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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:
yomommasmomma · 06/02/2021 18:18

@Barbie222

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?

What about parents who cannot afford these things and are also working long hours? Is it just tough for their children?
Chosennone · 06/02/2021 18:19

It's never gonna happen.

Teachers will choose not to do more work for free.

CallmeAngelina · 06/02/2021 18:19

I wasn't suggesting she was a troll. Just to ignore her.

yomommasmomma · 06/02/2021 18:20

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

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 ....

You work 9am to 5pm every other say of the holidays? I highly doubt it but one can say whatever one wants in the internet, to prove a point!
Makingnumber2 · 06/02/2021 18:21

Teachers are being asking to do this for a short period of time to get the nations children back on track, why the refusal?

  1. Teaching for me isn't a vocation, it's a job that I am good at and I mainly enjoy and it allows me to feed and clothe my family and put a roof over our heads.

  2. My own family and my own children will always come before someone else's when it comes to having quality time together and to ensuring my children have the attention and nurturing they need from me. Every time. Simple. I make no apology for that.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 06/02/2021 18:21

10-4 and then an hour or so in the evenings. Even then l can’t get it all done.

ThelmaNotLouise · 06/02/2021 18:22

@WombatChocolate

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.

Of course you shouldn't. No teacher should have to. You already miss so much of your own children's school lives – never going on their outings as a parent helper, missing assemblies, music performances (thinking primary day time), even parents' evening if it clashes with your school's. I know my OH has.
yomommasmomma · 06/02/2021 18:23

@Makingnumber2

Teachers are being asking to do this for a short period of time to get the nations children back on track, why the refusal?

  1. Teaching for me isn't a vocation, it's a job that I am good at and I mainly enjoy and it allows me to feed and clothe my family and put a roof over our heads.

  2. My own family and my own children will always come before someone else's when it comes to having quality time together and to ensuring my children have the attention and nurturing they need from me. Every time. Simple. I make no apology for that.

Thank you for being so honest. It's just very sad for children who are living in terrible circumstances and getting very behind that their teachers won't do extra to help them.
ChloeDecker · 06/02/2021 18:24

You work 9am to 5pm every other say of the holidays? I highly doubt it but one can say whatever one wants in the internet, to prove a point!

I was working even Christmas Day just gone to prep for live lessons because the government dropped that bombshell on the last day of term in addition to teachers having already worked for free last Easter holidays and May half term

Believe what you want to believe but your free weekends sounds like bliss quite frankly.

HercwasanEnemyofEducation · 06/02/2021 18:24

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.

This.

yomommasmomma · 06/02/2021 18:24

course you shouldn't. No teacher should have to. You already miss so much of your own children's school lives – never going on their outings as a parent helper, missing assemblies, music performances (thinking primary day time), even parents' evening if it clashes with your school's. I know my OH has.

Again, perfectly normal in most other jobs to miss these!

Barbie222 · 06/02/2021 18:24

What about parents who cannot afford these things and are also working long hours? Is it just tough for their children?

Most people on this thread aren't seeing the need for extra hours for their children in school, whatever their background. They have identified that the things their children need aren't well provided after 3pm or before 8am. They can also see ways to provide their children with what they need very easily as soon as restrictions are lifted.

So, now that we've established that your children don't need it, and the majority don't want it, where does that leave us? Just with a sense that you're co opting disadvantaged children as a tool to win an argument, really.

ChloeDecker · 06/02/2021 18:25

their teachers won't do extra to help them.

And you keep saying that so I will one last time say that teachers ALREADY do extra unpaid (sorry for shouting) to help their pupils. What you are wanting is ON TOP of that extra.

MrsHerculePoirot · 06/02/2021 18:26

It's never going to happen - extending the school into holidays. Not. A. Chance. I have my own children and want to spend time with them. I don't want them doing extra school, I want them to enjoy themselves and play with their friends and go out places and have a break from what has been a difficult year for everyone.

There may be some staff who are willing to do summer school - we run a transition one every year usually and there are a number of younger staff ,usually without other responsibilities/children, who are happy to do it for a bit of extra money.

However I already work waaaaaaaaay more than my contracted hours during term time, and extra during my (unpaid) holidays as it is. So I most certainly won't be signing myself, or my primary aged children up to any thing either.

yomommasmomma · 06/02/2021 18:26

This reply has been deleted

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HercwasanEnemyofEducation · 06/02/2021 18:27

It's just very sad for children who are living in terrible circumstances and getting very behind that their teachers won't do extra to help them.

My eyes cannot roll enough for this.

Their teachers (in some cases) cannot physically do any more.

It isn't the fault of the teachers these children are 'behind'. Ultimately the most 'behind' would not engage with this provision anyway.

Extra teaching time isn't the magic wand you seem to think it is.

yomommasmomma · 06/02/2021 18:27

@ChloeDecker

their teachers won't do extra to help them.

And you keep saying that so I will one last time say that teachers ALREADY do extra unpaid (sorry for shouting) to help their pupils. What you are wanting is ON TOP of that extra.

Yes for a short period of time I want them to do extra, extras to support the nations children.
cantkeepawayforever · 06/02/2021 18:27

yomomma,

Yes, there are children who I would sacrifice extra time for, who I would - and do - work extra hours unpaid. They form a significant chunk of my workload.

They are by no means even close to fine every day, regardless of Covid, and were 'not fine' long before parents like you thought that they were a useful Trojan horse through which to get what you want.

Unfortunately, no, the fact that I would - and and always have, unseen all these years by such as you - help those children does not mean that I will extend that benefit to yours. Yours I will teach, with all the skill I have, in the school day but they will not keep me up at night nor have me working for 2 extra hours every day. Sorry

ThelmaNotLouise · 06/02/2021 18:27

It's just very sad for children who are living in terrible circumstances and getting very behind that their teachers won't do extra to help them.

The responsibility for that lies with the Govt policies that have created such social inequality though. It's not the fault of teachers. You can do more to help address it – buy laptops for the children in your DC's school that don't have them.

Chosennone · 06/02/2021 18:27

It is also terrible that children who are behind have parents that won't help them, of clean them properly, or feed them properly. Terrible that Social Care can only do so much for these children.
Schools have bent over backwards providing breakfasts, lunches and ensuring that vulnerable kids are in school during the 'closure'.
Ever thought you're blaming the wrong people 🤔 dick

ChloeDecker · 06/02/2021 18:27

*Again, perfectly normal in most other jobs to miss these!’

So why are they always packed with parents

gypsywater · 06/02/2021 18:28

Remember that anyone is welcome to volunteer to help 'children catch up' if they feel so strongly about it

yomommasmomma · 06/02/2021 18:28

@ChloeDecker

*Again, perfectly normal in most other jobs to miss these!’

So why are they always packed with parents

Because some use a day of their 25 days PER YEAR annual leave to attend!
Barbie222 · 06/02/2021 18:29

Those saying they don't want this are being selfish and more worried about having a few lie ins over the summer to be honest!

So the many PPs on this post who have said they don't wish their children to have to attend extra schooling are selfish and lazy, because they don't fit with your narrative? I've really heard it all now. Good grief

HercwasanEnemyofEducation · 06/02/2021 18:29

Again, perfectly normal in most other jobs to miss these!

Those halls aren't full of random people watching. Most kids have a parent there.

Those saying they don't want this are being selfish

Oh the irony.

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