The Seventh Republic - the debate rages on but for some it is half term!

[StaffAssociationRepresentative]

You are most welcome to this school staff support thread to get us through stressful times. It is meant for school staff. Baiters and bashers can jog on somewhere else.

If you are NOT staff and just have a general education query please start your own thread.

You can play here only if you are a member of one the following groups-

-ABBA - anti bashers and baiting association
-SWAB - school workers against bashers
-SWOT - school workers opposing teacherbashers
-STARS - schoolworkers together against ranting + slurs

Other requirements for staff room entry include the ability to find the staff room, the ability to find a clean mug in the staff room, knowledge of the photocopier codes, and the ability to sniff out where the toffee vodka is hidden.

If you are fed up with cakes and biscuits there is now a cheeseboard on offer

They've never considered us to be adults. Most of the general population forget/don't know how different our workplace is to theirs. Anyone in an office expects all other jobs to be able to put the same social distancing measures in as they have. There must be other jobs where you are in relatively close contact with a lot of people for a long period of time, but they aren't as visible to the public and as such aren't getting the same criticism if they aren't working as normal.

A friend posted this on Facebook today www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/05/coronavirus-covid19-exposure-risk-catching-virus-germs/ I know it's American, but since it's a global pandemic I'm happy to take scientific views from anywhere. It was really interesting that they key to getting infected seems to be exposure X time. So being in contact with an infected person for an hour is a much higher risk than passing that same person out on a walk or in a shop, because of the time factor. And inside is more risky than outside because of the density of infectious droplets in the air (outside the droplets can blow away more easily). Now to me, that says being in a classroom with several children all day is relatively risky in terms of the rest of the bubble catching the virus. But that's not what the government are saying, and we're being thrown under a bus.

💍 for you StaffAssociationRepresentative

So outside teaching it is then. Need to remind students to have a hat and suntan lotion for the rest of the summer term.

There's a thread asking whether people will be making their children wear masks in school. Lots of replies saying no, school aren't allowing it. Then someone says they've bought masks for their children to wear while out shopping but they're definitely not going to make them wear one in school.

I didn't post on that thread but it really frustrates me that people talk about risk while they're walking outside or briefly in a shop - all the while ignoring the fact that school staff will be in classrooms with up to 15 kids for SIX HOURS or more with zero protection like this.

I am lucky, I won't be in one of those bubbles. But it makes me mad for my colleagues who will be. And I've just realised - if they get ill, actually I'm next on the list.

I'm so mad at the way people are just shoving us to one side. I hope there isn't a surge in school staff deaths, even though it may make people stop and think for a second.

The tests are being met.

Not have been met.

Clever use of language.

No mention of the other yr groups in primary for a while either.

Loved the continuing DC qs!

My ds is the total opposite of those bits described below; completely distractable at home, angel at school

But at home he's a "peripheral learner" just absorbs stuff left right and centre.

NeurotrashWarrior

And the tests have changed as well.

Yep neuro. And challenges are, “in hand” not overcome. Fucking DC still scripting this bs when he should be gone

Just had a fall out with my ds. It’s the first time I’ve really felt how long it is to be away from school.

Single mum of one boy so fairly intense and no one else to share responsibility or the lead with. End of year 8 so definitely no school till at least September and he can’t go to my parents anymore.

He seems to be hitting puberty hard which is not the best time to be a caged animal with only your mum to take it out on

That's tough honey.
Year 8 are hard work as a group, but intense sounds about right for one to one all the time.

TheHoneyBadger as the mother of another yr 8, hormone-riddled boy you have my sympathy.

Sorry to hear it, Honey. My DS is too young, fortunately, for falling outs. Hope you're okay.

Sorry to hear you're having a hard time with ds, HoneyBadger. I can imagine how intense things must be. Hope that things improve for you and ds soon .

A couple of my friends went through tough times with teenage boys. Mine is 10 and proto teen, so we're getting teenage gr8 u nuts and wanting to stay in his room, along with him trying to.pet lambs on.walks and playing with his avengers toys. Dh doesn't get how that weird mix of vulnerability and desire to be a grown up just breaks my heart for him. I think it's cos I've spent so.many years looking at teenagers from.the other side. I feel more able to deal with Dd.

Just popping up to say I have an appointment with my gp on Monday to write a risk assessment. She is not happy about the lack of Ppe or social distancing in school.

I am now a bit turn. She would probably ask that I stay home. But I know school need me in - even though they ostensibly said being home was fine. The general "off communal" staff meeting has not been that. We'll see what the appointment brings. It may be that things have changed and it's now totally safe for me to be in.

Sorry to read that honey. Is it possible to have a mate over in the garden/ for a walk on Monday for your son?

I am going to with my dd as she is strugging too.

phlebas lovely, don't do the teacher guilt thing. Protecting you from the ravages of the potential damage of the virus is the most important thing.

Thanks everyone. I find it a bit of a rollercoaster. After the spat I got him reading the first few chapters of Animal Farm which he then happily discussed with me as if nothing had happened

Meh.

I noticed are being met too!

I’m not so much worried about myself. My colleague is over 65 and will be in a bubble. She’s more at risk. No PPE.

@TheHoneyBadger is year 8 around 12/13? I have one of those and he gives me such a hard time, he is so much nicer to his dad and it drives me nuts - probably because I do all the graft and expect him to work/tidy/wash occasionally. In small doses it wasn't so noticeable! So you have my sympathy

Hello, my name is Cheese and I bit on a zoom thread.

Now, where’s my cup of tea and a biscuit? Enjoying half term here, but I am still checking my work emails more often than is healthy... has anyone managed to break this habit?! There were a few that I responded to... but they could have waited until next week...

Step away from the TB thread cheese! Hands over a Rich Tea.

I now know of three teachers who have handed notice in. Seems MN is getting its wish.

Now to find their replacements. I am sure that'll be a breeze.

I’ve resigned too Piggy if I leave my mug can a still pop by for a cuppa?