Another teacher worried

[Toastybutt]

I’m really lucky.
We are allowed to wear masks and cases have not been too bad in our area. But it’s really starting to get to me. I’m vulnerable- as are many of our staff. Not very very vulnerable, but enough that, now that cases are rising sharply in the area, I’m getting scared.
Not just for me. I’m worried about bringing it home to my family - I’m the only one who has to go out to work. I’m worried about passing it on to a colleague. I’m terrified that something I do (or forget to do) will put a child at risk of getting it and taking it home.
It’s really starting to drag me down.
It’s Sunday morning and I already feel sick about work tomorrow. I enjoy my job. But we are working extra hours because of staggered starts, doing extra break duties, doing various cleaning tasks too. Plus I need to get work ready for isolating children, prep and teach amazing lessons because my class deserve it and stay upbeat for the kids.
I know lots are in worse positions, I’m lucky to have a job etc. I have no idea how teachers in secondary are coping. I understand it’s worse for nurses. I know all that. But I’m stressed and sad and it’s only going to get worse now for at least the next few months.
Just needed a whinge. Thank you.

[Hugepeppapigfan]

@RingPiece
CEV staff should not be in school just now.

[timeforanewstart]

@RingPiece the school also need to be taking responsibility and i can't see how teaching 60 children is allowed its not even in normal times, seems bad practice by the school in that example

[Incacat2]

I'm feeling the same, OP. I'm in secondary, so it's 5 different classes of 32, plus my form group every day. The kids don't care. The younger staff don't care. A cleaner who cleans our classrooms had it and we were not even informed. People are not SD, wearing masks round their chins, and some staff have stopped cleaning desks in between lessons. The school has stopped informing us when kids are isolating. The workload is worse than a normal year. On top of it all, the press (and some posters on here) see us as lazy and incompetent. I have 4 kids attending 4 different schools and one at uni, and DH is a secondary teacher too. I also have a heart condition. Apparently OFSTED are due this term or next. I could cry.

[Toastybutt]

@Hugepeppapigfan
The school don’t have much of a choice.
Schools have spent their budget on extra cleaning and installing hand gel dispensers etc. The government are giving ZERO support to schools.
Their alternative is to send the year group home.

[Toastybutt]

@Incacat2

Ofsted can just do one.

[Incacat2]

Oh, and so many staff are off at DH's school, either with Covid or depression, that he is teaching 2 classes of A level at the same time. He cannot combine the classes, as there are not enough desks or chairs and it's the most popular subject. He runs from one class to the next, and teaches over lunch. He has been doing this for 2 months now and is on his knees. Parents are constantly complaining, but there are no supply teachers with the A level skills needed.

[Hugepeppapigfan]

@Toastybutt sorry but I’m SLT and not chance would I have any CEV staff in school! The DfE say they should not be in during this lockdown. It’s not an option at all. Clinically vulnerable can still be in but not the extremely vulnerable ones. If your friend is CEV then she should have a letter from her doctor and not be in school.

[Hugepeppapigfan]

@Toastybutt sorry re-reading the posts it’s not your friend but @RingPiece’s. The info is still the same though.

www.gov.uk/guidance/education-and-childcare-settings-new-national-restrictions-from-5-november-2020

[Toastybutt]

True. It was more the teaching two classes at once. It’s not great but I can see why.

[RingPiece]

CEV staff should not be in school just now.

She was CEV but now her condition isn't on the new shielding list. I honestly don't know what health condition she has but I know she was at home last time, but didn't get an email this time.

Also, there was a supply teacher teaching the other class on Thursday. They didn't come back on Friday so she had to do it. She's been told they're trying to get someone in for next week but will likely have to teach like that on Monday again. She has been told to do the planning for two classes for the foreseeable future. The classes have very different needs. I've been helping her plan individual work for EAL children and a child with Oppositional DD, all in the other class.

[SparklingLime]

@Incacat2

I'm feeling the same, OP. I'm in secondary, so it's 5 different classes of 32, plus my form group every day. The kids don't care. The younger staff don't care. A cleaner who cleans our classrooms had it and we were not even informed. People are not SD, wearing masks round their chins, and some staff have stopped cleaning desks in between lessons. The school has stopped informing us when kids are isolating. The workload is worse than a normal year. On top of it all, the press (and some posters on here) see us as lazy and incompetent. I have 4 kids attending 4 different schools and one at uni, and DH is a secondary teacher too. I also have a heart condition. Apparently OFSTED are due this term or next. I could cry.

Dear god, this is heartbreaking to read. Thank you @Incacat2, @Toastybutt, and all your colleagues for keeping on, but it has to be unsustainable. The government and media have let teachers and schools down so badly, it is unforgivable.

[Ashard20]

@sparklinglime and everyone else - thank you so much for your understanding comments.
It is quite exceptional to feel that our voices are being heard.

[sherryperry]

Just adding my voice. I understand.
It's rubbish.

[Toastybutt]

Yes. It means a lot.
Some of the “get on with it, you did nothing during lockdown 1” comments really sting tbh. It’s become increasingly obvious that a large proportion of the population really despise teachers and I think that’s making it worse.

[RuleWithAWoodenFoot]

I'm coping by dialing it back.

I'm doing the very basics to keep my class going, but focusing entirely on them. Nothing outside of my bubble. I'm SLT, so shouldn't be doing this, but aside from checking on the MH of my team, it feels a bit every man for himself at the moment. Our head and deputy aren't in school (shielding), which makes decision making and fire fighting even tougher. Other staffing is very tricky. We get an email at 8.30 from one of the people at home on their sofa saying 'X, X and X aren't in today', which seems like a piss take every time!

Behaviour is challenging too, which to be honest is the biggest issue for me at the moment - and we all know that it's soul destroying when behaviour goes tits up, even at the best of times.

Anyway... I like @pombal suggestions... and it's 'only' 5 weeks until the end of term. Ha.

[Feckers2018]

well.....as an older teacher I've resigned from my dream job as nothing is worth this.....NW hotspot.......I would say Covid is in school everyday.

[Audacity7]

I just don’t know who we can get to listen. Everyone seems to either just not care or have their fingers in their ears. Schools are just so unsafe and nobody wants to know. Makes everyday that much harder.

[RuleWithAWoodenFoot]

I know she was at home last time, but didn't get an email this time.

Also - some letters only arrived this last Friday - a week or more after the others. We had a member of staff go home on Friday.

[HeyBaby2020]

@Toastybutt

I’m really lucky.
We are allowed to wear masks and cases have not been too bad in our area. But it’s really starting to get to me. I’m vulnerable- as are many of our staff. Not very very vulnerable, but enough that, now that cases are rising sharply in the area, I’m getting scared.
Not just for me. I’m worried about bringing it home to my family - I’m the only one who has to go out to work. I’m worried about passing it on to a colleague. I’m terrified that something I do (or forget to do) will put a child at risk of getting it and taking it home.
It’s really starting to drag me down.
It’s Sunday morning and I already feel sick about work tomorrow. I enjoy my job. But we are working extra hours because of staggered starts, doing extra break duties, doing various cleaning tasks too. Plus I need to get work ready for isolating children, prep and teach amazing lessons because my class deserve it and stay upbeat for the kids.
I know lots are in worse positions, I’m lucky to have a job etc. I have no idea how teachers in secondary are coping. I understand it’s worse for nurses. I know all that. But I’m stressed and sad and it’s only going to get worse now for at least the next few months.
Just needed a whinge. Thank you.

I know it’s easier said than done but seriously try not to worry and let it get you down

I work in a school too but have the attitude if I get it I get it, there really is nothing you can do about it and for most people it really is harmless

[Danglingmod]

Ring piece - that's terrible that your friend is having to teach 60 children that way!

It's truly shit, it really is. I know HCP and police and carers and many more have it shit too. We definitely don't have it worse than them. But it's truly depressing.

Secondary here. Behaviour is shocking. Kids NEVER keep their distance from staff or each other. We get zero breaks as are constantly teaching staggered classes so are hungry and can't get a hot drink. Clean in between each class. Classrooms are approximately 8-10 degrees with the windows open. Parents send kids in with symptoms or whilst awaiting tests. We can't speak to colleagues about anything in person so there is no sense of pulling together or anything. Planning work for kids at home and in school and then the ones at home don't do it anyway. Listening to kids discussing sleepovers and playdates even in lockdown.

Then I go home and spend all evening in a different room from my husband who is CEV so I don't pass it on to him.

It's truly shit. I have no solutions. I don't hate my students and I don't think schools should necessarily close.

[HeyBaby2020]

Sorry that sounded blunt, what I meant was try not to let it get you down constantly and think of other things you enjoy to take your mind of it because as sad as it is, you can’t control it no matter what people say 2M distance or not

[ChristopherLillicrap]

I'm a TA in a primary school.

I think one of the things that makes it more difficult is that the staff are all so isolated from each other. The usual opportunities for a laugh or to vent about something have almost disappeared. There is none of the camaraderie that usually keeps us going through the difficult times.

My role includes providing intimate care, which means that there is no chance of social distancing from the child. I need a second adult with me in the (tiny) room for safeguarding. Not only can we not physically stay 2 metres apart, but we are also based in different bubbles to each other - which increases the chances of the virus spreading further.

Schools are tough environments to work in right now.

Solidarity to all teachers and other school staff out there.

[RuleWithAWoodenFoot]

I'm not worried about getting it.

I'm worried about passing it on to my vulnerable partner without me even knowing I've got it/had it

I'm worried about being blamed for closing a bubble (there is a thread on AIBU right now where a parent is angry with school staff for passing it on)

I'm worried about behaviour making other children unsafe

I'm worried about behaviour making other staff unsafe

I'm worried about the day to day running of a school where there aren't enough staff to keep children safe

I'm worried about the mental health of other staff

I'm worried about my own mental health

I'm worried about the accountability that will still remain for attainment and progress come the end of the year - this applies personally, from an Ofsted perspective, from an SLT perspective, from a child perspective, and from the 'all teachers are lazy and crap' media narrative too

Can't control any of those things, have to consider them existential and have closed in on controlling my bubble only. Even that doesn't really work, because of behaviour and needing to escalate situations outside of my bubble.

[Letseatgrandma]

I'm worried about the accountability that will still remain for attainment and progress come the end of the year - this applies personally, from an Ofsted perspective, from an SLT perspective, from a child perspective, and from the 'all teachers are lazy and crap' media narrative too

Yes, I agree. Still cutting and sticking learning objective strips into books of children who can barely read them (what’s wrong with a title?!), still taking photos for evidence and writing VF in to prove you’ve spoken to them. Time wasting activities and missing the point entirely really.

[Toastybutt]

Oh @Danglingmod.
That’s crap. I’m sorry. Honestly I have no idea how secondary staff are carrying on.