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

CruelSummer wrote: »

Schools should not be open over the summer because some parents didn’t bother engaging with the online programme and then push to expect the schools to cover lost material. If they are, it should be voluntary and involve extra pay as teachers have been working over the last 6 weeks.

And AGAIN parents being blamed by teachers!

Also, I'm absolutely sick of this claim being made yet again that "teachers have been working over the last 6 weeks". It is true that SOME teachers have been working and SOME OTHERS have not been working.

I can say that approximately half the teachers in my school have been really trying to do their best with online learning. These teachers do Zoom classes, set online work, engage as best they can and generally are doing a good job under difficult circumstances. The other half are not doing anything live-online (various reasons from GDPR to poor Internet) and have as little interaction as possible. I estimate these teachers "work" a few hours a week at best. That is half the teachers in my school.

Another example is the primary school where my sisters children attend. One child has excellent interaction where the teacher provides lots of seesaw material, sends a variety of stuff every day, follows up and is constantly available. However, another child gets one email a week (literally nothing else), no seesaw material and no material corrected. Parents got together and contacted the principal and nothing has changed. This particular teacher has 5 of her own children and apparently has said she is completely swamped during the day home schooling them.

So please, stop with the "teachers have been working over the last 6 weeks" nonsense. Some have, some haven't and this thread proves that.

History Queen wrote: »

Why? Have you intimate knowledge of this teacher's classroom? Only that teacher and the families involved can speak to this. You cannot.

I think we can all say with confidence that there is no situation where kids have not missed anything.

teachinggal123 wrote: »

Do you agree with the statement that the "kids have missed nothing" from being out of school so much over the last year?

To me, this demonstrates a deeply working lack of pedagogical knowledge and any notion of what school is about. I repeat, it is shocking (and deeply worrying) to hear a teacher say that.

S/He specified s/he meant academically in the following post. Maybe stop with the theatrics and read the thread before commenting.

(I'm actually assuming the 'dude' implies male but wasn't 100% sure.)

iguana wrote: »

S/He specified s/he meant academically in the following post. Maybe stop with the theatrics and read the thread before commenting.

(I'm actually assuming the 'dude' implies male but wasn't 100% sure.)

Exactly ffs

teachinggal123 wrote: »

Do you agree with the statement that the "kids have missed nothing" from being out of school so much over the last year?

To me, this demonstrates a deeply working lack of pedagogical knowledge and any notion of what school is about. I repeat, it is shocking (and deeply worrying) to hear a teacher say that.

I agree, the kids have missed out on a pile of stuff. It's not truthful to say kids have missed nothing.

You cannot replicate what a child gets from school socially, academically, personal development wise at home. No matter how hard we might try.

It is absolutely shocking (and very worrying) that any teacher would claim that "kids have missed nothing" over the last year by being out of school. Makes no difference that the word academically was added retrospectively. In fact, that somehow makes it worse!

For anyone with years of education, training and experience of working in an actual classroom to make that claim is deeply worrying.

Also probably insulting to many parents on here.

jrosen wrote: »

deiseindublin wrote: »

or blaming schools for their sports clubs play policies.

Could you copy where someone said this.

I don't think anyone did :rolleyes:

jrosen wrote: »

deiseindublin wrote: »

or blaming schools for their sports clubs play policies.

Could you copy where someone said this.

I think you may have missed the point.

3 pages in last two hours
I assumed there was news
I should have known better

Mod: I'm finding it hard not to agree with a lot of posters concerns about the quality of this thread, from a moderation point of view. The concern-trolling, outrage on both sides and hyperbole thick enough to cut with a knife is reaching epic levels of ridiculousness.

Either post on the topic without:

a) namecalling and trolling the other side
b) "Oh the humanity!!" style posts

...or I'm considering thread/forum bans and/or closing the thread.

I have found posters on this thread who are both teachers and parents to be the best posters. They see it from both sides. They understand the amount of extra work teachers put in to remote learning. Some have openly admitted that they have found teaching their own young children difficult. I take comfort from these posters that if they find it difficult its ok for me to find it difficult also ( as a non teacher). I would value more input from these teachers.

Deeec wrote: »

I have found posters on this thread who are both teachers and parents to be the best posters. They see it from both sides. They understand the amount of extra work teachers put in to remote learning. Some have openly admitted that they have found teaching their own young children difficult. I take comfort from these posters that if they find it difficult its ok for me to find it difficult also ( as a non teacher). I would value more input from these teachers.

It is difficult for both teachers and parents. Don't be too hard on yourself.

My advice is to just do your best. If you can't get through the Irish (for example!) don't worry ... the children will catch up.

Deeec wrote: »

I have found posters on this thread who are both teachers and parents to be the best posters. They see it from both sides. They understand the amount of extra work teachers put in to remote learning. Some have openly admitted that they have found teaching their own young children difficult. I take comfort from these posters that if they find it difficult its ok for me to find it difficult also ( as a non teacher). I would value more input from these teachers.

Honestly as a teacher I have found both the department and even the unions going around in circles with no creative thinking for all the money they're paid.

Being realistic we should be able to accommodate 60000 leaving certs to return next week while also allowing teachers to teach from home if they chose. I dont know how many of my colleagues would agree with me but why not give individual teachers a choice next week in returning.
I for one would go in teach my own 6th years in person, the rest online and supervise other classes whilst they are taught through zoom through my croke park supervision hours. This was my understanding of the blended learning they have been banging on about since September. I would then teach my other classes online in a classroom in school. Logistically speaking this would be difficult but I think it could be pulled off.

I think Norma foley is completely out of touch. She made a promise to the leaving cert for choice before she consulted anybody. Dont make promises you are not sure you can follow through on.

I am really tired of seeing the constant arguing and attacking of different professions and parents that goes on in this thread and it saddens me to see it.

I'm in the lucky position of being a stay at home parent so I have the time to do the work with my children and also that their teacher is going above and beyond with the online learning. We have just finished 3 solid hours of work and can thankfully relax and try and do some fun stuff for the rest of the day!

However my children are in junior and senior infants and anyone who says that they have not missed out needs their head examined. My senior infant missed 4 months last year and looking like at least 2 months this year. My junior infant having missed the last 4 months of preschool had to start school in very difficult times and is now missing out on more school time.

The stark reality is no matter how much I do with them, They are both missing out on so much and to see people on here suggest otherwise really annoys me. They miss their friends and their teacher and all they want is to get back to school to see everyone.

As great as their teacher is, it's also a fact that I have friends and family with children in other schools who are not getting the same level of attention from their teachers and I can understand how frustrated the parents in this situation are.

As with every profession there are good and bad and unfortunately this results in some children missing out more than others. Teachers need to understand that this is happening and all those parents see is a teacher not doing their job and not being held accountable and it's frustrating for them. And even more so when they try to express their frustration here and are criticised for doing so.

Again let me reiterate that I cannot fault my children's school or teacher and I am so grateful for what they have been doing but that is not always the case for everyone.

deiseindublin wrote: »

Honestly, all (genuine) teachers should just disengage with this thread.

It has turned into a playground for:
1. reregistrations that aren't brave enough to use their own usernames, and
2. those already banned for spouting horse**** and
3. Those so unhappy in their own jobs that they somehow project it towards a hatred of teachers.

There is no talk here of how schools should reopen, it's all PUP, Lazy slackers, education by counting Zooms, even those that blame teachers for no sports, or blaming schools for their sports clubs play policies.

It's a **** show, and should just be renamed "Why we resent teacbers (and some of us should consider retraining, seeing as it's so handy)"

Would like this 100 times if I could. I used to contribute regularly to teaching, education posts on Boards. Now I would have no interest in doing so as its not worth allowing the trolls, teacher bashers impact on my wellbeing. Anybody who wants to bash teachers or troll for reactions good luck to you.

Enjoy midterm everyone.