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Original poster

Longer school days to make up for lost learning

999 replies

StitchInLime · 06/02/2021 10:52

Source: Various newspapers, give it a Google (admittedly with a right wing lean)

Apparently one of the options being considered, nothing set in stone of course but for the purposes of discussion...

AIBU to feel both joy and sadness at the prospect of this (joy for me so I can claw back work hours, joy for children so they can claw back some school time but sadness for my teacher friends and all teachers who will need to add more hours to already heavy workload).

OP posts:
ChloeDecker · 06/02/2021 18:08

I don't have a Nanny, I choose not to.

As is your choice. As it is also a teacher’s choice not to work extra just so your children can be in a room with other children because you don’t want to pay for it out of your enormous salary.

HercwasanEnemyofEducation · 06/02/2021 18:08

Did you read my post? Find me the hours? Because that is my life right now. I'm not having less than the precious (usually 6 hours by the time I get to sleep) I get now. You have no idea what teaching is like. Coming from your 115k ivory tower telling me to find more hours because you can't be arsed to sort your own kids out. Fuck off.

yomommasmomma · 06/02/2021 18:08

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

WombatChocolate · 06/02/2021 18:09

Perhaps if the government had funded a system where teachers could work a standard week in terms of hours and be properly resourced in school, lots would feel ready and able to work some extra hours for a temporary time period.

It government had not created this system but funded one which means teachers regularly work the extra hours people are asking for every single week. So they have no further time to give because the extra has already been given.

They have created this system with no slack at all in it and stretched to breaking point. It’s a bit like the NHS too, which lots of people fear is going to be broken and impact us all for many years to come in terms of poor healthcare and the consequences.

It is government who have created the problem, not the teachers. Teachers have alsways expected to work outside of school hours...of course the lessons need preparing and marking needs to be done and some admin....but the hours required to do all the things needed these days are huge and there has to be a limit.

People don’t seem to realise the huge hours many teachers have worked over this last year. They think no-one did anything in the first lockdown and that now people are still having an easy ride. They have zero grasp of the time it requires to prepare new resources, and prep for online learning, plus all the admins asks associated with the constant changes going on. Staff are spending hours and hours getting ready for the return and dealing with both children in school and at home.

The extra people speak of in hols and after school just isn’t going to happen. The ultimate responsibility lies with the parents not schools. Parents will have to find a way...not to fill gaps in maths or English, but to get their children to mix and socialise and recover the soft skills they’ve lost. People will need to take responsibility and stop expecting someone else to provide all the answers.

Barbie222 · 06/02/2021 18:09

There are always more hours, stay up later, wake up earlier, sacrifice more. For a short time it can be done. It's all a choice.

Presumably you've not been doing this yourself and that's why your children are behind?

My children aren't behind because they do their schoolwork at the weekends. Why don't yours?

HercwasanEnemyofEducation · 06/02/2021 18:09

Ahh and you've ended with "it's a choice". I choose not to do the extra hours. Bye.

yomommasmomma · 06/02/2021 18:09

@ChloeDecker

I don't have a Nanny, I choose not to.

As is your choice. As it is also a teacher’s choice not to work extra just so your children can be in a room with other children because you don’t want to pay for it out of your enormous salary.

Should I pay to start my own school?!
ElliFAntspoo · 06/02/2021 18:10

@gypsywater

If anyone should help children catch up, it's their parents surely?!
I was shocked. It seems as though a large chunk of MNers don't give a F about their kids education and don't educate their kids at home as a normal part of children's development. It seems amazing that most don't even recognise that they have a responsibility educate their own children, and seem to think its someone else's job. I am honestly astonished at how ignorant and self entitled a lot of parents are. Just goes to show you don't need to be a responsible adult to have kids.
Popcornriver · 06/02/2021 18:10

No thanks. 9 until 3 is long enough for mine, especially eldest that has a long way to travel.

HercwasanEnemyofEducation · 06/02/2021 18:10

In fairness that was an over estimate of my sleep, currently 6 hours at most. I do allow myself a few minutes to read every day. Clearly something you can't do.

Barbie222 · 06/02/2021 18:11

Should I pay to start my own school?!

No, just for a tutor and social clubs, when you're allowed to. Job done! Plus, you'll have helped a struggling teacher pay their bills! What's not to like?

ThelmaNotLouise · 06/02/2021 18:11

There are always more hours, stay up later, wake up earlier, sacrifice more. For a short time it can be done. It's all a choice.

What about being there our child? So because my OH is a teacher he should sacrifice time with her? God, your posts are making my blood boil. The entitlement!

CallmeAngelina · 06/02/2021 18:11

"There are always more hours, stay up later, wake up earlier, sacrifice more. For a short time it can be done. It's all a choice."

Maybe it "can" be done. But my "choice" is to say, 'Fuck right off' to that. Any sacrifices need making for your children can be made by you. Their parent.

HTH.

WombatChocolate · 06/02/2021 18:12

And no, it’s not acceptable or reasonable to say to someone who has been working at 10pm at night, ‘go to bed later’ so your child can have extra hours at school.

You want too much. More people, each working reasonable hours are needed, not teachers having to work beyond 10pm at night.

Fortunately, I don’t think most people believe the answer is for teachers to work beyond 10pm at night .

ElliFAntspoo · 06/02/2021 18:12

Should I pay to start my own school?!
You should do the very best you can for your children. Complaining that other people aren't doing it for you is not the best example to give your kids, and it does not paint you in a good light.

CallmeAngelina · 06/02/2021 18:12

"God, your posts are making my blood boil. The entitlement!"

I think that's the intention. So I shall follow my own advice from earlier and scroll on by from now on...

HercwasanEnemyofEducation · 06/02/2021 18:14

@callmeAngelina

A timely reminder.

(115k is enough to go private...)

ThelmaNotLouise · 06/02/2021 18:14

@WombatChocolate

And no, it’s not acceptable or reasonable to say to someone who has been working at 10pm at night, ‘go to bed later’ so your child can have extra hours at school.

You want too much. More people, each working reasonable hours are needed, not teachers having to work beyond 10pm at night.

Fortunately, I don’t think most people believe the answer is for teachers to work beyond 10pm at night .

^ This. 100% this.

yomommasmomma expects teachers to give up everything for her kids, even a few precious minutes each day with their own! Yet clearly she doesn't practice what she preaches because otherwise her kids wouldn't be falling so behind at home right now. Other parents, despite juggling work commitments, are just getting on with helping facilitate home learning. Why isn't she?

ThelmaNotLouise · 06/02/2021 18:15

@CallmeAngelina

"God, your posts are making my blood boil. The entitlement!"

I think that's the intention. So I shall follow my own advice from earlier and scroll on by from now on...

She's not a troll though! She's posted many times on MN on all manner of topics. Which makes it worse: she actually believes the crap she's coming out with.
noblegiraffe · 06/02/2021 18:15

Just as the conversation was talking about how chronically underfunded education is and how it needs a massive injection of cash, someone earning a huge amount comes along and derails the thread into a discussion about why teachers should be working harder.

Coincidence I’m sure.

ChloeDecker · 06/02/2021 18:15

Should I pay to start my own school?!

It’s amazing that someone who lacks critical thinking skills, can be paid £115k a year.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 06/02/2021 18:16

I have 4 weeks off a year as a teacher.

I work through the rest of the holidays so not really 25%. I bloody wish ....

yomommasmomma · 06/02/2021 18:16

@Barbie222

There are always more hours, stay up later, wake up earlier, sacrifice more. For a short time it can be done. It's all a choice.

Presumably you've not been doing this yourself and that's why your children are behind?

My children aren't behind because they do their schoolwork at the weekends. Why don't yours?

I am currently home schooling my children and working very long hours around that. My children are fine but there are many children in this country now who are by no means even close to fine and desperately need more time with their teachers.

And before anyone "suggests" it I am already volunteering and would be happy to do so to support the catch up effort in anyway I can.

noblegiraffe · 06/02/2021 18:17

would be happy to do so to support the catch up effort in anyway I can

Don’t vote conservative.

WombatChocolate · 06/02/2021 18:18

Anyway, I think the daft ness has gone far enough. When someone has got up at 6 and was working at 10pm, for someone to then tell them to stay up and work longer or get up earlier and work longer, we all know it is beyond ridiculous.

Teachers will not choose this. And they cannot and should not be put in a position of being asked to do this.

I will not sacrifice my life and family to this level for the education of my classes. Quite simply I am not prepared to do it and feel anyone suggesting I should is entirely unreasonable. I don’t care that people might be behind socially or in their English and Maths...it is not my responsibility to get up before 6 and work beyond 10pm to deliver that under normal circumstances or during a crisis. I won’t do it.