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.

Plenty of work places do need people in to do all the work though, that's the problem and the work cannot be done at home. Parents are having to hire childcare paid by the hour in their own home so they can continue to work (work at home or work in their work place) if not key workers.

Ahh, I just reread your OP and clicked your not actually a teacher. That makes more sense as most of the teachers I know are extremely dedicated, making all sorts of sacrifices to ensure children are looked after and safe. Haven’t heard any if them complaining, they really are admirable.
Oh and FYI, when someone points out your argument is ineffectual that doesn’t constitute twisting your meanings.

I'm not in (illness as I previously said) but wish I was. Some of the children from vulnerable families (difficult home backgrounds) only talk to certain people (staff) and it would be good to be there for them at such a worrying time.

to everyone stepping up.

Those of you in Scotland still expected to be in school regardless might like to look at the latest EIS guidance. A quote from it:

I am aware that many members may be concerned because they have been asked to report to school tomorrow but are unsure as to what is planned in the short transition to remote working as a default. I am sure that these concerns are shared by all members, including our Heads and Depute who will have lead responsibilities in planning processes

If you are in school, as soon as any necessary planning arrangements are in place, and that may be within a day, operations should revert to remote working and school closures

There is no point being in a building simply to be in a building

My headteacher is great. We are ALL working from home and only she and the depute are in school today. Please contact your union about this.

Without wanting to be identifiable, we have fewer than 5 pupils in today in our large secondary school. We’ve yet to have any communication from the council on what to do or rotas going forward...

FredericaBimmel
I don't think you're alone. There was a school on BBC Breakfast who had tiny numbers too.

We had three times as many staff as we had pupils. Have been told to all come to work as usual again tomorrow. Don't understand why we can't do a rota.

How do you know fairly reliably there are no symptoms in these homes OP? I live in a pretty tight knit community too but I still wouldn't be in a position to make that call.

My friend has also said her large secondary has next to no pupils, I guess they can be left at home largely.

Our primary has a bit over 40, which considering the size and jobs of parents is less than we expected. Before lunch I took yr R-2 briefly to cover a break, I’m off home early now as not really needed and we’re massively cutting the numbers in as we have so few children. Of our free school meal off one family came in to collect out of 60% fsm intake. No one else from the community took up the offer of lunch

@VegetableMunge obviously I don’t know conclusively, I’m not out to investigate them either.

On key workers this has just been announced for some in the "justice system" category (who will be entitled to a state school place so that the nation retains its law and order). It covers wills too - I suppose if thousands are dying it is vital they can write a will.

"The government announced on Sunday which legal practitioners will be classified as ’key workers’ during the coronavirus crisis - enabling some lawyers to send their children to school where absolutely necessary.

Discussions continued with justice officials last Friday after the government said key workers would be those deemed ‘essential to the running of the justice system’.

Today the Ministry of Justice provided further clarification of those legal practitioners covered within this category, focusing on the continued operation of the courts and tribunals. The categories comprise:

• Advocates (including solicitor advocates) required to appear before a court or tribunal (remotely or in person), including prosecutors;

• Other legal practitioners required to support the administration of justice including duty solicitors (police station and court) and barristers, solicitors, legal executives, paralegals and others who work on imminent or ongoing court or tribunal hearings;

• Solicitors acting in connection with the execution of wills; and

• Solicitors and barristers advising people living in institutions or deprived of their liberty.

Only legal practitioners who work on the types of matters, cases and hearings on this list will be classified as a key worker.

In addition, the MoJ said some legal practitioners will intermittently fall into this category because they need to provide advice or attend a hearing for an urgent matter relating for example, to safeguarding of children or vulnerable adults, or a public safety matter. For the limited time required to deliver this work, a legal practitioner will be a key worker.

The Government has stressed that children of key workers should still be looked after at home if this is possible.

According to the most recent law firm data, 61% of all solicitors have children, with 72% of this group having children of school age.

’The government has rightly acknowledged that keeping the justice system running during the current crisis is vital, and that legal practitioners are fundamental to achieving this aim,’ commented Law Society president Simon Davis."

Very sobering, but news of this I’ve just seen www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8141987/Primary-school-headteacher-Wendy-Jacobs-Barrow-Furness-dies-testing-positive-coronavirus.html
A headteacher has died. I will say again, I do understand why people are scared. Why some may feel the risk is very high.

The U.K. needs to shut the schools NOW!! it’s WAY to risky!! How many more teachers need to die!! Ffs...

Sure OP, it was clear you couldn't know conclusively. I wanted to hear how you knew fairly reliably.

The U.K. needs to shut the schools NOW!! it’s WAY to risky!! How many more teachers need to die!!

Who would you prefer looks after those children? Their parents who are doctors, nurses, people working to ensure that we continue to have food to eat? Or perhaps they should all be left at home alone?

What certainly needs to happen is that people need to stop sending their children unless absolutely necessary, so that as few teachers are required as possible.

@bridgetreilly other countries have managed so why can’t the U.K.??

They may have shut schools but they are still offering group childcare for the children of keyworkers. Which is all that is supposed to be happening here.

I went in today, although there were more staff than necessary really. I’m in again tomorrow and then working from home and trying to teach my own kids.

I suspect as the key worker category is clarified (as it has been for justice system workers today) more children will be in school and entitled to be in school by law, particularly after the Easter holidays and where they have parents who do not have enough pay after their rent to pay for someone to come to their house to look after their children all day.