Should she go back?

Oh come on! Why should she not check it out with her lovely sister-in- law?! I am sure she will formulate her own opinion overall and make her decision. I think it is healthy she is seeking another perspective. There is no reason to leave the job for the benefit of a younger worker. Such a suggestion is ageist. I think I would encourage her to make lists of the positives and negatives for going back. Also maybe asking herself what, if anything, she hopes to gain by remaining in her profession. Be interesting to hear how this one goes.

icanhandthemback, I am fully aware about the difficulty of recruiting teachers, I was one. However I was aware as I got older and also by observing colleagues that we were not giving our best to our pupils by being in school long after we would have previously retired. A shortage of appropriate teachers is not a good reason for hanging onto a job that is ore suited to teachers younger than nearly 70. Add in Covid risks and it seems that retirement is the obvious answer.

Transparent masks are available.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/face-mask-covering-clear-transparent-deaf-hidden-disability-exemption-card-coronavirus-a9634151.html%3famp

I would not put myself at risk by allowing an employer to insist on no mask.

As kwest said-
There will be some collateral damage but I think the Government think it is a price worth paying. I would not want to be part of the collateral damage.

Good decision jocork, hope it works out for you.

I was due to retire in July but couldn't bear to go from 'working from home' so put off my retirement. I'm an LSA in a secondary school so I'm worried about not being able to distance from the students that we support one to one. We were told we could wear visors but not masks. I'm hoping that will have changed when we go back next week, but if it hasn't, and I don't feel safe, I'll be giving my notice straight away. I won't know until the kids come back on 7th of September but at least I'll feel I'm leaving properly if I go back for a month. I think things are a little safer in primary schools. It is so much more difficult to know what teenagers are getting up to outside school and what risks they are taking so I feel more vulnerable.
I think all of us need to assess our individual workplaces and take appropriate action if we feel unsafe. If I leave it may provide a job for someone whose job has gone due to covid. Of course they may simply not replace me and expect my colleagues to take up the (non-existant) slack!

I would not consider it. Over 70s are much more vulnerable to the virus. This is all happening on a 'wing and a prayer'. There will be some collateral damage but I think the Government think it is a price worth paying. I would not want to be part of the collateral damage.

I retired from teaching acouple of years ago so haven't had to make the decision. The school I worked at is right in the middle of one of the worst affected wards in East Lancashire so OH and I have both said that had I still been working, I would have resigned. So I think that each teacher has to do their own risk assessment and make their decision.

I have No idea is the answer, but big boy Boris assures us that schools are completely safe!

I’m a retired teacher and no way would I go back at this difficult time. I hung up my chalk when I was 59 and retired to a life without school stresses. Personally I think 70 is too old to be dealing with young children or young people.

The loss of adequately qualified teachers in modern foreign languages, maths, and the sciences has been going on for some years now. Certainly one reason is because many students choose to study ‘easier’ degrees, and they simply refuse to enrol on science courses or language courses. The result of this is that fewer of these courses are now offered at universities. My husband, as well as teaching, was also the Examinations Secretary at the independent school where he taught, and he dealt with the universities every year as he negotiated places for his students after exam results were released. He was concerned for years that students were not choosing traditional academic courses and that these courses were consequently drying up. That is not to say that there are no academic courses and students choosing to follow them, and many courses such as medicine and the sciences remain as rigorous as they always were. Courses at the best universities also remain high in quality, but unfortunately there has been a huge dumbing down in the quality of courses offered and the quality of the teaching and learning in some of the newer institutions.

Bearing all this in mind, it is not surprising that the 70 year old teacher has been asked to go back to teaching. But if a younger person can be found, then the job should be available for a younger person. In my opinion.

Today in the Times there is an article about extra teachers will be needed for small group teaching etc to help children catch up . This Teacher may leave class teaching and go back as part time support as I would be willing to do as a retired teacher of 69.

Pippa22‬, have you any idea of how hard it is to find teachers these days? The profession often loses teachers after they have finished their training and they've done a few years because it is such a draining job. Asking someone's opinion isn't dithering. She has already said she is going back. However, as you have to give in your notice at very specific times so there is time to recruit, she might be thinking that this is the time to be doing it. She only has until half term to make that decision and it is not one she would want to make lightly.

If she is healthy and living alone, then she is only putting herself at risk.

It is a different proposition if she is living in a household with others.

She has asked for your opinion. In your place I would tell her honestly that I had no idea what to advise her to do.

I would struggle to teach a language while wearing a mask - most children need to see the mouth shape as well as hear clearly. I also doubt the value of face visors as protection in normal situations, but it might give a sense of security. Your SiL will know her school and how important her job is for her. I imagine she is just trying to see if there are any relevant factors she has not considered and other people are often very good at offering a different perspective.

I think it is selfish at her age and with her doubts to be dithering about going back into work. Why not retire and make space for someone younger and fitter and probably with fresh ideas . None of us like to think that we are getting older, slower and set in our ways but unfortunately that is part of the aging process.

Aepgirl

Why did she ask you? If she’s a teacher she is surely able to make her own decisions.

Yes, my thoughts too! I very much suspect that this SIL seeks advice from others when she already knows what she should be doing; then if it all goes wrong she can pass the blame. I really liked my job too but willingly retired 4 years to allow the younger cohorts to step in and considering Covid 19 I am so glad that I made that decision. I would be terrified to be doing my old job during these unprecedented times!

I’d suggest mask and a visor and ask if she can give it a trial to see how she feels. Seems a shame to give it up if she enjoys it, it maybe better for her mental health if she keeps going.

If I was her I'd go back, at least until the school has found someone who is able to manage the two afternoons a week regularly, particularly as she seems happy in her work. I take it that it's her age that's the worry, other than other underlying risky health worrries? Schools are doing their utmost to keep students and teachers safe.

Maddyone. I have to agree with you. Many years ago a friend's husband who lectured at a high ranking university gave up and emigrated to Canada. He became so infuriated at being asked to lower standards for a pass. This had gone on for 5 years and he felt degrees may as well be given out for 50% attendance. He had 3 degrees, Phd in a couple of subjects when he emigrated. Now a Professor and accomplished writer. Our education system loss. I often wonder at how many others left the sinking ship.

Soozikini and Apegirl you’re both right, but we like to chat and get each other’s opinions on lots of things.
It’s a bit like coming on here to see what others think even though we have already made up our minds.
She doesn’t do GN or she’d probably have asked on here herself.

I know GagaJo is back at work but I am waiting with interest as to how the Swiss are managing their classes. I am back to school in France but as I said before in a much smaller capacity than before.

Yes it’s up to her what she does . She knows the risks and so I don’t see why she has to include you in her dilemma.

Why did she ask you? If she’s a teacher she is surely able to make her own decisions.

Maddyone, your husband’s thought sounds sensible, the MFL teachers in primary are even fewer.
I put your point about jobs for younger people to my SIL.
She says it would be more attractive if it was more than a couple of afternoons.
As a regular supply job she finds it OK and not a bad idea, but what they found was that some teachers with or without language skills said they would be willing to do it, but found it stopped them getting full day’s supply elsewhere when available so they would prefer be called in on odd occasions rather than commit. The head said they couldn’t run a program of learning like that. That was why she was asked back to do it in the first place.
It’s useful to have extra things to add to our discussions. She’ll probably wish she’d never asked me.
I asked her what she would have done if she’d taken his offer to choose not to return. She said he’d added the comment that he hoped she’d stay long enough to let them try and get another regular teacher.
So if any of you know a teacher with French and Spanish qualifications who would like to commit to a couple of afternoons . . .

It’s interesting that there is not a rush of younger people who are qualified to teach modern languages. My husband, who taught French and Latin, said this was bound to happen years ago, after degrees were dumbed down and many young people chose to do Media Studies or Beckham Studies at university. I kid you not! Now they study Legal Studies not Law, it’s a dumbed down version of Law.
I’ll hide behind the sofa now.

I agree with qiuzqueen.
Your sister in law is seventy years old. As a teacher she will be eligible for a teaching pension, and possibly she is already claiming it. She has also been eligible for a state pension for the last ten years. However much she enjoys her job, it really is time she hung up her chalk, or interactive whiteboard stylus. Young people need jobs, and a lot of unemployment is now expected through the Covid19 crisis. It is completely selfish in my opinion to hang on to a job when younger people need jobs. Obviously if there was a need for money, but as a retired teacher myself, I cannot see any way that this is the issue.