The Fifty-Sixth Republic - Who is up for a game of TAG?

[StaffRepFeistyClub]

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.

Do not give the staffroom password to non-staff as it attracts the wrong sort of crowd.

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. Do not sit on the chairs and do wear a mask

Yes it can be.

Am currently doing a short course in workplace mental health (in one time altho I may ask my boss if I can use some work time!) Several of the examples given for challenged employees are stressed teachers.....

I'm sorry you're feeling down and lonely MrsH. We're always here for you, but it's really difficult when you don't have someone there in person. Chin up, things will get better soon

Day went entirely as expected. I'm thinking about moving the 4 kids in my class who aren't tricky, into another class, so they can be taught properly, while I teach the rest of them as if it's a PRU. 28 days left until half term.

I'll skip the cucumber on the grounds of indigestion though

1. Prepare gin with ice and cucumber
2. Remove cucumber, place on saucer
3. Drink gin
4. Lie back, close eyes, place cucumber on eyelids

Result: improvement in mood and appearance of eyes.

born - you are a genius.

Is that a serious possibility rule??

MrsH it’s hard for you too because of your house situation. Remind me, is there a plan to sort that?

Sending to you Mrs H and all who are going through tough times.

My day went as expected: slept badly (standard for a Sunday night), arrived at work nice and early, feeling ok and ready for the challenge (through the miracle of caffeine and adrenaline), then gradually disappeared under a mountain of unnecessary admin and paperwork before emerging at 6.50 to go home. The to-do list that I had cleared in the holidays is now back up to two pages.

I strongly suspect that certain members of our SLT have forgotten that the ordinary rank and file teachers actually have children to teach for a significant proportion of the day, so demanding a detailed response 'by 4pm' to an email sent as lunchtime ended is not that helpful.

And to think that, over the weekend, I fondly imagined I might be able to squeeze in some extra study for my own enrichment...

I'm applying for jobs overseas at the moment but I feel really guilty about it. For all my bravado, I'm also really scared of change too. But lonely with someone else is worse than lonely alone, I guess.

That reminds me of Dr Johnson's advice on how to serve cucumber:

Slice finely, sprinkle liberally with salt. Throw away.

Gosh rule, your day sounds even worse than mine (and it's hard to believe that anyone could have a trickier class than mine!).
I was wondering the same thing Jan

Rule, that sounds grim Is it just a one off class/year group like that?

Its the cohort in LKS2. Both year groups are tough. Another ASD diagnosis for my class this morning, not a surprise.

It could be a possibility, but I probably won't do it. I feel so bad for them, its like a zoo. Two significant individuals kick everyone else off. I have absolutely no idea what to do with them, I've used all my tricks.

Ive booked swimming at 6.30 in the morning, not sure I can face it. Grumpy.

You'll feel better if you go Rule (stating the obvious, obviously you know this).

MrsH where are you applying? Are there particular countries or regions you're drawn to? I get regular emails for overseas jobs so if I see anything you might like I could forward it to you. English secondary right?

My stomach is a mess again. I've been back and forth to the loo for the last few hours - tmi probably sorry.

I've just remembered there is a washing in the machine I really can't be arsed to go downstairs and hang it out.

And Boris is going to cheer us all up this week by announcing longer days and shorter holidays

Hmmm, someone text me about this earlier. They can’t really just implement it, can they?? Would they just rewrite the school teachers’ pay and conditions and tell us we have to do it?? My own kids don’t get home till 4.30 as it is and EYFS/KS1 at my school could never cope with longer days-behaviour would be a nightmare.

That's right Honey. I don't fancy Europe but I'll consider anywhere else :)

@Appuskidu

And Boris is going to cheer us all up this week by announcing longer days and shorter holidays

Hmmm, someone text me about this earlier. They can’t really just implement it, can they?? Would they just rewrite the school teachers’ pay and conditions and tell us we have to do it?? My own kids don’t get home till 4.30 as it is and EYFS/KS1 at my school could never cope with longer days-behaviour would be a nightmare.

I studiously ignored that post and pretended to myself I hadn't read it because I can't even contend with that idea.

If it's eg. a homework club or enrichment hours with volunteer staff doing it for extra pay then fine. If it's sports and bloody cadets or whatever run by outside staff, ok, although how that will fit with cleaners and caretaking who knows.

If it's enforced on us to do it of us then just no. I can't see that happening.

Thing is though even if it was voluntary and paid the only way it could be viable is if they increased non contact time significantly.

And Boris is going to cheer us all up this week by announcing longer days and shorter holidays

Boris can do all my planning and prep that I do after toddler bedtime until 10pm then, if he thinks longer days are possible. Or he can just f**k off. Either way.

Whirlwind day of getting poorly toddler dosed up and off to grandparents (luckily they love having her even when ill). Arrived at school to find new IWBs installed but not connected to computers, and a mass of wires pulled out but not replaced. No internet all day due to county level issue. Hastily rejigged lessons wound up my hyperactive class as always. Two parents messaged on the app about utter rubbish by 11am. Longest staff meeting ever about nothing of any relevance to the children or their learning.

Spent all evening planning etc, and now I’ve finally laid down my throat is now on fire and poor toddler has been awake already this evening with the same thing but won’t sleep in our bed. Just keeps saying ‘I want to go sleep, I can’t go sleep’. Can’t even give her any more Calpol until 11pm, poor girl.

Boris can fuck right off

@MrsHamlet

Boris can fuck right off

this ^ all day and every day.

Nurofen?

Boris can indeed get tae fuck. There's no way extended hours can work. We finish at the time we do as we are in the middle of the countryside. Getting the kids home safely on the light is essential in winter. Loads of ours live on farms & up unlit lanes. I can't see it happening.

It's s bloody good way to whip up the "lazy teachers" trope again though, isn't it?

@MrsHamlet

Boris can fuck right off

This. A thousand times this.

On the bright side though

Twats4themselves will be able to mobilise their army of nutters to do these extra hours on a volunteer basis.