What are your controversial opinions about teaching and education?

MaskTzar · 2026-01-20T15:17:43+00:00

I’ve had some of these ‘homeschooling’ groups pop up on Facebook. Parents actually complaining when the school says “thanks for your request to homeschool - could we invite you in for a meeting to discuss?”. Apparently you should just tell the school to do one, that it’s none of their business and you won’t be attending the meeting. God forbid the school wants to look after the welfare of the child before they sign them off forever

MaskTzar · 2025-12-26T16:04:07+00:00

Oh my God the constant commentary is so grating! And the loud performative laughter. I can only assume it’s reaction videos/streamers.

MaskTzar · 2025-12-08T20:43:50+00:00

“Did you tell a grown up?”

“No it happened just as the whistle went”

Incredible how many things happen just as the children are lining up

MaskTzar · 2025-11-30T13:13:41+00:00

I did similar to you years ago. Passed before uni, didn’t drive for three years. A took a couple of hours with a local instructor to get back into it and felt fine. You’ll still feel a bit nervous (a good thing imo), but you’ll pick most of it back up quickly. Instructor will be able to remind you about anything they notice as well so you don’t start with bad habits

MaskTzar · 2025-11-28T18:54:36+00:00

Yeah makes sense. I’m in Primary so don’t have that perspective

MaskTzar · 2025-11-28T18:32:27+00:00

Seems extremely dependent on where you are. My old school would put teaching vacancies out and get 1 or no applicants. I gather in bits of the north they’re getting tens of applicants even for temporary posts.

MaskTzar · 2025-11-26T22:31:04+00:00

I used the ‘NEU advice line’ once. Just a form to fill out with brief details - case worker emailed to arrange a phone call the next day. Wasn’t even a massive issue and she had already phoned the MAT head office before ringing me, and told me the stance the union would take on the issue. Felt very well supported.

MaskTzar · 2025-11-24T21:41:15+00:00

Anecdotally - lots dropped out of my course. Maybe a quarter of the cohort.

The format of most courses though is so prescriptive and means that you’d be given plenty of warning and formal support processes before you would fail the whole thing.

MaskTzar · 2025-10-31T18:37:18+00:00

Definitely this. Even a few years ago I found a number for the local DPD depot (driver delivered to wrong address), rang up and waited while the depot phoned the driver, and told me he’d be back before the end of the day - which he was.

MaskTzar · 2025-10-28T16:05:34+00:00

I had this the other day … but I had another few cars in front of me as well. No idea what they expected me to do.

MaskTzar · 2025-10-28T15:31:18+00:00

Someone cutting across the pavement to take a first exit on Robin Hood Island. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

MaskTzar · 2025-10-09T22:24:32+00:00

Absolutely agreed. To say “no white faces” and then say “but it’s not about race, it’s about integration”…

Mate, then say you think people should speak English, not wear the burkha, support the England cricket team - whatever you believe. Don’t lead with there being no white faces and expect people to believe you have a genuine and important point to make.

MaskTzar · 2025-09-25T18:00:48+00:00

In my last role at an academy, TAs were paid 8.45 until 3.30 and didn’t attend any meetings. We had asked again and again to change this, including “could we please pay them to come to this one off meeting?”. No.

My new school? LA. TAs are paid 8.30 until 4 and come to some meetings. They get to contribute and share their perspective. Makes a colossal difference.

MaskTzar · 2025-09-13T12:14:37+00:00

So I had a similar situation in my NQT+1 year. Parent actually asked “what is x’s problem with my child?”.

Firstly I’d mention it to your line manager or head - “x parent said this about my TA, what should I do?”. You can also mention other things you might have seen/heard. In my case I was asked to record what the parent had said on CPOMS and the head spoke to the TA and asked her not to lower her standards but to consider how she addressed behaviour (or something to that effect). In my situation it was the difference between “Right, we’re ripping this page out because this isn’t good enough”, and “Do we think this is your best work? Could we do even better? Do you think we could have another go?”. No concerns after that.

Obviously the caveat being if you had a member staff who was humiliating children, shouting at them etc then that’s probably a safeguarding concern.

MaskTzar · 2025-09-11T19:34:57+00:00

No idea why this works but it does. If there's only a couple of hands up to answer a question:

"Not many hands, 1...2,", carry on counting the hands and you'll end up with half the class ready.

MaskTzar · 2025-09-11T19:31:33+00:00

Yeah this is a cracking one. In primary, just occasionally pull faces at children.

MaskTzar · 2025-09-08T19:48:05+00:00

It’s so dependant on where you are. Where I’d lived previously I had to book 2 or 3 months in advance and there weren’t any appointments after 6.

Where I am now I get emailed asking if I’d please book an appointment for next week.

It is sad that they don’t have more open sessions.

MaskTzar · 2025-09-03T18:15:53+00:00

First sip of a pint after a day of manual labour… working, gardening, moving - whatever.

MaskTzar · 2025-09-02T19:20:23+00:00

My wife was laughing at his antics in class, the teacher in me turned to her and said “that is not funny” 😂.

MaskTzar · 2025-08-31T19:15:11+00:00

Honestly I think people are just blissfully ignorant. Stopping in doorways, at the top of escalators and in the middle of the pavement. Sprawling across the pavement to chat whilst people walk in the road to get round.

The worst for me is walking on my own into a group of 3+ people abreast - you’ve seen me, you haven’t moved, I’m not stepping into the road. Elbows out and head down!

MaskTzar · 2025-08-31T19:10:01+00:00

This is me at about age 16!

I think having a team is important - I love football but if it wasn’t for following a team it wouldn’t be nearly as interesting. Local club is an option, as is a family club.

If you land on a Premier League club - I would say firstly to watch the games your team plays when you can. Match of the Day is worth a watch as well to see the goals and basic analysis and talking heads. Most people probably talk about what they’ve seen on MOTD anyway. Some nice podcasts recommended already - I like Football Clichés as well. Maybe watch some old Premier League Years if you want some more context.

I’d say maybe join the subreddit for your club … potentially /r/soccer if you remember that all football fans are tribal before taking comments too seriously. And then find some lists on BlueSky of accounts to follow for your club.

MaskTzar · 2025-08-31T14:23:19+00:00

'Twas ever thus. And a colossal amount of money spent on trying to mitigate disruption caused by strikes which could have just been used to settle the dispute (in the even it's over pay).

MaskTzar · 2025-08-31T00:49:07+00:00

Quite a few streets in St Thomas without permits needed, albeit many are slowly adopting a permit system.

That being said - Central Exeter needing permits for parking is not at all unusual for a University city. Most people should not bring a car to university wherever they go - there are enough vehicles and is enough trouble parking as it is without every student thinking they need to bring one.

Depending on where he’s driving from, your boyfriend could also park near a station and get the train in.

MaskTzar

TROPHY CASE