Gransnet forums

News & politics

Is morality something you expect of others?

(443 Posts)
trisher Sun 09-Aug-20 10:04:15

The PM has said ""But now that we know enough to reopen schools to all pupils safely, we have a moral duty to do so."
Given his very unsavoury history does he have the right to call on others to behave in a "moral' way? I was always taught that morality should begin with yourself and then you should expect others to behave with morals. So can you expect morals from others if you don't have any personally?

tickingbird Sun 09-Aug-20 18:20:29

The teachers would, of course, like to bring the country to it’s knees if it brought about the downfall of this government. The end justifies the means for them I’m sure. The most bile and vitriol spouted about this government comes from those in that profession.

Lucca Sun 09-Aug-20 18:29:23

gillybob

Lucca

Sorry my post was not very well written I am just so disappointed at the unwillingness of people to see the point of view of those involved in education.

It’s not about the unwillingness to see the teachers point of view at all Lucca . It’s about the seemingly unwillingness to reach a solution .

Gilly, I see what you are saying but I simply don’t believe teachers are unwilling to find a solution. Just because difficulties are pointed out does not mean They won’t continue to work on solutions.

Tickingbird I’m sorry but I think your post is seriously unpleasant.

I’m very upset and shall resort to a glass of wine,

gillybob Sun 09-Aug-20 18:31:44

Thank you Elliane I’m really not sure why the thread had to turn into a teachers
thread ? I genuinely thought it was about morals .

I agree with your comments us about TM having to go along with and even push Brexit because that’s what she was ejected to do .

gillybob Sun 09-Aug-20 18:36:07

I think we need to find a solution to enable children to reach their potential . To carry on like this much longer is not fair . My older DGC have had very little in the way of education for 5 months now . My DGS (10) has had zilch from his school , except for a pretty poor workbook that I could’ve bought better myself .

If other places have managed to get back on track I can’t see why schools can’t do the same .

gillybob Sun 09-Aug-20 18:38:24

It’s do hard typing on a little phone screen . I meant “elected” to do not “ejected” to do confused

gillybob Sun 09-Aug-20 18:38:34

I give up .....

tickingbird Sun 09-Aug-20 18:54:05

Lucca - bottoms up and enjoy.

biba70 Sun 09-Aug-20 19:02:53

Gillybob, which 'other places'? Do you mean in those countries where class size is half of the UK and proper funding given?

gillybob Sun 09-Aug-20 19:13:55

No biba70 by “other places” I mean factories, shops ( big and small) offices, hospitals, warehouses, hotels , buses, taxis , restaurants, cafes ..... the list seems endless . All who have had to adapt and get on with it . Or else the country would come to a halt .

Barmeyoldbat Sun 09-Aug-20 19:21:41

I think they should all return to school, It can't be any unsafer than having groups of children hanging around together like around here. If pubs and bars can open and surely some teachers must use then then I see no reason for schools not to open. I think teachers are just being over anxious. As for Boris and his morals, well he doesn't have any does he. But he is right on this children need to return.

Luckygirl Sun 09-Aug-20 19:22:26

gilly - I understand your concern for your GC, which I share. I do not know what is happening in your area, but I can assure you that school leaders and teachers round here really are working very hard indeed to try and make school safe for children to return to in September.

I worked out at the end of last term that our Head was doing about 3 x the hours for which he was being paid - and emails from him at 3am were the norm. The school has insufficient funding to pay for enough Head teacher hours to cover all the tasks that have to be done. Did you know that the school per capita funding is decided on a specific date and the school could double in size over the following few weeks and no more funding would appear?

It may be that there are some rogue teachers who are trying to avoid work - just as there are rogue health care workers. But in the main teachers are working very hard to make sure that children can get back to school - certainly the teachers and schools that I am aware of or involved with. The government is on the one hand asking schools to do the right things to make schools return and work well; but on the other hand not listening to the need for funding for additional teachers (or rental of additional premises to make social distancing possible, or installation of extra hygiene facilities) to put their rules into practice. It is a bit of a rock and a hard place and everyone is grappling with this as they all want the children back in education. If school budgets were not so tight - and believe me they are tighter than anyone might possibly imagine - then things might be easier.

Luckygirl Sun 09-Aug-20 19:24:50

The teachers are not being over-anxious and are adapting and getting on with it!! Honest guv!

It is very hard to hear these blanket statements from those who are not on the inside. These are gratuitous sleights with no foundation. Why? - just why? What is gained by it?

It might be better to lobby your MP to get the proper funding in place.

gillybob Sun 09-Aug-20 19:41:04

Thank you Lucky my older DGC (12 and 14) have had some contact with their school ( not a great deal mind you ) but my DGS (10) has had none whatsoever .

Bridgeit Sun 09-Aug-20 19:44:34

I suppose it depends if you have selective, none,or some morals.
Is it possible to be totally moralistic in any & every situation.?

westendgirl Sun 09-Aug-20 19:52:46

Good to see that someone has gone back to the original question after all the vitriolic blanket statements.
Do you not think that it is two faced to expect others to to have morals when you are amoral.
I still think BTW that Johnson has put this out to deflect from other important matters, one of which does beg the question of morality in the Tory party.

gillybob Sun 09-Aug-20 19:56:21

I really don’t believe it is possible to be totally moralistic in every situation Bridgeit . I think we all have our own moral standards but who’s to say we are right and someone else is wrong?

I think taking someones life is morally wrong but where would we have been if our ancestors hadn’t gone to war ?

varian Sun 09-Aug-20 20:04:26

So then how would anyone judge the moral standards of someone who is a proven to be a habitual liar, a serial adulterer and has the cheek to lecture others about morality?

gillybob Sun 09-Aug-20 20:12:27

I don’t think we can judge politicians by their own personal moral standards at all .

Bridgeit Sun 09-Aug-20 20:12:28

Yes exactly Gillybob,
In the case of reopening schools there is a duty of care, alongside a duty to provide education etc., So morals are or can be fluid , if they re not then they are or can be as damaging as repression or dictation.

gillybob Sun 09-Aug-20 20:14:36

Using my WW2 example again . Winston Churchill probably thought killing/ murdering another human being to be morally wrong and yet he had no choice but to give direct orders to do so . I’m not explaining myself very well .

Bridgeit Sun 09-Aug-20 20:18:59

Exactly Gillybob, a good example .

varian Sun 09-Aug-20 20:19:30

Schools should re-open. Most would agree. But how could this not possibly affect the transmission of the virus?

The polticians in Westminster have little understanding of the reality in rural areas where many rural schools have a large number of pupils of all years (and hypothetical bubbles) travelling in together every day on the school bus.

How will that not result in a big increase in community transmission?

gillybob Sun 09-Aug-20 20:22:31

And the solution is ?

boat Sun 09-Aug-20 20:37:40

ellianne in your post at 13:04 I think you miss the point that several posters have made about the size of classes in state schools which could be as high as 35 and so create problems with avoiding cross infections with Covid-19'

My middle granddaughter is a day girl at a private school. For one subject there are four other girls in her class. The largest group she is in has 11 pupils.

Callistemon Sun 09-Aug-20 20:39:16

Grandad1943

I would certainly not in any way think that Boris Johnson is a moral person. Nonetheless, the message that Boris gave out was a call to the morality of the whole country.

That Message is that ALL CHILDREN have to be brought back into full-time school based education in September for anything short of that situation would be a moral failure by all to those children.

To that message I one hundred percent subscribe, and so should all.

Goodness, I agree with you again, Grandad!

This is following a pattern