Schools

So why the previous negative comment about lazy teachers Ellianne?

gillybob Higher than average absence in one particular school doesn't prove that teachers are skivers or that the average national level is high - or, more importantly, why. In a primary school, one long-term absence will skew the statistics and could be caused by any number of reasons.

I don't think Grandad made one valid point about teachers. He obviously has some kind of issue and, in the current climate, it might very well be best if he shuts up.

We could go on discussing the merits of each and every profession forever, but at a time like this every single person is vital. Today I feel so sad for teachers who are saying goodbye to their pupils for how long they simply do not know. Teachers invest a lot in their charges. We get to know them all so well on both an educational and emotional level, we delight in their success and pick them up when they fail, they really do matter to us. No training can prepare anyone for how a teacher will feel today. I wish those teachers in my family and every other teacher great strength.

Higher than average level of staff absence was one of the points raised in the Ofsted report of my DGS’s primary school. He did not have a permanent teacher at all last year (year 5) .

Can’t understand why only one parent has to be a key worker? Surely like the part of society that no longer seem to matter (the non key workers) the other parent can look after the children ?

And if all these key workers children are allowed in school are they all going to be tested? Or are they immune to this virus?

We are at risk of creating a them and us society.

Grandad does make some valid points (although I don’t agree with some of what he says) but it’s not fair telling him to “shut up”. He has as much right to an opinion as the rest of us.

Getting back to the OP this appears to be a list of key services
www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/20/key-worker-official-list-of-uk-personnel-who-can-still-send-children-to-school

Yes well obviously it was tongue in cheek. It was what one of my English teachers used to say when we talked tcrap too much at school. Educators sometimes have a sense of humour they 'll need it after reading this thread

Well said Vegansrock.In our family a teacher and an ICU nurse.Before this crisis they never saw it as a competition as to who worked hardest.And most certainly don't now. It's all hands on deck to help at work and in the community in whatever way needed.The teacher will almost certainly be working through Easter.She has also told me of some of the fantastic community initiatives her teacher friends are setting up for the vulnerable in their communities. The nurse is going back early from maternity leave as required.I decided not to reply to Grandads last comment I was too angry.The last thing we need is that kind of stirring and division.

You are intoxicated by the exuberance of your own verbosity

What a wonderful phrase, May7!

Sums him up exactly, although he could scarcely be described as a 'sophisticated rhetorician'.

Obviously a lot of people think schools are just babyminding centres and not there for education. I’ve got family who work in the nhs and who work in education. They both work bloody hard. The one who works in the nhs can still send her child to school Staff will be there. The one in education will be going in including in the Easter holidays. Neither of them are snowflakes or skivers. One of the problems with the nhs and schools is so many staff are off sick as per instructed and there is no testing so they don’t know whether they are safe to go back to work.

SueDuko The school got that wrong. Only one parent has to be a key worker.

EthelJ Only one parent has to be a key worker. Apparently, the list is being published today (Friday).

I'll never forget when my daughter first started teaching and she phoned me up one day to ask permission to not go to school and I had to persuade her that it would be bad for everyone else if she went in and infected them. After she'd been teaching for several years she spent a lot of time doing really good lesson plans so that anyone that did cover for her at short notice would find it easy. Like a lot of teachers the minute a holiday started she'd come down with something as if her body was finally allowing her to be ill. I don't think I've ever known anyone as dedicated to their job. She did, eventually burn out but said to me recently when we were discussing something I'd read 'mum; no one ever goes into teaching for the money; it's all about the children'.

No, I don't believe that you have seen teacher absence levels in individual school Jools, nor do I believe that you know the absence levels for other occupation levels as a comparison.

If you have seen any reports from individual schools and I were ever to find out which schools they are, I would have absolutely no hesitation in reporting the institutions to the ICO.

How many pregnant or diabetic staff with heart or other serious conditions operate fork lifts in distribution centres?

I would just like to say Grandad
You are intoxicated by the exuberance of your own verbosity
and maybe its past your bedtime again

'we are not on lock down! The schools are open for key workers and only wider closing due to staff shortages, not risk of spreading the virus. Try being more understanding of people’s situation, kids can’t stay locked in the house for next x amount of weeks'
..this is what we're up against, though. This is from a local facebook page. Children are knocking on their friends doors asking them to come out and play. When older people are querying whether this should be happening they are getting abuse.

What really amuses me is the idea that when children are not in school they will be wandering around generally causing trouble possibly because their parents can't or won't take charge of them and yet teachers have 30 of these children to care for and are not only controlling them but educating them as well. Could you please post evidence of the "whinging and whining" Grandad1943 because I think this is actually a figment of your imagination and teachers are just trying to discuss the problems that will arise and work out ways of dealing with a situation they certainly never asked for. But carry on with your hatred and lack of understanding and teachers will carry on caring for and educating the next generation, dealing with problems and situations you really have no knowledge or experience of.

Oh just shut up Grandad

I am sure that many will have seen the news report on the truck driver situation in regard to roadside service areas closing down there food outlets and even their toilets due to this crisis. They were interviewing the drivers in one service area about the situation, to which a group of them just shrugged their shoulders and said: "well all we can do is just get on with it as best we can".

What an attitude in the face of extended hours of work, no hot food and no toilets. One of the drivers had even been "requisitioned" into supermarket delivery from car delivery transport. He just said, "well, this is where it all seems to be happening and there never is a dull moment at this time."

The above makes all the whinging and whining by the education profession even when they have no live classes to look after truly pathetic.

I am hearing that there are volunteer groups at Sedgemoor Services tonight handing out ready made up rolls and drinks to the HGV drivers coming in there as an appreciation of what they are doing in this time of crisis.

I think he's enjoying this and I'm not going to rise to the bait.

I think we need to leave Grandad1943 to just fester in his own hatred from now on....

I agree

If this is how the current situation is making some people react to other members of society then I fear greatly for how this is all going to turn out. I think we need to leave Grandad1943 to just fester in his own hatred from now on....

It's not a bloody competition, Grandad1943

Thank you, merlotgran

I too am angry and upset to read such nastiness about teachers ... teachers!

You'd think they were criminals to read some of these ridiculous comments

And to compare nurses with teachers.

Well that's just puerile

I'm not sure I want to comment any more on this thread. It's making me angry to see the words 'non action and shame' used against hard working teachers like my daughter.

She will be in school as usual next week. There is much to do.

And don't think for one moment they don't realise how great is the work done by NHS professionals. DD said she didn't care what she had to do to make a contribution.

It's not a bloody competition, Grandad1943