Deep snow - Have your child taught by any teacher?

[Hi De Hi 10]

All that's proposed in the OP is that teachers go to work for a day or two in a school near to where they live if they really can't get to their regular workplace.

 

Listening to the many and varied, yet highly creative excuses you'd imagine that they were being asked to split the atom during lunch.

 

The 'many and varied excuses' in the main are pointing out that the suggestion in the OP is actually illegal as the current laws on child protection stand! So to carry out what is suggested in the OP schools, and their teachers would have to break the law. So until the law is changed the OP's suggestion is not going to run.

[Hi De Hi 10]

 

Teachers have embraced many new ideas and it's a puzzle why (a minority?) hold them back from something that is so easy to implement, such as going to a local school if it snows.

 

It's a puzzle.

 

It is not the teachers that are holding things back! Just like everyone else we are supposed to obey the law. In fact as teachers we are supposed to set an example to others! It has been pointed out time and time again by lots of people on here that a teacher cannot just turn up at a school and expect to be admitted and left with the kids. It does not matter whether that teacher is carrying their passport, driver's licence, CRB paperwork and a note from their mum, it would be breaking the law as it stands if the school let that person in to supervise its kids! Headteachers who did this could be fired or even end up in court!

So despite what anyone would wish to happen it won't until the Government makes the necessary changes to the Child protection rules in England and Wales. Once that is done then procedures can be changed to allow teachers to turn up at their local school and for the kids to be protected.

[Tony 10]

Excuse: CRB checks mean that teachers can't go to work in another school.

 

Reality 1: Sheffield Council have said that they will pay for any additional CRB checks needed under the current system.

Reality 2:The Coalition is looking at changing the system.

Reality 3: Supply teachers already manage to each on various schools under the current system.

 

 

It's a puzzle why this excuse is still being trotted out by some.

Edited December 3, 2010 by Tony

[Boblet 10]

 

It's a puzzle why this excuse is still being trotted out by some.

 

Because it's easier to hide behind a problem than to try to find a solution?

 

Because finding a solution is someone else's problem?

[absynthfairy 10]

Excuse: CRB checks mean that teachers can't go to work in another school.

 

Reality 1: Sheffield Council have said that they will pay for any additional CRB checks needed under the current system.

Reality 2:The Coalition is looking at changing the system.

Reality 3: Supply teachers already manage to each on various schools under the current system.

 

 

It's a puzzle why this excuse is still being trotted out by some.

 

Well I for one will be glad when this does get sorted with an appropriate solution that keeps everyone happy. My own school is 15 miles away - I am currently cut off in Kiveton with no public transport links. I barely slept last night worrying how I was going to get into school today if we opened if the buses weren't running as cars are still struggling to get off my estate - as it was the school has remained shut due to the site NOT BEING SAFE. Had I known I could just report to my local high school and teach there then that would have been brilliant, I'd have slept easy and I would have been more than happy to do it - I am a social creature and seeing no one for 4 days is not my idea of fun - but then again, shock horror, I enjoy my job and don't look for any "excuse" not to do it.

 

One problem - my local school is shut because it is NOT SAFE for the pupils....does someone have to die before this gets dropped?

[Puplet 10]

It is not the teachers that are holding things back! Just like everyone else we are supposed to obey the law. In fact as teachers we are supposed to set an example to others! It has been pointed out time and time again by lots of people on here that a teacher cannot just turn up at a school and expect to be admitted and left with the kids. It does not matter whether that teacher is carrying their passport, driver's licence, CRB paperwork and a note from their mum, it would be breaking the law as it stands if the school let that person in to supervise its kids! Headteachers who did this could be fired or even end up in court!

So despite what anyone would wish to happen it won't until the Government makes the necessary changes to the Child protection rules in England and Wales. Once that is done then procedures can be changed to allow teachers to turn up at their local school and for the kids to be protected.

 

 

Exactly! We need a solution but just turning up won't work, the gov. need to do something.

[Boblet 10]

One problem - my local school is shut because it is NOT SAFE for the pupils....does someone have to die before this gets dropped?

 

In most places I have worked some of the employees would go out and clear the snow from the car parks and entrance ways to make it safe for people to use (admittedly not all of the employees would help - you get the "it's not in my job description to do that" attitude in all walks of life) - what is to stop the teachers, caretaking staff, willing parents etc doing the same - it wouldn't be impossible for each school to have a stock of grit/salt to clear a path

[jenthehen 10]

I just do not get why it is so important that children have to go to school in adverse conditions? I would not want to be responsible for a school with 1200+ students with limited staff that do not know the site or the safety procedures.

 

Would you want to take that risk? I suppose you don't care as long as you do not have to look after your own child

 

I think instead of putting pressure on schools to open when clearly the pavements and roads are treacherous... the council ought to be looking at keeping them clear. On my journey to work yesterday morning... the roads were strewn with parked and abandoned cars, the pavements were piled with snow and pedestrians were forced to walk on the roads in many places, dodging cars when necessary. Is this the sort of health and safety Councillor Scrivens wants to subject our youngsters to.... instead of focusing on making schools open when clearly the conditions are treacherous to travel in (due to non clearing of snow on roads and pavements)... try channelling your energies into making sure the roads and pavements are safe... just the same as they do in Canada and other countries who cope with heavy snowfalls every year. When the police are telling us only to make necessary journeys... do you really want thousands of youngsters putting themselves at risk ... adults have struggled to arrive at work safely this week, putting pressure on youngsters this way is not only foolhardy, its irresponsible.

[strikerPaul 10]

This was discussed last winter and now the council wants in case of bad weather teachers to go to their nearest school. This seems a very unrealistic idea for many reasons.

1. Child safety (How will schools know the person appearing at their door is CRB checked?

 

2. Distribution of Teachers. Some areas will have no teachers living nearby so will close anyway especially as their teachers will have gone to nearer schools.

 

3. Teaching is a specialist profession. Primary Teachers can't necessarily teach Secondary children and Secondary teachers are specialists in certain subjects not all and couldn't necessarily teach at a primary level.

 

4. Most schools last year were closed due to safety aspects ie the site was too dangerous and or travelling was too dangerous. Are we saying that our children should go to school no matter how dangerous and even if the heating breaks down?

 

5. Who will assess when teachers should stay nearer home. I've known teachers walk 4 miles to get to school. Won't they just go to nearer rather than struggle through?

 

 

Does anyone actually think 2 or 3 days missed school will really affect their child's ability or progression? The answer is no. Think parents are more concerned with child care issues if the schools isn't open.

 

Teachers going to the nearest schools would purely be babysitters, lessons are planned for specific purposes and objectives and therefore aren't transferable between schools/classes etc.

 

And its also fact that teachers usually don't live as close to school as pupils and therefore its more difficult to attend.

[Hi De Hi 10]

Excuse: CRB checks mean that teachers can't go to work in another school.

 

Reality 1: Sheffield Council have said that they will pay for any additional CRB checks needed under the current system.

Reality 2:The Coalition is looking at changing the system.

Reality 3: Supply teachers already manage to each on various schools under the current system.

 

 

It's a puzzle why this excuse is still being trotted out by some.

 

Reality 1:So Sheffield have not yet organised and paid for the additional checks?

Reality 2: So the Coalition has not yet changed the system

Reality 3: Supply teachers have CRB checks paid for by their agency and then the agency guarentees that they have the CRB and will fire them if they commit or are suspected of committing an aoffence.

 

So until our elected officials find time away from filling in their expenses forms and actually debate and change the legislation we shall be having closed schools. These are not 'excuses' but are the facts. You might wish that the schools stay open but the reality is that the law keeps them closed!

[duckweed 10]

If teachers going to nearest school is such a good solution. Why was it tried in the past and scrapped? Why didn't the council enforce it for this winter?

[Eater Sundae 12]

Does anyone actually think 2 or 3 days missed school will really affect their child's ability or progression? The answer is no. Think parents are more concerned with child care issues if the schools isn't open.

 

Teachers going to the nearest schools would purely be babysitters, lessons are planned for specific purposes and objectives and therefore aren't transferable between schools/classes etc.

 

And its also fact that teachers usually don't live as close to school as pupils and therefore its more difficult to attend.

 

I think you've expertly undermined your own argument there.