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My wife is a primary school teacher, and has spent lockdown working with her class remotely (and the planning that entails), going in on a rota basis to work with children of essential workers, Zoom meetings with class, colleagues and management, and lately planning an effective strategy for if the schools reopen to wider year groups. All, I might add, with worse than useless governmental guidance. I've forked out for a supply of visors because they'll be marginally less disturbing for her class than facemasks.
Her colleague has been delivering work packs to children so they could see her and give them a bit of a boost, and I think my wife will be doing a bit of that next week possibly. All this in addition to homeschooling our primary school age daughter (with the little bit of help that I am).
So the subtle anti-teacher rhetoric can ******* poke it.
So the subtle anti-teacher rhetoric
Its hardly subtle!
If you are a teacher let’s have your master plan for reopening. Or even online lessons. Give us something.
As a parent all I see is teachers hiding behind the unions finding reasons not to do what they should be doing.
I can’t reply to boomer without setting off the swear filters
I don't mind setting off the swear filters.
Boomer can **** off.
If you are a teacher let’s have your master plan for reopening
Doesnt matter what I want or think, the government give the guidance. I'd go back to normal tomorrow if I was in charge. I cant take much more of this shite, my job has had all the bits I enjoy stripped out and has multiplied up all the bits I hate.
AJ at least two of us have outlined our index of how it'll work but he just wants to fight and niggle.
We don't want a reasoned discussion, just to tell us how shit teachers are bunch of lazy overpaid slackers who don't care about their charges.
Spin
MemberI’ve never read that rag in my life.
Maybe you should start? I think the two of you could be very happy together. 🙂
I’ll ask your Mum to pick me up a copy.
I'm confused about the whole "kids will be mingling together all summer" comments. Did I miss an announcement about the end of social distancing?
Round here, they really aren't mingling. Small groups of teenagers meeting in the park for socially distanced chats and picnics, but social distancing still being very well observed.
So the subtle anti-teacher rhetoric
Its hardly subtle!
As a parent all I see is teachers hiding behind the unions finding reasons not to do what they should be doing.
It would be a lot simpler if one side admitted they want free childcare and the other admitted that's what they provide instead of this pretence that school is somehow important otherwise.
morecash
I’m confused about the whole “kids will be mingling together all summer” comments. Did I miss an announcement about the end of social distancing?
Round here, they really aren’t mingling. Small groups of teenagers meeting in the park for socially distanced chats and picnics, but social distancing still being very well observed.
I think this is just another symptom of divisive politics, spurious advice and legislation and the state of England/UK.
Overall there are simplistically 4 boxes...
a) people at work who want to be at work (for COVID reasons)
b) people at work who don't want to be at work (for COVID) but have to...
c) people who aren't at work but want to be
d) people who aren't at work but don't want to be
then there are ....
i) people who know they had it and recovered
ii) people who think they had it and recovered
iii) people who don't think they had it and recovered
iv) people who don't think they had it and haven't
then there are
1/ people trying very hard not to get it
2/ people who are following legislation to a bare minimum
3/ people who aren't even bothering ...
putting all those together ends up somehow with a set of people trying not to get COVID and a set of people not trying
One of my old mates who's in the US has confounded myself and another mate .. he's suddenly become all pro-economy - being in at least 2 high risk categories - posting every bit of BS why lockdown should end.. except he doesn't work conventionally as he's an artist and his wife as a very eminent doctor earns more than enough and neither have living parents.
He refuses to answer questions as to if he's had COVID... or perhaps his wife his feeding him the cool-aid about why he shouldn't worry about her going into work???? Dunno but very weird change in behaviour and she would most certainly have access to unlimited testing.
I’m worried the NUT are going to drag us all into another decade of austerity and poverty.
This has got to be the single most outrageous, ridiculous and dare I say stupid thing that I have read all year. Maybe ever!
I’m confused about the whole “kids will be mingling together all summer” comments. Did I miss an announcement about the end of social distancing?
Well no, what happened was people are allowed to now meet in public places.
Rightly or wrongly parents, trying to keep teenagers entertained after 3 months of being locked up indoors, allowed them to take advantage of these new rules and meet their friends in the park etc. Most adults can’t hangout chatting with friends without moving closer, we’re a heard species. Teenagers really can’t so they tend to congregate. I’m sure there are those perfect kids out there with the self discipline we’ll beyond their years who manage it, but off the internet and into the real world I really doubt they’re the norm.
But it’s not the end of the world as the WHO (who recommend 1m social distancing not 2m remember) are confident that non symptomatic carriers of Covid very, very rarely pass it on.
But it’s not the end of the world as the WHO (who recommend 1m social distancing not 2m remember) are confident that non symptomatic carriers of Covid very, very rarely pass it on.
Unfortunately PJ you have misunderstood what was said. To be fair, the WHO have had to explain how her comments were misinterpreted
Up to 41 per cent of people infected with coronavirus may be asymptomatic and more information is needed to understand whether such cases regularly transmit the virus, a World Health Organisation (WHO) expert has said.
Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s technical lead on Covid-19, sought to clarify comments she made on Monday in which she suggested transmission of the virus through people not displaying symptoms was “very rare”.
Ms Kerkhove noted that she had been referring to “some two or three studies” when making her comment.
“I was responding to a question at the press conference. I wasn't stating a policy of WHO or anything like that. I was just trying to articulate what we know,” she said at a briefing on Tuesday.
“And in that I used the phrase 'very rare', and I think that that's a misunderstanding to state that asymptomatic transmission globally is very rare. What I was referring to was a subset of studies.”
I’m worried the NUT are going to drag us all into another decade of austerity and poverty.
This has got to be the single most outrageous, ridiculous and dare I say stupid thing that I have read all year. Maybe ever!
Yeah I know, the NUT dont exist anymore!
At my wife’s school, two teachers have said they can’t do online lessons as they don’t have a computer. When asked how they could be working from home for the last 8 weeks, they went a bit quiet…
If you have this level of knowledge on the in depth workings of the school and teachers, what have they told you about the lack of feedback your son gets?
It’s a bit odd though if a school wants to provide online lessons surely they provide the teachers with computers to achieve this?
It’s a bit odd though if a school wants to provide online lessons surely they provide the teachers with computers to achieve this?
I got a memory stick!
I got a memory stick!
It was assumed we had a computer at home.
We all work on desktops in school, no laptops, so none to take home.
I was given a brief introduction to Teams and that was it.
Luckily I'm computer literate and have the required hardware at home, but some teachers are struggling, and are going into school to do all their work.
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.
We got iPads but to be honest they're pretty hard to use for what we need, especially as the apps don't have full functionality so I have to use my Chromebook through my phone as a hotspot.
I was talking to a mate in Cumbria last week and he was saying his head had had 51 communications on school opening in 5 days from the big bosses. Most of them contradicting a previous one.
Boomertroll, I can only suggest you move your son from that school, from your description it sounds a bit crap. Maybe this would be a more positive move than trying to apply your own miserable experience to decrying our profession as a whole.
FWIW, our school is setting fresh work every week, supporting this with 'live' sessions, and providing feedback on every piece of work submitted. Due to our demographic we are also posting out paper-based work packs to the maybe 20% of our students who have no usable device or internet access on a fortnightly basis. The only thing we are not doing is chasing students and families for work not submitted - our demographic is firmly in the highest level of deprivation in the UK, and the last thing our families need is more stress created by teachers calling and emailing all the time saying that work has not been completed. On top of that we are obviously open for key workers' children, have just opened provision for our most vulnerable students, and of course have been preparing for some Year 10 students to return from June 15 which is much more than a just case of 'open the doors and they will come'.
What do you do for a living? I quite fancy ripping your profession to shreds on minimal evidence.
I was talking to a mate in Cumbria last week and he was saying his head had had 51 communications on school opening in 5 days from the big bosses. Most of them contradicting a previous one.
Yup. Pretty much over the course of last weekend, the guidance changed 45 times...
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.
I think boomer needs to take up a school governership position
I used to be a parent governor. I think all sides found it frustrating.
but NW has highest R rate in country
If the teens were in schools and not milling about parks and other outdoor spaces it might be a bit less. Who knows?
Not setting them work gives them excess time to slouch about rather than doing something constructive.
Jnr is doing some busy work…. I just checked and told him it was factually incorrect.
My daughter was set work on the Titanic a few weeks ago. It started off by stating that 'the Titanic was made in 1997'
Some misuse of Wikipedia went into that nugget, I feel.
Also wonder how much of this is to do with fractured nature of our schooling
private schools, academy trusts & chains, free schools etc
Acaedemies act removed powers of LEAs to oversee all schools
Head of OFSTED today on R4 pointed out that they are not inspecting schools homelearning, which goes someway to explain why there is so much variability in how things are being taught
She pointed out that OFSTED were not consulted before Johnsons announcement & they were not being consulted on the plan Johnson mentioned for catch-up over the summer
Johnson looks to be setting himself up to fail on this again
no doubt he'll blame teachers & unions rather than admit his own mistakes
If the teens were in schools and not milling about parks and other outdoor spaces it might be a bit less. Who knows?
we do know
Do you know what? They do. But you have to request one
I asked, got given a memory stick.
Not the safari park then!!
The guidance is just keep your 2m distance and it’ll be fine.
Have the Lions been given the memo?
Johnson looks to be setting himself up to fail on this again
no doubt he’ll blame teachers & unions rather than admit his own mistakes
Its a win win for him!
My daughter was set work on the Titanic a few weeks ago. It started off by stating that ‘the Titanic was made in 1997’
Accurate dates? Who cares?
Near, Far, Wherever you are..good enough for me.
Have the Lions been given the memo?
Apparently the lions are among those petitioning Downing Street for a reduction to 1m.
My daughter was set work on the Titanic a few weeks ago. It started off by stating that ‘the Titanic was made in 1997’
This is a correct date. Titanic was made in 1997 and had its premiere in the November.
The more this thread develops the more I question the purpose of schools and what “education” really means.
Once it’s been established that kids can be taught at home it wouldn’t be a giant leap to get rid of “schools “. Give everyone a laptop and have them log in to centrally broadcast lessons of a uniform curriculum.
"Once it’s been established that kids can be taught at home it wouldn’t be a giant leap to get rid of “schools “. Give everyone a laptop and have them log in to centrally broadcast lessons of a uniform curriculum."
Yep - thats what my daughters school has been doing since the 22nd March when they got sent home.
Both my children have been in real time online school with a timetable that reflected the normal one, register in every lesson and homework. All work is checked in lesson and homework marked the next day or whenever its due in. They have break and lunch as per normal and school finishes at the normal time. Pastoral care teachers for each year check up on mental health by doing a questionaire every few weeks and contacting children by phone if the results are worrying or if children are not logging on or submitting the correct amount of work.
According to my children its basically as good as school without the downside of uniform....
Once it’s been established that kids can be taught at home
If anything is being established at this point it's that being taught at home over the internet is not a great thing for a great many pupils.
If all the teachers on here are at best average, at least half your profession are worse than you.
That's not how averages work.
Stats isn't my strongest point but, assuming a normal distribution, only about 16% of teachers would be more than one standard deviation below the mean.
Both my children have been in real time online school with a timetable that reflected the normal one, register in every lesson and homework. All work is checked in lesson and homework marked the next day or whenever its due in. They have break and lunch as per normal and school finishes at the normal time.
I've deliberately not done that for my students, because it relies on every kid having access to a decent device at home, a place to work, and an internet connection. This style of remote teaching will widen the gap in outcomes.
All the work I've set has been asynchronous and can be completed with no specific digital resources.
I’ve just watch a head make his staff all hold hands to make a point about not social distancing. This is at a school in an area with a high percentage of multi generational households. Obviously still doesn’t get that he has a responsibility towards the community, as well as staff and pupils. I suspect he’ll have fewer teachers very soon.
"’ve deliberately not done that for my students"
All the childen in school have a school issued Chromebook paid for by the parents. Parents that genuinely can't afford one, or broadband have access to a hardship fund. The school IT department sort out any issues and have been working incredibly hard since lockdown, as have the teachers. It is a very well run school.
"This style of remote teaching will widen the gap in outcomes."
Yes, yes it will.
Once it’s been established that kids can be taught at home it wouldn’t be a giant leap to get rid of “schools “. Give everyone a laptop and have them log in to centrally broadcast lessons of a uniform curriculum.
I'm not sure it's everyone...
If anything is being established at this point it’s that being taught at home over the internet is not a great thing for a great many pupils.
Multiple things are happening all at once... but first there are a great number of kids...and being taught in school is not a great thing for a great many of them.
The first thing ....
My daughter was set work on the Titanic a few weeks ago. It started off by stating that ‘the Titanic was made in 1997’
Why assume that is any worse than usual? Just because you see it?
Jnr's teacher had set some work on coastal erosion which would have been fine had she not tried to explain how arches and sea stacks occur and missed something as exciting as Alta last week.
However that being the case I'm left wondering what the educational part is? Is it knowing the teacher is incorrect but giving them the answer they want or knowing the Titanic was built in 1911 or knowing that "when was the Titanic made" is different in google to "when was the titanic built" ???
My real issue is more the first point I made... if the academic value of school is primarily for the 5%-10% then it's failing but its failing more visibly at the moment whilst the parents of the 90%-95% see the actual "facts" being taught whilst the 5-10% don't see or care or even realise.
It's hardly creationism being deliberately taught ... but at the same time it's disturbing 1997 didn't ring a bell on the Titanic?
Following my earlier post I had some of this explained to me by a 10yr old... "if we did that then (list of names) wouldn't be able to take part"
So I'm back as confused as I was ...
If anything is being established at this point it’s that being taught at home over the internet is not a great thing for a great many pupils.
What do you mean by "great thing"?
Surely it's established that teaching all the kids together is preventing the majority from learning as quickly as they can but is that "good" or "bad"?
I'm the first to acknowledge it's not a race, there is plenty of time later ...
On the other hand in a global economy UK kids will be increasingly disadvantaged.
If you look at test results from SATS as some sort of metric then on paper not going to school has been a great success for my child. I'm not really fussed about the results so much as him organising himself to do an hour a day without adult interference and finding he can teach himself and do much much better than predicted by his teacher. Obviously we'll never know but I feel had he been at school instead of lockdown and just doing an hour a day by himself he would have performed "as expected".
kelvin
I’ve just watch a head make his staff all hold hands to make a point about not social distancing.
I watched the staff zoom before they opened up....
The head was sat at a 1m table opposite one of the deputies coughing. Quite a few staff we sitting as far away as possible... a HOY asked the head how they were going to social distance and the answer was "we will tell them we will try where we can"
I know your OH had to make a decision a the time... mine asked for unpaid sabbatical right after watching that zoom.