A Sydney principal has defended her staff against accusations from parents that teachers are “enjoying free time at home” instead of running online classes, as diverging approaches to remote schooling become flash points within school communities.
One frustrated parent whose child attends a school in another part of Sydney, and who did not want to be named to protect their child, told the: “What are the teachers doing if they’re not doing any online teaching, and they’re not at the school teaching? I really want to know.” “Not only are they managing the usual complexities of the teaching profession, they also each have their own personal lives.”Rhett WymanWhile some parents were requesting two or more Zooms per day, the use of Zoom in a public primary school was “not mandatory nor expected,” she wrote. “If teachers choose to engage in Zoom, it is their choice.” A survey at Oran Park found most families wanted learning from home packs, she said, and less than five per cent of parents took up the offer of a device.
Her mother received a call from the principal, but supported her daughter. “It was heavy-handed,” Ms McMahon said.Some experts are concerned about the effects of a patchy approach to remote learning across different schools. In NSW, schools in the public system have a high degree of autonomy, meaning they mostly choose their approach to teaching and learning within the curriculum.
JordsBaker Put teachers in the vaccination priority list and open schools. Those parents who hesitate to send and stay home, their problem to deal with online learning.
JordsBaker Zooming 6 ps/day 5 days/wk isn’t practical (internet/device/family issues of students) nor is it engaging. Zoom the beginning to set the scope and answer questions. Be available online for further qs and clarification. Sounds like these paents have too much time on their hands…
JordsBaker I have worked normal hours plus more constructing learning for online and offline, calling parents, zoom meetings and talking to govt agencies that support my high needs students. I have to catch myself at times to make sure I do stop and have the occasional cuppa. We work hard!
JordsBaker This would be a hard time for teachers. That said, it is ok if anyone wants to enjoy themselves at home.
JordsBaker Then of course, that learning has to be returned, to the school address and then staff to collect. Many staff don't live in the area they teach. I'm not offering excuses for the lazy ones, but there are many pitfalls in looking after every child
JordsBaker Many opinions, which is good, but some are schools are hamstrung. Dept guidelines say children can't be disadvantaged, so if they go to school, they must do the same as online and if families can't access online, they all must do paper copies,posted as some don't have printers
JordsBaker Without zoom it is very hard to know what they are doing
JordsBaker Seems like you need to have the zoom classes for min interaction...teachers should be available on zoom during the usual class times where they would normally teach in a class...no zoom = pure neglect from the part of school
JordsBaker People are abject morons. If COVID had happened when I was 16 I'd have been a mess. Locked down with alcoholic parents? It was probably a drunk that made the comment.
JordsBaker It's been over 6 weeks, I've been remote learning with my 7 yo and working from home that entire time, I couldn't say if teacher's are lazy but I can say that geography lessons that ask about travel apps and don't mention maps or actual geography are trying my patience severely.
JordsBaker Anybody that thinks that any students or teachers are 'enjoying' free time are delusional. I know, I have a HSC student doing remote everything right now.
JordsBaker As a parent who works from home, i’d like to have a better understanding of what they are doing then because so far it doesnt pass the sniff test