Sorry been lurking recently but wanted to make some comments. Apologies for length!
Chester Zoo alone employs 900 odd people. About 90% currently furloughed. Even before considering the effect on the animals (which would be horrific), its conservation and research programmes and the opportunities it offers local, national and international visitors, 900 people potentially losing jobs from one employer is bad enough. The local council are now backing the zoo to be opened.
I thought that a lot of the idea behind opening garden centres was to do with the stock going to waste. Many of our local ones have started or increased their deliveries and introduced click and collect.
I completely agree that schools and nurseries are much more than education. Obviously that is a huge primary function of them, and should be delivered by trained professionals. I was one of these. Escaped because of politics, management, staff bullying, like so many others. On average newbies stay in the job 5 years. But schools also offer opportunities for socialisation, peer group development and problem solving language and 'soft' skills development. This isn't going to happen in the same way at home.
On another thread I saw someone ask, if it was the other way around, and kids and young people predominantly affected, but same stats, mainly affecting schools not care homes, would those less vulnerable be as willing to stop their lives in the way that kids have had to? I think they may have, for a few weeks. But I can't see, after nearly 3 months, Doris and Ethel not going to have a cuppa with each other in one of their own houses. Literally being able to do nothing except go for a walk, to all intents and purposes, and effectively putting their lives entirely on hold. And if any objection is suggested, it is shouted down with, you are being protected, you might be super spreader, it's not safe, and it is callous to suggest otherwise.