Schools.......!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SoggyFox]

Originally Posted by Fiji Dave

Yep, that's probably true, but do you think it's the Teachers who are going to sue the school? No, it's going to be the parents who sue. The same parents who will kick up a fuss if the school is closed and they can't get anyone to look after their kids.

So what would you prefer, for the school to be sued by the very people who complain if it's closed and complain if it's open, for a whole chunk of the schools budget to be eaten up in paying compensation, leaving less in the coffers for your kids education - and how much of a fuss then gets kicked up when kids have to share text books!

Yes, when it snows kids will fall and may get hurt, it's happened for years and it'll always happen, if it happens at home no one gets blamed, but if it happens at school you can bet your life the same parents will be up in arms demanding to know why their kids were made to go to school.

You want to blame someone for schools closing in bad weather? Yes, you're right, the litigioussociety we're becoming is to blame, and where does that lead us - take a long hard look at the parents of some of the kids before you start taking potshots at the people who are there, looking after them and educating them every bloody day.

It's not the teachers who created this blame and claim society...

sad really damned if they do, damned if they don't.

I do remember though at times if the weather was really bad we were told to stay in the gym hall, i think there were more crush injuries that day than anything, having 30 boys jump on some unsuspecting lad when 'bundle' was hollered.

[StokieRIch]

not pointing blame at anyone, but it is sad that schools have to close.

I can remember slipping on ice inside the classroom ( yes i mean inside too, was start of the day in one of those "mobile" jobbies), hit my head on the corner of a desk.... blood everywhere.

i bet yuou can't imagine the uproar...

Thats right. mummy kissed it better, i got a scar, a pack of smarties, and much kudos for having 3 stiches ( i was about 6 at the time)

Of course the above would be terrible nowadays, and would almost certainly end up with someone making cash. ( mainly solicitors ).

[Steve S]

we used to make bl**dy long slides in the playground under the supervision of the old dinner ladies many of whom used to have a go themselves unfortunately as Fiji Dave rightly says schools are so terrified of litigation that unfortunately the fun is being removed from many things that folk of my age look back on with fond memories.

And Zepp I don't know about Leicestershire but in Derbyshire they kids kept in school until collected by Parents/Carers even if that means the normal home time.

Safe diving,
Steve.

[zepp]

Originally Posted by Fiji Dave

You think your average classroom teacher has the power to decide whether the school closes? Don't be ridiculous.

You'd be the first to complain if poor little Johnny was made to sit in an unheated classroom all day or slipped on ice in the playground. You'd be first in line to blame the teachers then too.

If you want to have a go at schools closing at least get your facts straight and find out who makes the decision AND WHY before leaping in and stuffing BOTH feet in your mouth.

Here, I'll give you a start with some homework....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4294877.stm

Touched a nerve there, so sorry! I am complaining about them closing for no reason except for a few flakes around and the fact that they (the schools) assume that us, as parents can leave work any time in the day.

[Fiji Dave]

Originally Posted by zepp

Touched a nerve there, so sorry! I am complaining about them closing for no reason except for a few flakes around and the fact that they (the schools) assume that us, as parents can leave work any time in the day.

Fine, then start a thread complaining about the complete lack of any sort of "Family-Friendly" work policies at your workplace. It isn't the teachers fault that your company won't let you go and pick up the children is it? And many schools do run some sort of facility for looking after the children who can't get picked up.


This next bit of the post is not aimed directly to you Zepp, it's more directed to those people who cannot see beyond the blinkered "teachers have it easy, loads of holiday" viewpoint.


It's always the teachers who get the blame though, and before anyone asks, no I'm not one, but I do live with one. I see her come home (she often gets in later than me and I don't finish here till 5:30-6:00pm) we have a bit of food and then she starts working again, marking and preparing lessons, with luck she'll be done before 11pm (she gets to school at 7:30am) so she's had a 15.5hour day. Since she started teaching she's had very, very few weekends where she manages to have both days free of work. When she is at school she comes in for abuse from kids who know how little she can do to punish them and when she phones the parents to tell them of little johnny's behavior she gets abuse from them too. She's expected to give up her time for parents evenings for which she has to prepare a report for each child in the class and she's open to abuse from parents there if little johnny isn't doing well. She's expected to put up with atrocious behaviour, not just from the kids but from parents who have absolved themselves of any responsibility regarding bringing the little bleeders up properly. Parents who complain and say it's the teachers responsibility to discipline the kids, but who are up in arms if little johnny is kept behind after schol because they can't come along later and pick the kid up.

So go ahead, pick on teachers, after all they've got it easy haven't they...

[zepp]

Originally Posted by Fiji Dave

Fine, then start a thread complaining about the complete lack of any sort of "Family-Friendly" work policies at your workplace. It isn't the teachers fault that your company won't let you go and pick up the children is it? And many schools do run some sort of facility for looking after the children who can't get picked up.


This next bit of the post is not aimed directly to you Zepp, it's more directed to those people who cannot see beyond the blinkered "teachers have it easy, loads of holiday" viewpoint.


..

My company WILl allow me to leave work at any time for as many days as I want, but the problem is, is that I am self-employed, therfore no work = no pay. At least the school staff will still get paid!
So the answer is........ become a teacher!!, I here you say......no thanks. Like you say, teachers cant punish, shout or in some cases look at some pupils without a threat of the student going to the top and making up stories about touching, hitting etc. etc.

[dry suit diver]

Originally Posted by zepp

My company WILl allow me to leave work at any time for as many days as I want, but the problem is, is that I am self-employed, therfore no work = no pay. At least the school staff will still get paid!
So the answer is........ become a teacher!!, I here you say......no thanks. Like you say, teachers cant punish, shout or in some cases look at some pupils without a threat of the student going to the top and making up stories about touching, hitting etc. etc.

ahhh PAYE where we are taxed to feck against the CIS scheme where you earn a lot more and pay a lot less in tax if you have a good accountant.

If your work sends you home or requests that you not attend due to circumstances beyond its control then those employees affected are entitled to their days wage.
The day that it snowed badly in London 2 years ago I got told to go home by my employer and got paid, had I been self employed I would have stayed to earn a crust but free money no choice really.


Cant have your cake and eat it, although I tried when I was self employed.

as an aside, if you have an employer then theoretically you are coming very close to falling foul of the HMRC rules about 'hidden employed'
Most subbies are limited companies these days to get around this and if you are an employee of a limited company then the company could pay you for being unable to attend, this unfortunately means the company earns no money this would be the same for 'supply' teachers who invariably get work via an agency so not al teachers would be paid.