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.

You are not at the same risk as a nurse actually treating patients sick with covid 19, nowhere close to that risk. But yes your risk is heightened, but not risks that you can't work to reduce by observing prevention measures.

However, you are still to be commended.

I am asthmatic and therefore would not be able to but if I was not high risk yes I would go in, but would make sure I observed prevention steps where possible.

You are appreciated op, so sorry you have to face these risks.

@Mistressiggi I'm in Scotland and we are expected to work tomorrow. Not every local authority has made the same decisions.

@Mistressiggi Also in Scotland and definitely going in. I only know of one LA which has chosen to shut all week. A few have clearly had panics today and have closed for at least tomorrow, but several, mine included, are still expecting all staff and key workers’ children tomorrow.

I’d far rather be at home wrapping my little family safe in a bubble but it’s our job and we are needed so dh & I will both be in our schools this week.

I have cried about it this weekend but no-one at work will know that.

Other family members are NHS front line staff and what they are dealing with just doesn’t even compare to me going in to school to supervise a few children a couple of times a week.

I do fully expect a couple of staff members to be self-isolating tomorrow - I could name them now. It means the rest of us have to do more which I resent but I do understand the worry.

However I am very very glad my dc will not need to go in to school. That was my biggest concern.

Unless you have key worker children (or other vulnerable children) in to look after, you should not be working tomorrow. Have you seen latest union advice, never mind what NS said today?

I kind of disagree about nhs workers knowing when they sign up that their job has some sort of risk to them. Yes, they know it can be long shifts, hard work, not getting off on time, people die.....

But I can’t think of any other time where a nurse or doctor might think they’re going to die from being at work? Not in my memory.

But I feel sorry and very grateful for everyone who is carrying on to help others. Nhs, delivery drivers, retail, school staff, many others.

I'm not doubting what you've been told by the way, I just think what you've been told is wrong!

Some schools described on here beggars belief really. We are working to a rota from tomorrow- all other staff will be working from home. Only one area of school is being used. Hand sanitiser is compulsory and they're providing food for all- staff and students. There will be no briefings and no groups congregating in the staff room. Really couldn't ask for me and the rota means my children will be staying at home so therefore not causing extra pressure on other schools.

We weren't given the choice either way. Anyone potentially vulnerable or pregnant was sent home regardless of whether wanted and anyone healthy is expected in, regardless of what they wanted.

We won't be needed every day for the children. That will be rota-ed. But I will be in every day because I don't have good enough internet or equipment at home to do online teaching as well as allow my older 2 children to access their online learning. I'll go in with my youngest daughter and they can have the home computer and my iPad and try not to overload our pathetic rural internet connection.

To be honest, I'm delighted to have the chance to work without feeling guilty. I'm much more scared of isolation than of the virus.

@Mistressiggi all (primary) school staff in my area are in tomorrow unless ill or vulnerable. I think they plan to see how many children will be in then make plans from there. Probably rota system. I'm ill but would be in if not, normally healthy.

Those who are vulnerable (bad asthma, other health conditions) should not feel guilty, when I'm better I'm definitely happy to go in instead of colleagues who are high risk and would hope others feel the same.

And the children in will be key worker children and those from vulnerable families.

I'm a nursery nurse. I've got to go to work this week, we still have loads of children coming in, and due to their age it's impossible to practice social distancing. All staff to work as normal unless having to self isolate.
This means that my children are going to school. (OH is also a key worker.) I feel so guilty. I'm so worried that I'm going to bring the virus home from work- there's going to be around 80 people in the building tomorrow plus parents coming and going!

I wish I was going to work tomorrow (teacher). I have underlying health issues that my school are aware of for various reasons. I have stated that I am happy to work but they have decided for me that I must work from home. I realise this is what is recommended all things considered and is in my best interests but it doesnt stop me feeling so incredibly guilty.

@Rainbowunicat May surprise you, our local special school has announced they will not re-open. They cite ratios, impossibility of distancing and many medically vulnerable pupils.

All staff from three schools near me told to come to work to one of the schools this morning for an 8 am briefing in the hall. That's around 90 staff (excluding the self-isolating and vulnerable) to teach an expected 40 children. It's lead to resentment from those expected to come in and feelings of guilt between those with underlying health conditions. The staff at work feel as if they aren't trusted to work from home. Eight staff are on hand to teach each day, the remaining 82 ISH are expected to find space in the school to plan online lessons, mark work, etc. They can do all this at home!!!! Many are using public transport to get to work as well.
Apparently a rota MAY be in place next week.

It's so worrying and there are absolutely no hygiene considerations in place. Despite there being a reported case of the virus, the school wasn't closed for deep cleaning. The cleaning is poor in schools at the best of times.

Such a different attitude in Ireland and England! I’m going into my school building today just to collect my laptop as I was out on sick leave when schools were shut. We got a message from our principal that the school would be open for two hours today if we wanted to collect anything. We were warned about social distancing if we DO go in. Once again, I’m glad I’m a teacher in Ireland rather than England.

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

Please don't feel bad, you are exactly the person who should remain at home. Take care

lots of staff have developed a cough over the weekend

I bet they have Thankfully none of my NHS colleagues in my team have developed a cough.......

Really? You job is to educate not babysit

Thankfully our lovely dieticians, physios etc are mucking in with cleaning etc in the hospital as they don't see it as beneath them, they are happy to muck in with whatever needs done. And the Education Minister - in my part of the UK anyway - was very clear that education will be provided. The school have made it clear they will only provide childcare, so they are choosing to babysit only, that is not what was asked of them!

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

Thank you. I hope your baby feels better soon

OP, I really take issue with this assumption that NHS staff signed up to this to some degree, so it’s just part of our job. No one signed up to work with highly contagious infectious diseases with inadequate PPE and other resources.
It’s like saying well teachers signed up to work with children knowing that they’re highly effective germ spreaders. They just didn’t sign up to this either.

@Procrastination4 our school isn’t even open for that. Yes I’m glad to be in Ireland too!!

@RingPiece that’s insane! Probably the worst I’ve heard

@PrivateD00r I’ve not come across anyone just planning for childcare. Teaching is actually easier, occupied kids are waaaay easy to manage than free range ones 😁
People here are mucking in too, the head has been serving cereal in breakfast club and then wiping the tables down. I honestly think it’s the norm in schools. It’s the kind of job where realistically you muck in a lot, from residentials involving staying up half the night with homesick kids, toilet accidents to fixing their boiler/ toilet cistern occasionally. Most teachers have a muck in attitude

@Notaflatearther, I wish you will if you’re stressed but I’m not engaging in an argument over twisted meanings.

I’m not stressed OP, and it’s hardly twisted meanings is it?
Yes I signed up to work in healthcare so I’ll get on with it and won’t complain.
You signed up to be a teacher. Crack on.

Just to be clear, that was directed to the OP, not the many, many teachers, nursery nurses, school staff who are really stepping up.Thank you to those people.

We have a rota in place, so I'm in one day this week.

Schools, and other workplaces, who are demanding all staff go in regardless of how many are actually needed to keep the place open, should be ashamed. Working from home should be the norm for all - on full pay - unless there is a real need for people to be in.

The government needs to step up and take charge of this.