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Original poster

Parents - how do you feel about teaching unions?

359 replies

Musicaldilemma · 27/01/2021 19:39

Following various exchanges in real life and on here, I was wondering what other parents currently feel and think of teaching unions? Do you know a lot about them? What do you feel their role is and should be in this pandemic? If you are able to, please clarify if you are a parent married to a teacher or teacher parent. Or just a parent like myself with a few friends who are teachers. I was interested to see that teaching unions in Switzerland, for example, really pushed the message that schools must be and stay open for children’s mental health.

OP posts:
echt · 28/01/2021 21:01

@loulouljh

I am very supportive of teachers. I know alot of teachers are horrified at the behaviour of some of the unions. Quiet rightly too.
I bet you don't.

Hard to believe any teachers are horrified by the unions trying to make schools safe.

loulouljh · 28/01/2021 21:19

Goodness me..touched a raw nerve I think!! The question was what do parents feel about teaching unions. I have told you how I feel!!!! You may not like it but that's how I feel. Disruptive and self-serving.

MrsHamlet · 28/01/2021 21:20

Self serving is kind of the point of a union

Monkeytennis97 · 28/01/2021 21:21

@loulouljh

Goodness me..touched a raw nerve I think!! The question was what do parents feel about teaching unions. I have told you how I feel!!!! You may not like it but that's how I feel. Disruptive and self-serving.
Not touched a nerve.

Just ignorant.

loulouljh · 28/01/2021 21:24

Nope Not ignorant in the least! Calling someone ignorant just because they do not share your opinion! Cheap shot.,

Monkeytennis97 · 28/01/2021 21:26

Ignorant of the facts.

loulouljh · 28/01/2021 21:26

Nope. Really not.

Monkeytennis97 · 28/01/2021 21:26

Using the word with its true definition.

Original poster
Musicaldilemma · 28/01/2021 21:30

There are around 506,400 teachers in the U.K. and around 11.7 million school age children (who have parents). There is obviously some overlap between teachers and parents. However, there are far more parents than teachers - hence far more votes that matter to the government. So clearly the opinion of parents and what they think of unions suggestions matters greatly. Therefore if unions want government to listen they need the voting population to support them. It is really not rocket science.

OP posts:
mrshoho · 28/01/2021 21:35

Spectacularly missing the purpose of workers unions. Pointless and says so much about the type of person you are.

saraclara · 28/01/2021 21:49

@loulouljh

Goodness me..touched a raw nerve I think!! The question was what do parents feel about teaching unions. I have told you how I feel!!!! You may not like it but that's how I feel. Disruptive and self-serving.
You didn't touch a nerve. You were just plain wrong. The unions wanted to work with the DFE to get this right for everyone. But the govt refused to work with them, with head, with anyone actually working in schools.

You said: I would have some sympathy with the unions if I felt they were trying to work with Government.
Even the crappy press managed to make the point that the govt wouldn't engage with the unions.

saraclara · 28/01/2021 21:49

head=heads

saraclara · 28/01/2021 21:51

@loulouljh

Nope Not ignorant in the least! Calling someone ignorant just because they do not share your opinion! Cheap shot.,
You WERE ignorant. You said that the unions weren't trying to work with the government. At least admit you were wrong. Not doing so and doubling down, makes you seem even more ignorant.
noblegiraffe · 28/01/2021 21:51

Does Musical think a union is just some sort of club? Confused

loulouljh · 28/01/2021 21:54

Why do you feel the need to attack??!! The OP asked a question. I answered it. You may not agree with it. I don't agree with you but I am not personal and insulting and calling you ignorant. . Seriously. Grow up people.

Original poster
Musicaldilemma · 28/01/2021 21:55

@saraclara - why do you think the government were not willing to work with the unions? Please enlighten us.

OP posts:
CountessFrog · 28/01/2021 21:58

I do wish teachers would not talk to other adults as though they were stupid, ignorant children.

It’s like they can’t step out of role.

mrshoho · 28/01/2021 22:01

The million dollar question. I've come to the conclusion it's because the government do not give a toss about state education. If they did there would have been much more thought and funding into how state schools reopened in September.

Empressofthemundane · 28/01/2021 22:01

“People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public…” wrote Adam Smith in 1776.

A union’s number one concern is the interests of their members. The children come second. It’s naive to believe anything different. Behaviour during the pandemic only confirms this.

MrsHamlet · 28/01/2021 22:04

@CountessFrog

I do wish teachers would not talk to other adults as though they were stupid, ignorant children.

It’s like they can’t step out of role.

Ignorant means "lacking knowledge" Saying that someone who doesn't know what a union is for is ignorant is accurate.

Nope. Can't step out of role. I'll get over it.

BrokenCircle · 28/01/2021 22:06

Unions are essential to support teachers when they are put through hell by school leaders, and when pupils make up malicious stuff against them.

saraclara · 28/01/2021 22:07

[quote Musicaldilemma]@saraclara - why do you think the government were not willing to work with the unions? Please enlighten us.[/quote]
I wish I knew. The NAHT (the professional association for headteachers) was also blocked from being involved or offering their expertise and experience to the DFE. So it's not about radical unionism. It seems to have simply been an arrogant attitude by govt thinking they knew everything. Despite not having ever done the job of running a school.

thecatfromjapan · 28/01/2021 22:19

@CountessFrog

I do wish teachers would not talk to other adults as though they were stupid, ignorant children.

It’s like they can’t step out of role.

What would you prefer? Fawning deference? Flirty simpering?

How about sweary indifference?

DrBlackbird · 28/01/2021 22:20

The OP asked what other parents currently feel and think of teaching unions

I am a parent. Completely supportive of teaching unions. In fact, whilst their role is to represent teachers, I actually really appreciate how they've tried to protect my DC.

They've campaigned v hard for schools to be operated safely / only open safely. This is what I want for my DC.

I cannot believe how utterly irresponsible this gov't has been around mismanagement of the pandemic. In my local area Covid swept through the senior schools. Teachers constantly exposed to Covid and getting ill themselves. For not a whole hell of money either.

It was madness to not implement stronger rules around SD, use of mask in senior schools etc. months ago. Was all so predictable that we would end up in another bloody lockdown.

noblegiraffe · 28/01/2021 22:33

sweary indifference?

You called?

Countess is the poster who claimed that teachers weren’t willing to put themselves at any risk despite us having been teaching unmasked crowded classes in high-risk indoor poorly-ventilated environments since September, with the most highly infected age group of the general population so her opinion is woefully informed bollocks and easily discounted.