Schools closed until March/April? (part 4) Mod warning in OP 22/01

History Queen · 21-01-2021 02:20PM

jrosen wrote: »

Just to ask for any secondary teachers? Are you now regularly covering new material or just revision? I have a JC here and i had a good look this morning over his work and it seems and he also says they are not covering much new material and its mostly revision.

Secondary teacher here. In history new material, in English mostly revision as I've one small bit of the course left to do that I believe I can teach more effectively face to face. If not back after midterm I'll teach it online. (I think we'll be back by midterm the latest)

Smacruairi · 21-01-2021 02:22PM

markodaly wrote: »

Has anyone clarified as to why INTO schools are open in the North and not in the south.
What exactly are they doing they we are not?

Shameless stuff, utterly shameless.

Contact tracing, testing, and yes they are over a month and a bit into vaccinations.

Not really that hard. But then again why anyone would want to replicate Britain who are in a dire state with the disesase. Are you saying Boris is doing a great job?

markodaly · 21-01-2021 02:25PM

Stateofyou wrote: »

This whole mess points to an inappropriate and mistaken appointment of Norma Foley to such a challenging and important role. (Not forgetting the impact of decades of underfunding and neglect in the sector by consecutive governments) I'd love for the Taoiseach to be asked point blank what the justification was for the appointment and what qualifications she holds that led to an expectation of talent to such a position.

This is hilarious.

What qualified MM to be Taoiseach. He is, after all, a Teacher as well.

But I agree with the principal point, teachers often have an exaggerated idea of self-importance for themselves and their abilities. They are qualified to teach first and foremost, the other stuff, like telling public health workers what to do, not so much.

markodaly · 21-01-2021 02:27PM

Smacruairi wrote: »

Contact tracing, testing, and yes they are over a month and a bit into vaccinations.

Not really that hard. But then again why anyone would want to replicate Britain who are in a dire state with the disesase. Are you saying Boris is doing a great job?

So, nothing exact really, because going on about contact tracing and testing is just buzz words at this stage.

Unions want to be dictating health policy not only for schools but also for the entire country?

Next up. Teachers will go back to school, once we introduce mandatory quarantine and close the border with NI.

Msbookeeper · 21-01-2021 02:28PM

markodaly wrote: »

Has anyone clarified as to why INTO schools are open in the North and not in the south.
What exactly are they doing they we are not?

I heard some rep from the INTO on Claire Byrne yesterday. Spoofing like mad, going on about the North having had more people vaccinated, therefore its safe to open schools, even though he was brought up on it straight away that not one teacher in NI has had a vaccine, so he spoofed and spluttered some response about it.

This is all about €€€'s and getting teachers bumped up the list to get vaccinated, and using special needs kids and disabled kids as a means to do it.

Shameless stuff, utterly shameless.

Have you any fresh material or just going to keep repeating the same thing?

wirelessdude01 · 21-01-2021 02:29PM

Mrsmum wrote: »

Well I don't know, I mean she's a teacher and I have yet to meet one that wasn't smart, articulate, organised, hard working. In her role she had the background knowledge you would have thought would be an asset. Before this mess she probably came across as very personable. She's also from a political family so not a rookie in terms of knowing the ropes and I'd say she was seen as a steady person, a safe pair of hands that wouldn't be falling off swings and so forth. I'd say he chose her for such reasons.

Her sidekick would be familiar with the process surrounding potential legal case about said swings!!!!

A rookie TD shouldn't be appointed to any ministry.

Smacruairi · 21-01-2021 02:29PM

Telling public health workers what to do is what Leo did best. Goes on Claire Byrne, gives out about nphets advice, then they go against it leading up to Xmas, and then we are the worst country in the world at covid.

What are you on about with a mandatory border. Are you ok? Are you making up thinks that people said again?

But yeah, it's the teachers, Marko. Got ya.

markodaly · 21-01-2021 02:30PM

Msbookeeper wrote: »

Have you any fresh material or just going to keep repeating the same thing?

Its a legit question.

average_runner · 21-01-2021 02:31PM

Get cases back under a 1,000 and hospital numbers down, then the schools can open fully.
But not a hope till then.

Remote learning is going very well this time, so we can wait till end of feb

markodaly · 21-01-2021 02:31PM

Smacruairi wrote: »

Telling public health workers what to do is what Leo did best. Goes on Claire Byrne, gives out about nphets advice, then they go against it leading up to Xmas, and then we are the worst country in the world at covid.

But yeah, it's the teachers, Marko. Got ya.

THis is not a thread about Leo, this is a thread about teachers. You give out about Leo, yet follow in this footsteps...

Stateofyou · 21-01-2021 02:31PM

markodaly wrote: »

So, nothing exact really, because going on about contact tracing and testing is just buzz words at this stage.

Unions want to be dictating health policy not only for schools but also for the entire country?

Next up. Teachers will go back to school, once we introduce mandatory quarantine and close the border with NI.

Spare us the hyperbolic conjecture. Do you actually have a real question or are you just having the craic stirring the pot.

Stateofyou · 21-01-2021 02:32PM

markodaly wrote: »

THis is not a thread about Leo, this is a thread about teachers. You give out about Leo, yet follow in this footsteps...

Wrong again, it's a thread about schools closing. :rolleyes:

Smacruairi · 21-01-2021 02:33PM

markodaly wrote: »

THis is not a thread about Leo, this is a thread about teachers. You give out about Leo, yet follow in this footsteps...

Not a thread about opening schools up the North, or salaries, or whatever the hell you were on about with regards to mandatory quarantine border that no one mentioned, but yet you're here.

If Norma wants to open the schools, she can.

Msbookeeper · 21-01-2021 02:33PM

markodaly wrote: »

Its a legit question.

That's been answered multiple times

wirelessdude01 · 21-01-2021 02:35PM

jrosen wrote: »

Just to ask for any secondary teachers? Are you now regularly covering new material or just revision? I have a JC here and i had a good look this morning over his work and it seems and he also says they are not covering much new material and its mostly revision.

I'm primary but I'm trying to find a way around the long division topic. I feel that I just wouldn't be able to do it justice via remote/online. Might be the same for some topics at secondary.

For JC, mocks would have been around the corner and remember back in my own time in school revision of certain stuff would have been hammered at this time of the year and then further progression after the mocks.

Stateofyou · 21-01-2021 02:35PM

blanch152 wrote: »

This is a fair analysis of the public health situation.

It has been ignored by the teacher unions to the detriment of the most vulnerable children in our schools.

It's not up to the Unions to provide for the most vulnerable children in our society. Isn't that what we have DES & Madigan for. What have they done the last 10 months?

markodaly · 21-01-2021 02:37PM

Smacruairi wrote: »

If Norma wants to open the schools, she can.

OK, say shes does that.

Say, she releases a press statement about schools and classes for special needs opening on Monday and requesting all teachers to attend.
I am sure the Unions will be fine with that, and all teachers will do as she says?

History Queen · 21-01-2021 02:39PM

markodaly wrote: »

OK, say shes does that.

Say, she releases a press statement about schools and classes for special needs opening on Monday and requesting all teachers to attend.
I am sure the Unions will be fine with that, and all teachers will do as she says?

She kept schools open for those two days before Christmas in spite of Union opposition and teachers went in

Stateofyou · 21-01-2021 02:39PM

markodaly wrote: »

OK, say shes does that.

Say, she releases a press statement about schools and classes for special needs opening on Monday and requesting all teachers to attend.
I am sure the Unions will be fine with that, and all teachers will do as she says?

She can do it- properly and safely having actually consulted her educational and health partners as we battle through having had the WORST covid stats in the WORLD and a virulent new strain with a half functioning test/trace system. Seems that's the least she should do.

wirelessdude01 · 21-01-2021 02:41PM

average_runner wrote: »

Remote learning is going very well this time, so we can wait till end of feb

What is different in your house this time?

From asking my parents it seems to be multi-faceted. Earlier in the school year so far more new material left to be done, parent and children more aware that they just cannot not engage and expect that the slack will be picked up later on, vast majority of teachers and schools are vastly better prepared this time.

markodaly · 21-01-2021 02:41PM

History Queen wrote: »

She kept schools open for those two days before Christmas in spite of Union opposition and teachers went in

So you are saying ultimately if she decides to unilaterally open schools, teachers will obey and Unions will sit on their hands and do nothing?

I am to get a straight answer about this because there is a bit of smoke and mirrors going on here.

Stateofyou · 21-01-2021 02:42PM

Unions have a duty especially as regards to Health and Safety. So do employers as it happens. That is not going to change.

wirelessdude01 · 21-01-2021 02:43PM

markodaly wrote: »

OK, say shes does that.

Say, she releases a press statement about schools and classes for special needs opening on Monday and requesting all teachers to attend.
I am sure the Unions will be fine with that, and all teachers will do as she says?

Well she has the power. Let her do it and see what then happens. INTO and Forsa have both said they cannot compel members to not attend school.

markodaly · 21-01-2021 02:43PM

Stateofyou wrote: »

She can do it- properly and safely having actually consulted her educational and health partners as we battle through having had the WORST covid stats in the WORLD and a virulent new strain with a half functioning test/trace system. Seems that's the least she should do.

Ah, so she needs to do it but also needs to consult the teachers and in effect get their agreement.

So no to Unilateral action on behalf of the Minister.

PS: Afaik, the public health body gave her the all-clear to open up these schools for these special needs children.

History Queen · 21-01-2021 02:45PM

markodaly wrote: »

So you are saying ultimately if she decides to unilaterally open schools, teachers will obey and Unions will sit on their hands and do nothing?

I am to get a straight answer about this because there is a bit of smoke and mirrors going on here.

I can't predict the future can you? I'm just telling u a precedent was set then, saying that ASTI told their members not to go in after Christmas so who knows what would happen?
I couldn't see INTO directing members not to comply, I don't know enough about FORSA and my own union could go either way.

Edit: individual members could also ignore their unions directive as happens on occasion

average_runner · 21-01-2021 02:46PM

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

I'm primary but I'm trying to find a way around the long division topic. I feel that I just wouldn't be able to do it justice via remote/online. Might be the same for some topics at secondary.

For JC, mocks would have been around the corner and remember back in my own time in school revision of certain stuff would have been hammered at this time of the year and then further progression after the mocks.

The way education was done 20 years ago, lockdown would be great for the students back then, would actually have time to revise.

For long division, record on it on a video and send it out to the kids. Then have a zoom call and go over it again. This is what they are doing for our kids in primary.

My kids Irish has improved during lockdown, they are way better teaching it remotely than they do in the class. I hope they adapt some of these methods in the class

markodaly · 21-01-2021 02:46PM

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

Well she has the power. Let her do it and see what then happens. INTO and Forsa have both said they cannot compel members to not attend school.

Well, she may have some power, we know what would happen if she actually opened up the school without any agreement from the Unions.
The Unions would go ballistic and threaten all types of responses and actions.

Let us not pretend that Norma Foley is some dictator that can snap her fingers and bend all teachers to her will, regardless of the Covid-19 numbers.
What I find astonishing is the lack of acknowledgement that the Union here are also very powerful and will flex its muscle when it wants to.

History Queen · 21-01-2021 02:46PM

markodaly wrote: »

Ah, so she needs to do it but also needs to consult the teachers and in effect get their agreement.

So no to Unilateral action on behalf of the Minister.

PS: Afaik, the public health body gave her the all-clear to open up these schools for these special needs children.

Can you link to where public health gave her the all clear to open the schools in the manner she was proposing?

Stateofyou · 21-01-2021 02:48PM

markodaly wrote: »

Ah, so she needs to do it but also needs to consult the teachers and in effect get their agreement.

So no to Unilateral action on behalf of the Minister.

PS: Afaik, the public health body gave her the all-clear to open up these schools for these special needs children.

It's called a PARTNERSHIP. You know, that word she likes to throw around but doesn't actually mean anything to her? If you really cared about children's education, about SN children and their families, you wouldn't go at it half-arsed jerking everyone around wasting time and causing massive anxiety.

Anyone in that position should absolutely take the best health and expert advice available to her, and work with her educational partners to ensure the eventual announced plan actually succeeds. And everyone is as safe as possible.

Obviously.

What all clear was that now?

markodaly · 21-01-2021 02:55PM

Stateofyou wrote: »

What all clear was that now?

No, because even here I get mixed messages.

Some say Norma Foley can just open up the schools tomorrow as if that will fix the impasse. Its disingenuous tbh to be talking about Norma Foley the dictator, so that is why I zeroed in on that remark.

Others, say schools should repoen, when they are made as safe as possible, but we all know that its a moving ship and its impossible to predict the future.
There is no place 100% safe at the moment, its about risk management, hence why one of my first questions, why are INTO schools open in Newry but closed in Dundalk.

What exactly in these schools are they doing in Newry that they are not doing in Dundalk?
It is a very fair question.

Schools closed until March/April? (part 4) **Mod warning in OP 22/01**

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Schools closed until March/April? (part 4) Mod warning in OP 22/01