How many teachers will be handing in the section 44 letter tomorrow and not going in?

[SoscaredforJan]

My DSis is scared to go to work tomorrow in a private primary school in Tier 3 but lowish numbers. She is not ECV but has got chemo damaged lungs so it petrified of catching Covid.

She desperately wants to follow union advice and not go in tomorrow but she’s worried that most teachers will be in as normal, she will have a black Mark against her and will be quietly pushed out.

Are there many teachers on here planning not to go in tomorrow? What do you think will happen tomorrow?

Another friend of mine has been working on a Covid ward (something to do with patient liaison). Her husband is a teacher. She supports this walkout. Her workplace is safer than his.

@blue25

I know several teachers who are genuinely scared about returning to work. Two of them have handed in their resignation.

And that's because of Covid is it. Last time I was hearing this was due to the paperwork they have to do?

Would all those teachers who are calling for schools to stay shut take the vaccine if offered? Genuine question, not intended to be the least bit goady.
Just wondering what the proposed exit strategy is? In terms of advocating for teachers, think it would be an easier and very reasonable request/red line to state that all staff teaching F2F must have the vaccine and be given the option of medical grade PPE.

@pennylane83

While schools were shut, cases reduced significantly. In the term they've been open, they've increased

The entire country was in lockdown for most of the school closure with society opening up in summer just in time for everyone to jet off on their 2 weeks abroad. Unsurprisingly, cases increased in the weeks that followed. Similarly, everyone went crazy in Dec going out doing their Xmas shopping before the teirs changed and, unsurprisingly, cases have again rocketed. Schools being the source of spread are just a convenient way for irresponsible adults to pass the buck when it comes to their own socialising. Yes, covid may well be spreading in schools but the children caught it from somewhere in order to be bringing it into the classroom all term and given that with most social activities closed children have spent the term merely going from home to school to home that leaves what...

In literally the following sentence, which you didn't bother to quote, I acknowledged that correlation is not causation. I've not been out shopping or on holiday, so I don't know what it's been like. I was just putting forward a theory, as you have done.

Because it might be schools spreading the virus and keeping R above one, I personally think schools should close just in case. As should anything else that isn't absolutely essential. Therefore, if I were in a school not already closing (because the government says it should), I would have refused to work in the unsafe school environment (the environment in which I almost certainly caught covid, given I live alone and haven't been out doing my Christmas shopping).

The vitriol on here is so misdirected, none of this is the fault of teachers, the government could have planned, from March, to support schools. Funding, staffing, transport, offsite provision in the community, testing; their ineffectiveness and lack of proactive support for schools has brought this about.
Please take up your complaints with your MP. This and revoking section 44 might just ensure the government has to act to keep children safe from COVID and in school.

@Beepbeepa

Would all those teachers who are calling for schools to stay shut take the vaccine if offered? Genuine question, not intended to be the least bit goady. Just wondering what the proposed exit strategy is? In terms of advocating for teachers, think it would be an easier and very reasonable request/red line to state that all staff teaching F2F must have the vaccine and be given the option of medical grade PPE.

The ones I’ve spoken to would line up for it tomorrow.

[quote RoseTintedAtuin]@Feckers2018 I really wish you all the best. You are the third poster I have seen on threads today who have left the profession and it is completely understandable. I wonder what will happen when teachers become so scarce that there aren’t enough left to keep schools running, and whether that will open people’s eyes to how valuable they are to society.[/quote]
Teaching will become a short-term job, say 5 years max, HLTAs teaching classes combined with supply teachers who can quit when they like. It was heading that way in many areas before the pandemic.

Are you a teacher? You really are desperate to be off again aren't you? We aren't even back from your current holiday

No, not any longer.

[quote MarieG10]@CallmeAngelina

"You're showing your ignorance, here. This is NOT a strike, but a section 44 on Health and Safety grounds."

In our school they are getting 2 days to get it out of their system and after that will be treated as being on strike and pay docked. Is the usual NEU trying to justify their existence

I haven't seen anything from the shop workers union about their members handing in section 44 notices....oh probably because they would get laughed at

[/quote]
If your school starts docking pay for a44 they will be asking for trouble and I hope that's just what they get.

@Beepbeepa

Would all those teachers who are calling for schools to stay shut take the vaccine if offered? Genuine question, not intended to be the least bit goady. Just wondering what the proposed exit strategy is? In terms of advocating for teachers, think it would be an easier and very reasonable request/red line to state that all staff teaching F2F must have the vaccine and be given the option of medical grade PPE.

All the teachers in my school would take the vaccine if offered.

I'd support doctors and nurses not going to work if they didn't have PPE.

I support teachers working from home if they're not given PPE in school.

I can only assume the people teacher bashing on here are trolls because our school threads are full of parents with vulnerable children desperately scared they'll be forced to send their kids back with no protections. And worried for the teachers we all respect, who do so much for our kids.

Teachers have posted on these threads about dead (from covid) colleagues. People here are arguing against basic safety precautions that cost next to nothing. They're not worth engaging with.

Presumably they're all for doctors going to work without PPE too and will be delighted if there aren't enough doctors or teachers for hospitals / schools to operate in a months time.

@LolaSmiles

Seriously, right now Johnson and his mates must be laughing that some members of the general public are seriously arguing against moves to make schools safer.

It not.about arguing about schools being safer. It's because people and also some teachers are sick of militant teachers and their trade union trying to come up with any excuse to not work. All this shite that they can teach from home is bollocks especially in respect of poor and vulnerable children. You also know most teachers don't have their own work issued laptops and guess what ...god forbid using their own

Any sane doctor or nurse would surely be begging teachers to aid in closing down schools.

@Confusedlady246

You sound very angry about being a carer. Many of the professionals you work with do not agree with you. I have many nurses in my family and they are agreeing with the section 44. For one, it will ease the pressure currently within the NHS.

You are short sighted and bitter.

My child's primary have acted on their right to not work and are closed for at least 2 weeks

If your school starts docking pay for a44 they will be asking for trouble and I hope that's just what they get.

What do you suggest...go on strike in protest?

RoseTintedAtuin
Feckers2018 I really wish you all the best. You are the third poster I have seen on threads today who have left the profession and it is completely understandable. I wonder what will happen when teachers become so scarce that there aren’t enough left to keep schools running, and whether that will open people’s eyes to how valuable they are to society.

We have already ditched HLTAs, and several other teaching qualifications and now those without a teaching qualification are 'instructors'.
This doesn't include cover supervisors (not qualified) or the TAs that have their own tutor group.

We have been heading down this road for a long time.
When the lack of teachers finally hits home I suspect that the usual arseholes will blame anyone else but themselves.

@TwentyTwentyOne

Doctors and nurses do generally work in safe and hygienic circumstances with appropriate protection, training and safety equipment.

You don't agree?
So you are saying that doctors and nurses don't work in hygienic places, that they are not protected, that they don't have health and safety or hygiene training...scary if hospitals are so unclean and unhygienic and without safety practices.

I'm neither a teacher, not have children school age children so I've formed my opinion based on the fact that there are no real implications for me, but I would still hugely encourage all teachers/school staff to send on their section 44 letters. The more of you that do will mean action will be more likely as they won't bully out the whole workforce, they will have to listen to you! If you don't send in a letter you're opening yourself up to being treated poorly going forward, as any union action will fall on deaf ears. The unions are there for your protection.

@MarieG10

If your school starts docking pay for a44 they will be asking for trouble and I hope that's just what they get.

What do you suggest...go on strike in protest?

I hope they will face legal action. What you say is going to happen is illegal.

When you have people arguing that teachers are more at risk of covid than doctors and nurses treating covid patients, then you're fighting a losing battle.

All this thread does is strengthen the entitled teacher argument.

As all these teachers are scared for their life, as emphasised here, I imagine everyone will be handing in their resignation tomorrow and getting one of the 'safe' jobs?

Your post doesn't make sense. How can I provide evidence for a light-hearted comment I made on the future behaviour of teachers?

You think it's "lighthearted" to bash an entire profession based on nothing?
Must be a Daily Mail journalist.
Or a Tory.

@Feathersinthehead I think you’re right and this will affect the quality of learning potentially more than distance learning. It may also be that Rita’s and distance learning will become normal as it’s the only way to provide education given the lack of teachers. Count of teachers leaving profession up to five now.

Rota’s

@theviewfromhalfwaydown

I’m not a teacher but a ta and unison have advised we don’t go in. I am though as I can’t afford to lose any pay as I only earn 12k a year as it is and my children need to eat.

The NEU say you should not lose pay over this as you are still making yourself available for remote work and supervision of key worker children etc- just not working in full classrooms.

I do understand it's tough.

Equally though, I have a friend who has been off for 6 weeks with Covid (young and healthy beforehand). She hasn't been hospitalised but she is too ill to work. Could you cope with that financially?