School staff not allowed to wear masks

It's like I said cupcake1 there really should be a warning at the top of each thread telling us who is allowed to post an opinion and what level of education they should've reached .

Bravo gillybob Ellianne what a vile comment and from a so-called fellow teacher, unbelievable!

So all of you are HAPPY to enter a small space, with 30 plus other people who come from a huge variety of backgrounds and areas? No real attention to health and safety.

Yet other enclosed spaces have to have screens and masks and physical distance.
I wonder why.

The Prime Minister had a very nasty time with Covid, you may remember.
He discovered that his positive attitude, while cheerily shaking hands with everyone, was not quite good enough.

Yes, I think academic clubs are less popular. More work! But speaking as a parent, rather than a teacher, I would have taken someone's hand off if they were offering extra academic help for my daughter.

The Asians at that particular secondary school were Indian / Bangladeshi / Pakistani rather than Chinese. All very keen for their children to do well though.

You're right about the white European boys. I had a Polish lad come into school mid way through Y10 with very little English. In his English GCSE just one year later, he got a higher grade than the other boys in his class. Lovely lad.

Gaga, as I said, I was a primary teacher, in fact infant teacher, and I am very much aware that many Asian families are incredibly supportive of their children’s education. My husband was deputy head in an independent, boarding school. He worked in the upper school, and there were many Chinese students there who had very supportive parents.
In my school, in a more ‘tough’ area, we had almost no Chinese children, but many other ethnicities. The underachievement of white boys was certainly a difficulty for us, but that means English white boys. Eastern European white boys did not underachieve as a group. However most of our parents were supportive, but our Junior school colleagues reported that parental interest fell off with many parents as the children got older. And I already mentioned reports from our secondary colleagues.
I don’t think you’re saying anything that I don’t already know, it’s just that our experiences are different.
Mostly our extracurricular clubs were focused on wider experiences for our children, so we ran tennis club, art club, sewing club etc. We found all ethnicities happy to take up these activities.

You certainly missed out on some comprehension skills teaching somewhere in your education

I'm sorry but that was a rude thing to say to a fellow poster MazieD . Just because someone doesn't agree with your views?

I wish OP's could make it clearer as to what job title and what qualifications are needed to allow someone an opinion on these forums. Perhaps a code of sorts?

maddyone

When I was teaching, I would say of the extra curricular and enriching activities that were offered, that most ethnicities participated, but not all. It probably depends on what is being offered, and the age of the children. I worked with primary children, but secondary colleagues in the area I taught in told me that Bangladeshi girls were often kept at home instead of attending school, in order to help with house work. I regarded that as very sad.

I got no uptake from white students for my extra English help club at that particular school. Asian students attended, mostly boys, but most of the Asian students at that school WERE boys. I know they were forced by parents to come because they told me. I loved the fact that their parents appreciated extra academic help.

It was open to any students. At other schools I've had more of a mix for after school help.

You certainly missed out on some comprehension skills teaching somewhere in your education.
Ha ha, maybe yes, inner London comprehensive me but didn't stop me getting top degree from top university.

When I was teaching, I would say of the extra curricular and enriching activities that were offered, that most ethnicities participated, but not all. It probably depends on what is being offered, and the age of the children. I worked with primary children, but secondary colleagues in the area I taught in told me that Bangladeshi girls were often kept at home instead of attending school, in order to help with house work. I regarded that as very sad.

^ My experience is children, particularly younger ones, all want to be treated exactly the same. Making special provision on those grounds only harbours resentment.^

And your 'experience' is...what? Ellianne?

You certainly missed out on some comprehension skills teaching somewhere in your education. Nobody was talking about 'special provision' on the grounds of ethnicity.

What has been said is that it tended to be only children from 'ethnic' backgrounds who took advantage of special provision.

Special provisions are made all the time in education it's what pupil premium is based on, it's what every initiative based on supporting boys within the primary sector is based on.

I don't think discussions on colour or creed are of any importance here. Race or religion neither. It's like all the articles and discussions on the black woman in America who has been chosen to run alongside ???? someone in the elections. We don't need to be told she is black all the time, she is the best for the job.
Likewise in the classroom I would find it strange to differentiate on grounds of ethnicity. My experience is children, particularly younger ones, all want to be treated exactly the same. Making special provision on those grounds only harbours resentment.

No, but in another multicultural area.

Just so happens that my after school club was in Northumberland, school had between 1 & 2% BAME. Yet my club was all BAME students.

And bringing ethnicity in ISN'T absurd. As I'm sure you know, white working class boys are the lowest achieving group and are targeted for intervention. Cultural attitudes to education massively affect achievement and as a direct result, life chances. If teachers ignore that, they are not differentiating adequately.

And it has always been the case throughout my career that BAME parents push their children and support the school/teachers.

In relation to this discussion, I would posit that all those on here complaining about teachers as snow flakes / lazy / negative etc etc are white, fitting the stereotypes of undervaluing education/teachers.

I reiterate, your attitude towards teachers and schools has a direct correlation to your children's attitude towards education. If you want your children to do well, work with schools/teachers, not against them.

Yes I have read those guidelines too ellianne, part of my job as well. People on this thread have pointed out that many suggestions on this thread and the previous one contradict those guidelines.

Gagajo it never crossed my mind what area or background my pupils were from. They are all children. And to bring race and ethnicity into the equation is absurd. If you want to talk demographics have you ever lived and taught in East London?

Sure * Galaxy*. I do not understand all the scientific reports, I am not good at understanding the published facts and figures, BUT I have read the dfe guidelines from cover to cover because that is part of my job. Those guidelines are as clear as crystal to me (in comparison with some of the bumpf they produce). Your plumber will not have read and understood every report on every boiler out there, I have employed many who have scratched their heads but applied common sense and a positive attitude with fine results.

So ellianne can you explain why I should trust my childrens safety to someone who in their own words doesnt understand the reports.
When I pick a plumber I tend to choose one who is a qualified plumber not someone who says well I dont understand plumbing but I am sure if we have a positive attitude we can get this job done.

So all of you are HAPPY to enter a small space, with 30 plus other people who come from a huge variety of backgrounds and areas? No real attention to health and safety.

And god forbid, you're sensible and want to|:

A) protect yourself a little with a mask and
B) prepare a will in case the worst happens (as someone has already said, we should all have them anyway really).

Some of you really do just see teachers as disposable servants, don't you? Not trained professionals.

Similar to those parents who complain their children didn't get any/enough teaching during the pandemic but who also didn't contact the school/check the schools website for the way work and lessons were conducted.

No wonder the UK has such poor uptake of education, unlike Asia where it is valued and teachers are supported. Those people you dislike and denigrate so much are the gateway for your children's future. With a bit more support, you'd get a LOT more out of the system.

Reminds me when I set up an English homework / support club. The only students that attended were Asian. Their parents made them come, appreciating the extra help.

Boris maybe a bumbling idiot sometimes, Grandad, but in his own way he too is trying to set an example of positivity and offer upbeat agenda. We had too many weeks of doom and gloom with all those briefings and the shocking figures, now optimism (with caution), is what is required. Many teachers here have translated their worries into paranoia. Talking about their own wills and potential imminent death before they've even entered the classroom is not healthy for their pupils.
I don't have all the facts and figures, I don't even understand many of the reports. I don't have many answers but I do have a positive attitude and am keen to give this a try.

My children are fine thanks for your concern, taught by teachers with a sound understanding of safeguarding and a commitment to their welfare and education.
Not people with half baked ideas and from what I can see no interest in childrens welfare.

Ellianne

I can't believe how morbid this thread is becoming. If teachers enter the classroom with this unhealthy state of mind it is going to be awful for their pupils.

I could not agree more with your above statement Ellianne. In all the essential industries that have been required to operate fully throughout this crisis positivity in leadership has been forthcoming and paramount throughout.

However, now as the education sector is requested to once again fully reopen schools we see nothing but negativity and a near morbid attitude.

Heaven help the children in those classrooms if this thread and forum is anything to go by.

Squashing misinformation is not "having a view". It's the difference between facts and opinions.

Exactly! She picked up something on Facebook, misunderstood it and passed it on because it suits the Trumpian agenda she has posted about before. It was the exact opposite of the truth and it's dangerous when people start to believe that kind of thing.

NannyC2

I don't take 'breaks' growstuff - I am a warrior, and by the way, I don't post fake news.
People have the right to ask questions which thousands more are doing and rising in numbers.
It is wrong to try to squash people because you have a view, but so do others who may agree to differ with yours.
This resource is for each person to express their own views as long as they don't seek to think they alone are the 'expert.'
Shalom! (Peace be with you).

It was fake news because you posted the exact opposite of what Fact Check reported!!

What you posted as fact was what they were investigating and disproved.

It's how you tell 'em!

I don't take 'breaks' growstuff - I am a warrior, and by the way, I don't post fake news.
People have the right to ask questions which thousands more are doing and rising in numbers.
It is wrong to try to squash people because you have a view, but so do others who may agree to differ with yours.
This resource is for each person to express their own views as long as they don't seek to think they alone are the 'expert.'
Shalom! (Peace be with you).