paid for the summer holidays as has been explained many times, so we're not going in to work unpaid for 6 weeks. Teachers are contracted to work a set number of days per year. The annual salary is based on those days then divided by 12 so we can be paid monthly.

Many of us have been in voluntarily over Easter and half term but we aren't going to volunteer all summer. I have been working the entire time, certainly not sitting in my garden all day. Maybe there are teachers that haven't been working as hard but you cannot expect all teachers to work unpaid over the summer because a few haven't been pulling their weight.

There are definitely comments made on the education boards about “ thick parents “ and being pleased about schools not returning -made by teachers. It makes them sound reluctant and as though they don’t particularly care for either parents or their pupils. It’s those posters that aren’t helping to create this view of teachers as dragging their heels. I know however the truth is that there ARE teachers who are already back and many who want to go back.

I don't give a shit about whether teachers get paid for the summer holidays.

Long(ish) holidays are one of the few perks teachers get, so good luck to them. They get almost zero flexibility about when they get to take holidays.

I just would just like to see teachers on the same side as pupils and their parents when it comes to getting education back on the road.

The Unions are really doing their members a disservice.

Redolent Tue 09-Jun-20 07:29:46
I don’t think people quite envisaged how and the extent to which school closures would negatively impact the mental health of their children tbh.

How much of this is projection? Isn't a lot of childrens mental health the responsibility of parents? A child will not get stressed or anxious if the parent isn't and if a parent puts a positive spin on this, whatever they actually feel.
I would have LOVED this, hated school all the way through, hated going to birthday parties too.

A child will not get stressed or anxious if the parent isn't and if a parent puts a positive spin on this, whatever they actually feel

If it was that easy, no children would have mental health issues would they?Jesus christ.

they are 1 and our nursery has not reopened, I don't even know if its going to survive.

@mintandcoral this is going to be a huge issue for parents as furlough ends too.

I do wonder how we are going to get out of this mess.

Amispeakingenglish

The irony of you saying that it’s ‘projection’ before proceeding to tell us about the situation as it would have affected you.

Read your post back.

A child will not get stressed or anxious if the parent isn'
How much do you know about mental health!?
Plenty of young people with stable happy families that have mental health issues - not the parents' 'fault' ant nite than children getting leukaemia or any other pathology is the parents' 'fault'

I have said this time and time again.

I teach in a state school and been teaching live to timetable for the start of lockdown. This period would currently be my PPA, next period when I would have had Yr 11 I am actually having an additional session with Yr 12 in preparation for their coursework planning over the summer.

I actually want to be in school now. I would rather risk my physical health with catching them virus than my mental health. I am teaching my own children in allotted spots before my school hours and after. They are sitting on devices all day so I can teach. I actually considered throwing myself down the stairs to break a bone last night so I could be signed off. Teachers are at breaking point.

@motherrunner as a parent of a secondary school child, I'd like to thank you, your colleagues and other excellent teachers for the work you do.

Our Queen was educated at home. Home schooling does not need to mean mental stress but certainly a lot of children are not in ideal situations at home, even if their parents are fairly well paid and middle class but trying to do two full time jobs whilst minding toddlers and working until 3 and 4am every day.

A child will not get stressed or anxious if the parent isn't and if a parent puts a positive spin on this, whatever they actually feel

I'd be interested to see the MH research evidence to back this up?

@SecondaryBurnzzz Thank you. I’m in a more positive mood today. The news that I may have to work over the summer sent me into a spiral yesterday. I am failing my own children at the moment and I want my holiday so I can spend time with them. The irony of us being at home 24/7 together but I’m just in teacher mode all day.

A child will not get stressed or anxious if the parent isn't and if a parent puts a positive spin on this, whatever they actually feel

That statement is on a par with saying depression isn't a real illness and depressed people just need to cheer themselves up.

And then to follow up by saying how you hated birthday parties and would have loved this. Wtaf?

@Nihiloxica

I don't give a shit about whether teachers get paid for the summer holidays.

Long(ish) holidays are one of the few perks teachers get, so good luck to them. They get almost zero flexibility about when they get to take holidays.

I just would just like to see teachers on the same side as pupils and their parents when it comes to getting education back on the road.

The Unions are really doing their members a disservice.

Completely agree!

@amispeakingenglish

Redolent Tue 09-Jun-20 07:29:46 I don’t think people quite envisaged how and the extent to which school closures would negatively impact the mental health of their children tbh.

How much of this is projection? Isn't a lot of childrens mental health the responsibility of parents? A child will not get stressed or anxious if the parent isn't and if a parent puts a positive spin on this, whatever they actually feel.
I would have LOVED this, hated school all the way through, hated going to birthday parties too.

Interesting - a child's mental health is the direct result of the parenting, certainly a parent will impact it through nature and nurture - read much about children's mental health have you?

@motherrunner

I have said this time and time again.

I teach in a state school and been teaching live to timetable for the start of lockdown. This period would currently be my PPA, next period when I would have had Yr 11 I am actually having an additional session with Yr 12 in preparation for their coursework planning over the summer.

I actually want to be in school now. I would rather risk my physical health with catching them virus than my mental health. I am teaching my own children in allotted spots before my school hours and after. They are sitting on devices all day so I can teach. I actually considered throwing myself down the stairs to break a bone last night so I could be signed off. Teachers are at breaking point.

I wish you were teaching my Year 12s. My kids get a big long list of stuff to do at the start of the week, sometimes they need to hand it in - one teacher doesn't mark anything and sets a chapter a week from the textbook - that must take him at least 5 mins to write that email on a Sunday night.

@OldLace the research would show quite the opposite. Children can tell if you are not congruent. That doesn't mean weeping and wailing at them, but it's so important that they recognise feelings and are not taught to hide them.

Btw, I realise you know this, so it's really directed at whoever claimed this.

mintandcoral you seem to think that everyone is personally blaming their upset and stress on you? I think our school could do better, actually. One piece of a4 with - 10 x times tables rockstars, maybe look at oak academy, check out bbc Bitesize - per week doesn't say to me that our school is trying its hardest to do the best by our children. And I am blaming the government and I have written to our MP. Our children's mental health is being impacted (not all children but some) and there is no clear communication / forecast for how we will come out of this. We have a right to feel angry and let down. This anger is not directed at you, don't worry, I don't believe you personally have the power to fix any of this.

@motherrunner is your school teaching the key worker/vulnerable kids or just providing a responsible adult to oversee them?

I was asked to complete a survey which I strongly suspect was commissioned by the Govt/No10, all about trying to measure appetite for risk/prioritising fear of the virus against fear of damage to the economy. Schools reopening wasn’t even on it, that how low down the list it is for the Govt. Disgraceful. If they think this won’t affect my vote in the future then they should think again.

In real life the person I know who complains most about the school our mutual children attend is a teacher at another school, whose husband is also a teacher, a headteacher in fact, because she knows how things can be done, and that our head is not a very good headteacher. This is in pre covid times too.
I very much value her opinion.
Complaining about one school or one teacher is not the same as complaining about all of them.
We're not stupid, we kind of know the difference.

I wish you were teaching my Year 12s

Can you teach ALL the pupils, @motherrunner?

It's not like you haven't got enough to be doing.

Sorry you are feeling so stressed. A lot of working parents feel similarly. It's shit. Your pupils are really lucky to have you.

@GazeboParty Yes we are open for keyworker children although being a high school there are only around 20 students in day. They are divided between 2 IT rooms so therefore also have access to the live lessons that are taking place. The rooms are staffed by SLT, support staff and teachers of practical lessons eg PE. All other teachers are at home, teaching to timetable.