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?

@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?

No, I’d be suggesting taking the school to an employment tribunal for illegal deduction of pay.

Agree with the comment above RE private sector.

In addition, it's worth mentioning that the parents who will suffer the most from teachers can't be bothered attitude are the single parents on low income. What do you say to the single parent who has to hand their notice in tomorrow because they do not have anywhere to send their child? You know, the child who "you're doing this for". As teachers you should have an understanding of the level of poverty and vulnerability some of your pupils experience. By refusing to work, you are directly exacerbating those issues.

At the end of the day, you simply cannot decide to be the only profession in the country who decides they will not work during the pandemic. The rest of us get on with it because we have to and because we're able to see past the end of our noses.

I'm not sure if there are many studies on the profession narcissists are most likely to have, but I have a good idea where they can start.

[quote SansaSnark]@MarshaBradyo AFIAK the court hearing tomorrow is the NAHT vs DfE, asking for evidence that schools are safe to open, I believe.

If the DfE can prove that schools are safe, then I guess that the S44 has less legal standing, but I would be amazed if they can![/quote]
Ok thanks

Oh @MarieG10 reckons she's an expert on tribunals.

Still waiting for her to tell us what role she has in this school decision.

@Confusedlady246

Agree with the comment above RE private sector.

In addition, it's worth mentioning that the parents who will suffer the most from teachers can't be bothered attitude are the single parents on low income. What do you say to the single parent who has to hand their notice in tomorrow because they do not have anywhere to send their child? You know, the child who "you're doing this for". As teachers you should have an understanding of the level of poverty and vulnerability some of your pupils experience. By refusing to work, you are directly exacerbating those issues.

At the end of the day, you simply cannot decide to be the only profession in the country who decides they will not work during the pandemic. The rest of us get on with it because we have to and because we're able to see past the end of our noses.

I'm not sure if there are many studies on the profession narcissists are most likely to have, but I have a good idea where they can start.

They are not refusing to work. How many more times?

What would the teachers like as an ideal solution? If we close schools numbers will go down, and then go up again when schools open again. What solutions are teachers offering so they feel safe? (Just trying to understand).

Case numbers have shot up since the school holidays began. That suggests it’s safest to be at school!

Refusing to go to their place of work and sending out a weekly worksheet, which never gets looked at when returned, is as close as refusing to work as you can get.

@Confusedlady246

Agree with the comment above RE private sector.

In addition, it's worth mentioning that the parents who will suffer the most from teachers can't be bothered attitude are the single parents on low income. What do you say to the single parent who has to hand their notice in tomorrow because they do not have anywhere to send their child? You know, the child who "you're doing this for". As teachers you should have an understanding of the level of poverty and vulnerability some of your pupils experience. By refusing to work, you are directly exacerbating those issues.

At the end of the day, you simply cannot decide to be the only profession in the country who decides they will not work during the pandemic. The rest of us get on with it because we have to and because we're able to see past the end of our noses.

I'm not sure if there are many studies on the profession narcissists are most likely to have, but I have a good idea where they can start.

What is amazing is that in all of this emotional detrius that you post, you have never addressed that schools are unsafe or how IYO they are safe.

Possibly because you can't.

londongirl12

There have been many lists posted on this forum, there is a list on the NEU website.

Most staff at my primary have signed and sent the letter.

@Confusedlady246

Agree with the comment above RE private sector.

In addition, it's worth mentioning that the parents who will suffer the most from teachers can't be bothered attitude are the single parents on low income. What do you say to the single parent who has to hand their notice in tomorrow because they do not have anywhere to send their child? You know, the child who "you're doing this for". As teachers you should have an understanding of the level of poverty and vulnerability some of your pupils experience. By refusing to work, you are directly exacerbating those issues.

At the end of the day, you simply cannot decide to be the only profession in the country who decides they will not work during the pandemic. The rest of us get on with it because we have to and because we're able to see past the end of our noses.

I'm not sure if there are many studies on the profession narcissists are most likely to have, but I have a good idea where they can start.

No teacher is deciding not to work.

I admit I'm in a middle class bubble, but I will still be working at more covid risk than any of my friends. That includes the gp. I will be working out of my home, in a classroom with 3 to 5 other people, in order to teach most of the class online while also teaching and looking after the vulnerable children.

Yes, I am concerned that there are more children who will fall into the vulnerable category if this closure lasts a long time. That's why I think it's important to do it now, before covid gets spread through schools as a result of Christmas mixing. Then, fingers crossed, we'll be back with everyone in face to face in a few weeks. Maybe I'm naive about that last part, but I really hope I'm not.

@MarshaBradyo

Sansa have the unions outlined definition of safe?

The NEU have said:

1. Groups like SAGE not calling for schools to be closed.

and

2. We expect the following to be in place in all education workplaces if and when they admit students:

   a review of all risk assessments in the light of the much higher transmission of the new variant;
   social distancing of 1 metre between pupils in all schools and colleges to replace the current practice of cohort distancing which allows whole year groups to mix without any social distancing;
   masks to be worn by pupils and staff in secondary school classrooms and colleges;
   school and college staff to be made a top priority for vaccination - along with health care staff and starting with the most vulnerable; and
   until vaccinated, Clinically Extremely Vulnerable staff and women in the third trimester of pregnancy to work from home, supporting students who are at home.

The NEU will provide complete support to members in any school or college where the above minimum requirements are not in place.

I'm not sure what the NAHT are defining as safe- I think they have members who feel on the basis of risk assessments it is not safe to reopen to all pupils, and want the right to shut their schools or do a partial opening on the basis of their risk assessment.

Lol @Confusedlady246 ever heard of narcissistic projection? Your posts highlight that, a lot.

Can anyone show me some statistics on how many teachers have been infected, hospitalised and unfortunately passed away as a result of catching COVID at school?

I'm sure if I saw some solid facts I'd have a lot more sympathy for the cause.

So 50,000 people tested positive today. So, those people are in days 3-5 of infection? So, not many of them are teachers because they e been off 2-3 weeks. Where is the evidence that teachers are coming down with Coronavirus is swathes?

@Confusedlady246

Refusing to go to their place of work and sending out a weekly worksheet, which never gets looked at when returned, is as close as refusing to work as you can get.

The weekly worksheet comment is your interpretation.

They are advised not to teach in full classrooms unless those are deemed safe.

They are advised to be available in school for the children of key workers in socially distanced classrooms.

Remote learning should be available.

Section 44 is not legally a withdrawal of labour.

Vaccinate all teachers and school staff then they would feel more confident about going into school.
Vaccinate all supermarket workers, bus drivers and all those who are front line workers. These people should be given priority.

@Confusedlady246 teachers can provide distance learning (among other suggestions such as rotas)... entire degrees with complex information have been taught in this way. They are not refusing to work.

@TwentyTwentyOne

Can anyone show me some statistics on how many teachers have been infected, hospitalised and unfortunately passed away as a result of catching COVID at school?

I'm sure if I saw some solid facts I'd have a lot more sympathy for the cause.

So 50,000 people tested positive today. So, those people are in days 3-5 of infection? So, not many of them are teachers because they e been off 2-3 weeks. Where is the evidence that teachers are coming down with Coronavirus is swathes?

No. Because ONS have not published that data. This is what NAHT's Court case is about. They want to see the evidence that schools are safe, given Boris and Gav keep telling everyone they are.

My friend is a primary teacher and is not going in

@Bagamoyo1

Case numbers have shot up since the school holidays began. That suggests it’s safest to be at school!

No, no, no.

What this does is shows the difference between the old strain and the new strain.

Cases are going up with schools closed.

Cases will go up far, far, quicker with schools open.

Do you want bodies piling up in hospitals? Queues of ambulances? Temporary morgues on ice rinks? People ringing for ambulances and getting no response? People travelling with sick parents from hospital to hospital trying to get them admitted?

Go ahead.

Sansa thanks! I was about to post that too as pp directed to NEU website

I'm not saying they are safe, but that is the issue, nowhere is safe at the moment. Do you suggest we close schools, hospitals, send police officers home, tell firemen to stay off and just sit inside? Until when? When do we stop? We have to get on with it and think about the nation as a whole.

Why is no-one replying to the issues around poverty and vulnerability I've addressed? Chances are, at least one parent of your classroom will lose their job because of your decision to not do your job properly. I couldn't carry that guilt myself, but it seems people here are relishing in it. What about the deprived children who do not have access to the internet? Or laptop? Do they just not have an education until teachers feel like they've had enough time off? Another year maybe? Or two? What implications will that have on the child? It's so upsetting.

Is it just teachers at risk of Covid? What about bus drivers, police, supermarket workers and delivery staff. Not to mention medical staff etc. So should everyone just refuse to go to work and let’s see what happens then.

@TwentyTwentyOne

Can anyone show me some statistics on how many teachers have been infected, hospitalised and unfortunately passed away as a result of catching COVID at school?

I'm sure if I saw some solid facts I'd have a lot more sympathy for the cause.

So 50,000 people tested positive today. So, those people are in days 3-5 of infection? So, not many of them are teachers because they e been off 2-3 weeks. Where is the evidence that teachers are coming down with Coronavirus is swathes?

The situation has changed since the identification of the new variant. Of what use would historical data be?