Comments on: Blog comments

By: David

David — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 10:35:45 +0000

Firstly what annoys me the most is that the teaching profession seems to think they are above any other profession. Many schools close for the simple health and safety reason that there are not enough teachers in to look after the students.

If other people can get to work during snow then teachers should also. You are not any more special than any office worker or factory worker.

It is time that the teaching profession was treated like any other profession, and have the same expectations, reduce the holidays no one needs 13 weeks off in the year.

If it snows do your best to get into work like every one else, if not possible – roads blocked then yes turn around – but do not use the extreme of children being hurt on the roads, how many children are unsupervised when schools close – do teachers feel a moral regret for any of these that get hurt….

I am sorry but teachers get off your high horse, your job is no more difficult than my own, I expect no more from you than I do myself. Yes your job is important and yes you work hard, but that is not unique to teaching.

By: stoohychoab

stoohychoab — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 20:59:49 +0000

You certainly have some agreeable opinions and views. Your blog provides a fresh look at the subject.

By: Ali

Ali — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 22:40:02 +0000

I agree with Vivienne. I also heard that if a teacher doesn’t live locally to the school where they work, then they are to attend the closest school to where they live when there are issues like the recent snow. Does anyone know if this is true. If not, perhaps it should be?

By: Jo Howard

Jo Howard — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 21:52:54 +0000

I support your comments to Sir Steve Redgrave about the need for places to play and the dreadful standards of housing being built. Here in St Ives, Cornwall where I live although there is plenty of open space there are few children in the woods or fields and housing is being built which discourages children from playing in the streets where they take their first steps to outdoor independent play. Today the indoors is just so attractive for all the usual reasons that we must make a fantastic sociable, challenging, fun and inviting environment for children around their houses. If we do not do this the predictions that life expectancy will be shorter for this generation are most likely to come true. Sir Steve is right that more sport is good but the major difference to children’s activity levels will come from changing their behavior out of school in their leisure time when they choose how they spend their time. I recommend “The Last Child in the Woods” by Richard Louv to anyone who cares about all this. Jo

By: vivienne

vivienne — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 19:48:16 +0000

Hi,hope this isn’t too late to add my comments to the school closure for snow debate. I know there are different perspectives to be taken into account and health and safety has to be taken very seriously and peoples lives should never be put at risk. However I do think we need to be clear whether the latter is the major concern or whether fear of being sued plays a major part in the decision taken to close whole schools down. Some teachers and children are going to be within walking distance to schools. Why not preplan for events like this and have a list of staff who will be able to make it without endagering life and limb and of parents who think that they would be able to get their children there. It’s possible that someone is going to be unlucky and have an accident but that is where a pre plan would allow people to think about whether they could make it in or not.

By: Gillyfish

Gillyfish — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 16:17:00 +0000

Margaret (and Ricardo to some extent), the discussion points are incredibly valid, and I totally agree on the “bravery” comment of not blocking some of these coments; I’m sure that would happen in the wider media, as they do seem to want to stir the hornets’ nest. I’ve just come off the NPQH site (Headteachers’ / Leaders site for those who hate jargon) and the differnece of opinion on there is EXACTLY the same! You just got hit with it all due to the editing process of the media, I suspect. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on your page, for as Ricardo suggests, there are things on here that the teaching profession should be looking out for, and as a Trainee head, it’s been interesting to read in my spare(ish) time. I also think that your last comment to Sandra shows the exasperation that heads and teachers feel on a day-to-day basis with parents who have only their point of view stuck right in front of their eyes!

By: Margaret Morrissey OBE FRSA

Margaret Morrissey OBE FRSA — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 22:14:00 +0000

Sandra:

I have never suggested your daughter or anyone should put themselves in danger all my comments have been that there will always be some teachers who cannot get into school and some schools will have to close, it would be stupid to think otherwise.

I also have a daughter who has to travel over an hour by car to work after leaving her children with me each day. She had been fortunate and got to work even though some schools locally have closed. People are making me sound like some uncaring monster who wants everyone to die on the roads which is just nonsense and most unfair I spend hours defending teachers and supporting schools and trying to help many parents but to be honest after this week I am wondering why.

By: Margaret Morrissey OBE FRSA

Margaret Morrissey OBE FRSA — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 21:21:00 +0000

To Gillyfish and Halesowen:

Thanks for your comments and taking the time to participate on this blog. I am hoping when my new site is up it will offer a greater opportunity for others to participate. If you ever find the time I would be really grateful if you also participated there and work with me to encourage parents to give even greater support to heads. I think most already do, as I do.

I did not intentionally criticise teachers. As I keep saying and anyone who knows me will agree I am their greatest supporter. I criticised the health and safety laws that are extreme and not always most helpful.

I believe head teachers, not government and not councils should make the decisions for individual schools as I believe they know best when it is safe for a school to be open.

Thank you for the warnings. I have obviously experienced selective editing on many of the comments I have made on this subject and have decided to leave the telephone on the hook today.

By: Ricardo

Ricardo — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 21:16:00 +0000

Nice answer Sandra.

Yes I do understand the position you are making. Sorry if I sounded a bit heartless.

I do have a friend that is a teacher. His school is in quite a run down area (okay I know he would never say that about it). From the stories he tells me of his work days I just do not know how he manages to cope. He definately does not paid enough that is for sure. It is a crime almost what he gets paid for the service he performs.

By: Sandra

Sandra — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 20:33:00 +0000

Ricardo

My first question to you is - if your children were involved in a coach accident on their way to School, because the coach had overturned on ice - and the Met office had warned it was unsafe to go out...where would you sit in this debate?

The point I am making is: - my Daughter still has 8 inches of snow with ice along her drive, her road is unpassable, so she is unable to get her car out.
Tomorrow, she will leave home at 5.30 am - walk the main road, hope a taxi turns up, to take her to the station, to get a train, which she hopes is running. This involves carrying her laptop, and work that she has been doing at home over the past few days.

On arriving one hopes that enough children can also get to school to deliver a lesson. As she will be teaching Year 11 children tomorrow, she will have to re-deliver this lesson, so that all students are given the information.

Then make the same journey home again!

I am worried about her safety - of course - I wouldn't be a responsible parent if I wasn't.

I think too many people are generalising about the situation, rather than looking at localised conditions, and don't realise that times have changed, and teachers don't live near the schools.

The other point that seems to be missed, is that the time will be made up, so that the planned lessons are delivered to the students.

I am sure that most heads will look at the possibility of extending the term, or encouraging staff to operate extra revision lessons.

There are always people that seem to think teachers have any easy ride. They should trail a teacher for a week, by then they will realise that they are very hard working dedicated professional people. Luckily the majority of parents appreciate the work and time that they give to developing their children.