Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Am I missing the point here...

406 replies

kookykins · 02/01/2021 19:18

I'm going to try and make this as measured as I can and try not to make it come across like a torrent of frustration.

Why is it that teachers are getting to say when schools go back? Why does it feel like teachers are constantly complaining about the virus? No one is an ideal situation right now so why does it feel like they are being allowed to 'opt out' of their careers now times are tough.

I work in a busy NHS hospital and It honestly sickens and saddens me that there are men and women, many parents relying on schools to open, relying on their children's education being properly resumed next week they are giving life saving treatment in dire situations every day. I haven't heard them complaining about having to come in and save lives work extra hours and a lot on low pay.

Teachers to an extent have chosen a career to support teach and mentor our children I feel when the going has got touch (very tough fair enough) they are opting out...however many of these teachers will expect ITU nurses to treat someone in their family who happens to get ill with this virus. How can this be? How is this ok?

I have friends who are teachers who don't feel like this and who want to get back to work but are very much being pulled along by the union so I don't want to paint all teachers with the same brush...

What happens to the children who need to go back to school, who need that hot meal that support that escape? Do they not matter?

Surely the children of this country are a higher priority right now?
Teachers and unions are being given insane amounts of power right now and I don't understand it. If we are all meant to 'be in it together' then why aren't we all cracking on like the next person and getting on with our jobs because we realise the impact if we don't...

Rant over...

OP posts:
Nikhedonia · 03/01/2021 13:43

Wow it gets even better. So teachers aren’t key workers? Yet we are fucked if teachers don’t go into work. Some people are ridiculous

Not if they are working from home. They are no different to any other parent juggling working from home.

You want to close the schools and have parents juggle working and childcare at the same time, but couldn't possibly do this yourself as it's "too difficult". Diddums.

Strand27 · 03/01/2021 13:43

You’re not making sense Nikh.

Strand27 · 03/01/2021 13:45

No Nikh other sectors can be creative as I’ve listed. If teachers do the same our dc don’t get a home education. I want my dc’s teachers at their desk delivering a quality lesson uninterrupted so my dc can pass his GCSEs.

OverTheRainbow88 · 03/01/2021 13:46

Not if they are working from home. They are no different to any other parent juggling working from home.

You want to close the schools and have parents juggle working and childcare at the same time, but couldn't possibly do this yourself as it's "too difficult". Diddums.

Lots of key workers work from home with their child at school/nursery etc. Social workers, I know GPS working from home, etc.

I could also do it if I had to, would be less productive and my kids would go to nursery when I am in school teaching other key workers kids.

You just sound bitter

Nikhedonia · 03/01/2021 13:46

@Strand27

You’re not making sense Nikh.
I think that's a predictable response when you have no justification for why you working from home is different to the rest of us.

(I'll give you a helping hand, it isn't and the LA's are seeing that too - thankfully)

Covidwoes · 03/01/2021 13:46

@Nikhedonia how do you suggest a teacher alone with a 2 year old at home teaches a full day of lessons effectively? Please tell me as I'd love to know!

Nikhedonia · 03/01/2021 13:47

@OverTheRainbow88

Not if they are working from home. They are no different to any other parent juggling working from home.

You want to close the schools and have parents juggle working and childcare at the same time, but couldn't possibly do this yourself as it's "too difficult". Diddums.

Lots of key workers work from home with their child at school/nursery etc. Social workers, I know GPS working from home, etc.

I could also do it if I had to, would be less productive and my kids would go to nursery when I am in school teaching other key workers kids.

You just sound bitter

I'm not bitter. I'm calling out BS. You seem workshy.
Nikhedonia · 03/01/2021 13:49

[quote Covidwoes]@Nikhedonia how do you suggest a teacher alone with a 2 year old at home teaches a full day of lessons effectively? Please tell me as I'd love to know! [/quote]
Tell me how a parent who is working does it effectively with a 2 year old at home?!

ChloeDecker · 03/01/2021 13:52

[quote kookykins]**@SmileyClare* @Nikhedonia* I can't help but agree and there had been evidence of other industries being in the same position as teachers but many not getting paid if they can't come into work..we don't hear their voices do we...[/quote]
You might want to tell your colleagues from the past 4 months:

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/09/14/medics-threaten-strike-action-pay-ahead-covid-winter-discontent/

www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/18858690.cumberland-infirmary-support-staff-may-strike-pay-row/

www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/nhs-scotland-staff-balloted-strike-19224215

And other industries and their voices in the past 4 months:

unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2020/november/drivers-and-assistants-who-take-disabled-children-to-school-in-hackney-vote-to-strike-over-covid-19-payment/

unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2020/december/20-000-wages-axe-for-greenwich-housing-repair-staff-threatens-strike-action/

unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2020/october/last-call-to-super-salaried-heathrow-bosses-to-avoid-autumn-strikes-over-poverty-plunging-fire-and-rehire/

unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2020/december/heathrow-strike-workers-to-hold-huge-car-protest-as-strikes-deepen-in-fire-and-rehire-dispute/

unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2020/december/british-airways-cargo-workers-vote-overwhelmingly-for-strike-action-in-fire-and-rehire-dispute/

London bus drivers in strikes over pay Dec 2020

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-55251073

Strand27 · 03/01/2021 13:56

So how bad is it supposed to get before you deem it ok to close schools?

ofgavin · 03/01/2021 14:06

[quote Covidwoes]@Nikhedonia how do you suggest a teacher alone with a 2 year old at home teaches a full day of lessons effectively? Please tell me as I'd love to know! [/quote]
Same way I have to administer all day zoom conferences with kids present, there's a mute and camera off function

Countdowntonothing · 03/01/2021 14:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Countdowntonothing · 03/01/2021 14:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OverTheRainbow88 · 03/01/2021 14:30

@Nikhedonia

Not work shy, thanks

Luckily my kids can go to nursery and pre school so I can teach efficiently at home or at school wherever that may be

Nikhedonia · 03/01/2021 14:31

Ahhh, just read on. I don't know any teachers that sent their children into school under KW provision when they were working from home. Only the days they had to be physically in school, and even then only if the had no other options.

And if those teachers, who are going to be in the same shit situation as me )trying to work and homeschool/look after children at the same time) said that it was time to close the schools, I'd support school closures.

knockeduplockeddown · 03/01/2021 15:08

@kookykins I'm sorry to hear that you are struggling; I think most people understand that this is an incredibly difficult and scary situation for NHS workers and are incredibly thankful for all that you do.

Unfortunately, I don't see how you can say "Why does it feel like teachers are constantly complaining about the virus?" and then say that you don't see how your OP could be considered teacher bashing.

I get that you are frustrated, if I had school aged children I'd be frustrated too. You are correct, your children are being let down. As a teacher I'm certainly frustrated. That being said, as a teacher I've been frustrated for many years at how we are letting down children, because like it or not the government have been letting down children for a very long time. Much like the NHS, the state education system is completely underfunded. Schools could be kept open, and you might even be lucky and your children's school could stay open, but many children would end up being sent home for two weeks at a time, lots of children would miss out on lots of time because schools would close due to teachers and students contracting the virus, and if the science is right then they would end up closing anyway.

Most teachers want schools to stay open, but they want them to be safe. Once again, the media make it seem like teachers are moaning louder than everyone else. Words are twisted, lies are spread. Articles about teachers "not wanting to go into work" appear alongside photos of classrooms that have desks 2 metres apart and 6 kids in the classroom. Those photos are lies. For most of the pandemic, state school teachers were literally told not to wear masks, that it wasn't allowed. Gavin W spoke about all of the funding that has been made available to schools- most schools haven't seen a penny. Schools where teachers have had to buy their own paper for photocopying because the budget won't allow for it are suddenly faced with having to buy hand sanitiser, pay for extra cleaners, supply teachers to cover isolating staff, etc. And then, on the last day of term were also told that in order to make schools safer they would be in charge of testing. But don't worry, they can have a zoom call with the army if they find it hard 😂 Still no PPE. So I'm going to test a pile of possibly infected students without PPE, possibly spreading a pile of germs between them, and then they are going to toddle back off to their respective homes, and their siblings will then going to their different schools, and their parents will go to work, and supermarkets etc, all the while spreading around this new transmissible strain.

I don't think teachers are constantly complaining about the virus, I think they are just recognising that the government and media are spreading a lot of false information about the spread of the virus in school settings and they want people to understand that so the situation can be improved. We want people to understand that lots of the sacrifices you are making are being nullified by the lack of action being taken when it comes to schools. SAGE have literally said that all of the measures in place to bring the R number below one are useless with schools running as they currently are. Something needs to be done, and if that means closing schools for a week or two in order to give schools time to come up with an actual, viable action plan with support and funding from the government then that makes sense in the long run.

Blaming schools and teachers for letting down your children in this scenario is like me blaming you for your hospital running out of ICU beds. And I can imagine, given how much of yourself that you probably put into your job, that it would feel like a bit of a kick in the teeth if the media was full of articles talking about how you were "letting down your patients".

Please don't listen to the media clapping for carers but booing for educators. Put the blame where the blame lies- and that's with years and years of budget cuts (to both the NHS and education). Thanks Tories 👍🏻

By the way, if you speak to your school and explain your situation, I'm sure they will take your children. Good luck.

messagemonkey · 03/01/2021 15:11

I'm really surprised you work for the nhs but can't see the benefits of schools closing op. I know a fair few front line nhs staff but they all think schools should shut to reduce covid transmission and protect the nhs.

If your Dp doesn't class as a key worker can he not work from home and have your Dd? Through summer lockdown my Dp had to work from home with a toddler and baby hanging off him because I'm a key worker and we didn't have childcare. If nurseries close again he'll have to do the same. The government advice is still to work from home if at all possible.

messagemonkey · 03/01/2021 15:25

And do you definitely know you won't get a key worker place op? Anyone I know working in the nhs got a key worker place during the last lockdown even if their partners weren't classed as key workers. Some didn't take it up as partners got furloughed or were able to wfh.

AntiHop · 03/01/2021 15:34

[quote kookykins]@AntiHop he will be at work so unfortunately no my parents wouldn't be able to help either as again one works...as an nhs key worker and the other will also be at work[/quote]
So if you're husband is not a key worker, why isn't he working at home with your kids? Or asking his employer to furlough him for childcare reasons?

messagemonkey · 03/01/2021 15:42

Also Op, the nhs itself has changed how they work have they not? Full respect for frontline workers dealing with covid. But both my children were due development checks and instead of in person these took place over the phone, my gp prescribed me the contraceptive pill without being seen in person or my blood pressure checking and prescribed my Ds antibiotics without actually seeing him. Non essential appointments/treatments were cancelled and have been again in some cases.

My nurse friend just said, keeping schools open for all as they were before covid
is like saying to the nhs you must do everything you did in the same way as you did before covid while also dealing with Covid.

DecemberSun · 03/01/2021 15:59

@Strand27

You’re not making sense Nikh.
So true of almost every post.

This thread has turned into a Monty Python sketch. Remember the 4 Yorkshiremen?

This thread is too silly. And so are one or two overinvested posters.

I used to dream of living in a cardboard box ...

Nikhedonia · 03/01/2021 16:02

I would imagine it make little sense when you are tied up in a web of double standards.

Iamsodonewith2020 · 03/01/2021 16:13

messagemonkey your friend explains it perfectly, why does knowone else see it like that. Everyone needs to remember that most workplaces have invested huge amounts of money to be covid secure for their employees and visitors. School staff have literally been given hand gel and someone wiping the door handles once a day

Covidwoes · 03/01/2021 16:15

@ofgavin I genuinely couldn't do that with my 2 year old! How do you put your kids down for a nap without interrupting your conference? How do you keep your 2 year old occupied the whole time?! Genuine question!

Covidwoes · 03/01/2021 16:16

Oh and @ofgavin how can a teacher teach with mute and the camera off?! That wouldn't work!

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.