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Original poster

Teacher / school staff solidarity needed

111 replies

OpheliasCrayon · 18/12/2020 07:16

It's my last day of term today, but I just wanted to know if any other teachers were really upset by yesterday's news that secondary children were going to go back staggered in Jan and we needed to do online learning.

I'm primary and sen so, I'm not secondary, but I just burst into tears, I don't trust the government to stick to anything, I've been asked to prepare this anyway in case of bubble closures or if the government change their minds any further and I don't trust the government to stick to anything.

And furthermore I am very certain that they have no power of rational thought due to their insane ideas to roll out mass testing in schools. We're teachers not medics.

I just cried though. I can't take any more this term and this just felt like such a low blow from the government, dropping this on seriously exhausted teachers right at the end of term.

I know we do all plan during the holidays- that's a given, but it just felt like such a cheap shot because the government left us literally no time to prepare anything in school and basically have said here - happy Christmas, now you can prepare for this during your holidays (along with all of your usual planning) and have even less of a rest.

I just wanted to know if any other teachers felt like this?

And if you're not a teacher or member of school staff and have any inkling of having ANY sort of a go at us for what we can / can't / should / shouldn't do in school... Can I please urge you not to. I know that everyone has a right to free speech but I have no wish for this to turn into yet another teacher bashing thread (of which there have been many) when I know that I am at my absolute wit's end with this, completely exhausted and tearful and just wanting some solidarity from fellow education workers.

My school have been nothing but absolutely fantastic throughout about everything so my upset is purely at the government, just to be clear, and how they're treating us

Thank you

OP posts:
SionnachRua · 18/12/2020 07:18

Not a teacher in your country so the news had an impact on me but I was so angry when I read about it. Your system overworks you all as it is, shameful to put even more pressure on you over what is supposed to be your holiday.

Original poster
OpheliasCrayon · 18/12/2020 07:18

@SionnachRua

Not a teacher in your country so the news had an impact on me but I was so angry when I read about it. Your system overworks you all as it is, shameful to put even more pressure on you over what is supposed to be your holiday.
I'm just listening to a head teacher on the radio now talking about it and she sounds pretty upset and almost tearful.
OP posts:
SionnachRua · 18/12/2020 07:18

Should say "so the news had NO impact on me" there!

It really is a horrible way to finish out the term Flowers

Original poster
OpheliasCrayon · 18/12/2020 07:19

I need a break. We all need a break. I just feel like we are being kicked really hard when we're already down

OP posts:
cantthinkofanythingwitty · 18/12/2020 07:23

I'm a secondary teacher. It is just typical that this has been spring on us again. One good thing is that at least Yr 11-13 will be in as my heart sank when I first saw the headline as I have students who have their exam on 6th Jan and I immediately panicked about this.

I haven't read anything about the testing tbh, as I actually want to enjoy some of this Xmas break without another thing to worry about. I am truly so worn out this term, I really am.

cantthinkofanythingwitty · 18/12/2020 07:23

Sprung*

Herja · 18/12/2020 07:24

I'm not a teacher. I have family who are though and I have seen the huge workload my childrens teachers have had added this year. I am so sorry that this has happened. It's really fucking shit and hugely unfair. Nothing else to say; just didn't want you feeling that every non-school person would think you should just shut up and put up... I don't and or do many, many others. It's not OK.

Smurf123 · 18/12/2020 07:24

Teacher in ni.. Our news is we are heading for a 6 week lockdown and that talks between education minister and health are continuing and hope to reach a decision really next week... Today is our last day in school. So we won't know if we will be coming back in January or going to remote learning or blended learning or what? How were we supposed to plan for that? Now we are going to scramble today to grab the essentials of what we might need to teach from home just incase we are told we aren't allowed back in the building in January (which is what happened in March) we are all waiting anxiously as it is waiting on a covid test results for someone who developing symptoms on Thursday to see whether we still get to see our families at Christmas.

Hummmmming · 18/12/2020 07:25

I teach in a large FE college in a tier 2 area in my 12 years this has been the hardest most exhausting term of teaching yesterday's news was the final straw. We don't know which groups will be in as all of my students will be doing an exam of some description when we return to college. I hope we get some guidance from out SLT who have been brilliant but it has soured the much needed Christmas break as planning for more online learning was not what any of us needed.

Original poster
OpheliasCrayon · 18/12/2020 07:25

@Smurf123

Teacher in ni.. Our news is we are heading for a 6 week lockdown and that talks between education minister and health are continuing and hope to reach a decision really next week... Today is our last day in school. So we won't know if we will be coming back in January or going to remote learning or blended learning or what? How were we supposed to plan for that? Now we are going to scramble today to grab the essentials of what we might need to teach from home just incase we are told we aren't allowed back in the building in January (which is what happened in March) we are all waiting anxiously as it is waiting on a covid test results for someone who developing symptoms on Thursday to see whether we still get to see our families at Christmas.
Exactly. We just can't prepare. If you drop this on us at the end of term there's nothing we can do
OP posts:
FestiveStuffing · 18/12/2020 07:26

My sympathies. I'm on maternity leave until next September, thank goodness.

I think try and limit extra work where possible. Use the same PowerPoints for home and school lessons etc, create resources that could be used either at home or in school. Don't work yourself into the ground. Take a week off now and properly rest, prioritise your jobs, allocate a certain number of working hours over the rest of the holiday and then what doesn't get done, doesn't get done. I know it's not that easy, but ultimately you can't pour from an empty cup, you need a rest and an absolutely exhausted teacher won't deliver a good lesson even with the best planning and resources.

SophieB100 · 18/12/2020 07:32

Our lovely, experienced Head (huge High School) was at breaking point yesterday. I felt so sorry for her. She's had an awful term, after a long summer of uncertainty because the Government released and changed guidelines for re-opening in September so late.
She and SLT and some of us have spent hours (days in total) contacting parents, sending students home, pouring over seating plans and fretting about getting it right. We've had outbreaks in most year groups and staff off positive too. It's been hard, but we and she have for the most part managed it with a lot of team work and support from each other.
She needs and deserves a break, because honestly, she's running on empty. And yesterday, she got this news, and now her break is going to be ruined because of setting up this doomed ridiculous idea of schools being responsible for the health of students. Not parents or carers - but schools. We can't - a school our size - possibly manage this. We don't have the space, because we had to refigure the whole layout of the school due to the bubbles and staggered areas for breaks/lunches, exits, entrances etc. We certainly don't have the staff capacity.

All because Boris won't back down on his "Spread the virus with some Christmas cheer" campaign. We all know how daft this is, and god knows what life will be like in January onwards. A broken NHS, schools completely screwed...all because he can't and won't admit that he made his five day relaxation plan at a time when they didn't know how bad things would be right now.

A reactive government coming up with this unworkable plan to swab thousands and thousands of students. All it will achieve is pushing Heads and teachers over the edge of the cliff they've been clinging onto by their fingertips.

PrivateD00r · 18/12/2020 07:35
Daffodil
Original poster
OpheliasCrayon · 18/12/2020 07:35

@SophieB100

Our lovely, experienced Head (huge High School) was at breaking point yesterday. I felt so sorry for her. She's had an awful term, after a long summer of uncertainty because the Government released and changed guidelines for re-opening in September so late. She and SLT and some of us have spent hours (days in total) contacting parents, sending students home, pouring over seating plans and fretting about getting it right. We've had outbreaks in most year groups and staff off positive too. It's been hard, but we and she have for the most part managed it with a lot of team work and support from each other. She needs and deserves a break, because honestly, she's running on empty. And yesterday, she got this news, and now her break is going to be ruined because of setting up this doomed ridiculous idea of schools being responsible for the health of students. Not parents or carers - but schools. We can't - a school our size - possibly manage this. We don't have the space, because we had to refigure the whole layout of the school due to the bubbles and staggered areas for breaks/lunches, exits, entrances etc. We certainly don't have the staff capacity.

All because Boris won't back down on his "Spread the virus with some Christmas cheer" campaign. We all know how daft this is, and god knows what life will be like in January onwards. A broken NHS, schools completely screwed...all because he can't and won't admit that he made his five day relaxation plan at a time when they didn't know how bad things would be right now.

A reactive government coming up with this unworkable plan to swab thousands and thousands of students. All it will achieve is pushing Heads and teachers over the edge of the cliff they've been clinging onto by their fingertips.

This is how I feel / see everything where I work. I'm upset and angry, I've cried multiple times this week because of how covid is affecting us and our kids (I teach SEN) and I can't take anymore from.a government who can't care less.
OP posts:
inquietant · 18/12/2020 07:36

I'm not a teacher, I feel like emailing our head just to say how upset I am this has been dumped on them last minute but wasn't sure it'd be right thing to do.

I am so sad teachers are being shat on like this.

They are trying to detract from the Christmas error.

AllTheUserNamesAreTaken · 18/12/2020 07:37

I’m not a teacher but I was disgusted to see the gov make these plans at the very last minute. It’s done without even an apology or am acknowledgement that teachers will end up having to plan/sort this during the holidays.
I don’t know how long the work will take you but can you work it out in full days and then do it in the days immediately before returning to work. Like a pp suggested, take the first week or so off so you do at least get a proper break, even if not as long as it should be.

BonjourMiss · 18/12/2020 07:39

I’m a teacher in primary.

If you’re this stressed already, then posting a thread on here will not help you, you’ll be getting wound up at possible teacher bashing, wound up about politics, wound up about coronavirus. You need to:

  1. rest
  2. pick your battles
  3. put your phone away and rest your eyes
  4. lower your expectations at home
  5. spend time outdoors in all the weather

Do you have supportive management? Xmas Smile

SophieB100 · 18/12/2020 07:40

@inquietant
Do it, send an email.
Our Head is so grateful when a parent sends a supportive message. It really does help.

DreamingofBrie · 18/12/2020 07:42

I'm a teacher. Sending solidarity, OpheliasCrayon. Today is the first day of our holiday and I'm wondering whether to start planning for KS3 4 or KS5. Can't articulate how I feel at the moment, I'm so worn down by it all.

Cloud1220 · 18/12/2020 07:43

Not a teacher, but just wanted to say thank you to all school staff for what you’ve done and are doing. You’ve had to go above and beyond what you ever expected to have to do when you trained and entered the profession. I’m so sorry the government don’t show you the respect you deserve. Please know that you’re appreciated by us parents!

Original poster
OpheliasCrayon · 18/12/2020 07:45

@BonjourMiss

I’m a teacher in primary.

If you’re this stressed already, then posting a thread on here will not help you, you’ll be getting wound up at possible teacher bashing, wound up about politics, wound up about coronavirus. You need to:

  1. rest
  2. pick your battles
  3. put your phone away and rest your eyes
  4. lower your expectations at home
  5. spend time outdoors in all the weather

Do you have supportive management? Xmas Smile

Nah it's not stress so much as just really upset that the government are doing this to us a whole. If people do choose to bash us I just think it would be pretty shitty but I mean I'm not going to cry over some randomer who wasn't nice to me online. One more day of work for me today (online) then I can have a break but plenty planning to do.

I'm sen so this wouldn't hopefully affect us although we've been asked to prepare to be safe, but it's more the principle of how the government are just happy to continue shitting on us from on high.

And yes my management are incredible

OP posts:
Taystee29 · 18/12/2020 07:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

starfish4 · 18/12/2020 07:49

Minister on TV just said more details will be released on Monday. So teachers, get your marking done over the weekend, class sorted and stationery orders in on Monday, then you'll be ready to get prepared. They know you can do it, as you've done it all year. You can have a couple of days off, spend time with your family - except you're probably feel you're too high risk to see loved ones, or could well be isolating. Also, I totally understand that hospital and care home workers will get vaccines early, but you're lucky, you won't have to worry about having time to get yours done sooner rather than later, as you're not deemed a keyworker.

Haven't got DC at school anymore, but there are those who really appreciate you.

starrynight19 · 18/12/2020 07:52

Yes feel exactly the same. I’m primary to so at least we aren’t being forced into the shit show that is testing straight after Christmas but I can’t wait for our turn in the spring. Although the rate primary cases are climbing I am sure it won’t be that far away.

I feel so sorry for the secondary school staff who have had this put on them yet again at the last minute.
Just when you think the DFE couldn’t go any lower.
Merry bloody Christmas Sad

ChloeDeckTheHalls · 18/12/2020 07:56

I am so sorry that it all came to a head @OpheliasCrayon yesterday and it’s actually quite nice to read your thread to know you are not the only one, so I don’t think you shouldn’t have posted.

The last minute decisions this govt are known for, is causing many people to break.

I can imagine the reaction to those in the hospitality industry getting yet again a days notice to close or revamp for takeaway etc and I am sure many of them cried too.

To those reading this thread and maybe thinking ‘oh teachers moaning again’, this affects so many people and it’s important this govt are held to account in what has been an extremely terrible way to run a country by informing as many people as possible as to the harm this is causing.

BrewCake to the OP and everyone else affected.