During this time of crisis and uncertainty, we are all struggling, but today I’m here with a plea for kindness and understanding.
This post began life as a facebook post, one that seemed to resonate with people. I didn’t really give it much thought. I just felt so sad that school staff seemed to be getting a hard time of it. As if anything that has happened from March to now is our personal responsibility. I will always advocate kindness.
I stopped using facebook over a month ago. I’ve deleted the app from my phone and only log on from the computer to do blog related stuff.
The effect it was having on my mental health was overwhelming. I felt bad for everything I did, felt shamed for finding positives in this experience and it was too much. I knew I had to switch off.
But I do miss seeing what people are getting up to. I ventured on to see what I was missing.
Here is what I discovered in 5 minutes… 3 post’s bashing schools. 3! IN 5 MINUTES!
Now I understand that we are living through an absolute nightmare and we all have our struggles. But we are not going to survive if we don’t start being a bit kinder to each other, more supportive and more understanding.
I can’t speak for anyone else, but the shit I see on facebook and in the media makes this whole thing even more difficult to cope with!
A plea for kindness and understanding
To those that are unhappy about schools closing throughout the summer, I want to share some information with you. Hopefully it’ll help you understand a little.
Also bear in mind, that we are doing as the Government have asked. If they suddenly decide that we must open during the summer, I am almost 99% sure that every member of school staff I know will volunteer to support. Without hesitation.
We do this job because we love it. But also because at the root of it all, the children are our main priority. We will always do whatever we physically can to help them, support them and educate them.
Point 1
We are paid for 39 weeks a year, this means that we have not been paid for the hours we worked over the breaks we stayed open already. Not once have I heard anyone in a school complain about this. In some cases we have had a later holiday, which is wonderful. But it means that those with children have not been able to enjoy their holiday with them.
Point 2
OK so we may be on a rota and not all needed in school each day. This does not mean the rest of the week is a holiday. We are working from home.
Probably harder than we would in school. I will tell you why… The pressure to keep things running. To provide homework, safeguarding support, speak to parents, deliver food parcels, print and deliver free school meal vouchers to those who do not have the technology. We are working on transition for children moving on to new schools, still communicating with social workers and attending meetings that can last for hours, we are taking part in online training, we are planning for the future.
And for me, the reason I WANT to work so hard is because I am so worried that people will throw this time back in our faces and accuse us of slacking!
Point 3
We have had to redesign our school with limited resources and no funding. And with ever changing guidelines.
Point 4
Lots of us are parents too, struggling to home school and balance childcare. Feeling torn over supporting our students or taking 5 minutes to support our own children. Or we are having to make tough decisions about sending our children in to school when we may not want to.
Point 5
Even as a key worker, a place in our children’s school is not guaranteed for us.
Point 6
We put our fears aside and show up each day. Be that in school or from home, so that key workers can work. And we are so in awe of you all from Nurses and Doctors to shop assistants, to the cleaners that are working round the clock to keep our classrooms spotless, and the wards and hospital theatres to.
Keyworkers
We have nothing but respect for you all. We’d love to go online and see support for us, instead I read today that we’ve just been on a 3 month holiday, working 1 day every 2 weeks, we are selfish and we are letting people down.
In celebrating our hard work in schools, we don’t take away the incredible work that ALL keyworkers have done. We all have a part to play but the minute we turn on each other, rip apart the efforts of others, the whole situation becomes a million times harder.
We are all doing the best we can in a situation none of us would have ever imagine we’d be in. Please be kind.
Thank you!
And from the bottom of my heart, I want to say, to EVERY person on my friends list…
That works in a school – THANK YOU! You are amazing!
Or works in a hospital – THANK YOU! You are amazing!
That works in a shop – THANK YOU! You are amazing!
Who drives for a living – THANK YOU! You are amazing!
Works for their local councils – THANK YOU! You are amazing!
That works in a warehouse – THANK YOU! You are amazing!
Working in hospitality – THANK YOU! You are amazing!
That works in childcare – THANK YOU! You are amazing!
Those that runs their own business – THANK YOU! You are amazing!
To those that have been furloughed – THANK YOU! You are amazing!
And to those who have stayed at home and educated our future – THANK YOU! You are amazing! Seriously amazing!
Be Kind
We are not asking for special treatment or praise, we simply want kindness. We don’t need you to acknowledge our work just be kind about it.
And do not believe everything you read in the media, they are the WORST!
Good post. This is a hard time for all of us. Pls stay safe too.
Thank you and you x
The world is in desperate need of kindness and understanding right now, we’re all in this really difficult situation and we’re all desperate for the pandemic to be over and for POC to have equal rights! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
Amazing post Claire. I don’t blame you for stepping away from Facebook, it’s awful at times. So full of ignorant people. I can’t believe anyone would moan about teachers or people that work in schools? I have nothing but respect for ANY key workers during this time (and all times, really). You all deserve a bloody good rest, some cake and a long soak in the bath! I think we all need to be a bit kinder right now, to everyone and anyone. That’s really the only way we’re going to get through anything xxxx
Thank you so much Jenny. I do need cake, You’re right!! Actually, when we have been in school, lots of people have been bringing in lovely home baked goodies to lift moral! I have been very good and avoided but it is so nice that we have all pulled together.
The generosity of all the staff in school has blown me away.
Like you say, any Key worker deserves so much respect (And a pay rise!) all the time but what they have done over the last few months is phenomenal x
I hadn’t really thought about what teachers were doing over the lockdown, I knew some were doing online classes or working on rotas, but I hadn’t really given the rest of it any thought. Thanks for educating
I’ve also deleted the Facebook app, and spent a lot more time off social media recently. It’s been hurting my mental health. Key workers absolutely deserve a pay rise and respect! Wishing you all the best. xxx
Thank you Emily. I have heard so many people say they are taking a break from social media. It must really be a toxic place for most at the moment x
The world needs to understand that kindness is the greatest virtue. I wasn’t aware about the challenges faced by the school staff until this post. Social media is emotionally draining and time consuming. We should start staying away from our devices occasionally. Great post ❤️
Our teachers were doing a great job during lockdown and also now that the kids are back in school full time since last week. It’s been a mad year and everyone has earned a holiday in my books (including children).
A brilliant post. FB is a real bear pit for ignorance unfortunately. People are only to keen to have a go at schools without knowing anything really. Teachers are an especially easy target due to lazy stereotypes.
I’ve taught myself to scroll past and ignore. You’re right to urge positivity.
Such a great post Claire. I agree we do have to be kinder during these times. During homeschooling I’ve realised how hard it actually is and have a new found respect for teachers. To do what they do they do an amazing job and can’t understand why they are coming under scrutiny.
Thank you Eddie. Home schooling is SO hard!
This is such a great post. I’ve found facebook and social media to be a draining place recently too and have taken so many breaks from it. Key workers have been going above and beyond during this crisis and its heartbreaking when people are making nasty comments online about them.
http://www.thekellydianereport.co.uk
Thank you Kelly. The worst bit is it seems to be coming mainly from other key workers x
We really do need to be kinder during these times. I feel you with deleting Facebook. I have thought about it a lot the past month, it defiantly makes your mental health go downward which is so sad! It’s defiantly nice to take a break from social media! Wonderful post 🙂
Thank you x x
I know how hard teachers and schools have been working. My girlfriend is a teacher and worked most of her holidays and weekends to do work for the students etc. So I know just a little bit of kindness and understanding is so important. This is all time and everyone is doing their best to make it safe.
Thank you Lauren x
I feel that the daily news (fake or not) that I receive on my Facebook is doing me no favors when it comes to stress and being depressed. With all that is going on in my country, I’ve had to use Facebook just for my blog.
Thank you so much for posting this. In general I think just being kind is something that is so important. Everyone is fighting their own battle, whether it is Covid-19 related or not, and we shouldn’t judge others as usually we don’t know the full story of what they are going through
I work in a school. I really don’t think people are aware that we’re all still working behind the scenes, ensuring our students are ok.
I sometimes feel like deleting Facebook too so good on you for going through with it! Honestly some of the posts I see on social media in general make me so sad and I just wish people could take a step back and realise how much effort everyone including teachers etc are putting in to help us out! My little girl went back 1 day a week this week and I was so grateful to the school for finding that time for her, for giving her a little bubble of friends to see and for their time taken to help my daughter and her friends with a little bit of “normal”. Thank you all keyworkers!!
Totally agree, I have the utmost respect for anyone and everyone who have continued to work through the pandemic, saves lives, or made lives easier. I can’t imagine how hard it must be to keep up with the same hours and a higher demand, the strain must be exhausting. I would love to see the government show more appreciation for key workers. Great post!
Anika | chaptersofmay.com
I honestly spend more time on Twitter than Facebook. I find the group of people I’ve connected with on Twitter to be very positive. However, with Facebook, I’ve tried to connect with people I share an interest with. If it turns out that I’ve made a Facebook friend who shares very negative posts, I usually unfollow that person!
One thing I do like about Facebook is being able to see photos of friends and family.
I often feel like deleting facebook. I’m sure it would do my mental health a lot of good. I also have a lot more respect now for teachers than I did before.
What an amazing, thoughtful post. Sending a lot of love your way x
🌿 Marissa Belle × marsybun.com 🌿
Ive got many frustrations over the last few months with people and how they have dealt with everything that’s gone on, Ive tried to distance myself from certain parts of social media, and trying not to be drawn into many things, its been a tough time this year and we can all get through it together if we are positive and don’t let things effect us so muhc.
Social media is so negative and toxic lately. I’ve been spending more time away from it because all I see is people judging others for literally everything they do. I honestly don’t understand that mentality.
Unfortunately, social media platforms are used by many to spread negativity. It’s something that is annoying but unavoidable. The most innocent comment can be twisted. Many avoid posting how they feel about things to avoid any backlash.
The teachers are taking a risk going to school as they have a risk of contracting the virus if they have not already had it.
This is such a great post and something that definitely needed to be shared. I find social media so frustrating as well, it just breeds negativity. I don’t approach it in the same way I used to as I find it so hard to deal with. The kindness message needs to be spread xx
Well said. Twitter, in particular, is a nasty bear-pit at the moment. Personally I have nothing but admiration for teachers and key workers who are struggling to keep our education system going. Generally I find that the harshest critics are the ones who should have paid more attention when they were IN school.
You can never be too amazed by the ignorance of people. I know a few teachers, all are parents of young children. All have been working hard, whether that be in school or at home. You should be receiving praise for what you are all doing.
It’s not been easy for anyone, some of these people want to try having two autistic kids at home 24/7, see how they get on with that 😂 but you won’t hear me complaining. It’s been difficult , but I’ve enjoyed it, Ive never had and I’m never likely to have again so much time to spend with my kids.
The people I’ve seen complaining, and complaining angrily, to me it says a lot about them and their relationship with their kids.
Yes I completely agree. We are all handling this in our own way, but being angry towards others doesn’t seem like a good way of dealing with it at all.
I can’t imagine it has been easy for your two at all and of course you, but like you said most of us haven’t ever had this kind of time with our children, except maybe for maternity/paternity leave x
Whatever gets done about schools is not going to please everyone but people should not be taking it out on staff and should be understanding that they’re doing everything they can and everything they’re being told to do in a conflicted time. Thank you for everything you do x
This is a wonderful post to share. Thank you for this. We could all do with some additional compassion and kindness at the moment. Both giving and receiving it.
LOVE this post! There is still a lack of understanding and kindness, so posts like this help spread a positive message for sure xx
What a perfect post, the pre lockdown message of #bekind was very soon forgotten. Also, teachers are amazing for coping as well as they have at this time x
It is so important to be kind. I have seen so much negativity and such a lack of kindness in recent weeks.
Amazing post! I honestly don’t blame you for deleting Facebook, it’s awful!
Lauren | https://www.laurenyloves.co.uk/
This is such a great post. It’s so important to show kindness and understanding during these difficult times. Thanks for sharing!
Oh Claire. This post made me so sad. I can’t believe people are complaining about teachers who are basically doing what they’ve been told to do! Please know that even though you don’t teach my child, I think you are doing an amazing job in circumstances that we’ve never experienced before. You rock and you are fan-bloody-tastic! Lots of love Lisa xxx
A great post, sounds like you’re doing a great job!
I agree that we must all be kinder and make more of an effort to understand others rather than immediately jumping on a bandwagon. x
Thanks for this. I’m also trying to minimize my exposure on Facebook as it’s becoming too toxic already in there. Stay safe! 🙂
I can’t imagine how hard it is at the moment. I used to be a Primary/SEND supply teacher before I took over the pub. My brother is still a teacher. I can believe the way people complain from experiencing it (hence why preferring supply work), but it just isn’t right. You’re doing an amazing job!
Lots of love, Helen x
https://www.whathelenloves.com/
Thank you so much Helen x
I’ve been taking time off of social media, especially Facebook as there seems so be so much negativity over there. I think teachers are doing an amazing job – I’m a science tech at a secondary school and I can’t even imagine the stress of teaching! X
It is not an easy job for anyone currently, but yes facebook is quite an ugly place at the moment x
This is such a great post. Kindness and understanding is definitely a must right now during these crazy and hard times for sure!
This is such a nice post. People usually neglect the hardwork a teacher puts. But, it’s okay. Don’t worry. This world is full of ignorant people who just speak and don’t do anything.
Cheers.
I had to take some time away from reading news and gossip because it just became too draining. Well done to everyone working hard during these times; and thank you for posting this!
Paige // Paige Eades
Wow, I cannot believe how crazy everything is right now! I don’t blame you for getting rid of Facebook it can be an odd place sometimes.
Amber – https://theunpredictedpage.com
I used to be a teacher and I know how much of hard time teachers get with people thinking they get so many holidays etc. and I am always keen to point out to everyone straight away, that it isn’t actually the case because holiday’s are taken up by planning, marking etc. so the work actually continues.
Being a teacher during these difficult times must also be so difficult and add to the many pressures teachers already face. There will worry and concern for the safety of your school children and also your personal health and well-being and that of your family.
I would like to say a huge thank you for all you do for families by being a teacher and for managing through this difficult time.
Thank you so so much Kathryn x x
Social media is such a toxic place at the moment isn’t it?
It’s as if people have decided that schools have been completely closed off with teachers and staff doing absolutely nothing for the last few months. It’s very ignorant and narrow minded.
I’ve noticed the same about furloughed workers. My husband has recently had his furlough extended to September. It’s hardly a holiday not knowing whether you’ll have a job to go back to. But it seems to be far too easy for some people to pass judgement about things they know very little about – as is the case with teachers, etc.
Thank you for everything that you and everyone else within your profession have been doing recently. It hasn’t gone unnoticed by everyone – even if sometimes it feels like it has.
Hayley | happilyeverhomebody.com
Thank you so much Hayley. I hope it is positive news for your Husband, It must be a very difficult time x
I have stayed off social media for the same reason, I cannot cope with all the negativity. I think most people have been amazing through this and as Brit’s we do love to moan, but it has to stop at some point
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I do think we just need some kindness, I found the opposite with facebook actually. It has been more supportive for me, maybe I’m not in the groups with the drama or the mods are good dealing with idiots. It’s twitter that for me is the issue as everybody seems to think they are in the right opinion not to support a cause that I’m passionate about (Police Horses and the Baden Powell Statue)
Nic | Nic’s Adventures & Bakes
Everyone has suddenly become an expert in every field it feels, Twitter is very bad for it x x
A great post. I used to be a big lover of Facebook but I spend very little time on it. Some of the comments are so draining about everything to do with this Lockdown. People trying to score points off other people’s views. So many negative moaning posts. This is almost like a war and we have to batten down the hatches and get through it. There was no script for this and no manual. Yes people should be more kind.
This has brought out some fabulous community efforts but also some horrible horrible actions.
When you return to school stay safe lovely
Thank you Elaine. It has definitely bought out the worst in some of us x x
Interesting post. Everyone needs to be kind and understanding towards others. So many people commit suicide today and there are chances they wouldn’t have taken their own lives if they had someone to lean on and if someone that was kind, understanding, always willing to help them out and all.. Let’s all try to be as humane, kind and understanding as possible. Also we shouldn’t forget that pretty much every one is broken. Please visit my blog – @https://ruthieslifestyle.blogspot.com
Hi there! Hang on. Take it easy. You’ve done so much work for your community through the schools. Some people always find reasons to bash. Let them be and turn off other social media apps if you must, especially its stressing you down. We are all coping in this pandemic and hopefully this will be over soon. All we need is kindness and understanding at this time. Take care!
Thank you so much. It is hard to distance yourself from the opinion of others at times but its a must x
Needful content. Keep creating content like this! Tons of love for you
Thank you for this informative post! I will struggle to delete Facebook but I honestly hope one day I can!
Such a lovely post! I’ve definitely tried to step away from social media during this time to give myself a break from everything that’s on there!
Tash – https://www.agirlwithview.co.uk
There has been so much negativity on social media and in the press but one good thing to come out of all of this is the community spirit in our village.
It’s been lovely to see people pull together and help each other, we all need to be a little kinder to each other 🙂
I agree, I love the community spirit and how we’ve all stuck together on the whole x
I don’t teach anymore but I can absolutely sympathise. Teachers and TAs always get flack for having a 6 week holiday in summer. Those who don’t teach have no idea how hard teachers continue to work during the break. During Lockdown, teachers have had a to work doubly hard to look after the keyworker children and provide online work too. They definitely need a rest to recharge their batteries for September.
Having taken a SAHM career break I can only say it’s almost a relief I wasn’t in a school during this period. For I know how bloody hard ex colleagues have worked. As ever, above and beyond. Because it’s not just a career. It’s a vocation. I salute and applaud you because you damn well deserve it. Xxx
This is so beautifully written and such an important message too! Social media is such a volatile place at the moment, full of judgement and a focus on negativity, but hopefully it will one day become a more positive place again. X
I’m not a teacher, but I have friends who are, and the amount of teacher bashing I have seen online during lockdown has been astonishing. It’s like people have no idea what teachers actually do – people just think they have loads of holidays and get to clock off early. I had to leave quite a few FB groups I was on because it was getting a bit ridiculous.
Beautiful post, it’s so important to just be kind, and also it doesn’t take much to be kind.
Thank you for everything you are doing. Sorry that you are having to put up with such negativity from people who don’t understand situations fully. Facebook is horrible and people can be horrible. I don’t use Facebook but do feel I’m missing out on the good stuff. If everyone tried being a little kinder this situation wouldn’t seem half as bad. Everyone is fighting a battle. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much for your kind words. It has been a difficult time that has bought out the best and worst in people, As you say if more people were a little kinder it would be much easier x x
This post really resonates with me today. People do need to be more kind and it’s so hard to keep your head up when things like this happen. I only ever use FB now to look at stuff, I never upload or contribute anything as I find it quite a negative space!
Rosie
This is such an amazing and thoughtful post, thanks for sharing! I’m so grateful for all our key workers, especially for how they’ve dealt with the pandemic. Stay safe xx
http://www.dellalovesnutella.co.uk/