The Tenth Republic - what is the new normal?

[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

If you come with a stick to beat us with then please do so elsewhere and not in the staffroom.

I have seen quite a few dodgy articles in the TES lately.

the TES journalist asked such a wishy washy question on the briefing on Friday , I sometimes wonder what they know about schooling !

That's behind a paywall noble

This one is interesting :

www.tes.com/news/exclusive-coronavirus-half-of-teachers-worried-about-health

I commented on a thread a while ago to say I couldn't give a fuck what people who don't understand my job think and that after all the shit they'd thrown at us as a profession they could swivel if they think I'm doing anything else in a desperate attempt to appease Joe Public. Genuinely don't care if public opinions then against teachers or anything else they write.

What difference will it make. People have always griped about teachers holidays. Let them keep doing so. I'm fucking zealously protecting my summer I can tell you.

I think the only way for me to have a decent summer (as well as copious amounts of toffee vodka) is to not use mumsnet. I remember last year there being a particular unpleasant thread about teachers posted on the first evening of my holidays, and stressing about it all weekend - and those times were positively golden compared to how it is now!

I remember last year there being a particular unpleasant thread about teachers posted on the first evening of my holidays

Yes, there usually is-isn’t there? It’s vile. The DM comments are similar. I will be avoiding as well.

I have a horrible feeling about where this will end up. Is it going to end up with strike action?!

Yep

I've just wondered into a particular unpleasant thread in AIBU and thought I should run back here! A lot of the time it is the same posters saying the same stuff, trying to keep that in mind.

I'd strike all term frankly. I'm having a bad day today in the general pessimism dept, but if I could take unpaid leave until next summer, I would.

In fact, if I could just get sedated until next summer, I would. I'm a ray of fucking sunshine today I tell you.

Yes it is. The sad tree was moaning on the tired NHS thread about awful endless zoom calls/headaches etc, but that's what she's been asking for for the kids. Half of it is just random frustration.

Must admit ever since we have started doing live lessons , I have had a headache every week day.

I don't think there will be strike action. Noone at my school seems particularly bothered and think all the rules are ridiculous.

I don't think there will be strike action. Noone at my school seems particularly bothered and think all the rules are ridiculous

Would they all be happy to come in for the summer?

It’s not in our contract, how could they make us? Genuinely? I’m assuming that they can’t pass something through Parliament because there’s no time. Do they have emergency powers? I’ve no idea.

So we aren't allowed to say ' schools have been open all of the way through' now because it irrates some goady fooks!
Brilliant!

@noblegiraffe

It’s not in our contract, how could they make us? Genuinely? I’m assuming that they can’t pass something through Parliament because there’s no time. Do they have emergency powers? I’ve no idea.

I suspect some schools will be asking for volunteers again and trying to guilt staff into agreeing.

I won't be.

That's behind a paywall noble

I had to pay to read that shit? Jeez. I could be insulted for free in the other press.

I have Sunday night anxiety. I'm a 1 to 1 this week in school. Feel like I can't manage it. They can be challenging ie refuse to do anything you say and hit out.

I'm having general fear of failing a lot. I should be getting ready for my pgc course in September but the thought of failing is crippling me into inaction. Will they expect me to be planning lessons from day 1? Am I expected to know how to teach? I'm not a teacher. What if I can't do it and I've given up my safe job?

See, full of worries tonight. Cant shake the anxiety and know that it will only get worse.

We are just about to start the last few weeks terms. Adonis et al can plan and shuffle paper all they want. The only thing we need to do is to reach the end of the academic year and to plan for next academic year.

We are not opening during the holidays full stop. Our headteacher looks haggard and needs to sleep for 6 weeks.

Honestly it is all pie in the sky with them. No idea of logistics concerned with getting kids to and from school, timetabling, curriculum delivery, meeting exam board criteria etc

Anyway I had a couple of glasses of Malbec to celebrate completing my reports

#cheers #whoisntakeyworker?

Sunday night anxiety is why I stepped away from SLT job in a big state school.

@namechangedyetagain - you will get lots of support on PGCE course.

@Appuskidu

I don't think there will be strike action. Noone at my school seems particularly bothered and think all the rules are ridiculous

Would they all be happy to come in for the summer?

I think quite a few would volunteer a couple of weeks. They already get volunteers for revision in the holidays....

Interesting, @whynot

I don’t think anyone would at mine. We all have kids who have been ignored for months whilst we’ve completely overhauled our way of working-I think family now needs to come before goodwill.

I don't think my head will ask.

We have not been doing live lessons though, and actually my workload has been lower due to how we have organised responsibilities. In a way I almost feel I should volunteer (if asked) as I don't feel I have worked my hours, and I feel I have let kids down, despite doing everything (and more) that I've been asked to do.

My DH just says it's karma for all the years I did 60+ hour weeks with half unpaid...