Sir Gavin Williamson accused teachers of looking for an 'excuse' not to work during pandemic, Matt Hancock's leaked messages suggest.

During the first year of the pandemic, children and teachers endured a rollercoaster of reopenings and closures, as the country tried to strike a balance between containing the virus and resuming normal life.

Williamson accused teachers of looking for an 'excuse' not to work during Covid, according to leaked messages from Hancock published by The Daily Telegraph.

Read Hitchin Nub News' Secret Teacher on their take on Williamson's messages...

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"All of them… will just want… an excuse to avoid having to teach, what joys!!!" 

"During the pandemic, teachers went above and beyond during very challenging times and very much continue to do so." 

It would be easy to think these two quotes come from two different politicians. Of course, as we have found out this week due to 'WhatsApp-gate', they are the views of former Education Secretary, Sir Gavin Williamson.  

Conversations now published also include this exchange between Matt Hancock and Williamson:  

"What a bunch of absolute arses the teaching unions are" 

"I know they really do just hate work" 

The repost to Hancock's insult by Williamson about 'hating work' has since been defended by stating that he was referring to the unions themselves, although he would do well in remembering that the unions are made up of serving teachers and so by default, his defence fails. He really does believe teachers are 'lazy arses who hate work'.  

My reaction? It would be easy to get angry and to rant and scream at the reports but it would be pointless.

Teaching is already hard enough with budgetary pressures and demands reaching far beyond the classroom without getting worked up over ignorant and unfounded accusations.  

Instead, I will just commit these thoughts and observations by members of our current government party to memory so that when I do have an opportunity to affect change in the coming months, I know where my 'X' will not go.  

These latest revelations add to the general consensus amongst the teaching profession that education is not valued in political circles as much as it needs to be (if at all).

As we come to the end of a second week of industrial action on the part of one of the teaching unions, there has been no real progress to negotiate a settlement. For me, the current dispute is more than just about pay.

For me, the real issue is the significant underfunding, over many years, across education. The increase in expectation, the increase in workload, the increase in what it is teachers are having to do, without the significant investment needed.  

Williamson wrote to teachers towards the end of the pandemic stating, 'I do hope you can take stock of your achievements and allow yourself a moment to feel a sense of pride.'  

It is clear today that none of this was said with any sincerity. I mean, we all 'hate work'. But do you know what? I do take stock of everything my colleagues and I achieve each and every day, doing a job I really enjoy and I really love.  

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