Headteacher unions begin legal proceedings against DfE

[Makingnumber2]

www.naht.org.uk/news-and-opinion/news/leadership-news/update-regarding-start-of-term-sent-to-members-on-2-jan-2021/?fbclid=IwAR3WFugSo-KsSToWAvbteMs8HspeXZTMBd9VaiOlAVxOeL0FM1wDRzqbviA

NAHT and ASCL start legal proceedings against DfE

@Flaxmeadow

Why the shaming of teachers? I don’t get it.

Their unions are calling for strike action during a pandemic crisis!

No they aren't.

However I think you'd benefit from an education as you can't read the millions of posts explaining this or differentiate between different things. 🤦‍♀️

@GetOffYourHighHorse

What if their seats aren't more than 2m away?

(you've also clearly never been in an infant classroom)

Flax meadow

So you agree then that, like some supermarkets are different [and I said, the ones I've used since March all have screens (plus masks as well in some)maroons the tills and are in open plan style large buildings with restricted numbers, albeit a lot] then surely schools are often very different too.

And no it's not 'all about me' obviously. But the main risk, we are told, is from being with the same people for a length of time - 15 minutes in close contact, without a barrier. The supermarkets I use do not have that scenario. There are barriers in the way of screens, plus masks for some, and individual customers are unlikely to be stood within 2m of the worker for longer than a few minutes, let alone 15 minutes. Maybe some are different and have the same customer in close contact with no barrier for an hour at a time.

Where has this talk of classroom and fridges come from? Did I miss something.

@GetOffYourHighHorse

'Sure, dude. Of course they have.'

Yes indeed and I could certainly manage a flask if the staff room was off limits and to tell kids to stay seated. 'Oh but we must walk round the class'. No, you mustn't!' it isn’t rocket science.

Have you taught primary school, especially in infants or reception?

Reception classes often don't even have enough chairs and tables for them all to sit at once.

I will be gutted for my only child, DS4, if schools go remote learning, because he needs the social interaction.

I fully support teachers in their actions. I watch my DS’ teacher at pick up and drop off, in her flimsy cloth face mask, holding children’s hands and having them cuddle her legs. I know DS’ school has done an amazing job of making everything as normal as possible... but it isn’t safe for them.

Love the new username Herc

I think the fridge in the classroom is where we are supposed to store the vaccines so that we can jab the kids while teaching them maths.

As good a guess as any.

@TaxTheRatFarms
TeacherBorgMindSoftware(TM)
Perfect

@Abraxan nursery staff also have the same issue even more so as they have to help 0-4 years olds even more .
I think the facf some are dismissing that its not just teachers , retail in march . April etc had no protection when schools were shut , they don't tend to be in unions and they had to get on
Some of what being asked is impossible such as mass testing with pcr , I don't know who gets this in other industries yes testing but not always pcr -
More space - where is that coming from and the teachers to teach
Key workers we have a lot if so still a large amount need to be in school as do vunerable children
Im confused as I have read a couple of teachers on here say I will be working but at home? Not on school with key worker and vunerable
The masks are an easy one to implement wether they halt this strain who knows
And secondary teachers can sd easier as no need to go to pupils as you can't do this wfh and policies should be in place , children are sent home if they don't follow the safety rules

Getoff

So you have zero expertise that is helpful to me.

Your opinions are both useless and a bit irritating.

@HercwasanEnemyofEducation

Where has this talk of classroom and fridges come from? Did I miss something.

Apparently staff should take a flask to school because going into the staff room is fate worse than death because the poster who said it knows they are rammed with staff.

Not my experience. The numbers allowed in ours are so low you have a choice to eat in class with pupils or in your car.

Most staff eat in their car.

'Someone has a job that they don't want to admit to.'

Yes and I won't say what part of the country I live in or tell you my name either. Basic Internet safety. I'd have thought teachers would have been hot on this stuff? Clearly not. Disappointing really.

'Where has this talk of classroom and fridges come from? Did I miss something.'

Just an example of exasperating discussions on mn. On another teacher was saying it was terrible she couldn't go to the staffroom, it was off limits as it was small (despite it being for the much demanded 'SAFETY' reasons). A page or 2 ago another agreed with this complaint as the fridge was in the staffroom. Just mind boggling really.

In all honesty, if other workers haven't stood up for themselves or don't have the unions to do it, then that's not the problem of teachers to solve.

I would absolutely stand in solidarity with any other profession that went on strike or took action short of a strike right now. But I can't make them do it- and presumably their workers don't feel that unsafe because they are not doing it.

Or maybe everyone will start using the NEU draft letter, adapted to their own circumstances?

At the end of the day, I can't make things safer for supermarket workers or nurses, as much as I might want to- but I can make them safer for the families of the students I teach.

It beggars belief that @Flaxmeadow still doesn't know the definition of a strike.

Strike
noun
a refusal to work organized by a body of employees as a form of protest, typically in an attempt to gain a concession or concessions from their employer.

Teachers are NOT refusing to work. They will be working from home to deliver the curriculum online, as they have been obliged to do for pupils not in school, since October.
This is NOT a strike. Teachers WILL be working, just not in the classroom (unless they are supervising KW' children)

One vocal teacher on here doesn't like live lessons either

To be fair, I also don't think live lessons are the answer in many situations. Live lessons can make life much harder for working parents, especially those who have more than one child and are trying to balance work from home and remote learning. We considered it but it was ruled out for many reasons. Basically they don't suit the needs of our catchment as a whole.

Just because we don't provide live remote lessons doesn't mean we don't provide an effective and comprehensive remote learning package however.

Fortunately the parents at the primary school I teach at don't want live lessons.

Our actual real life school parents are very very different to those vocal ones in mumsnet.

'So you have zero expertise that is helpful to me.Your opinions are both useless and a bit irritating.'

Oh I'm sorry! how dreadful to have others disagee with you .

@abraxan individuals can be stood less than with no masks then risk is same and less time is needed
Supermarkets are not round here as strict as they were at first and i avoid as much as possible
The 15 mins is 2 m its less if less than 1 m
Not saying schools should go back yet as I think we should of given a couple weeks shutdown across the board to get numbers down and then go back with masks as option for schools to decide as not all teachers want masks

I think live lessons are better for secondary

beggars belief that @Flaxmeadow still doesn't know the definition of a strike.

It's deliberate goading. I've reported it but would also suggest ignoring them.

Yes and I won't say what part of the country I live in or tell you my name either. Basic Internet safety. I'd have thought teachers would have been hot on this stuff? Clearly not. Disappointing really

There are approx 350k teachers/education staff in the UK. Not really outing to say I'm one of them.

Bloody hell I didn't know that staffrooms were open. Ours has been locked. I am going to complain to the Head.

how dreadful to have others disagee with you grin

Not at all. But your advice re managing classes or working in a school during a pandemic is total hot air 🤷🏻‍♀️

@SansaSnark supermarket workers etc don't have the same rights and poilce , nhs can't go on a mass walkout as its not ethical for one
Personally I think teachers unions have been slow , but its not easy for other professions to do
There will also be individuals who will be working in unsafe environments who can't leave a job as they need to feed their families its not just black and white

All copying is now done is a specialist photocopying room

I'm still baffled by the fridge thing. Our staffroom is open but strictly standing only and you get in and get out. There's no flask in the world that takes enough tea for me for a day