Dear @Ofstednews
*Re: Teachers have passed the test the Government have failed*
My letter in response to @GavinWilliamson's request for parents to complain about online provision of learning during global pandemic. It might appeal to parents & #EduTwitter alike. THREAD⬇️

I would like to echo the recent recommendation of my MP, who I understand has education as one of their priorities.
They lead with religious and political faith, and I'd like you to lend from their methods of applying faith over fact, if you could.
You see, I have faith in schools communicating clearly, consistently and safely as the facts have demonstrated they can. Unlike the cabinet. https://t.co/3uctLcmFoe
Schools have acknowledged the fear and confusion communities have suffered when this government has failed to deliver clear and consistent messages that lend to 'common sense'. https://t.co/LQVObae3Zm
This, despite the fact their 'common sense' pleas for the contradicting that of their own dangerous behaviour. https://t.co/jz9cxkO2sP
I have faith that my children are well cared for, as provision from schools for the most vulnerable and keyworker children has never stopped and learning from home has provided child-focused, innovative, personal and professional support.
This, despite the fact that the 'Christian' leader of the House criticises international support for deprived families.
https://t.co/7ATgFHAsmr
I have faith that the schools are prioritising wider community needs, as the facts of the new variant come into focus.
This, despite the fact that school leaders acting as 'Captains of their own ship' in areas of rapid infection were threatened with legal action for wanting to protect @nhsmillion & community by this government. https://t.co/ez0dd2DJz7
I have faith that schools are leaning on facts to inform their safety critical decision making.
This, despite repeated cabinet lies stating that 'schools are safe', when the scientific evidence (here, dated 8th December) shows them, repeatedly, this is untrue. https://t.co/RAafVfSd6t
I have faith that schools, with the support of healthcare professionals in the field (my brother, leading a covid unit, included) are resiliently maintaining professional standards.
When the facts are this government has repeatedly rejected the bedrock of political life, the Nolan principles. https://t.co/c61oooFWMx
I have every faith that schools are communicating effectively, using all channels available to them to safely explain policy decisions & reassure communities when this government has failed to deliver the same with economic, legal and fatal consequences.
https://t.co/B39SWLiynD
I have every faith that the school will work efficiently and economically in the best interests of those they serve, with the limited provision granted them by this government.
This, despite the fact that test and trace is *still* not working, with cronyism and abuse of public funds well documented here. @sophie_e_hill 🙏🏼
https://t.co/r2c3Hkf8cR
I have every faith that the over-promised and over-promoted laptops, lining donor's pockets in the process, will reach families who need them... once the negotiated contact has been delivered to schools. 🤦🏼‍♀️https://t.co/WjogzEuwGS
Most importantly, I have every faith that without fear nor favour, the educators of this country will continue to give our children & future talent pipeline of this country the skills, knowledge & experiences they need to critically assess individual & collective problems.
Government attempts to limit the curriculum, critical thinking & 'flattening the grass' will fail & this government will be held to account.
https://t.co/dimY4KQDT9
I take solace that the fact the government's 'world-beating' failings are being delivered by a cabinet where two-thirds were privately educated provides adequate illustration of how *not* to teach.
In conclusion, if we look at the facts, schools and their leaders have done an exemplary job of managing this pandemic, despite the fact that the government has failed the same test.
Schools have responded quickly, honestly, consistently and with integrity in contrast to the delays, lies, hypocrisy and failings of this government. (Credit @alexwickham for timeline)
And I have every faith that school leaders will continue to act in the best interests of pupils, parents, staff, suppliers and communities, despite the fact that this government can't or won't. https://t.co/HJZQ6arGMa
Many thanks again to the school leaders, staff & suppliers for their over politicised and under-valued role in managing this pandemic and, as this government fails, Britain's future. Yours sincerely, Parent of 2.
@threadreaderapp unroll

More from Education

** Schools have been getting ready for this: a thread **

In many ways, I don't blame folks who tweet things like this. The media coverage of the schools situation in Covid-19 rarely talks about the quiet, day-in-day-out work that schools have been doing these past 9 months. 1/


Instead, the coverage focused on the dramatic, last minute policy announcements by the government, or of dramatic stories of school closures, often accompanied by photos of socially distanced classrooms that those of us in schools this past term know are from a fantasy land. 2/


If that's all you see & hear, it's no wonder that you may not know what has actually been happening in schools to meet the challenges. So, if you'd like a glimpse behind the curtain, then read on. For this is something of what teachers & schools leaders have been up to. 3/

It started last March with trying to meet the challenges of lockdown, being thrown into the deep end, with only a few days' notice, to try to learn to teach remotely during the first lockdown. 4/

https://t.co/S39EWuap3b


I wrote a policy document for our staff the weekend before our training as we anticipated what was to come, a document I shared freely & widely as the education community across the land started to reach out to one another for ideas and support. 5/
https://t.co/m1QsxlPaV4
When the university starts sending out teaching evaluation reminders, I tell all my classes about bias in teaching evals, with links to the evidence. Here's a version of the email I send, in case anyone else wants to poach from it.

1/16


When I say "anyone": needless to say, the people who are benefitting from the bias (like me) are the ones who should helping to correct it. Men in math, this is your job! Of course, it should also be dealt with at the institutional level, not just ad hoc.
OK, on to my email:
2/16

"You may have received automated reminders about course evals this fall. I encourage you to fill the evals out. I'd be particularly grateful for written feedback about what worked for you in the class, what was difficult, & how you ultimately spent your time for this class.

3/16

However, I don't feel comfortable just sending you an email saying: "please take the time to evaluate me". I do think student evaluations of teachers can be valuable: I have made changes to my teaching style as a direct result of comments from student teaching evaluations.
4/16

But teaching evaluations have a weakness: they are not an unbiased estimator of teaching quality. There is strong evidence that teaching evals tend to favour men over women, and that teaching evals tend to favour white instructors over non-white instructors.
5/16

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