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So here we are, the 8th of December a paltry 4 months into the year and the announcement is made that all exams are to be cancelled in Scottish schools this year.
Is this the correct decision? Absolutely.
As we are constantly told we are living through unprecedented times...
Is this the correct decision? Absolutely.
As we are constantly told we are living through unprecedented times...
COVID-19 has changed the world in ways few of us would ever have seen coming and life as we know it, for good or ill, may never be life as we know it again.
So with this said it is unexpected that education would be different this year. We knew in June (perhaps earlier)..
So with this said it is unexpected that education would be different this year. We knew in June (perhaps earlier)..
that there would be at least one more wave of COVID-19 and we knew that we would have staff and students in schools across Scotland out of school either unwell or isolating due to close contact.
So with all of this knowledge what was our plan? What did our leaders in Holyrood..
So with all of this knowledge what was our plan? What did our leaders in Holyrood..
tell us to do?
Nothing.
Sorry, that's not entirely accurate we were in fact told to open the windows.
That aside nothing, it was months until National 5 exams were cancelled, even then that was done with hesitancy but at least there was some semblance of time to react...
Nothing.
Sorry, that's not entirely accurate we were in fact told to open the windows.
That aside nothing, it was months until National 5 exams were cancelled, even then that was done with hesitancy but at least there was some semblance of time to react...
now 4 months in the remainder of the exams are cancelled, time to react this time is distinctly lacking.
However, we are living in unprecedented times, as such surely our national leadership should be given a degree of slack, we are after all forging a path through the unknown.
However, we are living in unprecedented times, as such surely our national leadership should be given a degree of slack, we are after all forging a path through the unknown.
Except as I've said we aren't entirely in the unknown, we knew there would be disruption on an unimaginable scale and the Govt. had the majority of teachers across the country telling them 'this won't work'.
Exams this year could never be completed in an equitable manner...
Exams this year could never be completed in an equitable manner...
there were always going to be significant numbers of students who missed huge volumes of work through their own absence or the absence of their teachers.
The govt. was told this time and again and rather than listen to a group of professionals, trained in education they..
The govt. was told this time and again and rather than listen to a group of professionals, trained in education they..
dithered, delayed and worst of all allowed themselves to be swayed by groups like 'UsForThem' who's only claim to understand anything about education is that at one point they, apparently, went to school.
So, here we are, teachers across the country have just seen a huge...
So, here we are, teachers across the country have just seen a huge...
increase in their workload with 8 days (for this teacher at least) until Christmas.
There seems to be little in the way of recognition of this fact so far, that may turn out to change in the coming days, but I won't be holding my breath.
There seems to be little in the way of recognition of this fact so far, that may turn out to change in the coming days, but I won't be holding my breath.
2020 it appears was destined to be a tough year, however, there have been chances for to step up to the challenges we face and be judged for our efforts.
Nicola Sturgeon has always said she wants us to judge her on her record in education, and sadly for this teacher I am.
Nicola Sturgeon has always said she wants us to judge her on her record in education, and sadly for this teacher I am.
