Max Power

Hardly baseless, and a well respected long term teacher, not given to rumours. Anyway, I'm through with the socialist PS clan for tonight, I'm off to bed!

Not working then, is it, or maybe it has and that's why we are short of so many teachers?

He's right, I can't provide evidence as I'm not in the teaching profession, but if you apply that to everything that's discussed on a forum then it would be empty. The idea is to discuss it! Neither of you seem to be able to provide any facts either, and yet you are willing to pontificate on the matter as if you can.

Like many threads on here, it was just a conversation starter really, based on what I was told by someone in the profession. If you want to play that game, we may as well close MF down.

Most employers have a procedure in place to deal with attendance issues, it doesn't mean that they are effective at all times and all cases. Particularly where there are already staff shortages.

That, is the point of the thread. I was told that this was the case, I reported it to my MF colleagues, who seem unwilling to believe that this might be the case. Must be a reason?

You lot started it!

Regular attendance and doing the job you are paid to do, therefore less use of supply teachers.

Is work a disease these days?

Nothing wrong, until you are permanently using supply teachers and teaching assistants to cover for long and short term absences, and paying those absent to boot!

Who, you?

It wasn't the pub actually, but it's an analogy often used here.

No you wouldn't, if you are fully staffed, you only pay for the full time staff. Absentees being covered by supply teachers doubles the bill.

Well, it wouldn't be so bad if it were the odd one here and there I guess, but I'm told it isn't.

Also paying for the absent full time teacher and the shortage of both.

I think it touched a raw nerve amongst the PS Mafia?

Okay, point taken, let them get on with it then.

Okay, point taken, let them get on with it then.

Anecdotal, I never suggested otherwise, but it comes from someone who would know, not me.

That is what happens when there's poor discipline, I thought you'd know that. I didn't say 'me' by the way! So that makes it right, okay then.

Is the head of department or the headmaster not a teacher? It certainly causes problems for them. Nice to just do your job and go home and not have to worry about it!

Thank you sir, or Ma'am, I'll report for a damn good thrashing first thing Monday morning!

It is when it's endemic though, leading to problems for other teachers?

Well that explains why you don't understand the problem then.

I'm not making things up, I'm not a teacher and you obviously know how it works. What you say sounds correct according to my friend, and I obviously got the wrong end of the stick. He told me that many lessons do not have a teacher, I assumed these are covered by another teacher, but as you say it's obviously someone who just sits in the classroom? My friend has told me that he is covering several island schools as a supply teacher, the wages are too lucrative to turn down. Add this to the wages of the absent teachers, it's not inconsiderable. Since you know more than I do, as I'm only passing on pub talk, perhaps you could investigate and report back?