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Pretty early on I suggested boomer (apologies if it wasn't you) contact the school asking for the expectations.
I think this from tiree is what school's should be sending out as a minimum. I hasten to add my school is pretty shocking at communications both internal and external.
What do you do for a living? I quite fancy ripping your profession to shreds on minimal evidence.
Yes @boomerlives what do you do?
I was talking to a mate in Cumbria last week and he was saying his head had had 51 communications ... in 5 days from the big bosses. Most of them contradicting a previous one.
I used to be a teacher. That seems pretty normal.
Boomer - come on, we all want to know what job you do.
I got a memory stick!
Nice! If my employers expected me to use my own computer for work I’d be inclined to tell them to stick it up their hole.
This highlights an important point with teaching and I expect a good many other public services, they only manage to keep going based on the good will of those in the jobs. I spend my own money doing my job, pens for kids, other equipment and stuff for practicals etc, I have been using my own computer to sort out all the work, my own phone to call students, my own printer paper and ink. I wont get the money back and I wont be able to claim tax back against it. Its fine I dont care, but all the cuts increase the amount I have to spend.
I do all this because I want to and see the need so budgets just get cut more.
I spend my own money doing my job
This is a line I just won't cross. Apart from cakes now and again for certain classes obviously. 🙂
I had a colleague who bought a class set of textbooks because the school wouldn't which I think is madness and a dangerous road to go down.
I had to buy a set of books for one of my classes. I bought a chair once as well, as I had a class of 31 but could not get more than 30 chairs.
We were able to borrow laptops/Chromebooks if we needed to. I'm using the laptop bought for me by my union, because I'm District Treasurer. I think work bought me a laptop in 2002, which is still in the house somewhere.
Lots of teachers have bought houses with extra bedrooms or office spaces, as it's pretty much impossible to do the job without somewhere to work at home.
I'm deliberately setting work which doesn't need printing out, but that's easier for A-level students.
I’m deliberately setting work which doesn’t need printing out, but that’s easier for A-level students
It's got to the point now, after multiple parents complaining about printing, video & website access, lack of drawing/colouring implements, etc., that I'm setting work that only needs plain paper and a pencil.
I produce a Loom video explaining the work, also a PowerPoint, and just in case I screen shot the PP and upload it as JPEGs. If they still can't access it then it's really not my problem anymore!
Before we closed I told them "you've got your textbooks, make notes and answer the summary questions - do two subchapters a week for me". So long as they have pencil and paper they can do that and everything else I've done is extra.
Meanwhile in the real (not boomer) world...
Mrs SWSD is now a week and a half into teaching her "bubble" (15 kids plus 2 adults).
They're reasonable good at social distancing within the bubble (but not perfect). The kids have even invented new social distancing playground games. There is no contact with any other bubble. Of course, after school the kids all tend to wander off together anyway.
She's a bit frazzled as its 100% pupil contact time including lunchtime and break time. But I think she quiet enjoying it. She thinks she's getting some real teaching done, perhaps because there is not much planning - last week she chucked in stuff about viruses, epidemics and hygiene. This week its been the history of slavery and race relations.
She was a bit worried this morning as one of the kids has been off sick for two days. If it was CV that's the whole bubble in self isolation for 14 days. As she's not come home early I guess it wasn't CV.
“you’ve got your textbooks
Must be a public school!
I'm going to say that I've been impressed with the work set by my daughters' school. They've had work set across the A level/GCSE / Y7. Mostly it's been set daily depending on what lessons they've had. The only part that's mainly suffered has been French speaking.
Fortunately the girls have all got internet access, but without that or having to share access would have been more problematic. They've had to print out a few things but that appears to be the exception.
All three of ours have been back at school for just over a week. Year 1 , 6 and 7.
Yesterday "pink bubble" got sent home from year one and told to self isolate as a teacher had symptoms.
This morning "grey bubble" was sent home and told to self isolate as a sibling of one of the students in that bubble had symptoms.
At this rate, there will be no bubbles left by the summer holidays. We have to try, and we have to find ways to make it work, but it seems the current advice is very strict. It is good to know the school is on top of this though and are following procedures to the letter, it re-assuring in a strange way.
it’s pretty much impossible to do the job without somewhere to work at home.
I hardly ever take work home.
I hardly ever take work home.
Mrs OOB never takes work home. In 14 year together I remember two occasions: 1 Saturday and 1 evening. Both marking.
Our girls are Yr 6 so are back at school and I understand there is something like 90% attendance from the years that have gone back and no isolations yet. It worked out quite nicely as it was their birthday on Monday and their bubble is all the girls in their year so all their friends came back to our to play in the garden in a kind of mini birthday party for an hour.
Mrs OOB never takes work home. In 14 year together I remember two occasions: 1 Saturday and 1 evening. Both marking.
When teachers say it's difficult or impossible to do the job without working at home I always make the point that I've largely managed that for 14 years. That's not to say it's possible for everyone but it's certainly worked for me.
Talking to colleagues quite a lot of them work at home a lot not because they have to due to work load but because it suits their circumstances. So for example, they leave the building with the pupils to pick up their own kids spend the early evening with them then work later. I don't have kids so I just stay in school 'till the work is done.
I don’t have kids so I just stay in school ’till the work is done.
Yup, she turns up sharp which misses traffic plus we have childcare 'till 6. Also she works her free periods, and reckons that some of the others use that as social time. Horses for courses.
Well.we got information today but in the way that creates more questions than it answers.
In on 16and23 to sort stuff. Then.in August it's 4 days 1 day for prep(Friday) in school with three 1.5hr periods per day. And that's all we've been told. We'll get more information next week
In normal timesI get to work at 7.30 but usually leave by 4.30 unless we have meetings. I do an hour or two a week at home, but likely to do quite a lot in holidays. I try to get all work done at school, but I've been doing it a long time and actively shun responsibility, before when I was in charge of stuff my work load was much more, still didnt take much home, I was just home much less.
Oh and I'm in next mon, tue, thurs for the foreseeable.
Teaching year 10's. Kids stay in bubbles teachers move around.
This highlights an important point with teaching and I expect a good many other public services, they only manage to keep going based on the good will of those in the jobs
Been there, working on surveillance teams paying for our own pagers and then phones to get the job done, turning out for any old shout, buying our own covert radio kit, screw that now. We were told a few years ago if you stop to do your shopping on the way home, not even deviating from your route just stopping, in a job car you’d get stuck on. Fair enough, goodwill works both ways and it’s like virginity - once it’s gone it’s gone.
you’ve got your textbooks
Must be a public school!
Nope, state Sixth Form College - every physics student gets their own textbook to take home for the year.
On working at home, there have been times when I've done a lot and times when I've not done much. When my entire timetable was coursework assessment it was non-step on most evenings and weekends.
Now that I'm teaching an exam-based course and have been doing it for a few years so know it backwards, I don't do much. There are times around assessments when I do though - I pretty much never mark work done in class or homework, just tests and mock exams. We split groups, so I teach two lessons a week to each of the four Y13 classes and two lessons a week to each of the four Y12, which hugely reduces preparation time.
My wife's a primary teacher with a TLR (classroom-based SENDCO) in a primary with a very reasonable head who understands that most marking is pointless and she often has a bit to do each evening, as well as being at school, from 8am to 6pm.
This highlights an important point with teaching and I expect a good many other public services, they only manage to keep going based on the good will of those in the jobs
Not just the public sector - we never seem to have the kit we need in the private sector either and 3/4 of my colleagues are using their own PCs during lockdown.
Impressive Mike. I had to use eBay to get all my daughter’s A-Level text books as cheaply as possible for her.
Our dept has run a "jotters are theirs" policy. We will take them in at the end of month 1 to make sure they are doing what they are meant to and then spot check them twice monthly after that. But no marking per se of jotters. That's a load off. Loads of other stuff to do though. I try to avoid work home, I've been doing it for 20years so work hard at work to not being home.
Recently spent £40 on rocks for an assessed practical which now isn't assessed. Bugger.
We split groups, so I teach two lessons a week to each of the four Y13 classes and two lessons a week to each of the four Y12, which hugely reduces preparation time.
Sounds like bliss although sixth form colleges terms and conditions arent as good.
After moving school this year I havent taught either 12 or 13 for the first time in about 12 years, quite enjoyed not having that extra wirk and having more doubling up of 9's and 10's
Having watched our great leader wiffwaffing this afternoon, I noticed he said something about a 'major catch-up' for (English) children before September, to be announced in due course by your diligent Education Secretary.
First I've heard of it, and I can't imagine any one in the education sector has been consulted, but has any teacher heard of an imminent threat to their August?
Been following this thread with interest even though my children are now adults.
Amused that boomer has now adopted radio silence after being challenged.
Will be interesting where he/she next pops up and what they have to say.
Williamson is as inept as the other members of johnson's clown circus.
First I’ve heard of it, and I can’t imagine any one in the education sector has been consulted, but has any teacher heard of an imminent threat to their August?
Our trust CEO warned staff in March that schools might need to be open over summer, but I think that was from a key worker perspective. Not heard anything else, but we normally get expected to introduce major change with no warning and no support from Gov, so nothing would surprise me!
Certainly seemed to be teeing up a big announcement of some kind from Williamson, although his vocal delivery style can make it tough to extract any information.
bet its the 1st williamson has heard of it too!
First I’ve heard of it, and I can’t imagine any one in the education sector has been consulted, but has any teacher heard of an imminent threat to their August?
Only what you have from the news. Unless the thorny issue of childcare is solved I wont be involved much.
Just to add my other half works in a private school, they are reopening for 2 weeks, but 2 weeks later than state schools and then closing again until.september.
Thought for the day, can I organise a school trip to the zoo next week?
Thought for the day, can I organise a school trip to the zoo next week?
🤣 it would be rude not to!!
As long as you walk to get there 😉
As long as you walk to get there
Not the safari park then!!
Our trust CEO warned staff in March that schools might need to be open over summer, but I think that was from a key worker perspective. Not heard anything else, but we normally get expected to introduce major change with no warning and no support from Gov, so nothing would surprise me!
I'm sure it's being discussed.
Here in Wales they've now said that Keyworkers care places won't be open over the Summer break, they were open over Easter. At home we've assumed that means they're planning to open private child minder services again, not that it effects us personally as key workers.
The Chief Medical Officer of Wales offered 3 options to the Welsh Gov. for reopening schools. Their 1st choice was to remain closed until the 3rd of August, effectively bringing forward the Summer Hols to next week. Again this is very Wales-centric but with infection rates here down to tens a day and deaths below 10 even on the 'big' reporting days it looks like we could be very close to eradication by then, in theory at least.
There was a rejection of that plan from the Teaching Unions, so we went with Option 2 of very scaled back opening from next week, close again for a 5 week summer break and then reopening with whatever regulations are appropriate in Sept, with a two 2 half-term break in Oct.
If the Unions have the same sway over Westminster it doesn't seem likely kids will be in school in August.
I know that the headteacher at the local school was told by KCC to ask her staff if they would volunteer to come in over the summer. This was at a headteacher meeting for none academy schools. This was over a month ago. Not heard anything else since.
Been following this thread with interest even though my children are now adults.
Amused that boomer has now adopted radio silence after being challenged
The more this thread develops the more I question the purpose of schools and what "education" really means.
I get the basic ideas that seem to be:
a) Hold most kids back so everyone has the same chances to get an education at 18 and turn out good little workers for the economy
b) Provide free childcare so both parents can work
c) Assume all parents want to murder or abuse their own children as a default unless they are teachers
I'm just increasingly having problems rationalising these against posts from teachers and school communications that seem disingenuous?
At least admit the school system is for 5% - 10% .. stop sending emails saying how children's "education" will suffer if you mean the 5-10% .. I'm supportive of (a) ... I'm less convinced (b) is a good idea and I find (c) abhorrent
As I say, I'm now questioning what "education" means?
Jnr is doing some busy work.... I just checked and told him it was factually incorrect. He replied he knows but the teacher doesn't understand and he needs to give the answer she expects not the correct answer.
Part of me is thinking that's a useful thing to learn... give your boss the answer they want making sure you CYA in case it costs money or someone dies as a result...
Part of me is thinking teaching factually incorrect science is just wrong ...
Amused that boomer has now adopted radio silence after being challenged.
Not a bit. I was away with work yesterday. I don't usually try and catch up with old posts, coz what's the point?
Boomertroll, I can only suggest you move your son from that school, from your description it sounds a bit crap.
Indeed. But the assertion that all others will be paragons of learning is false. My (3) kids go to three different schools, my wife works at another one. The consensus around here is the same. Minimal contact. Maybe it's a NW thing, but I doubt it; most of the guidance is from the union.
It’s a bit odd though if a school wants to provide online lessons surely they provide the teachers with computers to achieve this?
Do you know what? They do. But you have to request one. If you have no intention of doing anything for an indefinite period then why would you ask to loan a laptop?
If all the teachers on here are at best average, at least half your profession are worse than you.
Good on you for making an effort; lots don't. Sorry if you don't like the feedback, but a good proportion of your colleagues are making you look bad to the consumers of your product.
I think boomer needs to take up a school governership position
problem with North West is that one of Johnsons reopening conditions was that community infection had to be under control
but NW has highest R rate in country https://www.lep.co.uk/health/coronavirus/covid-19-r-rate-above-one-north-west-highest-england-2876483#gsc.tab=0
Not the safari park then!!
The guidance is just keep your 2m distance and it'll be fine.