Scottish teachers- how is it going?

[sonicbook]

Just that really. Just checking in to see how things are! Not sure if there is an existing thread. Apologies if so!

It's shit tbh

Freezing to death and it's only September. "Staff room" is a cavernous hall with a very high ceiling so you can't hear what anyone is saying. I'm missing seeing half my colleagues. I don't think I'm doing my job as well as I have done in the past and am just waiting for parents to criticise us.

No long weekend here so soldiering on until the tattie holidays. We will already have worked an extra week and am desperate to get away for just a few days if NS doesn't put a stop to IT.
It's all very well for her to say that people should stay at home in the holidays to avoid contact but I feel there's absolutely NOTHING to look forward to so I'm damned if I'm going to be stuck in my house for an entire 2 weeks.

2 more weeks to go. No September weekend in my part of the world. Taking DD3 to her halls (prison) tomorrow and my stomach is churning but I am so proud that she still wants to try. Send me bravery vibes please.

Any recommendations for thermals that don't add bulk as today was chittering? I think an entrepreneur should look at stylish but Dickensian hand wear for the contemporary Covid classroom (pupil versions available on request) .

But it's Friday and I have Lidlfam and Granddoggy and .

@Invisimamma do it! As others said it would be massively appreciated. I'm a secondary teacher but in the past I've emailed my kids primary school to say thanks for various things and at the end of the session etc. The last time I did this the HT replied saying that these kinds of emails are few and far far between and they mean a lot to the staff so definitely go for it

I swear by my silk thermals - especially the socks, long johns and gloves not that you'd wear gloves in the classroom when I'm skiing.

Not cheap though

https://www.patra.com/category/Women-Pure-Silk-Thermals

Alternatively, M&S used to do a good selection of thermals, including merino and silk blends, but I've not looked in a while.

parent here. I've just written a complaint email to my DDs headteacher to complain about one of her teachers who is using Covid as an excuse to bully the kids she teaches. I'm not the only parent who is complaining.

Before I get jumped on, my DD follows all the rules because I am vulnerable and she already knows the rules. She wears a mask, she carries hand sanitiser, she knows about social distancing.

AFAIK, the Scotland wide policy is for pupils to wear masks in corridors and places where you cannot social distance. Pupils should also santise their desks. Annoying but they do it.

DD Is coming home in tears because this one teacher is shouting at the whole class for not coming in one at a time - is this the policy? It wasn't communicated and the other teachers are not enforcing it. She makes them go back outside, queue and do it again properly.

The teacher shouts at the kids if they sit down and take off their masks without her saying they could. Sometimes she makes them wear the mask all period and has said she 'doesn't care' if someone has asthma etc. She will shout at someone to 'shut up' if they accidentally sneeze. Should the kids wear clothes pegs on their noses?

I have some friends who teach at the school and I have spoken to them and they agree this teacher was already a bully and Covid is allowing her to get away with it. DD is very upset and I am not prepared to allow it. So go easy on the pupils and if you aren't happy about something, take it up with your SMT and ask for clearer policies.

PS these pupils are 11 and 12, so young and new to secondary. They aren't the senior pupils who should be setting an example.

@throwingawaymyshot

parent here. I've just written a complaint email to my DDs headteacher to complain about one of her teachers who is using Covid as an excuse to bully the kids she teaches. I'm not the only parent who is complaining.

Before I get jumped on, my DD follows all the rules because I am vulnerable and she already knows the rules. She wears a mask, she carries hand sanitiser, she knows about social distancing.

AFAIK, the Scotland wide policy is for pupils to wear masks in corridors and places where you cannot social distance. Pupils should also santise their desks. Annoying but they do it.

DD Is coming home in tears because this one teacher is shouting at the whole class for not coming in one at a time - is this the policy? It wasn't communicated and the other teachers are not enforcing it. She makes them go back outside, queue and do it again properly.

The teacher shouts at the kids if they sit down and take off their masks without her saying they could. Sometimes she makes them wear the mask all period and has said she 'doesn't care' if someone has asthma etc. She will shout at someone to 'shut up' if they accidentally sneeze. Should the kids wear clothes pegs on their noses?

I have some friends who teach at the school and I have spoken to them and they agree this teacher was already a bully and Covid is allowing her to get away with it. DD is very upset and I am not prepared to allow it. So go easy on the pupils and if you aren't happy about something, take it up with your SMT and ask for clearer policies.

This is utterly unacceptable behaviour, and I think you are right to raise in with the school, but... I have colleagues who are incredibly anxious. They may have been previously part of the group of vulnerable people who were sent home, they may be caring for older, or vulnerable relatives. The pupils, for the most part DO NOT social distance. They don't wear masks, and we're not allowed to challenge those who don't as we've had crazy emails from the crazy Usforthem types saying their children are not wearing masks, and are not to be spoken to about not wearing masks. They don't bring equipment, meaning they have to borrow it, they don't hand sanitiser, they don't wipe down their desks. (Not all, but most.) We're teaching full classes, in poorly ventilated rooms, while covering for absent colleagues, setting work for absent pupils and trying to get to grips with online learning. So, while this teacher's behaviour is awful, there may be a reason for it.

there is no reason for it and your excuse is exactly why she gets away with it. Don't assume the kids are breaking the rules everywhere or that the whole class are breaking the rules. Don't punish all of them due to one persons behaviour (if even that). Speak to your SMT or union. Don't bully young kids. I am not an usforthem-er and I resent that assumption. There's kids who are exempt being shouted at for not wearing a mask.

Let's bypass attempted thread derailment and continue to look out for each other. Enjoy your precious weekend time.

@throwingawaymyshot

there is no reason for it and your excuse is exactly why she gets away with it. Don't assume the kids are breaking the rules everywhere or that the whole class are breaking the rules. Don't punish all of them due to one persons behaviour (if even that). Speak to your SMT or union. Don't bully young kids. I am not an usforthem-er and I resent that assumption. There's kids who are exempt being shouted at for not wearing a mask.

I said at least twice in that thread that I thought her behaviour was unacceptable, but was merely requesting that you took a second or two to consider that this teacher is a person, who is quite possibly living with difficult circumstances herself. But, if it makes you happy, you go ahead with your wee witch hunt.

A thread where teachers are sharing their own experiences about being back at school maybe isn't the place to do it, though.

Lidfix I hope it went well today

Kids need to come in one at a time don't they, otherwise how will they each use the hand sanitiser? The rest doesn't sound good though. But sounds like poster is already following up with the school so not much more for us to say.

Thanks Mistress it did go well, despite all the restrictions she was still really excited and thought her halls were lovely. Playing house, setting up her room with all her new stuff she was glowing. We were very proud of her.

Today I shall be mostly welling up and singing "slipping through my fingers" very badly .

Enjoy your long lie if you're off. Power stance and caffeine to those limping to the finish. Hope tomorrow brings news that doesn't horrify us, the pupils and parents. And crossing everything that we aren't going to have another lockdown fortnight to cripple us before another brutal term.

I've got this week and next and we were meant to go to krakow. Not happening now. Nursery going fine. Little absence possibly as we are outdoors all day every day x

Awh Grovee went to Kraków in the Feb break and loved it. We've said we want to go back and experience the city and not freeze. Were were supposed to be going to Prague in Monday I am keeping everything crossed for my Highland cottage.

Sorry to jump in on a supportive thread when I am not a teacher but: can I ask any Scottish High School teachers who have a spare moment to look at my thread: 'Crazy to move to Nat 5's now Part 2' ?
(sorry, don't know how to link).

I have a child in the English system who is having an extremely difficult time and all profs agree a move might be beneficial. I have access to a house in Scotland (near where his Dad is, whom he misses) and was planning to move next summer anyway. As it is so bad for him here, and he is unlikely to do well in GCSE next summer I thought it might be a good idea to move now. But I am scared that, as we do not have any recent assessment data it will be hard for the school to know whether to put him in for Nat 4's or 5's.
Can any teachers say if they have ever dealt with a child moving at this stage of Nat 5's if it is possible to assess similar subjects (ie Maths, Physics, Biology) or 'new' subjects (English as it's totally different course, ICT (though this is his passion), Electronics (again he does this as a hobby but I know that's different from doing the course)

If this is not a good place to post this, just ignore me. x

Well you/we will find out tomorrow whether there even are exams for Nat5s this year so maybe wait till then! I don't think there's much difficulty about working out whether someone can do N4 or 5 - a couple of tests or pieces of extended writing would tell. He may have missed content of course but is he willing to work a bit harder to catch up? From what I remember there were other issues with the school you are looking at and it might be worth casting your net wider. You would have a catchment non-Dom and a catchment Catholic school, for example; it could make a placing request.

Hi @Mistressiggi
Yes, tomorrow 'no exams at Nat 5' would be helpful for me to know
I did have some other fears yes, but the S4 Head has been very helpful plus ds would get to be nearer his Dad (he has just said is important to him) plus its a stable house so there is lots I am willing to gamble on too. thank you for your reply x

First positive case in our school. Am presuming it's not our bubble as first we knew was seeing it on the school website. Took over an hour to make staff aware x

I would have thought most schools have had a positive case by now so you're doing not too bad.

Holidays finally start today. No cases on our school. Being with the children is ace. It also ways is. Relationships across our usually supportive staff are fractured. I don’t know how we go on from here if I’m honest.

So it’ll be Friday wine too...
*in our school
*it always is

Half way through my 2 weeks - this is the way to go. Managed a night in Dundee with DD3 and thanks to thermals and patio heaters it was great. Away with Lidlfam tomorrow for a few nights of beach walks, wine, chasing the pooch, wine, watching nature, wine, dominoes which we will take very seriously and more ...

Strength if you are going back on Monday.

Quite a lot in our authority haven't had cases despite being in the texted restrictions now. I didn't even find out by my own school. Someone told me it was on the school website.