Schools reopening before May half term?

[Manchestertimes]

What's everyone's opinion on when the schools will reopen? I think they will reopen a few weeks after Easter.

Rosebel
Was that to me? I was just making light of some of the MN claims on here the last few days.
We've had everything from "why do teachers still have their jobs? Other people have lost theirs" to "schools should be open through summer because teachers have already had their holidays, one of my friend's partner's cousins is only working 2 days a month".

But no matter your status, furloughed or reduced hours, trying to study from home this is not a holiday for anyone.

For many kids this will be a very stressful time. Some will have their own worries and fears beyond what some adults can imagine, Family health, bereavement, financial, abuse, fear for family on the front line.
Some will worry about the most ridiculous things, "will the Easter Bunny come to my little brother".

The kids will need a break, time to be kids before going back to formal schooling.

So no I can't see them being back before the start of the new term.

The kids will need a break, time to be kids before going back to formal schooling

Definitely.

I. Ant believe what I'm reading do people seriously think that teachers will be expected to give up their summer holidays ? If I were a teacher I would definitely resign !

Teachers are working harder than ever. Either setting work, emailing students, advising those who are still working towards the (non) exam grades or most amazing if all - putting themselves in harms way to look after the children of key workers .. we stood on the streets and clapped for the NHS - teachers deserve no less.

Ok, your kids have missed a few weeks (and sorry to say - but it WILL. E a few months by the end of this) but they have a LIFE time to catch up and everyone is in the same boat. This is being done to save lives and a few months missed school is a small price to pay for thousands of lives saved by cutting the transmission rate.

Little Johnny or Molly will still get to Oxbridge if ever they were going to. Put your thoughts in to making this as enjoyable as humanly possible, be thankful for all the amazing teachers and don't wish them back until it's completely safe to do so. No matter how long that might be .

The kids will need a break, time to be kids before going back to formal schooling

This with bells on as well.

Eh? Mine are doing little but being “kids” right now. What are yours doing?

Eh? Mine are doing little but being “kids” right now. What are yours doing?

Mine are doing loads of work. 6 lessons a day, just like on the timetable!

The kids will need a break, time to be kids before going back to formal schooling.

^This, and there are ways of having fun. We managed to give our DD1 a very happy 11th birthday party on Saturday. She'd been so upset that her birthday treat wouldn't happen (she'd asked to go ice skating). I asked friends and family to video call her and then we had a zoom party (a virtual party with my DSis and DBIL and their DC! ) and it made DD1 really happy.

It really is possible to have fun times indoors in isolation; at least we're all together.

Because I'm not well, my DH has been looking after our DDs whilst trying to WFH. They g hg ave done a little schoolwork but it won't be as much as they should be doing, I know that.

It's very sad, my DD1 was doing really well catching up on where she was behind and I feel awful that I'm not able to help right now, but I'm having to accept that it is what it is right now and not fret about it.

If doctors and nurses are quite literally risking their lives during this crisis, can teachers really kick up a fuss about a slightly shorter summer holiday?

g hg - that should be 'have', oops!!

If doctors and nurses are quite literally risking their lives during this crisis, can teachers really kick up a fuss about a slightly shorter summer holiday?

I usually work for free for at least two weeks of the summer holidays getting everything ready for the new academic year. I choose to do that, because it beats being stressed out about getting everything done on those two INSET days in September.

So I'm just checking - you want teachers to work more of the holidays for free?

How much of my unpaid holiday should I be entitled to? Can I take those unpaid holiday weeks later in the academic year?

Eh? Mine are doing little but being “kids” right now. What are yours doing?

Trying to do as much school work as I can get him to do. While being stuck in the house unable to play with his pals. However he has it easy. My niece who's already lost a parent is more anxious than usual about potentially losing her remaining parent who's classed as high risk.

Great that yours have no worries that death could come knocking at their door! BTW typically 1 in 20 kids will have lost a parent or sibling by the time they are 16. At least my niece isn't alone eh!

Even if the schools open only in september, kids won’t get a break. Parents won’t get any holiday in Summer (or any holidays this year), most parents will have no money for childcare, so kids will be with stressed parents working from home, or between parents working opposite shifts.
Teachers will be the only ones benefiting from the summer holidays, much to the detriment of everybody else. if that’s what they want, fine, but i don’t have to like it (or have any respect for it).

Myself2020 lovely post. Would you like to pay us for working the holidays if you feel so bitter and twisted about it?

I hardly think the govt is going to remove the 6 weeks to please you.

Myself
Not everyone will be poorer because of the shutdown. Keyworkers may well be doing overtime. Furloughed workers, depending on travel, clothing and childcare costs could actually be better off not working.

So actually having holiday time will be needed to get the economy moving, tourist towns, areas, will be needing the cash boost.
Even local stuff like leisure centres, cinemas and shops will benefit from the schools being closed for summer holidays.

I have ds doing his French Bac. He’s applied to university in our country of origin. He’s at his desk every morning at 8 for class, is still submitting work, nothing in his life has changed but the location.

Why do people seen to think of teachers as childless robots? Most teachers do actually have family themselves.

Myself2020 I’m a teacher and I have never worked so hard in my life to prepare and administer online work. Oh and I also have my own children to homeschool, just like you. And I will also have them in the holidays, unsurprisingly.

@pinkhousesarebest just like everyone else. there are two groups of people in the moment: one group still has money but works at least 18 hour days, and another group that doesn’t work but is in massive financial difficulties. we are all screwed, with no real time off happening tgis year

this is the start of a massive recession. a lot of businesses will never open again, and people will be made redundant by the thousands. going back after being furloughed won’t happen for many

For any fed up teachers - you are amazing thank you x

@myself2020 sadly I think your right. My husband is still working (from home) his boss says the company has 3 months. If they lockdown goes over 3 months then they will have to look at redundancies.

Don’t get me wrong, i think many teachers do a remarkable job. but some people on this board have not realised that we are in the middle of an economic and societal disaster. things won’t just go back to normal (and i unfortunately know how significant the effects are even for a sector that gets away quite mildly).

True myself - both our jobs are on borrowed time.

And for kids mental health/isolation maybe this summer will be different for schools. Maybe we can draft in all the bored sixth formers to help? They won’t be going to festivals, travelling etc