Would you go to work on Monday if you were a teacher?

[HibiscusCotton]

I take calls for a school, been a few emails tonight saying people need to self-isolate. It’s a tight knit community and I wouldn’t say anything but I know they are scared in some cases and there are no symptoms in the house fairly reliably. I’m not going to challenge anyone on this! We already have allowed those with vulnerability or family vulnerability to be off, this is people with healthy families now calling.

I understand to be honest people are scared right now with the news about young fit people getting very ill.

I do praise NHS staff who will work crazy hours and be very frontline, but to some degree it’s some expected level of the job- but massively intensified. If you are a teacher, nursery work, retail worker etc you didn’t sign up with the idea of any risk. You’re probably not much of a hero. You have no protection at all, no more cleaning available at work and you’re exposed to exactly the same risk as NHS parents due to mixing with their children. You also have people being negative if they see you out and you still can’t access the supermarket if you have kids (friend is a single parent teacher, no online slots,small shops won’t let kids in here, supermarket empty post work and she brings her daughter back home with her from the same building. She’s actually said she’s scared of getting photographed out on the bus home with her dd and being put on the local fb group where people are shaming those who go out quite viciously.) In most cases you are also exposing your family to risk, maybe parents who live with you, partners or children. I have to admit personally I’m getting more and more worried with all the news that DH is on London transport daily and working with high contact with young kids. He will work while he can, but I am getting worried for our children and him.

So, with all the news around you right now, if you worked in retail/ teaching etc would you:
YABU- go to work as usual, out of duty or confidence you’ll be ok
YANBU- self isolate your family and yourself to protect. Either calling in saying your child had a cough or you couldn’t work due to family/ personal vulnerabilities

I’m just wondering what the general feeling is. I’m a bit on the fence personally. We are both working, but I don’t judge those who don’t feel able to for mental health or physical health reasons. I understand how staff with anxiety have felt overwhelmed in particular.

OP where I work they have asked for volunteers. Obviously if they don't get enough volunteers they would have to reconsider that approach.

"We all need to do our bit". For the majority of the population, doing our bit means staying at home and stopping the spread of the virus.

@Rainbowunicat obviously schools vary and there’s not much consistency right now going on.

Obviously NHS staff are not super human, no one is. Including other jobs still going, who generally will not get positive feedback.

I’m a teacher and I am going in tomorrow

TheMadGardener

@Onceateacher here schools have asked if staff are in risk categories or family members are high risk, but otherwise staff are in. One staff member is staying with friends through this due to a very high risk child.

I'm asthmatic and I'm not going in. In a normal year I'd have not thought about it, but I had a bad winter with chest infections, and am still wheezy from a cold a few weeks ago despite taking my inhalers and the montelukast I have to take daily - and am not happy to risk it. I do feel a little bad about the fact that it is one less who can go on the rota for our school or, after next week, the hub school for the area.

We have all been told we need to go in with remote teaching carried out from school. Staff with children have been told that their children will be given a key worker care whether or not they attend our school. I will be going in as my children are adults and my parents are self isolating- lots of staff have developed a cough over the weekend and are self isolating meaning that they can remote teach from home.

I am currently self isolating as DC has a cough.

But my school has organised a rota so you are only in 1 day a week. Anyone at significant risk is not required to be in. I think it's the only sensible solution. And unavoidable under the current circumstances.

I am worried about bringing the virus home, but will just have to be vigilant with hygiene.

Should add this is in addition to setting work via remote classroom for each class taught each day.

Im terrified and am going in. Praying parents will need the advice that this is an emergency child care option not a holiday club

I'm a retired teacher and my former school is fully open and expecting all the students (special school with medically vulnerable students and those with ASD) They've been told to prepare to work through the Easter and possibly summer holidays.
I would o go back to support my former colleagues if I am asked.

I am, and I am. My husband has been made redundant and so have had to end my maternity leave quickly to cover the short fall unfortunately.

Thankfully my head has agreed I only need to do one day a week in school, the rest at home remotely.

I'm not going in tomorrow but only because it's not my shift and we've got a rota in place. DH is going in, we're both worried but it's our job.

10 years ago, when my DC were toddlers and, as far as I was concerned, the most vulnerable, precious gems to grace the planet, I think I'd be hiding in a hole with them right now. In fact, I had even stockpiled stuff in the garage in case of some sort of apocalyptic event. I would have found excuses to avoid contact with other folk. Today, though, they are teenagers and I would go in to work if that's what my line manager wanted me to do. I think a lot of our different perspectives hinge on how vulnerable those we love are.

I'm going in tomorrow. We all are and then some of us will be put on a rota

My DCs are entitled to school places as I'm a key worker but we won't use them. DH is working from home so they are staying with him.

I am going in. Yes I am apprehensive and it will.be strange and little bit scary but I am not ill or have underlying illnesses or school age children. I only have myself to worry about.

I'm a teacher and I'm going in, as it's my job

Really? You job is to educate not babysit.

I'm on the rota for tomorrow, I am being paid to be there

@Northernwarrior Really bloody helpful

What do you mean 'no more cleaning available at work' Op?
Do you think that the cleaners won't have to go in? I'll be expected in every day!

I’m a teacher. I am desperate to be there on Monday. I want to be there for our children, I want to be there for my colleagues and I want to be there for the parents working essential jobs.
My baby had a 39.5^ temp and we’re being forced to self isolate for a fortnight.
I would never shirk this responsibility and will be working the whole of Easter to ensure I’ve done my bit.

Well sadly it is your job. I’m a former teacher now working for NHS SALT and we have no choice but to go to work as school is open and my husband works for one of the emergency services. Would I rather keep them all at home? Yep! Do I have any choice - nope. Did I sign up to be redeployed to “the front line” - nope, no one could have foreseen this. Ultimately none of the other key workers actually want to go to work but they have no choice, nor do you. They actually don’t want to leave their kids in school either but again, no choice.

@TheSultanofPingu for clarity I mean no extra cleaning beyond the norm to tackle the virus, I think we have 50% the usual staff in cleaning wise (illness)