Why can't they change the school term?

[onedayinthefuture]

No one is willing to make a case for a pretty obvious solution. Schools close, bring down infections significantly and get the vaccinations ramped up. The winter was always going to be bad, keep the schools closed throughout January and February. That's 7 weeks that then needs to be made up later in the year. There are MORE than enough weeks in the spring and summer to do this. Cancel exams, the current cohort have had too much disruption this year and last but ensure a fair and proper accountability for exam grades awarded by teachers / exam boards.

I work in a school and don't want to lose my summer holidays but surely this makes sense? Have the kids in school in the warmer months where the virus will be less of a threat. No teachers will need to teach throughout this shutdown. ALL learning will be resumed in the classroom. The online provision causes even more of a gap between rich and poor.

Teachers working to supervise key worker children to be paid extra. Working parents (especially mothers are stuffed I admit, but aren't we anyway).

Socialisation I would argue is more important than education (which can be made up) that's the main issue for kids of all ages. That's my sticking point but in the main most kids are with loving families.

Can anyone tell me what I am missing?

Many jobs are rubbish at the moment. I hate this undercurrent that those of us who are not teachers or key workers are sitting on our arses at home with cushy 9-5 numbers.

The last couple of months almost broke me. Due to working from home and the stupid demands of my Financial services project based role I've been working ridiculous hours and seven day weeks.I'm dreading going back to work.

Literally the only good thing about Nov/Dec was that DS 14 was happy and learning loads at school. Now I've not even got that to console me for Jan to whenever - not that I'm saying schools should remain open - that's not the point of this rant.

Salty maybe reaching isn't for you. It's ok to admit you can't cope with the demands and do something else. It's not for everyone 🤷🏼‍♀️

It’s the way SAHPs feel more exhausted by lunchtime that the parents who left for work at 7am. It’s draining. I totally understand that now having spent a few years at home.

If you read these two posts side by side, maybe being a parent isn’t for everyone if they rely so heavily on schools and childcare facilities being open all year round...

@herethereandeverywhere

Salty Like I said, it attracts people who aren't robust.** Perhaps work on not worrying what others think if you are sure you're doing the right thing? Or don't read mumsnet for a while?

I'm not really worried what you think any more. It shows in my attitude to my job 🤷 and in my refusal to contemplate taking holiday in lockdown and working through the summer. No, again.

Are we really suggesting no other jobs are 'draining' ?!

The vast majority of jobs are draining, only a tiny minority are not.

at some point your DCs will inevitably be taught by people like me, who are just going through the motions (and achieving performance targets nonetheless). I suggest you stop disparaging the profession if you want them taught by enthusiastic teachers

If @herethereandeverywhere changes her opinion will that change how your enthusiasm for teaching?

@Goodbye2020Hello2021, I posted that in support of teachers. Not to suggest that because I found SAH exhausting, I shouldn’t have become a mother.

If you read these two posts side by side, maybe being a parent isn’t for everyone if they rely so heavily on schools and childcare facilities being open all year round...

This is the most stupid argument, there is nothing wrong with people having children with an expectation that they will receive an education. Parents who have faced difficulties juggling schoolwork, childcare & jobs are not neglectful parents.

@Kokeshi123

It's a pandemic though. Everyone has done extra work---well, OK, not everyone, but most people.

I was lucky enough to be able to stop working during the school closure---however, I lost two months of income and also lost a bunch of clients, possibly permanently. I had to homeschool while my toddler ran around trashing the house, and I nearly lost my mind. Other friends of mine were not able to stop working for financial reasons. They wound up homeschooling kids AND doing their jobs, by getting up at ridiculous times, working very late at night, giving up nearly all their weekends to catching up with paperwork and homeschooling.

And it's OK and we were happy to do it (well, not happy but we gritted our teeth and did it) because we understood that in a pandemic, most people are going to have to make sacrifices and do all kinds of odd and difficult things. The Japanese teachers giving up a chunk of their summer holidays was seen as being just part and parcel of the same process. (And the kids and teachers did get a summer holiday---just a shorter one than usual)

But you’re missing the massive cultural aspect which is that education is valued in Japan, teachers are respected in Japan, and children and teachers are in school six days a week year round anyway in Japan due to all the clubs and activities. And a further cultural issue is annual leave, which teachers and other workers in Japan are encouraged not to take, whereas in the U.K. workers wouldn’t dream of not taking their full quota.

You can’t compare the two nations!

They won't change the school term unless it would cost them votes.

We don't have strong leadership our government is made up of incompetent liars who play the game well or come from privileged backgrounds. They just react and chase votes.

I suggest you stop disparaging the profession if you want them taught by enthusiastic teachers

I'm not disparaging a profession. I was offering a theory in answer to the OP's question.

This is the most stupid argument, there is nothing wrong with people having children with an expectation that they will receive an education. Parents who have faced difficulties juggling schoolwork, childcare & jobs are not neglectful parents

Point made!
It is a stupid argument. Telling teachers that they should give up if they can’t cope being on call every day of the year is also stupid.

That was to bringle

But that wasn't @herethereandeverywhere point?

salty does sound disillusioned about her job & that's absolutely her right. I don't think what people say or don't say on this thread will change her feelings.

rookiemere
Many jobs are rubbish at the moment. I hate this undercurrent that those of us who are not teachers or key workers are sitting on our arses at home with cushy 9-5 numbers.

If you are getting this its not from most teachers.
We understand the issues with working form home and looking after your family.

The bigger problem are the arseholes that want to divide us so that they can continue to make disparaging remarks and belittle what people do so they won't get together and provide a united front.

Some parents in hospitality are lucky if the can get 1 week April -September. The whole school year needs shaking up so that each region/county has different holidays.

What about all the hospitality businesses who are desperate for a good summer season?

@Cookiecrisps

The whole education system is propped up by good will as it is and the only reason why most of the half baked ideas from the DfE delivered at the 11th hour are actioned quickly is down to the diligence of school staff who make it work.

If term dates are radically changed then it will impact other child care facilities, businesses and tourism who may be able to reopen in the summer, staff teaching contracts, university and college terms (also their funding), key worker and vulnerable children care (as PP said schools can’t afford to keep open all year round as no budget) and the quality of teaching and learning would be impacted further unless there is a decent break for children. We had some key worker children who came in every week day from March - July when school ended including half terms, all Easter and all bank holidays. Those children deserve a proper break too.

This ^

I'm not saying that it couldn't do with an overhaul in lots of ways, but there is so much tied up with it... particularly staff contracts, which follow a complicated formula!...that unpicking it all will be a major, thankless task.
I worked in the NHS for 14 years, before becoming a teaching assistant, which I have worked for for 13 years now. At least in the NHS I could pretty much have holidays/ time off when I chose.
In education, I cannot have time off or holidays when I please ( not without a huge amount of negotiation or taking time unpaid). And although we have 'holidays' they are not technically paid...we work term time plus 5 days... ' holiday pay ' is paid with our usual monthly pay , so in drubs and drabs throughout the year...if the whole impetus of the school year is changed ,the school cycle from Nursery to University is going to have to be re-aligned.

InTheMiddle23
Some parents in hospitality are lucky if the can get 1 week April -September. The whole school year needs shaking up so that each region/county has different holidays.

This was sort of suggested some time ago.

The biggest issue for parents was when they had children in different schools across different LEAs.

OMG, what a thoroughly demotivating thread.

@HancocksSexTears

Parents mental health is suffering, children's mental health is suffering, all our mental health is suffering

Teachers and school staff are often parents too.

I'm a parent, albeit with a much older child.
We've had three close family deaths this year and had to deal with three funerals in very challenging circumstances,
We've had several other big changes happen under difficult circumstances.
I've been very poorly due to covid and still struggling three months on.

Throughout this I have worked continuously and throughout my holidays, assisting parents and children with their learning, whether in school or remotely. Although I was ill I was still working throughout. Although grieving I still worked throughout. I have taken very little holidays this year as I am very aware how much our parents need the support.

So yes, I do realise that people's mental health is suffering.
My own mental health is suffering too.

Teachers and school staff are not exempt from this. We are not robots. As I am sure you can imagine many of them are suffering with their mental health as well.

@HancocksSexTears

There's no argument y to o be won here, it's a pandemic and we all have to rub along, but we, the parents, will remember the inflexibility.

I’ll remember the inflexibility of the government to fund schools and keep them safe.

I’ll remember the inflexibility of the government when it came to providing enough devices for children to work remotely.

I’ll remember the government choosing not to feed hungry children, and due to their cuts schools having to take on more and more pastoral roles - safeguarding, welfare, feeding hungry families during closure.

I’ll remember the faceless bitches on mumsnet who made a hobby out of teacher bashing, despite all of the above being the government’s decisions not teachers’ decisions.

I’ll remember all the lovely emails we got from parents thanking us for making our school as safe as possible and as “normal” as possible.

Op, as a teacher I’d be happy to do this as honestly at this point I’d be happy to do anything that keeps the students, parents and teachers safer. Obviously there are massive logistical demands, and opposition from people who are looking for a glimmer of hope or normality in things like summer holidays. I can’t think negatively of anyone for that.

TaxTheRatFarms

I’ll remember the inflexibility of the government when it came to providing enough devices for children to work remotely.

I’ll remember the government choosing not to feed hungry children, and due to their cuts schools having to take on more and more pastoral roles - safeguarding, welfare, feeding hungry families during closure.

I’ll remember the faceless bitches on mumsnet who made a hobby out of teacher bashing, despite all of the above being the government’s decisions not teachers’ decisions.

I’ll remember all the lovely emails we got from parents thanking us for making our school as safe as possible and as “normal” as possible.

This ^

@InTheMiddle23

Some parents in hospitality are lucky if the can get 1 week April -September. The whole school year needs shaking up so that each region/county has different holidays.

Those people chose jobs in hospitality though presumably knowing the holiday situation