Is it fair to say teachers need to be more committed?

[Ladytremain]

www.independent.co.uk/news/education/covid-schools-reopening-ofsted-teachers-b1807935.html

Seems a tad harsh I think

I think one of the reasons teachers are finding this hard, is that The media (and mumsnet) keep baiting them.

Their job has become something quite different over the last year, I can’t think of one that is more different. I mean nurses, even though it’s risky, are still essentially doing the same job. Shop workers might be behind screens, but it’s the same job etc but as A teacher I hate my job now. Online teaching is nothing like real teaching. With no instant feedback and live contact With children, it’s a shadow of a job.

Add to that the responsibility of allocating life changing grades again This year , is truly awful. So yes we are terrible moaners, so please can we hear moaning from other groups for a change, like the poor actors and bar workers..anyone out there?.?

RubyViolet - that’s not true outside of England. The unions have a huge say in policy making in Wales.

Not in my experience they don't Yardley... and I've worked in Wales for over 20 years.

I think that this thread illustrates that the government has played a blinder, consistently mismanaged the situation, we've got one of the the highest per capita death rates in the world, but many people deciding that teachers trying to argue for safe working environments is the real problem.

When we've got a shortage of leaders in education I expect that will be blamed on teachers and unions too.

@DrMadelineMaxwell

Not in my experience they don't Yardley... and I've worked in Wales for over 20 years.

YardleyX

Twats4themselves and the Covid Recovery Gimps have had more say on government policy than the unions have.

I think that this thread illustrates that the government has played a blinder, consistently mismanaged the situation, we've got one of the the highest per capita death rates in the world, but many people deciding that teachers trying to argue for safe working environments is the real problem

It is alarming how easily some people are influenced.

@YardleyX

Certainly in my area, the secondary teachers have far outshone the primary teachers.

Managing 2 sets of all exam years through the last 12 months must have been mind boggling.

But I don’t know any primary teachers who have done anything more than send out links to Twinkl sheets. Most, to be honest, have not even done that.

I'm in infants and have done way more, as have most of the primaries I know of, either through my own work or via family/friends with younger children.

5 lessons a day here, at least 3 of those each day have a pre recorded video made by the school staff, often more.

Yes, like everything in life there are differences.

But my experience is that all schools. Including primaries, have done over and above what the government guidelines have set out, even in lockdown 1.

@Fire7

I also don't think the teaching unions have done much good at all for the reputation of teachers over the last year.

All teachers I know (and I suspect the vast majority nationally) are desperate to get back to school.

But if the teaching unions had got their way, DC would not have spent a single day at school since February last year and would be lucky to be back before next year. Teachers would have effectively spent 2 years at home.

That has clearly affected public mood and opinion imo.

Utter nonsense and I'm sure you know it tbh.

Clearly someone who has never actually read any of the union'sdocuments or emails, other than what some of the red top rags won't you to believe.

Want not won't

Abraxan - in Wales there aren’t any government guidelines for remote learning.
A school can provide nothing if they want, and neither the government or the LEA are bothered. It’s really sad. And there genuinely is many schools who have provided nothing

But I don’t know any primary teachers who have done anything more than send out links to Twinkl sheets. Most, to be honest, have not even done that.

That's bollocks and I've got the best ever proof - if it had been true, there would have been threads about it in January 6th, rather than the staggered disbelief seen here when parents saw what their children were expected to watch, join in with, and do this time.

For most people in primary, IMO far too much was provided. Parents who didn't have 3 hours per child of slack in their day in the first place have been on their knees. And the live lessons at prescribed times were just unmanageable for the vast majority of primary parents.

I don't have any comments on whether teachers are committed, they may well be, but I do think the standard of home schooling has been dreadful, round here at least. The least possible, other than for kids going private. Very sad.

I'm really grateful for what our school has put in place. We've had 3 online lessons per day which seems the right balance. I'm not saying it's been easy as I have 3 children on the spectrum but we've got there. First time around it wasn't very good but can't fault this time.

That's brilliant Jelly.

I think like all professions the professional, dedication and attitude varies greatly amongst staff. Whilst there are many dedicated professionals there is a significant number who are not. During the pandemic some have gone above an beyond other teachers have used it as an excuse to do as little as possible.

Barbie - don’t tell me my experience is bollocks. You may have a different experience and I believe you. Please offer me the same courtesy.

My statement about primary school provision in my area is a fact, not an opinion.

I think like all professions the professional, dedication and attitude varies greatly amongst staff. Whilst there are many dedicated professionals there is a significant number who are not. During the pandemic some have gone above an beyond other teachers have used it as an excuse to do as little as possible
You're right that there's good and bad in all professions, but I also think you've got to be mindful that your average teacher doesn't get a say in what the whole school policy is.

For what it's worth, I think my school got it right with paper work packs and online materials through the first lockdown, before phasing in limited live lesson timetable in the second lockdown. Our timetable factored in that the vast majority of our families have several children and not enough devices for live lessons all day. Plus, our parents (like many on here) quite reasonably said that they haven't got enough hours a day to supervise and monitor live lessons all day for several children,so having a flexible programme worked for us. (I'm under no illusions that some Mumsnetters think anything other than 8.30-4pm live lessons is horrendous though)

But if I worked in a school that had a different approach,I wouldn't have a choice to do as much or little as directed by the head.

In the first lockdown the curriculum was suspended and there was no guidance or direction from DfE and there was no set expectation. Don't get me wrong, some schools did nowhere near enough. I just think it's unfair for people to argue that poor education provision in lockdown comes from some teachers who can't be bothered and want to do as little as possible.

But if the teaching unions had got their way, DC would not have spent a single day at school since February last year and would be lucky to be back before next year. Teachers would have effectively spent 2 years at home
This is absolute nonsense.

MrsH that poster was a troll. Same lines as every other time.

@Quarks69 no, some nhs jobs changed a great deal. For example cardiac/ent redeployed to itu. It was awful for them - really admire them stepping up. It’s a completely different skill set looking after intubated patients.

But if the teaching unions had got their way, DC would not have spent a single day at school since February last year and would be lucky to be back before next year. Teachers would have effectively spent 2 years at home

The Unions have argued for as safe a workspace as is possible in the circumstances. That's the job of a union - to represent its' members. At no point have the unions argued for long-term closure of schools. All freely available on the teaching union websites. But I bet you never bothered to look, did you?

Fair point regarding school policy

He's a fucking fascist.
I wouldn't be listening to that wanker.
Disgraceful.

@twelly absolutely, and in our case we've not been as lucky as some of the previous posters. Very varied.