Welcome to tonight's #edchatie live discussion on matters #education in #Ireland
Before we begin, please introduce yourself and remember to include the hashtag #edchatie in all your tweets for the next hour.
So, let's get started then as we discuss "In a response to @VoiceforTeacher post this week: is teachers' health & safety being adequately catered for and if not can more be done?" on tonight's #edchatie for the next hour.
Aishling pp teacher. A number of worrying posts on voice for teachers over the last few weeks with worn out and stretched to the limit teachers. #edchatie
#edchatie I read the two posts this week and they were shocking to say the least. Some good advice given re not keeping up with the jones/deleting social media teacher related apps eg pinterest which I do think feeds into pressure. Maybe I'm lucky but I do think 1/2
#edchatie Answer is no on a number of fronts. As a former HR person in education all schools should be tracking actual hours worked to comply with Organisation of Working Time Act. Most do not.
#edchatie my subject area has a very definite sharing vibe esp here on twitter but I did accidently follow a few American sites on Instragram & I had to delete them as my head was melted from all the "look at me I'm so great" posts. I actually couldn't work in some of their rooms
On tonight's #edchatie we're discussing "In a response to @VoiceforTeacher post this week: is teachers' health & safety being adequately catered for and if not can more be done?"
Join in and share your thoughts
#teachers#education#Ireland
Trina. Primary teaching principal.
Key for me is the school feeling like a supportive environment. Staff should feel like you have their back when it comes to students, behaviour issues, parents etc. Clear consistent code of behaviour helps alleviate a lot of stress.
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agree. some very stressed out teachers out there. I remember an advert for depression years ago and it was like a conversation someone was having in their head & at the end you realised it was a teacher. it was years ago...anyone remember it? It always stayed with me #edchatie
Interesting to see Social Media being an early focus on tonight's #edchatie discussion on the topic of "In a response to @VoiceforTeacher post this week: is teachers' health & safety being adequately catered for and if not can more be done?"
Thoughts?
#edchatie my subject area has a very definite sharing vibe esp here on twitter but I did accidently follow a few American sites on Instragram & I had to delete them as my head was melted from all the "look at me I'm so great" posts. I actually couldn't work in some of their rooms
Initiative overload causing huge anxiety in schools. Digital learning framework yet another example piled in with SEN inspections, Child protection inspections, GDPR, etc. #edchatie
Based on those VFT posts too, a lot of the stressors were factors outside of the schools control e.g. Large class sizes and high pupil/teacher ratio. Schools certainly have a role to play but the government sets a lot of the conditions and expectations.
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We would have had some CPD about this, and We have a phone number which anyone in my immediate family and myself can phone if we need counselling. #edchatie
#edchatie schools are inclined in my opinion to say to teachers, do yoga and go for a walk. Advice like this does not address employer's duty of care to employees. Secondary trauma is a big issue for teachers dealing with extremely difficult situations.
I think in many cases teacher training sets you up to meet a very high standard that is not viable long term. Some days you just have to go in and teach a simple lesson, no bells and whistles. Too much pressure to use this method and that resource etc. 1/2 #edchatie
So, just work time spent on premises? Not sure that would give anywhere near the full picture for a lot of teachers.
I'd also be concerned that imposing sign in sign out would come across poorly, as a check rather than a support.
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that in itself would be pressurised though I'd imagine. Just think ...you've had a crappy day but haven't clocked up enough "hours" and someone - deputy?- wants a sign in/out sheet tomorrow? I haven't time some days to update my planner let alone track yet another sheet #edchatie
In reply to
@dhubhda, @CatrionaGolden, @fboss, @VoiceforTeacher
#edchatie Miriam PP tchr in Thurles. We talk of wellbeing for the students but rarely of teacher wellbeing....and our wellbeing impacts on the kids. We always put pressure on ourselves to be the best and do everything so well...with extra demands of the job increasing daily
2/2 It takes time to realise that you can't sustain it and need to step back and assess your methods and how you teach. Don't need to be trawling through pinterest to do a wonderful meaningful lesson. #edchatie
Reality is that teaching is not the job people entered.
The vast majority of teachers who went into teaching would not go into it now.
Everyone knows all the reasons
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I think its not about what resources you use, which apps or which technology, its simple about who did you help to understand what. #edchatie Technology should be a help, not a performance goal.
I think in many cases teacher training sets you up to meet a very high standard that is not viable long term. Some days you just have to go in and teach a simple lesson, no bells and whistles. Too much pressure to use this method and that resource etc. 1/2 #edchatie
#edchatie I still believe our teaching hours could be combined into a 4 day week, even maybe for teachers with young children when family life can be demanding...As you grow older maybe life is less demanding??? In school, we should supports to check and connect with tchrs.
Register for our Practice Exchange of Innovation Using Technology in Professional Education. We'll showcase innovative uses of technology that enhance nurse, solicitor & teacher education. @LawSocEdu@ucdsnmhs@MarinoInstitute To register: https://t.co/ZczY3Nej93
That is because BOMs and principals do not receive adequate training. A school has not been pulled up on this yet that I'm aware but it's just a matter of time. #edchatie
In reply to
@CatrionaGolden, @fboss, @VoiceforTeacher
Also I also think as teaching gets a lot of high achieving students it follows through into their teaching...... they feel that have to coach 4 sport teams, do the Christmas Concert etc. #edchatie
I've been on a few different staff over the years. 1 school had mindfullness by a past teacher which was spot on as he really got it. Even the sceptics were converted by the end of that session. 😁 Another school had yoga & a walking group ..again very positive #edchatie
I remember spending about 4 hours planning a 5 minute micro-teaching lesson. You're spot on, teaching practice and teacher training in general does nothing to outline wellbeing and sustainability.
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Ciara, post primary-many issues affecting teacher wellbeing-new JCT,CBAs & SLARS (imagine when all subjects require them!),post 2011 teacher pay,casualisation,lack of full time hours/CIDs, nepotism,inspections, demanding parents,badly behaved pupils #edchatie
Register for our Practice Exchange of Innovation Using Technology in Professional Education. We'll showcase innovative uses of technology that enhance nurse, solicitor & teacher education. @LawSocEdu@ucdsnmhs@MarinoInstitute To register: https://t.co/ZczY3Nej93
#edchatie think about it, there is a counselling service which is external to the school, so if a person needs to avail of counselling, no one in school need know but equally no one in school can then support the person...
We're just past the halfway point in tonight's #edchatie discussion "In a response to @VoiceforTeacher post this week: is teachers' health & safety being adequately catered for and if not can more be done?"
Allowing teachers with children take a day/week parental leave instead of being forced to take weekly blocks at a time might relieve some stress among those teachers. Obviously that's not relevant for everyone. The VFT JI teacher post is not an isolated case I imagine. #edchatie
#edchatie best English lesson based on a photo of a dirty bathroom in hotel and how to complain. Cigire thought it was best lesson ever and took me all of 5 minutes to prepare!
I'm not condemning TP but I think there needs to be some realisation for NQTs that you don't have to try keep that high standard 24/7. TP is brill for pushing you to think outside the box & practice different methods but in reality those methods might be used once a wk. #edchatie
Ciara here, trainer with @rathudotie - after reading some comments I thought it might be an idea (if there are workload concerns) that teachers log their hours on a sheet but that information is used in dev capacity and is anonymous #edchatie
Practically, in the current climate this would be very difficult to facilitate. Trying to get a sub a day a week is nigh on impossible. The only way it potentially could work if with supply panels, but the chunk of parental leave would need to be a set length.
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#edchatie true, think I am one of those parents! just saying depending on family demands,people are more or less stressed ..not sure how to address it...but know that in my first 7 years of teaching I had lots of free time but have less now & all this affects family &or work life
#edchatie this would be good starting point to address issue and support staff reduce workload. I also believe in select marking - too many teachers are marking everything because are worried about parents/principal/inspector! Zero value to students 😱
I do remember suggesting using jobbridge teachers as a way to reduce stress within staffroom and classroom and getting shot down like a B-17 over Berlin #edchatie
And this can be wearing. If you have issues generated by lack of a clear communication channel to management, it doesn't help if a group counselling session starts with a promise that nothing said in the room will get back to management. #edchatie
Might help in bigger schools. Would still be very obvious who is who in smaller schools. It'd be nice to think it wouldn't be used for oneupmanship or pressure from school/department. Probably wishful thinking though. #edchatie
Thoroughly enjoyed my TP. Met many wonderful and supportive teachers along the way. Felt very prepared for working life and while it did take me a couple yrs of long hrs after work and at wkends, I've realised I don't have to do 150% all the time. #edchatie
Agree to an extent. Lesson plans are ridiculously long for some colleges. No need for it. Majority of stress I'd imagine is down to typing those bloody lesson plans. #edchatie
Don't be giving them ideas. Next announcement "organisation of working time inspections" 64 point checklist, you will be assessed as non-compliant if you've missed any point. Or spelled something wrong. #edchatie
In reply to
@RodsMears, @dhubhda, @fboss, @VoiceforTeacher
#edchatie ok so regardless of family commitments, all tchrs could work a 4 day week, which could lead to a better balanced life....teaching can be a lonely job as we work on our own in class, so there is a need for strong teams or other tchrs who we can rely on for help sometimes
o.m.g. just couldn't read that and leave it go by without comment. Disgraceful.
side note tho' Is it 6 sessions now? thought it was 4. and counsellor can't take you for further sessions even if they are needed which makes zero sense #edchatie
Agree with this. We need time to reflect and bounce ideas off one another. However Miriam the issue of unequal pay is a significant one and many LPTs have had to take on additional work to survive. Schools do need to be mindful of this. #edchatie
Increasing amounts of paperwork, lack of teacher consultation re:reform of Senior Cycle, new JC - common final papers for non core subjects (a major concern for MFL teachers), the expectation of, & pressure exerted on teachers to do extracurricular #edchatie
My program plan starts with the observation that no battle plan last for more than 10 minutes after contact with the enemy.
Teaching is a conversation. Not a call centre script designed to make the individual teacher totally replaceable. #edchatie
In reply to
@AshDonohoe, @dhubhda, @CatrionaGolden
No allowance for further sessions. Best advice she gave me was to leave permanent job as the potential of violence too detrimental to my health #edchatie
I completely agree, but think it's highly unlikely. They offered no support in the child protection regulations, straight to inspections where schools will be publicly labelled as non-compliant #edchatie
In reply to
@RodsMears, @dhubhda, @fboss, @VoiceforTeacher
INTO and other unions need to push back on this. Unacceptable and unnecessary stress. Fully agree with need for compliance but with training and resources. #edchatie
In reply to
@CatrionaGolden, @RodsMears, @fboss, @VoiceforTeacher
Students do 5 day week, teachers do all their hours in 4 days having 3 days to recharge. Think we could be more productive, have fitness plan for days off etc...change the way we live in Ireland... #edchatie
This is true. Having said that when I taught physics at third level in the USA, the text book typically came with about the same weight again of answer books, acetate sheets and the like to support the lecturer. #edchatie
In reply to
@johnmayo, @AshDonohoe, @dhubhda, @CatrionaGolden
In France, teachers can ask for an advisory visit. Invaluable for teachers and principals and creates a collaborative relationship. Have worked in French system in HR capacity #edchatie
In reply to
@RodsMears, @CatrionaGolden, @fboss, @VoiceforTeacher
It does. Also if a principal has a ? about a teacher's capacity to teach, Inspector provides independent advice and takes the bias out during 6 month probation interview. Again happens in French system not here! #edchatie
In reply to
@CuffeL, @RodsMears, @CatrionaGolden, @fboss, @VoiceforTeacher
I asked for an advisory visit as a new principal at the start of the year. Inspector could facilitate it as an SSE visit but made it very clear her next visit would be evaluative and she wasn't in a position to offer general support. #edchatie
In reply to
@CuffeL, @dhubhda, @RodsMears, @fboss, @VoiceforTeacher
We're into the famous final five minutes of tonight's #edchatie live discussion on "In a response to @VoiceforTeacher post this week: is teachers' health & safety being adequately catered for and if not can more be done?"
Any last thoughts, ideas, suggestions?
Could the general consensus be summed up as 'No, not even close'? And that without even starting to rant on the unsustainable principal job currently. #edchatie
I have my mentor through @cslireland who is fab, am aware of the coaching, but having someone with teaching/principal experience in the building every now and then would make an enormous difference I think. There's only so much you can explain without it being see. #edchatie
In reply to
@dhubhda, @CuffeL, @RodsMears, @fboss, @VoiceforTeacher, @cslireland
