FabSwingers.com forum: Schools to remain open

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

I found the 1st thread that's full now very interesting. Especially hearing from members who are teachers.

A lot of people played down the role of schools for infections in the first thread yet this is the news today -

ONS figures show infection rates in secondary schools are 50 times higher than they were in September

Source

https://www.google.com/amp/s/news.sky.com/story/amp/coronavirus-teaching-union-calls-for-schools-to-be-closed-as-part-of-england-lockdown-12120428

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By *oncupiscence73Woman
over a year ago

South

I found the 1st thread that's full now very interesting. Especially hearing from members who are teachers.

A lot of people played down the role of schools for infections in the first thread yet this is the news today -

ONS figures show infection rates in secondary schools are 50 times higher than they were in September

Source

https://www.google.com/amp/s/news.sky.com/story/amp/coronavirus-teaching-union-calls-for-schools-to-be-closed-as-part-of-england-lockdown-12120428

KJ"

Lockdown is pointless with schools open.

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By *ionelhutzMan
over a year ago

liverpool

I found the 1st thread that's full now very interesting. Especially hearing from members who are teachers.

A lot of people played down the role of schools for infections in the first thread yet this is the news today -

ONS figures show infection rates in secondary schools are 50 times higher than they were in September

Source

https://www.google.com/amp/s/news.sky.com/story/amp/coronavirus-teaching-union-calls-for-schools-to-be-closed-as-part-of-england-lockdown-12120428

Lockdown is pointless with schools open. "

And universities.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I found the 1st thread that's full now very interesting. Especially hearing from members who are teachers.

A lot of people played down the role of schools for infections in the first thread yet this is the news today -

ONS figures show infection rates in secondary schools are 50 times higher than they were in September

Source

https://www.google.com/amp/s/news.sky.com/story/amp/coronavirus-teaching-union-calls-for-schools-to-be-closed-as-part-of-england-lockdown-12120428

Lockdown is pointless with schools open. "

I agree

Far too many teachers...dinner nannies and kids at risk.

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By *oncupiscence73Woman
over a year ago

South

I found the 1st thread that's full now very interesting. Especially hearing from members who are teachers.

A lot of people played down the role of schools for infections in the first thread yet this is the news today -

ONS figures show infection rates in secondary schools are 50 times higher than they were in September

Source

https://www.google.com/amp/s/news.sky.com/story/amp/coronavirus-teaching-union-calls-for-schools-to-be-closed-as-part-of-england-lockdown-12120428

Lockdown is pointless with schools open.

And universities. "

Depends on the set up I know friends kids who are doing all their learning online and have bubbles of 6, weekly tests and strict guidelines that are monitored.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Good job the NHS/shop workers /key workers ect don't moan as mush as teachers do they have been in the thick of it from the start on alot less pay

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Good job the NHS/shop workers /key workers ect don't moan as mush as teachers do they have been in the thick of it from the start on alot less pay"

A lot less pay then a dinner lady?

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By *irginieWoman
over a year ago

Near Marlborough

I understand why keeping them open is important. But my layman opinion is locking down with schools open kinda defeats the purpose.

But, as always, I’ll do my best to do the right thing.

V x

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By *allySlinkyWoman
over a year ago

Leeds

Depends on the set up I know friends kids who are doing all their learning online and have bubbles of 6, weekly tests and strict guidelines that are monitored. "

Where do the bubbles of six meet to do their online learning ?

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By *oncupiscence73Woman
over a year ago

South

"Good job the NHS/shop workers /key workers ect don't moan as mush as teachers do they have been in the thick of it from the start on alot less pay"

Masks, social distancing, plastic screens different jobs.

Last time I went into Tescos assistants didn’t have 30 leaky five year olds all over them. Shop workers have screens and masks and are able to socially dosntance. Also do you know how much teachers get paid? I pay my cleaner more per hour than I earn.

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By *oncupiscence73Woman
over a year ago

South

Depends on the set up I know friends kids who are doing all their learning online and have bubbles of 6, weekly tests and strict guidelines that are monitored.

Where do the bubbles of six meet to do their online learning ? "

They live together so they learn in their rooms and have communal areas with their bubbles.

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By *ersnickety PantsWoman
over a year ago

Club Meets Only

"Good job the NHS/shop workers /key workers ect don't moan as mush as teachers do they have been in the thick of it from the start on alot less pay

A lot less pay then a dinner lady?"

I can't imagine a dinner lady gets a huge wage packet for probably less than part time hours

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Good job the NHS/shop workers /key workers ect don't moan as mush as teachers do they have been in the thick of it from the start on alot less pay

Masks, social distancing, plastic screens different jobs.

Blimey your own cleaner!! we all wish we had one of them worked in schools and seen faxes what pay grades some are on

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

I found the 1st thread that's full now very interesting. Especially hearing from members who are teachers.

A lot of people played down the role of schools for infections in the first thread yet this is the news today -

ONS figures show infection rates in secondary schools are 50 times higher than they were in September

Source

https://www.google.com/amp/s/news.sky.com/story/amp/coronavirus-teaching-union-calls-for-schools-to-be-closed-as-part-of-england-lockdown-12120428

Lockdown is pointless with schools open.

And universities. "

I have to agree all the data is showing schools, colleges and universities are the hot bed of transmission.

OCN data shows 1% of primary school children have covid and 2% of secondary school children that's a small percentage but a huge number children.

My prediction - Come Dec 2nd infections still won't be anywhere near low enough and the government will be forced to shut schools, colleges and universities until the new year.

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By *allySlinkyWoman
over a year ago

Leeds

They live together so they learn in their rooms and have communal areas with their bubbles. "

So it is a boarding school ? I don't see how state schools could implement this level of safety.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

What I don’t like are the teachers and school staff being criticised for wanting the schools to close.

It must be extremely difficult to not only look after the children but to make sure the kids are abiding by the 2m rule.

Their safety is just as important as the kids they teach.

They deserve a bit more credit because I’m sure it’s not easy.

In the northwest alone the infection rates shoot through the roof.

If a kids catches CoViD and passes it to others kids at school, then the school gets blamed.

Outside of school kids maybe going into different households, parents could be allowing symptomatic people into their family homes and passing over the symptoms to their families.

As a result the kids becomes symptomatic and comes into school.

My question is whether ALL schools have been provided with the appropriate safety equipment like PPE, sufficient cleaning products etc .

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By *ionelhutzMan
over a year ago

liverpool

I found the 1st thread that's full now very interesting. Especially hearing from members who are teachers.

A lot of people played down the role of schools for infections in the first thread yet this is the news today -

ONS figures show infection rates in secondary schools are 50 times higher than they were in September

Source

https://www.google.com/amp/s/news.sky.com/story/amp/coronavirus-teaching-union-calls-for-schools-to-be-closed-as-part-of-england-lockdown-12120428

Lockdown is pointless with schools open.

And universities.

Depends on the set up I know friends kids who are doing all their learning online and have bubbles of 6, weekly tests and strict guidelines that are monitored. "

It's more the social side though isnt it?

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By *allySlinkyWoman
over a year ago

Leeds

My question is whether ALL schools have been provided with the appropriate safety equipment like PPE, sufficient cleaning products etc .

They have to fund it from their own budgets. My local high school had to lose a classroom assistant to afford all the hand sanitizer dispensers

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By *oncupiscence73Woman
over a year ago

South

"Good job the NHS/shop workers /key workers ect don't moan as mush as teachers do they have been in the thick of it from the start on alot less pay

Masks, social distancing, plastic screens different jobs.

Blimey your own cleaner!! we all wish we had one of them worked in schools and seen faxes what pay grades some are on"

Yep I don’t drink or smoke or go to pubs ... a cleaner is my luxury. SLT maybe but teachers with less experience are underpaid for the work they do.

Faxes?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

My question is whether ALL schools have been provided with the appropriate safety equipment like PPE, sufficient cleaning products etc .

They have to fund it from their own budgets. My local high school had to lose a classroom assistant to afford all the hand sanitizer dispensers"

Seriously? That’s horrible.

It’s probably easy for me to say yes as I don’t have any kids. But I think it’s important for people to look how the teachers feel about it too, because the ones who want the schools to close are being called lazy.

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By *oncupiscence73Woman
over a year ago

South

They live together so they learn in their rooms and have communal areas with their bubbles.

So it is a boarding school ? I don't see how state schools could implement this level of safety. "

University not school

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By *oncupiscence73Woman
over a year ago

South

My question is whether ALL schools have been provided with the appropriate safety equipment like PPE, sufficient cleaning products etc .

They have to fund it from their own budgets. My local high school had to lose a classroom assistant to afford all the hand sanitizer dispensers

Seriously? That’s horrible.

Teachers have to fund more than sanitiser, food for the kids that are hungry, glue sticks as there is no budget, PE kits that parents don’t/ can’t provide, paying for school meals if they’re hungry, pencils as there is no budget ... the list goes on. BUT we are lazy b*stards who get too many holidays (which are unpaid btw) and can’t be arsed to work.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Good job the NHS/shop workers /key workers ect don't moan as mush as teachers do they have been in the thick of it from the start on alot less pay

A lot less pay then a dinner lady?

I can't imagine a dinner lady gets a huge wage packet for probably less than part time hours"

Exactly a lot of these are people nearing retirement age...so are greatly at risk. But no one seems bothered about them.

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By *oncupiscence73Woman
over a year ago

South

I found the 1st thread that's full now very interesting. Especially hearing from members who are teachers.

A lot of people played down the role of schools for infections in the first thread yet this is the news today -

ONS figures show infection rates in secondary schools are 50 times higher than they were in September

Source

https://www.google.com/amp/s/news.sky.com/story/amp/coronavirus-teaching-union-calls-for-schools-to-be-closed-as-part-of-england-lockdown-12120428

Lockdown is pointless with schools open.

And universities.

Depends on the set up I know friends kids who are doing all their learning online and have bubbles of 6, weekly tests and strict guidelines that are monitored.

It's more the social side though isnt it?"

This particular uni has staff monitoring halls and only allowing bubbles to mix.

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By *oncupiscence73Woman
over a year ago

South

"Good job the NHS/shop workers /key workers ect don't moan as mush as teachers do they have been in the thick of it from the start on alot less pay

A lot less pay then a dinner lady?

I can't imagine a dinner lady gets a huge wage packet for probably less than part time hours

Exactly a lot of these are people nearing retirement age...so are greatly at risk. But no one seems bothered about them."

Collateral damage - many of my colleagues are literally resigning themselves to becoming very ill or worse from this before 2020 is out. Makes it all the worse as some people’s attitude to the profession is disgusting

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By *ionelhutzMan
over a year ago

liverpool

I found the 1st thread that's full now very interesting. Especially hearing from members who are teachers.

A lot of people played down the role of schools for infections in the first thread yet this is the news today -

ONS figures show infection rates in secondary schools are 50 times higher than they were in September

Source

https://www.google.com/amp/s/news.sky.com/story/amp/coronavirus-teaching-union-calls-for-schools-to-be-closed-as-part-of-england-lockdown-12120428

Lockdown is pointless with schools open.

And universities.

Depends on the set up I know friends kids who are doing all their learning online and have bubbles of 6, weekly tests and strict guidelines that are monitored.

It's more the social side though isnt it?

This particular uni has staff monitoring halls and only allowing bubbles to mix. "

It surely cant be a coincidence that the figures shot up when universities returned?

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By *urves and MischiefWoman
over a year ago

Northerner

Teachers want to be in school teaching the kids ... they want that more than anything BUT they are in an environment where social distancing simply does not happen, especially in primary schools. Children, younger and older, simply cannot do it.

The teaching staff have no protection other than sanitising their hands and trying to keep contact as minimal as possible (masks in high schools/unis). To suggest they have “not been in the thick of it” is an insult to teaching staff. Schools have NEVER CLOSED ... they remained open even through school holidays and continued to provide care for all of the children of key workers, like the NHS staff. Oh and also providing meals and all those extra hours to keep a check on the most vulnerable children. Believe it or not, they don’t clock off at 3.30pm.

It is so easy to criticise the profession - we’ve heard it all quite frankly and despite the bashing we’ve had we still continue to try and put the best interests of the children to the fore. Unless you work in an education setting and know what has been going on behind the scenes, the increased work loads, having to provide online working, increased demands to sanitise classrooms etc., you really haven’t a clue.

Yes, children need their education and mental health is important but we do also need to consider the health (mental and physical) of the teaching staff. They too have worries, underlying health conditions, people in their extended family that they fear passing anything onto etc. etc.

How I see the teaching profession being bashed is really despicable.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Teachers want to be in school teaching the kids ... they want that more than anything BUT they are in an environment where social distancing simply does not happen, especially in primary schools. Children, younger and older, simply cannot do it.

How I see the teaching profession being bashed is really despicable. "

Totally agree, I’ve got friends who are teachers and to hear & see the disrespect the profession gets is appalling.

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By *urves and MischiefWoman
over a year ago

Northerner

*they are

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I found the 1st thread that's full now very interesting. Especially hearing from members who are teachers.

A lot of people played down the role of schools for infections in the first thread yet this is the news today -

ONS figures show infection rates in secondary schools are 50 times higher than they were in September

Source

https://www.google.com/amp/s/news.sky.com/story/amp/coronavirus-teaching-union-calls-for-schools-to-be-closed-as-part-of-england-lockdown-12120428

Lockdown is pointless with schools open. "

This isn't really a lockdown it's a sort of fuzzy wuzzy infringement of our rights to try and get the R number down a bit. It's got more holes in it than a piece of swiss cheese. Some clever so and so thinks it'll get R back down to 1 because there might just be enough of us suckers to follow the rules.

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By *orthern StarsCouple
over a year ago

Durham

If schools are closed, how are parents meant to go to work if they don't have childcare? The parents suffer financially which will have a direct impact on the children. Far too many children are in poverty as it is, not knowing where their next meal is coming from. How can people think that's right.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

[Removed by poster at 01/11/20 15:32:53]

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"[Removed by poster at 01/11/20 15:32:53]"

Bit late

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By *uietlyKinkyUsCouple
over a year ago

midlands

I've deleted posts.

I've also deleted ALL the posts that quoted.

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By *oncupiscence73Woman
over a year ago

South

"If schools are closed, how are parents meant to go to work if they don't have childcare? The parents suffer financially which will have a direct impact on the children. Far too many children are in poverty as it is, not knowing where their next meal is coming from. How can people think that's right.

See now this is a real conundrum - we aren’t childcare we are teachers. I know no school would mean parents who can’t work from home nor are they keyworkers would suffer but school isn’t childcare.

People are in poverty due to a decade of austerity and a shambolic welfare system not due to schools closing.

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By *orthern StarsCouple
over a year ago

Durham

People are in poverty due to a decade of austerity and a shambolic welfare system not due to schools closing. "

I agree you aren't childcare, but many people simply can't afford not to work and risk loosing the roof over their heads.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

You don’t need to be a data analyst to see all the graphs have a direct relationship to school terms. Secondly, to test a child they have to have symptoms yet the science says that most children under 15 are a-symptomatic. We also know that children are carriers of flu sometimes without symptoms and of all coronavirus a such as common cold. Why would this be any different.

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By *oncupiscence73Woman
over a year ago

South

People are in poverty due to a decade of austerity and a shambolic welfare system not due to schools closing.

I agree you aren't childcare, but many people simply can't afford not to work and risk loosing the roof over their heads."

I agree but with the greatest respect why should teachers literally put their lives on the line to enable others to work? Surely that is ‘above our pay grade’ and down to the government to work out.

What the government is saying is that parents working is more important than the lives of school staff. There is no simpler way to dress it up

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By *riar BelisseWoman
over a year ago

Delightful Bliss

In 2019 there were 1.8 million lone parent families with dependant children, of these approximately 69.9% work, school is education not childcare but we take advantage of it to work to feed and clothe our families, school needs to stay open

Source ONS

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By *ionelhutzMan
over a year ago

liverpool

How I see the teaching profession being bashed is really despicable. "

There have been years of it from the gmnt and their lackeys in the media.

Sadly some simpletons believe the nonsense.

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By *er_kateCouple
over a year ago

manchester

There are two high schools near me both went about opening up in September in two completely different ways. One were my grandson goes the children move from class to class for the lessons. They sent year eight home 3rd week in September due to covid since then every year has been sent home and the school closed a week before half term the other school were my son goes to they stay in the class rooms and the teachers move from class to class all with faceguards on only one class been sent home not one year one class. If the teachers are willing and they want to and we all social distance outside school and stay in the bloody bubbles we should send are children to school

That my opinion

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By *ontecristoMan
over a year ago

PonteCarlo

What ever we do the kids need an education we really do need to do all we can so they can have a future.

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By *orthern StarsCouple
over a year ago

Durham

"What ever we do the kids need an education we really do need to do all we can so they can have a future. "

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

People are in poverty due to a decade of austerity and a shambolic welfare system not due to schools closing.

I agree you aren't childcare, but many people simply can't afford not to work and risk loosing the roof over their heads.

What the government is saying is that parents working is more important than the lives of school staff. There is no simpler way to dress it up "

Tell that to the NHS is it above their pay grade? Everybody has to chip in to help out society and not fold

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

People are in poverty due to a decade of austerity and a shambolic welfare system not due to schools closing.

I agree you aren't childcare, but many people simply can't afford not to work and risk loosing the roof over their heads.

What the government is saying is that parents working is more important than the lives of school staff. There is no simpler way to dress it up "

I presume you don’t go to the supermarket, or pharmacies or any place that has remained open during the first lockdown that has customer facing staff?

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By *ackformore100Man
over a year ago

Tin town

You can't and shouldn't generalise across the nation.

My local 2 secondary schools of almost 3k pupils have had one case since reopening.

Why should they be closed?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

My son is a type 1 diabetic works on the shop floor keeping the shelves full of food he's there best worker says his manager told he can take time out but he won't and been spat and shouted at!

My daughter is a paramedic full on both not stopped in 9 months do they moan? No they tell me it's there job and I'm bloody proud of them both!!

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By *arentsgonebadCouple
over a year ago

Sheffield

1000 % the right decision if b&m, home bargains, pound land and co can stay open then why should my child's education be disrupted again !!

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By *ionelhutzMan
over a year ago

liverpool

"My son is a type 1 diabetic works on the shop floor keeping the shelves full of food he's there best worker says his manager told he can take time out but he won't and been spat and shouted at!

My daughter is a paramedic full on both not stopped in 9 months do they moan? No they tell me it's there job and I'm bloody proud of them both!!"

Who has spat at him?

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By *ophieslutTV/TS
over a year ago

Central

I'm uneducated but see schools and unis as too easily a vector for rapid transmission between many people and through different age groups. I'd be inclined towards closing them but am saddened that we cannot educate our people, so many months after this started, when locking down. Some strictly enforced changes should happen for a month, at a minimum

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By *ionelhutzMan
over a year ago

liverpool

"1000 % the right decision if b&m, home bargains, pound land and co can stay open then why should my child's education be disrupted again !! "

Wont they be closed now?

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By *ionelhutzMan
over a year ago

liverpool

"You can't and shouldn't generalise across the nation.

My local 2 secondary schools of almost 3k pupils have had one case since reopening.

Why should they be closed?

I'm not arguing they should be but lots of school kids have caught it.

Its unavoidable in that environment.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"My son is a type 1 diabetic works on the shop floor keeping the shelves full of food he's there best worker says his manager told he can take time out but he won't and been spat and shouted at!

My daughter is a paramedic full on both not stopped in 9 months do they moan? No they tell me it's there job and I'm bloody proud of them both!!

Who has spat at him?"

A customer during the first lockdown because of toilet roll!! his manager an security held him till the police came

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By *ackformore100Man
over a year ago

Tin town

"My son is a type 1 diabetic works on the shop floor keeping the shelves full of food he's there best worker says his manager told he can take time out but he won't and been spat and shouted at!

My daughter is a paramedic full on both not stopped in 9 months do they moan? No they tell me it's there job and I'm bloody proud of them both!!"

Sounds like you should be too.

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By *ionelhutzMan
over a year ago

liverpool

"My son is a type 1 diabetic works on the shop floor keeping the shelves full of food he's there best worker says his manager told he can take time out but he won't and been spat and shouted at!

My daughter is a paramedic full on both not stopped in 9 months do they moan? No they tell me it's there job and I'm bloody proud of them both!!

Who has spat at him?

A customer during the first lockdown because of toilet roll!! his manager an security held him till the police came"

What a scumbag

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By *ophieslutTV/TS
over a year ago

Central

"1000 % the right decision if b&m, home bargains, pound land and co can stay open then why should my child's education be disrupted again !!

Wont they be closed now?"

I'm guessing not, as they sell a large range of stuff, some more essential than other tat

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By *ackformore100Man
over a year ago

Tin town

"You can't and shouldn't generalise across the nation.

My local 2 secondary schools of almost 3k pupils have had one case since reopening.

Why should they be closed?

I'm not arguing they should be but lots of school kids have caught it.

Its unavoidable in that environment. "

I beg to differ.

Clearly in the above two cases so far it has been possible to avoid it.

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By *arentsgonebadCouple
over a year ago

Sheffield

They did3bt last time daft they got the "essentials tag cos they have a few fridges with bread and milk in them

"1000 % the right decision if b&m, home bargains, pound land and co can stay open then why should my child's education be disrupted again !!

Wont they be closed now?"

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I'm not anti teacher it's just were all in this together it's time not to moan and do the best we can

Help others were we can

Let's not moan and try our best and mybe we can see the the light at the end of the tunnel

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By *arentsgonebadCouple
over a year ago

Sheffield

Plus no justification for shutting schools end of the day kids will only be able to go to school and then go home again so what risk do they pose anyone who become symptomatic self isolates. Households cant mix and everyone wears a mask in public

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I don’t normally comment in this section but this is something I do feel strongly about.

Firstly- the first lockdown made me appreciate teachers so much more. The patience they have, let alone the skill! To teach these children is amazing and I appreciate them so so much.

I’m a parent and I’m also a key worker and first time round I home schooled for a few months before they returned in June.

I did my best for my children as I’m sure most parents do, but what I also see in my job is the parents that don’t. I see the children whose only respite from abuse or neglect is school, children whose only hot meal of the day is at school, children whose parents made zero effort to teach or home school their children, whose life has no structure or meaning without school. These are the children that Male me believe strongly that schools should stay open- and I totally understand the concerns from teachers and staff, I have the same concerns in my job where social distancing is impossible.

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By *ionelhutzMan
over a year ago

liverpool

"1000 % the right decision if b&m, home bargains, pound land and co can stay open then why should my child's education be disrupted again !!

Wont they be closed now?

I'm guessing not, as they sell a large range of stuff, some more essential than other tat"

I just thought they would?

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By *ionelhutzMan
over a year ago

liverpool

"You can't and shouldn't generalise across the nation.

My local 2 secondary schools of almost 3k pupils have had one case since reopening.

Why should they be closed?

I'm not arguing they should be but lots of school kids have caught it.

Its unavoidable in that environment.

I beg to differ.

Clearly in the above two cases so far it has been possible to avoid it. "

Yeah you are probally right.

That nationwide covid study showing massive increases in kids of school age is probally incorrect as 2 schools have seen little rises.

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By *ackformore100Man
over a year ago

Tin town

"You can't and shouldn't generalise across the nation.

My local 2 secondary schools of almost 3k pupils have had one case since reopening.

Why should they be closed?

I'm not arguing they should be but lots of school kids have caught it.

Its unavoidable in that environment.

I beg to differ.

Clearly in the above two cases so far it has been possible to avoid it.

Yeah you are probally right.

That nationwide covid study showing massive increases in kids of school age is probally incorrect as 2 schools have seen little rises."

I didn't say that. I said you shouldn't close schools that have had success in having zero or very few cases with infection.

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By *ionelhutzMan
over a year ago

liverpool

"You can't and shouldn't generalise across the nation.

My local 2 secondary schools of almost 3k pupils have had one case since reopening.

Why should they be closed?

I'm not arguing they should be but lots of school kids have caught it.

Its unavoidable in that environment.

I beg to differ.

Clearly in the above two cases so far it has been possible to avoid it.

Yeah you are probally right.

That nationwide covid study showing massive increases in kids of school age is probally incorrect as 2 schools have seen little rises.

I didn't say that. I said you shouldn't close schools that have had success in having zero or very few cases with infection. "

I said a while ago,its like the elephant in the room.

I think sending universities back was a huge mistake.

Schools are different but clearly they are driving the infection rates up.

And as others have said .what's the point i

Of closing everything else,when leaving open the 2 biggest drivers?

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By *pursChick aka ShortieWoman
over a year ago

On a mooch

"You can't and shouldn't generalise across the nation.

My local 2 secondary schools of almost 3k pupils have had one case since reopening.

Why should they be closed?

I'm not arguing they should be but lots of school kids have caught it.

Its unavoidable in that environment. "

Is it unavoidable, not if the schools are actually putting the steps in place.

The headline 50% increase in schools since transmission is looking for the exaggerated view. It’s 1% of primary and just under 2% secondary population that have tested positive according to the last figures, so September was 0.5% primary and just under 1% secondary in September.

September / October 400,000 (5% of the P/S population) had been sent home to isolate in their year or class bubbles

So yes the numbers have risen it’s not the big breeding ground the papers make out with their headlines.

I feel for the teachers who wish to stay at home, the vulnerable (teachers/students) at our school have already been informed they do not have to come in tomorrow if they don’t wish to, a plan the school already had in place.

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By *ackformore100Man
over a year ago

Tin town

"You can't and shouldn't generalise across the nation.

My local 2 secondary schools of almost 3k pupils have had one case since reopening.

Why should they be closed?

I'm not arguing they should be but lots of school kids have caught it.

Its unavoidable in that environment.

I beg to differ.

Clearly in the above two cases so far it has been possible to avoid it.

Yeah you are probally right.

That nationwide covid study showing massive increases in kids of school age is probally incorrect as 2 schools have seen little rises.

I didn't say that. I said you shouldn't close schools that have had success in having zero or very few cases with infection.

I said a while ago,its like the elephant in the room.

I think sending universities back was a huge mistake.

Schools are different but clearly they are driving the infection rates up.

And as others have said .what's the point i

Of closing everything else,when leaving open the 2 biggest drivers?"

And I'm saying again. You shouldn't close schools in one area... Which have no infections. Because schools in other areas have infections.

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By *ionelhutzMan
over a year ago

liverpool

"You can't and shouldn't generalise across the nation.

My local 2 secondary schools of almost 3k pupils have had one case since reopening.

Why should they be closed?

I'm not arguing they should be but lots of school kids have caught it.

Its unavoidable in that environment.

Is it unavoidable, not if the schools are actually putting the steps in place.

September / October 400,000 (5% of the P/S population) had been sent home to isolate in their year or class bubbles

So yes the numbers have risen it’s not the big breeding ground the papers make out with their headlines.

Have a look at the coronvurus infection study 30/10

It should be online somewhere

It breaks it down into age groups..there are massive jumps in the school age kids.

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By *pursChick aka ShortieWoman
over a year ago

On a mooch

"You can't and shouldn't generalise across the nation.

My local 2 secondary schools of almost 3k pupils have had one case since reopening.

Why should they be closed?

I'm not arguing they should be but lots of school kids have caught it.

Its unavoidable in that environment.

Is it unavoidable, not if the schools are actually putting the steps in place.

September / October 400,000 (5% of the P/S population) had been sent home to isolate in their year or class bubbles

So yes the numbers have risen it’s not the big breeding ground the papers make out with their headlines.

Have a look at the coronvurus infection study 30/10

It should be online somewhere

It breaks it down into age groups..there are massive jumps in the school age kids."

I have looked at it and that is where the percentages are from

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By *cottish guy 555Man
over a year ago

London

"Good job the NHS/shop workers /key workers ect don't moan as mush as teachers do they have been in the thick of it from the start on alot less pay

Masks, social distancing, plastic screens different jobs.

Very true, try working with SEND kids who spit and piss themselves. Don't see that in tesco

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By *ackformore100Man
over a year ago

Tin town

One of the problems, not just in policy but in debate and reporting is we look for broad brush solutions. Whilst we are a small country geographically, we still have a need to apply nuance locally and by business and demographics. So if there is an outbreak at a food processing plant, we don't suggest all food processing plants are closed, rather we Isolate, deep clean and get the offending plant open again as soon as possible. Now I don't doubt that some schools and yes unis contribute, but there are some that arent. We should be intelligent enough to allow schools and unis (and other businesses) to remain open if they are not increasing infections.

It should not be necessary in 2020 to have such clumsy policies that need to be applied nationwide which penalise entities who through coective effort and good practise are keeping infections low.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I just cant understand how children from different households can mix in schools and then maybe take any infection like this home.

Colds etc are transmitted.

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By *ackformore100Man
over a year ago

Tin town

"I just cant understand how children from different households can mix in schools and then maybe take any infection like this home.

Colds etc are transmitted."

Because they aren't mixing at schools. They are in lanes, they are sat 2m apart, they sanitize desks every hour, they stagger entry and exit times. Policies have been put in place deliberately to limit social contact. Sometimes they are adhered to and work.

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By *orthcoupleCouple
over a year ago

Newcastle

I thought kids went to school to be educated not for the 'childcare', obviously I have got it wrong.....

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By *pices69Couple
over a year ago

Gravesend

If parents cant take their kid out of school for a long weekend to visit family at the other end of the country, without fines..... Then we can’t close schools.

Sorry but the educationalists went to great lengths, to explain that just missing 1 or 2 days, was bad for the child’s education.. Took it all the way to the supreme court to prove it..

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By *inky_couple2020Couple
over a year ago

North West

"If parents cant take their kid out of school for a long weekend to visit family at the other end of the country, without fines..... Then we can’t close schools.

Sorry but the educationalists went to great lengths, to explain that just missing 1 or 2 days, was bad for the child’s education.. Took it all the way to the supreme court to prove it..

No, that was the Government. Before the Govt changed the law, each Headteacher had their own discretion and they used it. Most realised allowing a short period of absence in a child with otherwise good attendance was probably fine. But they don't have that power anymore. Individual teachers have NEVER had the power to authorise or deny time off for pupils. I think you'll find most Heads were okay with discretion but it's not their choice.

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By *pursChick aka ShortieWoman
over a year ago

On a mooch

I thought kids went to school to be educated not for the 'childcare', obviously I have got it wrong..... "

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By *ee And MikeCouple
over a year ago

Cannock

This virus isn’t going away anytime soon, lockdowns just kick the can down the road for a month or two.

The first lockdown didn’t work.

The reason I say that is that the peak of deaths during the so called ‘first wave’ was the 8th April and the first full lockdown was imposed on 23rd March.

Now, all scientists say there is a lag of 4 weeks between first symptoms and death, so on that basis the virus was already past its peak of transmission and in its way down when the first lockdown was imposed.

Personally I’m not convinced that we will have a vaccine anytime soon, irregardless of what the media says, on average it takes 10.71 years to roll out a vaccine from inception but we can do it inside a year, seems strange !

This latest ‘lockdown’ feels like an attempt at herd immunity by stealth as the government knows there is no vaccine anytime soon.

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By *pices69Couple
over a year ago

Gravesend

“ The Supreme Court ruling, which upheld the appeal by the Isle of Wight council and the Department for Education, means that the case will be returned to the magistrates' court, where Mr Platt says he will continue to plead not guilty.”

No educationists in the Dept of Ed?

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By *pices69Couple
over a year ago

Gravesend

The Dept of education went on to say....

"The evidence shows every extra day of school missed can affect a pupil's chances of achieving good GCSEs, which has a lasting effect on their life chances."

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By *inky_couple2020Couple
over a year ago

North West

"“ The Supreme Court ruling, which upheld the appeal by the Isle of Wight council and the Department for Education, means that the case will be returned to the magistrates' court, where Mr Platt says he will continue to plead not guilty.”

No educationists in the Dept of Ed? "

It was Michael Gove's pet project, along with bringing back Latin and an instance on the from-memory recital of 19th century poetry. Do you think Gove's an educationalist? At the time that policy was being mooted, heads and teachers pointed out it was not needed. Average attendance in England has not changed and remained at around 95% until Covid spanged it into the ground.

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By *inky_couple2020Couple
over a year ago

North West

"The Dept of education went on to say....

"The evidence shows every extra day of school missed can affect a pupil's chances of achieving good GCSEs, which has a lasting effect on their life chances.""

Yes, remove Dept of Education and replace with "Michael Gove" because that's who said it, via media briefing.

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By *pices69Couple
over a year ago

Gravesend

No educationists in the Dept of Ed?

I didn’t say i agree with their approach... I know Grove, i knew his advisors at the time, he was responding to advice that poor attendance was causing disruption and impacting results, the unions backed it too with the caveat that Heads retain discretion, which they do.. I worked in education for 20’odd years...

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By *inky_couple2020Couple
over a year ago

North West

No educationists in the Dept of Ed?

So you'll know the following paragraph that states Heads can only use discretion for "exceptional circumstances" which the Government provided an incredibly short list of?

"Holidays in term time

You have to get permission from the head teacher if you want to take your child out of school during term time.

You can only do this if:

you make an application to the head teacher in advance (as a parent the child normally lives with)

there are exceptional circumstances

It’s up to the head teacher how many days your child can be away from school if leave is granted."

Absence rates have changed little in the time this policy has been in place. DfE stats available on gov.uk show total absences (all reasons) in autumn term 2014/15 were 4.41% and autumn term 2019/20 was 4.84% (4.94% if you include Academies which were not counted separately in 2014. Clearly that's a tiny INCREASE. No point quoting stats from this term as they're woeful due to Covid.

Quotes from BBC articles on the policy:

"The National Union of Teachers suggested there were important cultural and social benefits to going on holiday and that this should not become the preserve of the middle classes.

The Local Government Association agreed, saying the law was not really practical."

Teachers certainly did not advocate for them.

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By *pices69Couple
over a year ago

Gravesend

I’m impressed... You know every teacher and discussed their views on that subject well in advance...

. You may have missed a few, because some of the teachers i know think it’s a good policy... I’m still a govenor in a deprived area in Kent, the schools attendance improved because of said policy. The kind of school that can only get parents in, if we run parents evening during the day, supplying bacon butties too. Had to get permission from the LEA for that, but it works. And the head.... Uses his discretion...

Anyway, it may not suit, but that’s the policy, and whilst i believe the stats on schools transmissions, i don’t think we should close the doors for the schools...

One reason why, is because even though there is some time to play catch up, teachers and the unions won’t participate in the catch up.

Second reason why, education is in my view, critical, second only to saving the nhs... only when there are more clear signs that we are likely to overwhelm the nhs, should we consider regional schools shutdown. Being in south east, closing schools now for us, would be madness.

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By *inky_couple2020Couple
over a year ago

North West

I'm an educator (not primary or secondary) and was initially Governor then Chair of Governors in inner city Salford (super high in the deprivation index) and I know all the policy did was drive frustration among parents, sowed bad feeling between parents and the school because long standing "norms" ceased to be and led initially to a big jump in unauthorised absence. Parents just took the fine. The school invested lots in attendance welfare officers (expensive) and it's back hovering near the national average of 95% ish, exactly where it was before the new policy. Overall rates of attendance have stayed pretty stable year to year, because the reasons for persistent absence haven't changed and holidays were and are a vanishingly small part of the absence stats. Makes a splendid DfE press release though, to try and claim that term time holidays were somehow the most pressing educational issue of the day. Imagine all the money spent prosecuting parents who refused to pay £50 was spent on equipping schools and families with proper IT technology for the modern age? This issue of lockdown home education might be less of an issue? Never mind memorising Keats - I'm not sure 21st century employers have this top of their list on the person specification.

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By *pices69Couple
over a year ago

Gravesend

My youngest was Grade 1, A*, A or 9 ( Depending on awarding body) her school was brilliant, ran as normal during last lockdown, they used Teams for everything...

She just didn’t do well with online learning... I sat in with her after a few weeks which helped, most teachers brilliant but she just couldn’t engage herself..

So tech will work for some, but not all... I dont know how widespread her experience was. She went from rocket scientist to numpty in 1 lockdown. She was one of a lucky few, not many schools ran as hers did. I can only imagine how others are coping.

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By *pices69Couple
over a year ago

Gravesend

ps. Dept of Ed has about 7 lawyers on the books... They had to do something eventually for their wonga.

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By *inky_couple2020Couple
over a year ago

North West

My job since March has been to make online education happen at short notice in every time zone from -6 GMT in South America to +9 GMT in Japan and everything in between. We have students studying from countries at war, with massive internet blocks/filters, in villages with unreliable internet etc. Normally they'd all be in the UK. We did WAY more than any FE college that I know of (comparable age range) and continue to work frankly miracles. It's all down to hard fucking work and a good team beneath me.

I'm in a meeting with students at 07.30 so should probably call it a night.

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By *cottish guy 555Man
over a year ago

London

"I just cant understand how children from different households can mix in schools and then maybe take any infection like this home.

Colds etc are transmitted.

I'm afraid that isn't the case. In June with limited numbers it was but not since all the kids came back. To achieve the distancing rules you'd have to double the size of most schools

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By *moothman2000Man
over a year ago

Leicestershire

It would have made more sense to have waited until this new 12 minute test thing was in place before attempting to leave schools and universities open.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Good job the NHS/shop workers /key workers ect don't moan as mush as teachers do they have been in the thick of it from the start on alot less pay"

Right... I am a teacher which makes me a key worker. I don’t moan, I get on with work and I worked very hard in lockdown #1.

Teachers are absolutely in the thick of it and are in classrooms with kids who are increasingly likely to spread the virus.

I’m not complaining. I’ll be at work in a few hours but I don’t especially want my colleagues catching it OR to see the families of students get it.

It would be much more sensible to go to online lessons for a month (except for children of key workers who would come in as before) and frankly if you don’t agree you don’t know what you’re talking about.

Bell rings.

End of lesson. Class dismissed.

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By *arentsgonebadCouple
over a year ago

Sheffield

You have or should have appropriate policys in place to reduce the amount of contact children are having woth each other, their is no reason for kids not to he in school if covid policys are policed correctly.

Furthermore as iv previously stated the entire country is in lockdown children will only be going to school and coming home again, adukts will be working from home where possible and reducing outdoor travel ie online shopping, the risk of transmission of the virus is massively minimalised.

"Good job the NHS/shop workers /key workers ect don't moan as mush as teachers do they have been in the thick of it from the start on alot less pay

Right... I am a teacher which makes me a key worker. I don’t moan, I get on with work and I worked very hard in lockdown #1.

Teachers are absolutely in the thick of it and are in classrooms with kids who are increasingly likely to spread the virus.

I’m not complaining. I’ll be at work in a few hours but I don’t especially want my colleagues catching it OR to see the families of students get it.

Bell rings.

End of lesson. Class dismissed."

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By *emorefridaCouple
over a year ago

La la land

Since we've been in lockdown my kids who are in school. Have had no contact with anyone except their household whilst not in school. I have come into more contact with people in my job and food shopping etc. My son has had to self isolate as there was a case in his class, but nobody else contacted the disease.

Their education and welfare was suffering under lockdown and not being in school. I feel for teachers especially the older ones, but there are many of us who have had to put ourselves at risk. I'm in work and in a high risk category. It's not ideal but it's for the greater good, we must think of us as a population not an individual

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By *mmmMaybeCouple
over a year ago

West Wales

"Since we've been in lockdown my kids who are in school. Have had no contact with anyone except their household whilst not in school. I have come into more contact with people in my job and food shopping etc. My son has had to self isolate as there was a case in his class, but nobody else contacted the disease.

Exactly the same here but for our kids “No contact” outside school was pretty easy as we are very rural added to that one of ours is vulnerable so we take no risks.

All this “Blame the schools” from our perspective at least is just those that want to go back out again trying to compare schools with pubs/restaurants which is a nonsence.

Our school is primary/secondary with only 325 pupils & we’ve had ONE case amongst the kids in all this time.

If you could guarantee 325 Friday/Saturday night pubbers would do exactly as they are asked like the children do then maybe they’d still be open?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

[Removed by poster at 02/11/20 09:07:09]

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

[Removed by poster at 02/11/20 09:08:13]

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Good job the NHS/shop workers /key workers ect don't moan as mush as teachers do they have been in the thick of it from the start on alot less pay

Right... I am a teacher which makes me a key worker. I don’t moan, I get on with work and I worked very hard in lockdown #1.

Teachers are absolutely in the thick of it and are in classrooms with kids who are increasingly likely to spread the virus.

I’m not complaining. I’ll be at work in a few hours but I don’t especially want my colleagues catching it OR to see the families of students get it.

Bell rings.

End of lesson. Class dismissed."

good man

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By *mmmMaybeCouple
over a year ago

West Wales

"I just cant understand how children from different households can mix in schools and then maybe take any infection like this home.

Colds etc are transmitted.

I'm afraid that isn't the case. In June with limited numbers it was but not since all the kids came back. To achieve the distancing rules you'd have to double the size of most schools

Our kids school has class bubbles, staggered break & meal times. The outside hard court pe area has been continually linemarked with 2m no go zones between each. Teachers are also on duty. The class bubbles work/eat/play Together, no one else.

Where it falls down slightly is on the buses where they then all mix, so ours are not currently using the buses.

They’ve had one pupil get it. That’s it.

Schools are doing their best but we at least feel that the online lessons & set work are a very poor alternative to going to school & we are now starting to worry about more things than just whether they’ll get CV19.

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By *ionelhutzMan
over a year ago

liverpool

"If parents cant take their kid out of school for a long weekend to visit family at the other end of the country, without fines..... Then we can’t close schools.

Sorry but the educationalists went to great lengths, to explain that just missing 1 or 2 days, was bad for the child’s education.. Took it all the way to the supreme court to prove it..

And they have the audacity to bang on about choice and freedom

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By *eddy and legsCouple
over a year ago

the wetlands

Remote learning didn't work from March to June what would be different this time ?

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By *aretobareCouple
over a year ago

Central Portugal

Remote learning can work really well - it is just that many staff do not know how to use it effectively

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By *eddy and legsCouple
over a year ago

the wetlands

"Remote learning can work really well - it is just that many staff do not know how to use it effectively"

Yep

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By *pursChick aka ShortieWoman
over a year ago

On a mooch

"Remote learning can work really well - it is just that many staff do not know how to use it effectively"

It works for some students and not others. Also depends on the type of remote learning offered, classes online interacting with the teacher able to ask questions etc great. Others they just set the work and no interaction with the children.

Our school we had the full on lesson timetable all through lockdown, 8 lessons a day and the work was only supposed to take 30 minutes. What they didn’t factor in is the time that it took the different children to read all the information given, hopefully they understand it and then produce a piece of work. It certainly didn’t work for dyslexic children who when faced with pages and pages of text. We were lucky, our school listened to parents concerns and adapted how they approached setting work but it was still all only text based and no interaction with teachers except by email.

One solution unfortunately doesn’t fit all kids.

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By *mmmMaybeCouple
over a year ago

West Wales

Last time our primary age child was given plenty of work via Teams & bitesize but the older was given very little work & if there was a system link problem they seemed less interested in a solution. The primary printed & posted or we collected the work.

It was hard to believe it was different parts of the same school sometimes, a point we raised.

This time they have given us a laptop to use & they will be running full distance learning classes from tomorrow for the older sibling but only for four days then it’s back in school.

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By *emorefridaCouple
over a year ago

La la land

Exactly the same here but for our kids “No contact” outside school was pretty easy as we are very rural added to that one of ours is vulnerable so we take no risks.

All this “Blame the schools” from our perspective at least is just those that want to go back out again trying to compare schools with pubs/restaurants which is a nonsence.

Our school is primary/secondary with only 325 pupils & we’ve had ONE case amongst the kids in all this time.

If you could guarantee 325 Friday/Saturday night pubbers would do exactly as they are asked like the children do then maybe they’d still be open?

Exactly I'd rather the kids were at school than being able to go the pub etc. Two classes in my kids school have had to self isolate but there's been no transmission of Covid within the school. The cases have been caught in the wider community.

The school has done a good job in keeping the classes isolated from each other. And I applaud the work the school does. If the schools are to remain open the general population has to play it's part also. With not mixing households etc

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By *essica FlabbitWoman
over a year ago

west midlands/shropshire

My daughter is at uni and since going back so far everything has been done on line. She's not stepped foot into the university

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By *ackformore100Man
over a year ago

Tin town

"Remote learning can work really well - it is just that many staff do not know how to use it effectively"

Think you've just remade the same point... If my auntie had balls she'd be my uncle.

It's one tool in a toolbox of many solutions and will successfull for some and not for others.

My neighbours kids loved home schooling and thrived on it. A lot of others struggled. If they shrugged first time round, why would they succeed this time round.?

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By *randmrsc30Couple
over a year ago

East Riding

The schools never fully closed both my children went all the way through. I guess you could close them for the people who don’t work. But there’s no way I could do any online meetings with my 3 year old around so I wouldn’t be able to work. Also only one parent needs to be a key worker so lots of children at my kids school still went.

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By *ackformore100Man
over a year ago

Tin town

"Remote learning can work really well - it is just that many staff do not know how to use it effectively

Think you've just remade the same point... If my auntie had balls she'd be my uncle.

It's one tool in a toolbox of many solutions and will successfull for some and not for others.

My neighbours kids loved home schooling and thrived on it. A lot of others struggled. If they shrugged first time round, why would they succeed this time round.? "

I myself will be doing a course in typing on my phone!

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By *inky_couple2020Couple
over a year ago

North West

"Remote learning can work really well - it is just that many staff do not know how to use it effectively

Yep"

Yep again. I'm finding it very hard to teach old dogs new tricks. Just got off a call with a guy I manage who returned from furlough today. He's starting firmly at online teaching square one and he's bamboozled. It'll take me a lot of time (that I don't have) to get him up to speed and that's what I've done since March with no holiday

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By *oncupiscence73Woman
over a year ago

South

"The schools never fully closed both my children went all the way through. I guess you could close them for the people who don’t work. But there’s no way I could do any online meetings with my 3 year old around so I wouldn’t be able to work. Also only one parent needs to be a key worker so lots of children at my kids school still went. "

Whispers are that a closure may be on the cards but keyworker places only offered to family’s with all adults being keyworkers .... this would reduce numbers from last time round

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By *oncupiscence73Woman
over a year ago

South

"Remote learning can work really well - it is just that many staff do not know how to use it effectively"

And the age of the children ... really doesn’t work for primary especially KS1

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By *andare63Man
over a year ago

oldham

Education is caught between a rock and a hard place. Whilst online learning would be the ideal under the present circumstances. There isn't the infrastructure to roll it out at the speed required. It's not only staff that are struggling with the delivery but we also have a generation of learners that are predominantly used to parrot fashion led by the hand learning.

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By *inky_couple2020Couple
over a year ago

North West

"Education is caught between a rock and a hard place. Whilst online learning would be the ideal under the present circumstances. There isn't the infrastructure to roll it out at the speed required. It's not only staff that are struggling with the delivery but we also have a generation of learners that are predominantly used to parrot fashion led by the hand learning. "

The way Herr Gove redesigned the curriculum a few years back ensured the continuance of the imparting of knowledge, parrot-like, rather than focusing on acquisition of skills for the 21st century. You reap what you sow. We think 21st century students are tech savvy but they're not. They're mobile device savvy, app savvy but not a clue how to format a document or make proper use of Excel for data handling and interpretation. We start from scratch with our students, age 16+, many of whom are struggling with the concept of things like shared documents in OneDrive etc. It's bread and butter for the current workforce though.

Gove insisting on things like poetry recital from memory and other 19th century teaching styles now are coming home to roost.

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By *eddy and legsCouple
over a year ago

the wetlands

Who turned them into parrots ?

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By *inky_couple2020Couple
over a year ago

North West

Who turned them into parrots ?

Teachers following the ridiculous curriculum cooked up by the famed education expert Mr Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Education who pushed through ideological reforms in the face of pedagogical advice from actual teachers.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Having just retired from the boys in blue I can remember the many times we were called to incidents where children were left home alone due to the parent not being able to afford to stay at home and the child ending up having a accident and either seriously injuring themselves or losing their life. It certainly is a square peg trying to fit in a round hole. No easy answers. I dare say there are still hundreds of children being left alone for one reason or another whilst the patent goes to work to provide food for the table. Wish I knew what the answer was.

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By *andare63Man
over a year ago

oldham

Gove insisting on things like poetry recital from memory and other 19th century teaching styles now are coming home to roost."

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By *mmmMaybeCouple
over a year ago

West Wales

"Education is caught between a rock and a hard place. Whilst online learning would be the ideal under the present circumstances. There isn't the infrastructure to roll it out at the speed required. "

Speed required is very apt, no fibre here, no plans to bring it out to around forty houses on the same line less than half a mile from a village that does have it.

Luckily we live in Wales where getting grants for rural broadband issues seems easier than in England so last month we were all up & running via EE & their phone network.

From 0.8mbps to 38mbps overnight, no way would we be doing video lessons before.

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By *ob198XaMan
over a year ago

teleford

"Good job the NHS/shop workers /key workers ect don't moan as mush as teachers do they have been in the thick of it from the start on alot less pay

A lot less pay then a dinner lady?

I can't imagine a dinner lady gets a huge wage packet for probably less than part time hours

Exactly a lot of these are people nearing retirement age...so are greatly at risk. But no one seems bothered about them.

We have to resign to the fact we will nearly all contract it at some point. The aim is to ensure we don’t all contract it at the same time and overwhelm our healthcare system.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I found the 1st thread that's full now very interesting. Especially hearing from members who are teachers.

A lot of people played down the role of schools for infections in the first thread yet this is the news today -

ONS figures show infection rates in secondary schools are 50 times higher than they were in September

Source

https://www.google.com/amp/s/news.sky.com/story/amp/coronavirus-teaching-union-calls-for-schools-to-be-closed-as-part-of-england-lockdown-12120428

Lockdown is pointless with schools open.

I agree

Far too many teachers...dinner nannies and kids at risk."
Yes without any doubt, since the kids and students have gone back in September the virus has gone haywire,they should be shut as part of any lockdown,..MT.

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By *otsossieMan
over a year ago

Chesterfield

It’s batshit to keep them open. Lots of staff at our local are infected or isolating.

Kids don’t give a flying one about masks, hygiene, or distancing.

They’re walking petri-dishes!

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By *eavenscentitCouple
over a year ago

barnstaple

"Good job the NHS/shop workers /key workers ect don't moan as mush as teachers do they have been in the thick of it from the start on alot less pay

Masks, social distancing, plastic screens different jobs.

Teachers moan about their lot all the time, not just in a pandemic.

Down here teachers sit in a protected perspex area, the teaching assistants are the ones near the kids.

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By *pices69Couple
over a year ago

Gravesend

Does anyone actually still believe Covid is any worse than influenza? That masks work?

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By *ionelhutzMan
over a year ago

liverpool

"Good job the NHS/shop workers /key workers ect don't moan as mush as teachers do they have been in the thick of it from the start on alot less pay

Masks, social distancing, plastic screens different jobs.

Teachers moan about their lot all the time, not just in a pandemic.

Down here teachers sit in a protected perspex area, the teaching assistants are the ones near the kids.

Probally because they do an essential job and are treated with disdain by the gmnt and the media.

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By *oggoneMan
over a year ago

Derry

Probally because they do an essential job and are treated with disdain by the gmnt and the media. "

When they say essential worker, they mean expendable worker.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I found the 1st thread that's full now very interesting. Especially hearing from members who are teachers.

A lot of people played down the role of schools for infections in the first thread yet this is the news today -

ONS figures show infection rates in secondary schools are 50 times higher than they were in September

Source

https://www.google.com/amp/s/news.sky.com/story/amp/coronavirus-teaching-union-calls-for-schools-to-be-closed-as-part-of-england-lockdown-12120428

Lockdown is pointless with schools open.

And universities. "

I agree with both. This new lockdown will fail. It will not succeed in a month of sundays as the saying goes.

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By *oncupiscence73Woman
over a year ago

South

"Good job the NHS/shop workers /key workers ect don't moan as mush as teachers do they have been in the thick of it from the start on alot less pay

Masks, social distancing, plastic screens different jobs.

Teachers moan about their lot all the time, not just in a pandemic.

Down here teachers sit in a protected perspex area, the teaching assistants are the ones near the kids.

Something to do with lack of respect which you have so succinctly illustrated. I don’t sit in a protected Perspex area neither does any primary teacher in this country.

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By *oncupiscence73Woman
over a year ago

South

3 teachers have died today of Covid ... age 33, 49 and 39 ... no underlying conditions - which day would you like to clap for teachers?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Good job the NHS/shop workers /key workers ect don't moan as mush as teachers do they have been in the thick of it from the start on alot less pay

Masks, social distancing, plastic screens different jobs.

Teachers moan about their lot all the time, not just in a pandemic.

Down here teachers sit in a protected perspex area, the teaching assistants are the ones near the kids.

Bollocks

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Education is caught between a rock and a hard place. Whilst online learning would be the ideal under the present circumstances. There isn't the infrastructure to roll it out at the speed required.

Speed required is very apt, no fibre here, no plans to bring it out to around forty houses on the same line less than half a mile from a village that does have it.

Luckily we live in Wales where getting grants for rural broadband issues seems easier than in England so last month we were all up & running via EE & their phone network.

From 0.8mbps to 38mbps overnight, no way would we be doing video lessons before.

Schools are obliged to supply lessons on paper to houses without broadband or laptops.

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By *alandNitaCouple
over a year ago

Scunthorpe

"Education is caught between a rock and a hard place. Whilst online learning would be the ideal under the present circumstances. There isn't the infrastructure to roll it out at the speed required.

Speed required is very apt, no fibre here, no plans to bring it out to around forty houses on the same line less than half a mile from a village that does have it.

Luckily we live in Wales where getting grants for rural broadband issues seems easier than in England so last month we were all up & running via EE & their phone network.

From 0.8mbps to 38mbps overnight, no way would we be doing video lessons before.

-----

Schools are obliged to supply lessons on paper to houses without broadband or laptops. "

It's not about obligation, in schools we WANT to educate the kids, it our raison d'être. We will do our very best to do the very best we can for our students. In the first lockdown, we not only printed work off and deliver it to homes, we provided free computers to some families (outside of government schemes), we recorded video lessons onto DVD, We even had teachers who phoned kids to give them verbal lessons.

Cal

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By *ionelhutzMan
over a year ago

liverpool

"Good job the NHS/shop workers /key workers ect don't moan as mush as teachers do they have been in the thick of it from the start on alot less pay

Masks, social distancing, plastic screens different jobs.

Teachers moan about their lot all the time, not just in a pandemic.

Down here teachers sit in a protected perspex area, the teaching assistants are the ones near the kids.

Bollocks "

To the point

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By *mmmMaybeCouple
over a year ago

West Wales

"Education is caught between a rock and a hard place. Whilst online learning would be the ideal under the present circumstances. There isn't the infrastructure to roll it out at the speed required.

Speed required is very apt, no fibre here, no plans to bring it out to around forty houses on the same line less than half a mile from a village that does have it.

Luckily we live in Wales where getting grants for rural broadband issues seems easier than in England so last month we were all up & running via EE & their phone network.

From 0.8mbps to 38mbps overnight, no way would we be doing video lessons before.

-----

Schools are obliged to supply lessons on paper to houses without broadband or laptops.

Cal"

You speak as if of one voice, one system etc. When it is plainly not so, school size, location, budget & dare I say willingness is different across the board of that I have no doubt & I also have no doubt that the vast majority of teachers do their very best with what they have it’s just that what they have sometimes isn’t enough.

In the last lockdown our 13yr old couldn’t access a single thing set by their science teacher & despite requesting alternative methods they did nothing. Same thing with some of their history work this was immediately either emailed as pdfs etc or posted. Two different answers to the same issue in the same school.

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By *ove2pleaseseukMan
over a year ago

Hastings

The lock down should have been over an extended half term 4 week lock down 2 week half term but again this government is to slow.

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By *inky_couple2020Couple
over a year ago

North West

"Education is caught between a rock and a hard place. Whilst online learning would be the ideal under the present circumstances. There isn't the infrastructure to roll it out at the speed required.

Speed required is very apt, no fibre here, no plans to bring it out to around forty houses on the same line less than half a mile from a village that does have it.

Luckily we live in Wales where getting grants for rural broadband issues seems easier than in England so last month we were all up & running via EE & their phone network.

From 0.8mbps to 38mbps overnight, no way would we be doing video lessons before.

-----

Schools are obliged to supply lessons on paper to houses without broadband or laptops.

Cal

I'm not excusing things, but remember teachers working from home were often also having to supervise/teach/care for their own children and so perhaps this Science teacher was torn in too many directions.

More than one of my live, online Biology lessons was interrupted by a 3yo saying they needed a poo. Believe it or not, this sort of thing did not happen when nursery was open and I was teaching in a lab or classroom.

We had staff furloughed (by choice) because they couldn't teach with their children at home. Their jobs actually didn't cease though - others just did more with less and this is not sustainable.

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Schools to remain open - your views? Part 2