Dear Nicky Morgan,
Let me start by saying that when you became Education Minister I had high hopes for you. You said you would reduce the work load and let teachers do what they do best, grow the minds of the future generations! In the last year my work load has tripled, at least! I work from 7:30 in the morning until at least 9:00 at night. Don't get me wrong I will always do it, because I truly care about the children in my class but I am exhausted. I don't just mean a little bit tired, need a week off, I mean I am so exhausted I am on the verge of leaving the profession I love.
I have just attended a year 2 grammar course, all about the new assessment you have put in place. I can only think of one word to describe this new test: evil. I sat in a room full of teachers, a room full of degrees and we struggled to answer some of the questions. I would like to know how you can justify putting 6 and 7 year olds through what I can only describe as mental torment. In my class I have had tears, tantrums and pleads for help over these tests you deem appropriate. At any point did you think to consult the teachers that would have to teach it? Or the children who have to learn it? It is beyond reproach.
There are few things in life that make me say this is beyond a joke but your new curriculum makes me do just that. Where is the love of learning? Where is the love of writing? Forcing a child to find a verb, adverb, adjective or noun in a sentence will not produce a generation of authors. It will produce a generation of children who are great at taking a test, and that is all. I for one do not want to live in that generation, I want to teach a generation of poets, authors, artists, people who love life and love learning. You and your advisors have destroyed that.
As a teacher I can not change what you have done, I can only vote with my feet. I am disallusioned with my government, the people who are meant to support me in my job and help my future children. As a result of your changes, of your decisions, of your curriculum I know more teachers thinking about leaving the job than ever before. I wish you luck in finding a new generation of teachers who believe in your guidance, because I surely do not.
Yours sincerely
A formerly proud, now disallusioned teacher
