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Original poster

Parents becoming teachers? Is it me or has Gove totally lost it?

691 replies

sogrownup · 26/06/2011 20:15

How do you feel about going into school to cover for a teacher who is on strike? Is there anyone out there who believes that this is a sound idea.... I think it's madness!!

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Fontsnob · 27/06/2011 17:58

Ok so,
A) Gove is a massive knob.
B) I would actually go into school on my day off to witness the carnage of parents coming in to teach in our secondary comp.
C) I'm getting pretty hacked off with the divide and conquer bullshit that our govenment is pulling and that the media is perpetuating.
D) Argh!

Feenie · 27/06/2011 18:02

Of course we need more people in to teaching, but if the current lot, who don't really want to be there would go, I'm sure there would be loads to replace them with a the local job centres.

And since half of all teachers leave within 5 years anyway, you might as well put in a revolving door. Grin

Michiem · 27/06/2011 18:12

MPs have among the most generous schemes in the public sector ? they can contribute 11.9%, 7.9% or 5.9% of their parliamentary £65,738 salary, with generous incentives built into the accrual rates to encourage the highest contribution. They still receive a final salary payout when they retire.

www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/jun/17/unions-demand-mps-rise-pension-contributions

AppleyEverAfter · 27/06/2011 18:18

I'd rather go down to the school and stand on the picket line, handing out tinnies and shouting 'scab!' at any Tory twat parents who cross the line and go in to assist in classes. I really hope lots of other parents turn out to support the teachers.

Riveninside · 27/06/2011 18:20

With their kids in tow appley? Cos many parents will have to gake a day off work.

mrz · 27/06/2011 18:20

1)Teaching was rated the most stressful occupation by HSE in 2000 (42% of teachers highly stressed at work compared with 20% in population as a whole).

2)Between 2003 and 2006 National Statistics reported that the highest levels of occupational stress, depression or anxiety were amongst teachers and were double the level for ?all occupations?.

3)Around half of all ill-health retirements take place for stress/psychiatric illness.
You Gov research in 2007 found that stress had led to half of all teachers considering leaving the profession. A survey of London teachers in 2006 found that four-fifths envisaged stress causing them to leave in the future.

4)Half of all new teachers entering the profession leave within 5 years.

5)Suicide rates amongst teachers are 40% higher than within the population as a whole. (Source ? Samaritans

Mum2Luke · 27/06/2011 18:22

Ridiculous idea, OFSTED would have a fit - no CRBs, Health and safety etc. I know the teachers do a hard job but my husband who works in the private sector has to pay into a pension and there is no guarantee that it will pay out a decent sum to live on.

I am a self-employed Registered Childminder and am not able to pay into a pension, I will have to rely on the basic state when I reach 66. I don't have a Union to represent me - parents who don't pay on time or not at all, I can't go on strike like you can and I work long hours sometimes too for little money or appreciation. Think yourselves lucky you have the likes of NUT and ATL to fight your case.

Peachy · 27/06/2011 18:28

Although Mum2 as in my post above it is NOT all about pension amounts.

And not everyone on here is a teahcer btw: I'm a carer, I get £55 to live on now and whatever crumb someone might throw me at rretirement age, with actual retirement as the kids are here until I die.
Now I'd like to work but who knows. Depemds on so many things- at this point there is no comp ds3 can attend.

I presume teachers started the first etaching union? Surely childminders could do likewise?

chattym · 27/06/2011 18:38

Lots of discussion on this... is there anyone who actually plans to get into the classroom and help out on Thursday? Would like to know if it's a realistic possibility!?

LeQueen · 27/06/2011 18:43

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Goblinchild · 27/06/2011 18:47

What about confidentiality?
Would you be happy to have a non-crb checked volunteer in school, helping to run the class with other helpers and finding out exactly where your child is academically and socially, what they struggle with and how they match up against the volunteer's child? Knowing about SN issues and talking freely about what they truffled out in the time they had?
What if all the helpers are men?

LeQueen · 27/06/2011 18:47

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AppleyEverAfter · 27/06/2011 18:48

Hell yes Riven! Depending on their age it's a perfect lesson in politics.

And speaking as someone who's been part of a picket line, any extra support from the public, members of other unions etc, even just for half an hour, makes you feel you're not completely wasting your time.

Ishani · 27/06/2011 18:49

My MIL retired from teaching on mental health grounds at 50 and has had a full teachers pension ever since, she's 70.
I'm not suggesting she wasn't stressed in the role, i'm sure she was but she went on to work as a time share sales person, in a jewelers and for Marks and Spencers before getting a state pension too at 60.
I'm a sales manager, my job is stressful, what would happen if i can't hack it at 50, feck all that's what i'd have to lump it or have a lower standard of living.

Well the lower standard of living is pretty much a given if i want my children to stand a chance.

Riveninside · 27/06/2011 18:50

Are they acgually doi g picket lines? I think any strikers here will. E on the big march and rally in town. Hopefully i will be going as we spent ages working out an accessible route!

Riveninside · 27/06/2011 18:52

If i took dd to a picket line within 5 minutes she would be screaming her head off. She hates bei g still and not entertained.
She is like a one child strike breaker Grin

muminlondon · 27/06/2011 19:11

Good luck to the teachers. I'm having to take a day off work too but I'd rather that than risk leaving my child with someone who is unqualified to teach. Parent helpers do a fine job when supervised by a teacher but it's unbelievably exploitative of Gove to expect them to take over and naive to think all other parents would feel safe with that. Luckily I don't know anyone who has taken his call for volunteers seriously anyway.

Just because private sector workers are not properly covered by their shit pensions doesn't mean other workers should give up their contractual benefits without a fight.

working9while5 · 27/06/2011 19:11

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ouryve · 27/06/2011 19:13

This is wonderfully ironic, by the way!

Peachy · 27/06/2011 19:14

LeQ I looked into TA training for after my MA; no local establishment could take me due to training.

However plenty of unemployed NQTs about to do it I guess.

Peachy · 27/06/2011 19:15

Sorry not training (children putting me off)- funding requirements

suburbophobe · 27/06/2011 19:15

Of course he wants parents to pick up the slack! Less chaos then, and using parents to dodge his responsibilities as a government minister [sicko])

Is he going to tell your boss why you're not there that day? No, thought not.

mrz · 27/06/2011 19:16

working9while5 no we don't