Zahir Bitter Cellist wrote: » A lot of teachers have complained about their working environments on this thread alone. I have asked is there no way to escalate working in such shoddy conditions some of which don't belong in a supposed modern society (I didn't get an answer to that question). No heating, no warm water, mould, damp, overcrowding, no ventilation, outdated technology and equipment (it reads like a PRTB case). Not enough resources, too many students, not enough colleague support. All issues and then some that teachers have brought up here. Team this with the inability for any planning or autonomy and its a recipe for disaster. Is there no proper process to escalate issues that teachers have? (And I don't mean sending kids home to whinge at their parents). One things for sure, she's not alone in her dissatisfaction at her workplace. Time and time again teachers on this thread have said how bad things are.
teachinggal123 wrote: » The teachers are disagreeing with me. I can see a number of parents who are agreeing with me about primary schools.
Jim_Hodge wrote: » Are they agreeing or disagreeing with you?. Personally it sounds like you think everybody's out of step except yourself.
teachinggal123 wrote: » But I seem to be alone in criticising my profession. And that’s why I’m getting this passive-aggressive kind of reply from fellow teachers. Even though many posters on this thread are saying the same as me.
wirelessdude01 wrote: » Do you want me to get my violin now or later?
Zahir Bitter Cellist wrote: » A lot of teachers have complained about their working environments on this thread alone. One things for sure, she's not alone in her dissatisfaction at her workplace. Time and time again teachers on this thread have said how bad things are.
wirelessdude01 wrote: » Do you want me to get my violin now or later? Seriously think you need to change schools. From this time and the last time you went on a rant here it's kinda obvious that you really dislike and possibly detest both your school environment and your colleagues. Your well-being is far more important than any job. Trust me on that.
teachinggal123 wrote: » The temporary nature of teaching. The lack of strength some people have. The power over timetables and allocation of classes. The power to give a bad reference for the next job. Etc Etc Etc This stuff happens in every job but teaching is a bit different. Maybe when you are permanent it’s different but please don’t be so naive. Teachers have been on about this exact thing for years.
iamwhoiam wrote: » I understand , i too would wish that everything was as before but its not . What do you suggest that would make it easier and yet have children in the classroom ? Having them in half a week will be extremely difficult to organise in my opinion Teachers in the classroom all week with no childcare for their own kids . Parents juggling work and school . Siblings in on different days maybe . It would be very difficult all round for both parents and for teachers
lulublue22 wrote: » Fair enough but that is not how the narrative around returning to school is framed. It’s framed in terms of preventing educational disadvantage. The amount of time in primary that will need to be given over to sanitisation and respiratory etiquette daily will be significant. Every day five days a week - it will have a significant impact on curriculum delivery. If the gov where serious about preventing educational disadvantage they would be looking at ways of maximising teaching time and diminishing sanitation. Less children in a pod at the one time would mean less time spent sanitising. There is a big difference in organising 15 children to organising 30 children. Children may be physically spending less time in the building but maximising access to the curriculum.
iamwhoiam wrote: » Of course education should not have to give but these are not ordinary times . We have to work with what we have right now . Elective surgery should not have to give either but unfortunately it did due to circumstances
Jim_Hodge wrote: » Many more rely on after schools in child care facilities that also have issues with full opening and are geared up for that purpose, not minding children for full days.
Miike wrote: » Best for who?
Icantthinkof1 wrote: » I really hope full size classes don’t return for full days in September I would much prefer smaller class sizes even if it meant they lose out on some days in school and return on a part time basis as something is better than nothing. I don’t agree with the comment that schools are used as a babysitting service as a lot of parents who work during the weekdays don’t just clock off at 2/3pm they usually have a childminder employed to drop and collect their children to& from school
thenetherrealm wrote: » I disagree. The education of our children should not have to give. Half classes, more specialized teaching, revision materials for the week off. Not full classes for parental convenience, increased and unnecessary safety risks for teachers, SNAs, children and parents, and less education due to the ridiculous amount of sanitizing. This is my opinion. As I said previously, the government will go with full classes for national and international appeal. I just disagree with it.
iamwhoiam wrote: » I understand , but so be it . In difficult times some things have to give .
thenetherrealm wrote: » I know, I am just saying it will take away from teaching time. A hairdresser asking one client to sanitize their hands coming in is different to a teacher lining 28 6 year old children a minimum of 6 times a day (morning, before they eat small break, after small yard, before they eat big break, after big yard, before they go home) to ensure they have all sanitized will take a substantial amount of time. Add to that each time they go to the bathroom, and it will take even more time. I just think, if we are looking at it educationally, week on week off would be the best option. However, education is not what the government is concerned about. Aesthetics and (inter)national appeal is what matters to them most.
iamwhoiam wrote: » In all fairness we are in difficult times and many workers in retail and hospitals and hospitality , in hairdressers etc have extra work . The cleaning and organisation in shops and small businesses has increased for employees . It is an abnormal time so we must all pull together
thenetherrealm wrote: » Jumping in to give my 2 cents as a primary teacher. I think primary schools will be back full time in September (I do not agree with this, but this is what will happen). Classes of 28 children (national average) will be told that social distancing doesn't matter, and each class will be within a pod. Teachers will be advised to limit contact with one another. The class teacher will be responsible for making sure children are properly washing their hands and sanitizing on a regular basis. The class teacher will be responsible for ensuring that children practice proper sneeze/coughing etiquette. The class teacher will be responsible for ensuring that children stay within their pod during yard duty (in larger schools, where there are too many classes for each to have individualized yard time). The class teacher will be responsible for sourcing additional materials to ensure children do not share resources (particularly in infant classes with Aistear etc.). The class teacher will be responsible for a myriad of other things on top of their current responsibilities. All this because the INTO will not stand up and take a hard stance for their members safety, the way the ASTI have. If I had a choice, I would have half classes on a Thursday-Wednesday basis. The children would then be in school 2/3 days every week. Supplementary revision material could be sent home during the week off. This would allow for more in depth discussion and teaching, with a lot less time being spent daily on hand washing. It would allow for specific areas of difficulty to be targeted to a greater extent, as you will not have to manage the health and safety protocols of 28 children every minute of the day. We, as teacher, are now going to suffer for the governments lack of investment in education over the last 10-20 years. With the largest class sizes in Europe, we cannot social distance the way others can. With a lack of investment in infrastructure, we do not have the ventilation or access to facilities that other countries do. But that as moot, as long as the children of this country have a babysitter. Make no mistake, that is what this year will be. Extra time given to 28 children hand washing 4-5 times daily, sanitizing, ringing home when children are (and they ARE) sent in sick. Curriculum and teaching time will be lost to these basics.
am_zarathustra wrote: » For the parents on here, would it be better in Secondary to have a) Week on week off b) Half days every day c) Three days roughly a week I don't have kids myself so I'm just wondering what parents think would suit best if a full return isn't possible in every school. I know this will be much trickier at Primary level and will have a larger knock-on effect of parents there! My gut feeling would be half days but I can see the advantage of say Monday, Wednesday, Friday too
Icantthinkof1 wrote: » Yes they were sent home on the day the school closed with majority of their books. I collected the remainder of them a couple of weeks later (primary school) The tone of your posts are suggestive that you don’t believe my experience?
GazzaL wrote: » It'd be best if they went back full-time.
morebabies wrote: » To change the subject slightly, I saw the Minister said high risk children will be catered for. For the teachers on here, what scenario do you think is the most likely : (a) Home tuition scheme to be extended to high risk kids (b) Ask them to wear a mask / visor to school (c) Ask parents to arrange custom solution for individual pupils by liaising with their school (d) Something entirely different
