COVID education

[PamiKler]

Hi guys,

Just wanted to see what everyone thought about kids going back to school. During COVID and the uncertainty around it does everyone feel safe sending their children back to school?

Also do you think more needs to be done to move onto an online platform in the near future?

[SueEllenMishke]

For the vast majority of children school is the best place for them to learn.

We are 100% happy with our school and think they have been fabulous throughout. DS has thrived since being back.

From a practical and personal perspective closing schools and moving online would be disastrous for us as a family. Me and DH work full time and it's almost impossible to do our jobs and homeschool. DS learns best at school and benefits hugely from the social aspect.

[PamiKler]

I totally agree with that, if it was to be moved online it would cause chaos with work. Some schools have been great in dealing with COVID and having good measures in place. However there are some parts of West London that had a lot of cases and other countries have moved their education to an online platform a few years back if not longer. Not sure how it works logistically but with the way technology is being more relied upon I think this will be the future.

[Creampancakes]

Hey Pami,

I strongly believe, in near future, most the education platform will be moving toward online teaching, of course, it won't give you the traditional classroom environment but it is better since this corona thing is stick with us, god knows for how long.

[FinchyBobs]

I think a lot of people have been scared of technology until now... COVID kinda forced us to shift to online, well at least our school did. They didn't give us live lessons, only some homework without instructions.

Soo I started using loads of online live resources and that has been really useful. I totally get that kids need to be social but my little one gets to be more interactive in some of the online classes I've eavesdropped on.

[SueEllenMishke]

@PamiKler

I totally agree with that, if it was to be moved online it would cause chaos with work. Some schools have been great in dealing with COVID and having good measures in place. However there are some parts of West London that had a lot of cases and other countries have moved their education to an online platform a few years back if not longer. Not sure how it works logistically but with the way technology is being more relied upon I think this will be the future.

Maybe with higher education and some secondary but you can't move all education online.
Moving primary education online would be a nightmare and would have a serious impact on women's participation in the labour market.
We may see more blended learning but not fully online across the board.

[FinchyBobs]

I do get what you're saying here @SueEllenMishke and if you want to move completely online and leave your child to get on with it... yes they can. You could get your au-pair to know their way around the online learning platform and they could supervise the youngster whilst you're at work. You obviously would have to invest the initial time sitting in with your child for the first few lessons, but after that they'll be ready to fly. Kids are good with technology or at least wayyy better than me!

[FinchyBobs]

@SueEllenMishke totally forgot to add. Definitely agree with you that blended learning is the most practical solution for most people!

[Juststopswimming]

Blended or remote learning is not a practical solution at all for younger children.

School is not just about lessons, the social aspect is equally important in my opinion.

[PamiKler]

FinchyBobs

I agree with some of what you said but a lot of parents in the UK do not have au-pairs and can not afford one the lower-middle class and below will not have that luxury to have a full time carer for their children. So if there was a full transition to Online learning companies will have to let a lot of parents work from home which is possible as we have learnt during COVID pandemic.

[SueEllenMishke]

You could get your au-pair to know their way around the online learning platform and they could supervise the youngster whilst you're at work.

Au-pair????
I don't have an au-pair and don't know I single person who does!!!

Meanwhile in the real world....

[SueEllenMishke]

So if there was a full transition to Online learning companies will have to let a lot of parents work from home which is possible as we have learnt during COVID pandemic.

You can't work and homeschool and do childcare. Companies allowed people to do that as a short term but it can't work long term. I have to prove I have childcare to work from home.

[movingonup20]

You have to remember that not everyone has reliable internet access, not everyone has a laptop with appropriate software, not everyone has a quiet space or a table even. It's very tricky because whilst for some families their kids have thrived during lockdown, others have been disadvantaged

[SueEllenMishke]

And not all jobs can be done from home.

[FinchyBobs]

Agreed. There is definitely some kind of initial foundation that needs to be set in order to get remote learning running but assuming if you're able to work from home then surely a lot of the ground work has already been done...one would hope!

And I do guess it's based on who you know. I know 3 people that have aupairs. But we don't speak for the world do we @SueEllenMishke lol

[PamiKler]

Yes that is very true a lot of key workers for instance will not be able to have the luxury to work from home. It will be interesting to see how it transitions if it does. Maybe they can trial it out so those who wish to educate their children online and have the means too will and the rest can stay in school.

[FinchyBobs]

Not all jobs can be done from home but online learning is so much convenient as a practical lifestyle solution. I don't have to wait around at tuition centres trying to figure what productive activity I can do in the hour my child does their lesson. No more catching buses to lessons every day. Yes we do still catch the bus for cadets but as mentioned... blended learning. You do what makes sense

[SueEllenMishke]

And I do guess it's based on who you know. I know 3 people that have aupairs. But we don't speak for the world do we @SueEllenMishke lol

We certainly can't.

Yes that is very true a lot of key workers for instance will not be able to have the luxury to work from home. It will be interesting to see how it transitions if it does. Maybe they can trial it out so those who wish to educate their children online and have the means too will and the rest can stay in school.

Not just key workers.
And when you are working from home you're doing just that - working. You can't work and look after/homeschool young children.

I'm university lecturer. I can't teach and look after my 6 year old at the same time.

Where is the extra resource going to come from. Teachers can't teach in person and online and online learning takes a lot more preparation.

[PamiKler]

@SueEllenMishke

And I do guess it's based on who you know. I know 3 people that have aupairs. But we don't speak for the world do we @SueEllenMishke lol

We certainly can't.

Yes that is very true a lot of key workers for instance will not be able to have the luxury to work from home. It will be interesting to see how it transitions if it does. Maybe they can trial it out so those who wish to educate their children online and have the means too will and the rest can stay in school.

Not just key workers.
And when you are working from home you're doing just that - working. You can't work and look after/homeschool young children.

I'm university lecturer. I can't teach and look after my 6 year old at the same time.

Where is the extra resource going to come from. Teachers can't teach in person and online and online learning takes a lot more preparation.

I just used Key workers as an example there are many industries that would not allow this!

Also I was hoping that whilst they are learning online it will be a live online method where they are constantly interacting with the teacher and class mates via a zoom platform or google meets etc.

I am talking about a sit down at a desk look at this screen for a few hours type method but not exactly that. So us parents do not have to be constantly around our children.

But that does not mean we do not have to check up on them occasionally.

But whatever does happen in the future our education system and curriculum is extremely outdated and does need to be changed. Hopefully for the better.

[SueEllenMishke]

I am talking about a sit down at a desk look at this screen for a few hours type method but not exactly that. So us parents do not have to be constantly around our children.

But that does not mean we do not have to check up on them occasionally.

I deliver 3 hour lectures..... should I leave my 6 year old unsupervised for that long???

[PamiKler]

@SueEllenMishke

I am talking about a sit down at a desk look at this screen for a few hours type method but not exactly that. So us parents do not have to be constantly around our children.

But that does not mean we do not have to check up on them occasionally.

I deliver 3 hour lectures..... should I leave my 6 year old unsupervised for that long???

Of course not.

I meant more if a parent is able to have that flexibility and have their children study from home maybe a transition can be made.

For instance I work in sales and luckily and can be flexible with work and casual so I am more than capable to let my child study for home effortlessly.

Also a lot of people will be like this and a lot of teachers so if it possible if could be better at least than there will be less strain on teachers in the classroom and the children can more attention as opposed to a 1:18 ratio for instance it can be a 1:10

[SueEllenMishke]

But you're expecting teachers to deliver both in person and online teaching. That's not possible.

Physically attending school is important for many reasons. Moving leaning online only exacerbates inequalities.

Not everyone has a stable home life, access to the internet, parents who can support them, parents who want to support them, a quiet place to study ......

[MrsMomoa]

Happy to send my kids to school.
Definitely not to online learning.

[PamiKler]

@SueEllenMishke

But you're expecting teachers to deliver both in person and online teaching. That's not possible.

Physically attending school is important for many reasons. Moving leaning online only exacerbates inequalities.

Not everyone has a stable home life, access to the internet, parents who can support them, parents who want to support them, a quiet place to study ......

Oh wait no no no, teachers can choose to EITHER deliver online lessons or teach in schools not do both simultaneously.

Also that is why I said IF possible and people have the right environment they can.

Right now kids can be easily taken out of schools and be home schooled with very little actually being taught or done.

At least with online education there will be something in place to ensure those kids do not miss out.

And yes I mean it will have many problems like anything new basically teething problems but for the long term it could be worth doing.

No one will know if it works or not unless it is tried and tested and if the resources are there and the capabilities it is definitely worth looking at.

[Juststopswimming]

I think your suggestions are idealistic and unrealistic sadly!