TES Community

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Where the dickens has it gone? Is it gone gone? Has it been renamed and I just can't find it?

Wish we could somehow guide others here too as @Murs suggested, I think people would really appreciate it. Many will very much miss the traditional NYE quiz .

Anyway, I also send belated Merry Christmas wishes to all those who do find a pathway to this remote staff room.

It’s not quite the same vibe as a full blown Tes ‘Merry Christmas’ thread with a classic dad joke from SK, a monologue from MM-ex-DoY, wise words from Grumpy and a bah-humbug from Ivor, but it will have to do.

@Neededabreak

Thank you Bebinn, that's very kind... I just think we deserve it... don't we? :D

I agree. Shout out on here if there’s anything people may be able to do to help.

@PriscillaChinchilla

Are you coffeekid the artist? The one who did the lovely lockdown thread where people shared their art, craft, cooking and gardening projects?

I cannot tell you how pleased I am to see TES posters on here. I felt shipwrecked and now I have sighted land. Coffee kid I enjoyed your art thread on TEs.

I wonder how long it will take for TES to notice this thread?

I used to post quite a bit but have barely used it since they redid it, and was almost upset at the anti teacher tome on a covid thread on there. Would be happy to join a new teachers forum NAB but would hope that teacher bashing posts would be robustly moderated.

I’ve just sign posted tessers to this thread in the FB groups I belong to that are school related. Quite a few people in a few groups were asking what had happened.

@Loshad

I used to post quite a bit but have barely used it since they redid it, and was almost upset at the anti teacher tome on a covid thread on there. Would be happy to join a new teachers forum NAB but would hope that teacher bashing posts would be robustly moderated.

Definately, in fact given the risk of this and trolling it is likely that we will go with a closed network for serving and non serving teachers/educators in the first instance, the verification process is being considered at the moment, together with GDPR and security issues.

The risk of teacher or anything bashing is far less likely if people have been through a stringent verification system, people rarely speak like that in person and that is the base line level of accountability we will be aiming for, I hope that helps :)

I’m glad to hear an alternative platform is in the works. Love to everyone and hope you are staying safe and managing the stress of everything we’re in.

[quote rc22]@PriscillaChinchilla

Are you coffeekid the artist? The one who did the lovely lockdown thread where people shared their art, craft, cooking and gardening projects?[/quote]
Thank you CK, I certainly will because it is actually a substantial task to undertake so all assistance will be gratefully received. Initially I think ideas on what works best would be invaluable, especially from posters who used TES or similar forums and may have tips for improvements like Loshad's post on moderation... then of course they will likely be some moderators positions available as the project comes to fruition amongst other posts as the network is established.

There will be, not they... gosh there I go again hitting send before previewing... my apologies...

Hi TESers! I've even written an email of complaint to TES, their timing of the "maintenance" could not have been worse. It may well not achieve anything, especially as I have a suspicion that it's not coming back, but it made me feel better. It would be great to join a non-teacher bashing alternative forum. And what are the teacher Facebook groups? I'm not in any but would be interested in joining some.

It's great to see that people are interested in the new forum :)

Also apologies if I have addressed the wrong poster or quoted the wrong person above, I'm not used this format at all... note to self, aim for something simple in the new network ;)

@ejhhhhh

Hi TESers! I've even written an email of complaint to TES, their timing of the "maintenance" could not have been worse. It may well not achieve anything, especially as I have a suspicion that it's not coming back, but it made me feel better. It would be great to join a non-teacher bashing alternative forum. And what are the teacher Facebook groups? I'm not in any but would be interested in joining some.

I agree - as I mentioned upthread. I was actually relying on the TES forums to get me through Christmas (which has always been a stressful time of year for me). For them to pull it just before Christmas, and without any warning, smacks of poor judgement.

I am in a couple of phase FB groups that are populated with teachers and staff who work in the same phase as me. Two are particularly good and I get lots of useful stuff from them and some of the comment threads are interesting and enlightening. However, I did stick to two or three threads on TES and got to know many of the regular posters quite well virtually so have missed the interaction with them.

Agree about pulling it before Christmas, TES was a life line for me this year both before and after a close bereavement. Many posters on there were so kind and supportive and I miss them. It is extremely cruel of TES to pull the plug so abruptly.

I am in a couple of FB groups fro my subject but they are pretty inactive

What I think TES have done (at least I'm hoping so) is to take down the forum temporarily over the Christmas hols when all the moderators are on holiday. In the past people with agendas incompatible with being a teacher would post on the forum on Friday evening, knowing that nobody would be available to take down any offensive posts until TES staff turned up for work Mon morning. Thus they got the most exposure for whatever unpleasantries they wanted to post.

The forum is much better nowadays irrespective of what some posters here have said, but I think TES are sensitive to anything which may bring the profession of teaching into disrepute.

Also to add, apologies for posting here. I am not a Mum, but I am a grandad with seven absolutely lovely grandchildren. I only came to give my opinion on the TES forum. I won't be posting again!

I too have been looking for the TES community all over Christmas and really hope it'll be back soon. For folk who relied on it for company and reassurance it must have been particularly difficult to have it removed with no warning. I'm glad that Google show this forum and that several of us have found it.

@Malbecfan

I used to use TES under a different but related username. Workplace Dilemmas was so helpful; I can't remember the name of the lovely lady who retrained as a lawyer and gave such amazing advice, then was diagnosed with something like leukaemia. I do remember Lilyofthefields too.

The subject forum was really helpful. As a music teacher, in a 1.5 person department, you could ask for suggestions there. A couple of posters were bloody irritating but one, Florian Gasman was extremely knowledgeable, especially on niche A level topics, UCAS or conservatoire applications. My HoD and I used to wonder where this particular poster came from or worked.

Now, I use the Facebook forums. The Music ones are pretty helpful, especially the exam board ones for KS4 and KS5 as the subject officer is a regular contributor. At all key stages, posters willingly share resources or signpost things they have found, which during lockdown, saved hours of work. A couple of my old uni friends are on there too, some 30+ years after graduating.

I don't post much here but I do read. Unlike some parts of MN, I have found the staffroom to be friendly and supportive. So on that note, I hope you all have a safe end to the year and wish everyone the very best for 2021!

I think you’re referring to Gardening Leaves

I am still really upset by their cruelty in taking it down at Christmas. Even more cruel if they don't intend to bring it back and pull it without notice not giving people a chance to get each others' off board contact details.

@BG2015

Diddydave is also on a Facebook page I follow so I might search him out and ask him if he knows anything

Oooh, what’s the page?

Hi, another TES Exile here.
Missing the Community Forums so much - especially Personal. Living alone, I now have no one to debate, argue and agree with.
And I enjoyed meeting up with other TESsers in pre-Covid days.

Really angry that it was just closed, without chance for people to exchange details or organise another place to meet.
Some posters annoyed me hugely, but that was a small price to pay for the 'crack'.

I've just emailed them a link to this thread requesting further information and explaining how upset people are.