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This govt has inherited Gove’s presumption that teachers = enemy. Most teachers aren’t Conservatives. But govt translate that as enemies of education. Which means they tell, rather than ask; presume, not find out; work w cronies, rather than more representative figures. [THREAD]
At no point in this crisis has there been a sincere effort by government either to understand or publicly explain the complexities and constraints that radically inhibit what schools can offer, in normal times and especially now...
...because they presume the worst of motives, don’t respect teachers as professionals, have virtually no individual or collective experience of leading complex organisations, are remote and immune from the struggles of our most disadvantaged families.
This govt failure publicly to support schools and explain our challenges fuels a narrative of scepticism by too many branches of the media, amongst journalists who sometimes reserve a unique level of spite for schools.
But govt has to maintain the narrative that schools are the barrier, partly because they believe it, and partly because to do otherwise would expose systemic underfunding and incoherent policy making, in education and beyond.
Combine this contempt for the profession w arrogance and a tendency to care little about detail or how to actually implement & you end up with policy by decree - make X happen - without any consultation as to whether X is the right thing to do or whether it is actually possible.
And then, it is all too easy to imply we are failing, to reinforce the ‘blockers’ narrative. Throw in the odd invalid comparison w substaially better funded private education operating in radically different social contexts and the circle of blame is complete.
And amidst this swirling maelstrom of bad policy and criticism, schools are working flat out to solve problems, to repeatedly reinvent themselves, to improve our offer. Because despite all of this, schools remain massively self-critical, constantly striving for new solutions...
...to what are often at their heart cultural attitudes and socio-economic problems not of our making. We don’t need thanks, just acknowledgement, respect & govt & public understanding, & to be asked, w sincerity, “what do you need?” not told to do the impossible in the wrong way.
Exhibit 300,034 974,000: https://www.tes.com/news/coronavirus-teachers-accused-blocking-school-openings">https://www.tes.com/news/coro...
