The Forty Sixth Republic - online learning has killed the 'snow day'

[Staffdontblowitnow]

You are most welcome to this school staff support thread to get us through stressful times. It is meant for school staff only – a sort of room of requirement. Baiters, haters, goaders, 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 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

Do not give the staffroom password just in case it attracts the wrong sort

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 booze is stashed - Thirsty Tuesdays, Fizz Fridays now in operation.

If you come with a stick to goad us then that is not allowed in the staffroom and you will receive a detention

What does Viner have against schools being remote? Does he have lots of really enjoying children of his own that he doesn’t want under his feet, I wonder?!

@JanFebAnyMonth

I've been to a DanTDM actual gig... DD and I would have got to meet him if her social anxiety hadn't mean we had to hide at the back of the crowd by the stage door...

Wow! I'm not telling dd2 - she already wants to write to him - I didn't know he did gigs!

I think maybe he's stopping home now he's a dad (not just to sweet doggies) any more.
@ItsIgginningtolooklikelockdown I remember that comment! Don't suppose you went to Ipswich to see him did you?

I offered to teach some of the comp sci because I'm under allocated and I'm a nerd and he's my ex but they gave a load to a PE NQT who can't cope.
He gets the best a level results in the school bar none but he's really worried about the long term impact. We also have a good chunk of VI form carrying on (including one who got a cyber apprenticeship at the doughnut shaped building and turned it down!)

@Appuskidu

What does Viner have against schools being remote? Does he have lots of really enjoying children of his own that he doesn’t want under his feet, I wonder?!

Annoying, not enjoying-doh!

Roll on half term.

I’m after a bit of a moan now.

Are there any other part timers on here who feel a bit stuck? I’m increasingly not enjoying the job-been doing it for over 20 years (really enjoyed the first 10) but am still only mid 40s so pension age is looking far far away and I’ve a lot of years to go till I’m 67. Pension pot is also looking shit due to the part time factor so I won’t get much then anyway. Being top of the pay scale in primary doesn’t give you much scope to move because I’m so much more expensive and adverts either want nqts or massive responsibility eg deputy, but I can’t increase my days where I am because the school has no money and NQTs are cheaper. I don’t actually know if I can (emotionally/psychology!) go full time without it finishing me off, anyway. DH’s pension is looking healthier which is something, and paying the mortgage off is in sight at least, but I’m feeling increasingly fed up.

So, I’m stuck. Years and years left, a crap pension at the end of it unless I can somehow increase to full or nearly full time, and a pretty pointless degree I couldn’t do much else with anyway.

Anyone else feel stuck?

I just had a little nap and dreamt I went to the corner shop and bought a Double Decker. Wonder where that idea came from.

@Appuskidu snap!
Nearly 50. Part time. Not enjoying it any more...

Appuskidu That sounds tough. The cheap NQTs are another factor in a less effective education system. There is no economic incentive for a school to retain staff, the converse is true. Obviously there are other benefits but those don't seen to come into it when moving jobs.

I'm spoiled in a shortage subject, potential to pick my job almost.

Have you discussed more hours where you are? Would anywhere local take you 1 day a week PPA cover?

@ChloeDecker, sorry! I should have said that Computing is perceived as difficult and boring by some - just before I retired it was introduced piecemeal into KS3, partly taught by non-specialists and consequently simultaneously tedious and dumbed-down. So my knowledge is out of date anyway.
I used to teach parallel A level ICT and Computing groups until both were dropped for OCR Nationals, such a shame I thought because they were both good specifications and so frequently mentioned by ex students as being particularly useful to them in their degree courses or employment.

Oh FFS.

Just been informed that despite everything currently going on we are expected to join in the complete fuckery that is dressing up for world book day.

Any ideas for warm costumes for a very large late 40s teacher and her similar age but much more svelte TA? I don't mind buying stuff if it makes my life easier and can be recycled another year.

I normally wear a generic medieval lady outfit and claim to be Maid Marian/Juliet/fairy tale princess du jour. But that is in normal years when I don't have all the windows open and a force 9 gale blowing through the classroom.

[quote EnemyOfEducationNo1]@Appuskidu snap!
Nearly 50. Part time. Not enjoying it any more...[/quote]
Snap here too. Part time top 50+ desperate to get out.

[quote EnemyOfEducationNo1]@Appuskidu snap!
Nearly 50. Part time. Not enjoying it any more...[/quote]
It’s crap isn’t it-am starting to feel quite stressed about it all. I think lockdown is making my anxiety sky high about lots of things to be honest, and this is another thing to add to the list!

I worry that I need to work till 67 to claim my pension (not alone there) but will I physically be able to do that? I teach Reception on the whole and can’t imagine my knees surviving that long! What if I get some lickety split new boss who decides I’m just an expensive old grumpy liability and would prefer to replace me with a cheap 22 year old! If I’m sacked at 60 for being ‘past it’ what the hell do I do with an even more depleted pension?!

@Appuskidu I hear you (late 40s). Have a plan but it's to do a masters in subject related vocation once mortgage is paid off -still another 7 years for that to happen). I've been part time for decades so my pension is rubbish, hoping DH's will be better to keep us going.

I have no idea about WBD costumes but you have my sympathy. Dressing up is my nightmare at the best of times.

I've been part time for decades so my pension is rubbish, hoping DH's will be better to keep us going.

Yep-just the same here. I feel like it’s a really crap plan, but DH doesn’t seem too bothered. Let’s hope he doesn’t leave me!!

HarrietVane There's a children's book about a man who wears all his clothes. It might be the Ahlbergs who illustrated it.

And there's the fisherman in the Mousehole Cat - which will mean wearing jersey, coat, hat and wellies. And a picture of a cat.

@HarrietDVane surely only needed for heads? For zoom?

(Your head not head teacher.)

Gruffalo costumes are very warm
Indeed.

Re the kids and technology.
When dc1 was 6/hairdressers she joined facebook. She took my email address and phone no from a competition entry. We only realised because i got a email from facebook. Of course she didnt know what her password was.
Dc2 has always been plugging stuff in. Used to plug my charger into my phone. Or later some wii cables into the tv recorder which i didnt know would work.. And she downloaded some apps at 4yo. this xmas she replugged the xmas lights back into the tv port. And now she keeps unmuting herself in the school zooms to say stuff.

Re the shorter holidays. Also seems awful idea because squeezing everyone into 1/5 weeks is bad enough ascin how busy places are and peoples work holidays. Covid wise though if 3w in august left then more people traveling 10d before returning to school. (With their variants.. Or perhaps having to isolate 10 quarantine. Missing 10d of school. There wouldnt even be time for a 2w holiday plus quarantine.
Although i did get v annoyed by a fb KW person saying, 'why should my child have to work 2w of the summer, when they have been in all the time so arent behind.' !!!
Rather tactless.

For primary a lot can be achieved in maths with just cgp books or collins , or say mathletics. And english younger years just focus on the reading.
Im not sure my dc has been doing enough writing though.

Hi everyone. Hope it's ok to join.

Random hairdressers there!

@Appuskidu I go through phases of feeling like that as part time. I’m secondary though and have ended up taking on loads of the remote teaching stuff over the last year and have found my groove a bit. Don’t know whether I’ll find something I love heading up again once we return and all the bullshit is back though... financially we’re secure and I’ve thought about leaving and doing some voluntary type stuff instead... maybe if we get a dog I will 🤣 I love being in a classroom mostly, but so much other shit that I’ve got no time for.. and even if I managed not to say anything my face and ragey grumping about I think gives it away! I like just thinking about the teaching right now and nothing else...

Hey sherry, you are definitely welcome here!

Welcome @sherrystrull