Why so little actual teaching in lockdown (state secondary)?

[CatOnMyLap]

My DS (year 8, London state secondary) is getting almost no live teaching during lockdown. Lots of powerpoints, YouTube videos, worksheets set by teachers, but the kids are expected to work unsupervised at home, including tackling complex new topics. Also very little feedback/homework marking. Friends with children at other state secondary schools have the same experience. Yet I am told that private school teachers are doing daily live teaching via Zoom/Google hangouts etc.

I understand that it's unfamiliar, that some teachers may be ill or have small children at home, and that not all kids have sole access to a device. But after 10 weeks it is so clear that the kids need some actual teaching/discussion/group work, and this is doubly true for children whose families can't support with learning. I would love to know why teachers cannot be live say once a week per class per subject for half an hour minimum to explain a new topic or lead a discussion. Are there any teachers who can explain why this is?

I'm not a teacher, just a parent, but I do feel fed up with this kind of thread. It has been done so many times. It has been explained why so many times. It just create more parent vs teacher lift between us. Unless you are a brand new member, you must have seen some of thread on same topic, especially if you are interested in children's education.

Enjoying remote teaching via teams. Love chatting to my students every day in every lesson. Call them via private channel if they are worried about anything. Videos are always off. Use one note so I know exactly what work they are doing.
However I have smaller classes, no issues with access to technology and I kept on top of any shirkers or absentees from day one, so they all attend every lesson. I imagine this would be very difficult with 30 students in a less fortunate environment, limited equipment etc.
I do think some contact should be made with students every week, but it is difficult to comment as my work situation is very different.

I am glad you are making calls @LockdownLucie . All children should be getting checked on.

Sorry I am not actually a teacher but I phone some young people in our organisation from home. But my yr 10 DD although she appears strong on the outside, has caring parents, a nice home etc and whilst she might not appreciate a call from school I most certainly would as I am worried she is becoming quieter, more withdrawn and more disinterested in her schoolwork the longer lockdown goes on.

@LockdownLucie. That sounds tough. It affects them all profoundly I think. Even the ones who say they don't want a call from the teacher would benefit from a call, I agree.

My son was like that until we switched him to an online school that does interactive lessons. He really likes the sense of community he gets from it.

If teachers have poor internet connection / don't have the equipment at home, are they not allowed to go to their school to access it?

And under these circumstances I am sure they can access key worker childcare places?

All other working parents are expected to deliver in their roles and somehow makes it work - why are teachers the exception?

My kids (private schools) have been having live lessons daily via Microsoft teams. Their camera is switched off so only teacher can be seen.

There are a million reasons why something cannot be done but if you really want to do it, you will find a way .........

@chopc my school building was not used as a hub and completely shut down- no access available. The local authority would ONLY accept front line medics' children as key workers at first. This was extended as the weeks went on. Also, key worker provision is not supposed to be used for people working from home.

And under these circumstances I am sure they can access key worker childcare places?

Not if your children are under school age and usually cared for by grandparents.

If teachers have poor internet connection / don't have the equipment at home, are they not allowed to go to their school to access it?

Not allowed into the building unless on rota.

Do you really think schools have the equipment to deliver online lessons?! Mine had desktop PCs, no webcam, no microphones.

All other working parents are expected to deliver in their roles and somehow makes it work - why are teachers the exception?

They aren't. Most teachers have been working more hours than ever to make online learning as accessible and successful as possible.

My kids (private schools) have been having live lessons daily via Microsoft teams. Their camera is switched off so only teacher can be seen.

You are a paying customer and expecting a service. You have devices for your children to use, a stable home and an Internet connection. The students I teach don't have a device each let alone unlimited Internet access. Parents have requested not to have live lessons because their children wouldn't be able to access them.
There's also no evidence that online live lessons are any more effective at helping students learn. The most effective learning comes from feedback on work students have done.

@Hercwasonaroll thanks for the explanations

Similar situation here as OP.

If they can not provide interactive classrooms, why is it not possible to come up with another way of connecting with the children? And also a way for supporting the children to connect with each other? There are ample opportunities for all of that.

To date, my child's form tutor has not made any contact at all - not by email, not by text message, not by phone. Nobody else stepped in either. The very first contact made by the school was a phone call by one subject teacher two months(!) into the lockdown.

Word worksheets are the default. No sample solutions to exercises for self-checking, some worksheets are not even solvable due to missing information. The best thing my child ever go was exactly one powerpoint presentation with the teacher's voice explaining things, asking them to do little tasks and then discussion solutions. It was a very simple thing, but they could actually do on their own and it worked brilliantly.

Teachers can easily learn how to powerpoint with sound recording. If it's not obvious from the drop down menu, watch a 2 min YouTube video about how this works. Or do podcasts. No special training day is needed for that. No "teaching space" is needed for any of this - this can be done in a bedroom in front of a wall, shelf, wardrobe (or click on virtual background such as on Mars or an office if you do not want to share any of your room's walls).

Tweens or teens naturally do not want to be taught by their parents. In most cases, there is no alternative to teaching coming from schools.

Our school has made sure that parents to do not complain by sending emails upfront claiming that what they are doing excellent and explaining that nothing else is possible.

I initially trusted the school's explanations about not conducting online live lessons and not providing any videos by teachers. Then I found out, by chance, that their acting vice principle asked Y7 children to send in videos of themselves (to use for transition day).