ADs and their pampered poodles

[BogRollBOGOF]

Here we are again, gaining sequels even more rapidly than the Fast and the Furious...

I’m glad I don’t have to do maths ( I have an O level) and struggled to understand the primary school maths. They held a parents session, so you could help your child. God, long division, it was like hell, I kept doing it the 70’s way and got told off. I was like surely you, use the times table etc, but no, a paper of workings out later. Thank goodness for calculators then handy things I have constantly in my hand(phone)

DS1 is on long multiplication. I can do that. He tells me that long division is easier. I'll let him roll with that. My brain has a huge blind spot for long division and does not process it. Not in y6. Not in y10. Not with DH. I'm generally OK with maths until too many letters get involved.
Home schooling has reminded me that maths was something I didn't love because it's just so repetitive.

While I generally enjoyed English, comprehension questions were tedious too and always gave me sarcastic urges.

Ah CoffeeWithCheese it's so sad what has happened to children- my then 4 year old in the first lockdown really felt she and her best friend had been at fault because her friend had drank from her water bottle! Obviously I told her they weren't at fault but it is clear that a lot of children have this worry. My now 4 year old, the youngest, was doing a task yesterday for nursery and they had to tell you what they would pack for a big journey. She surprised me with clever suggestions of a map and binoculars and then broke my heart a little bit by saying hand sanitizer. I know that's not awful and people do need to keep their hands clean but it's definitely a 2020/21 suggestion isn't it?

Poor children. Algebra is crap at the best of times, but now?

I should spend less time here, apart from this thread, there's so much madness. The ageism on the downsize thread is stunning.

The Thomas Gradgrind approach to people as economic units...l long for a pushback against science and data that seems to want to reduce humanity to algorithms.

Acorn autumn. You are a very kind person. Just saying. 💐💐my flowers to you

@littlbrowndog

Acorn autumn. You are a very kind person. Just saying. 💐💐my flowers to you

Thank you, that made me smile.

The Thomas Gradgrind approach to people as economic units...l long for a pushback against science and data that seems to want to reduce humanity to algorithms.

Totally agree - but a bit of this wouldn't have gone amiss when it has come to this fucking situation. As economics seem to have gone out the window as far as the government are concerned. Economics would have kept businesses open and kids at school with probably very little difference to mortality figures (and probably long term positive effects) if those statistically at greater risk were protected and others just got on with life with extra hygiene and distancing observed.

Acorn autumn. You are a very kind person

She is.

Watched "Targeted The Truth About Disability Hate Crime. Many harrowing experiences including a woman with a guide dog who was refused entry to two seperate supermarkets in the first lockdown. Then walked to a third one which i think was Lidl and they were very helpful and stopped another customer from nicking eggs out of her trolley.

For anyone who has children or grandchildren in Wales - the children's commissioner wants to hear from them. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-55739974

Morning fellow ADs. Hope you are all facing this morning with renewed vigour.

I too long for a push back, but not entirely sure where we go with it and how we deal with it. Children are basically, as DH said, learning in solitary confinement which is a torture method. It's no wonder they're struggling.

Any teachers on here (secondary particularly) - are teachers generally hating this too? I can imagine it must be awful trying to engage over Teams or Zoom or whatever it is.

On another thread this morning about the constant coverage in hospital. Someone raised the point of balanced reporting, asking why they don't interview the people adversely affected by lockdown.
A few people commented they've seen business owners on the news a few times who are losing their income (hardly to the same degree).
Its a shame they can't do a news piece on children's services, looking first hand at what we have to deal with fighting for the most vulnerable people in society who are largely forgotten by this.
16 to 18 year olds living alone in "supported accommodation", the self harm, the suicidal ideation, the neglect and abuse....that's just for starters.
It all just seems like an abstract concept to these people, they see "a rise in abuse and neglect" on the news and see it in numbers. A handful of people. Collateral damage for the greater good. They have no idea of what that actually means for these children and those who support them.
We see nurses and doctors cry night after night but where is the sympathy, empathy and compassion for the tears of our children?

@LivinLaVidaLoki - couldn't agree more. I worry for my children, but I worry too about those others who parents can't or won't help them or get involved, or even know what they're doing.

How's your brother doing btw?

@Seriouslymole he is doing much better. He was discharged back to the home and has been in isolation there since.
He is still breathless but much better than he was. Thank you x

Economics would have kept businesses open and kids at school with probably very little difference to mortality figures (and probably long term positive effects) if those statistically at greater risk were protected and others just got on with life with extra hygiene and distancing observed.

Yep. That is what evidence seems to suggest, but I guess it's counter-intuitive to people. But the degree to which you aren't allowed to talk about it is frightening.

Who can we write to about unbalanced reporting?? This is another thing we should be getting angry about.

It's been discussed on many threads: underselling the vaccine so people don't fight over it or start hugging vaccinated granny, influencing public behaviour by spreading doom and gloom, interspersing "there is hope" with moving any date for easing things later and later and later, endless coverage of nurses crying in hospital; but NO coverage of the adverse effects of lockdown on our children. Spin, spin, spin, of what the government wants us to hear.

We need to show we are AWARE they are doing this, that it's an insult to the public, and likely to make them less compliant, more disbelieving, and less likely to trust any future government, ever. (For me, that ship sailed with Tony Blair's weapons of mass destruction.)

My first thought would be writing to MPs, since I'm certain the government has a lot of influence in this (no doubt a whole spin department dedicated to lying to the public), but the government is not going to admit to that. Would writing to the BBC and newspapers be any good?

@wanderings -I have tried both writing to my MP and the BBC. My MP and I are on first names terms and he hates me but he is a dementor of the highest order. BBC don’t respond. I am very up for doing anything else though- it’s an outrage if you even question lockdown tactics that you are branded a conspiracy theorist.

There is definitely pressure on the media. I think a lot of radio stations are currently relying purely on advertising funding from the government and supermarkets. All other advertising has been reduced. And he who pays the piper calls the tune,

Also ofcom COVID regulations restricting what media can say.

Has anyone else had the 'what do you think of the BBC' email? I completed mine last night - didn't grade them very highly. They are totally biased regarding Covid (as many of you have pointed out), shockingly low coverage of Women's Sports, ridiculous presenters on TV and radio being selected because they fulfil a quota rather than because they are good/appropriate. I may have suggested one or two changes to R2 presenters . I'm sure it won't do any good but I was in a ranty mood last night so quite enjoyed venting my spleen on the Beeb

I am getting more pissed off for my children by the day. They are now facing what we adults have been facing - life but without any of the fun or social parts. But childhood is not the time of life to be facing such difficult issues. Fun and care free times should make up at least 80-90% of their young lives.
Sick of trying to rally them along every time we have to have another birthday with no friends, no play dates and all clubs and activities cancelled or over sodding zoom.
I’m also feeling pissed off again. I thought I’d made my peace with the inevitability of it all a bit but seems I’m back to wanting to scream at everyone to wake up and push back! Why the hell are we all living like this for nearly a year now just so it happens all over again a few months later? At some point we need to accept it as part of normal life and live as humans are supposed to live!

Oh and my mood is not helped by the fact DH is now solidly working from home and insists on having the heating cranked up to 21degrees all day and night. I haven’t slept well for ages because I’m so bloody hot and he moans he’s cold if I try to air the house a bit so it’s constantly stuffy and stale. I do of course still open windows when I want to but it’s just another one of those little bickering subjects that end up creating an atmosphere in an already fed up household! Arghhhh I want my sodding life back!

It's a strange combination of people aren't mean to be isolated like this but nor are we meant to be trapped in the house with the same people 24/7 either. All those little quirks that are normally totally fine are completely overwhelming when there is no break.

It's all ridiculous. But for maths, I would seriously recommend Math Antics. It's really clear and amusing and for the first time in my life, I genuinely understand long division.

Thank you ISaySteadyOn I will look into that, that sounds really helpful. London is windy today but the sky is blue and at least it's not raining! Hope all of you have as good a day as you can.

I’ve just been out with the dog and there was a little girl stood outside the local school absolutely sobbing her heart out because she couldn’t go in. Stopped and spoke to her mum for a while who said she feels completely hopeless as she can’t even comfort her by saying when the school will be back open. She is 7 FFS - this is appalling.