To not want schools to give up summer holidays

[littleblackdress04]

Just read in papers that it’s been proposed that kids go back to school in July/ August

I think this is a rubbish idea - if it’s going to be that long then just let them have a ‘normal’ summer and go back in September.

Kids have been cooped up because of this- I’d want to take mine to the hills, go camping & let them have some freedom. Then start school in September. This isn’t a holiday for them - it’s a horrible stressful period of being cooped up & not being able to live their normal lives.

While school gives a structure and is important, so are proper periods of holiday.

I’m really against the idea but aibu? Be interested to hear other thoughts. I’ve not been particularly worried about the kids education- they will catch up in time and it will be fine

COVID means we may need to have a summer term while cases are predicted to go v low

then 3+ months lockdown over winter, when cases may peak again, in the 2nd wave

Summer holidays r put in place coz it’s hard to function in the extreme heat the timing is vital I don’t want my son at school when it’s too hot it’s a bad idea .

And no, I don't think we should be expecting children or staff to work over July and August!

LaProfesora

It would be interesting to know how many of those that are having a go at teachers are at home doing nothing on 80% of their pay.

@SkeletonSkins - teachers are paid for the holidays (in the uk) unless they are supply teachers (who are paid by the day or by the contract). Permanent teachers are paid an annual salary and it's divided by 12, so we get the same, more or less, each month.

Being a teacher in lockdown is quite hard. You are having to provide lessons, that are normally taught face to face, online. You don't know how many children are understanding or even accessing the work. The majority of teachers would rather be in school. I think it would be difficult, from a legal point of view, changing the holidays.

'working very extended hours for no extra pay'

Awful idea. Are they insane? If they want kids to go back then, they should stop setting remote work now. Before the break, my son was getting 5+ hours of work to complete at home every day and it will start again after the Easter holiday. He’s not ‘off’. He’s not having fun. I question the validity of some of the things he’s going - there’s only so much you can teach remotely - but he IS working.

Who doesn't need a Holiday??? I'm still working from home full time whilst trying to home school and my DP is still going to work. I am knackered

If we're out of lockdown by then the holiday clubs will be up and running for those who want childcare. If some schools want to run catch up sessions fort those who are interested over the summer then that seems reasonable but only if they're paid. I don't think anyone else would want to work for free.

cherish123

teachers are paid for the holidays

Nope

(in the uk)

Scotland are paid differently to England. private/indie, different to academy which is different to state. Which do you want to explain?

unless they are supply teachers (who are paid by the day or by the contract).

Yup

Permanent teachers are paid an annual salary and it's divided by 12,
so we get the same, more or less, each month.

If teachers are paid a standard salary why is it divided over 12 months? It wouldn't need to be.

Permanent teachers are contracted for 195 days.

Lots saying schools should remain open seem to think schools are only kept open by teachers. In reality there are TAs, cleaners, admin staff, janitors and dinner ladies. You need to get their agreement as well and pay them. None of them are paid over the summer holidays,
If we can go out, I want the summer to spend with my kids. My DP has been working longer hours than ever and my kids have been doing school work.

Also I think my sensitive DD would struggle from lock down to being in a busy school. She needs time to adjust being around others.

^ We have to work to the COVID schedule now :
Summer is when COVID case are predicted to go v low
So people need to go back to work, to retart the economy
Hence schools need to go back too
In late Autumn and winter, cases will probably rise again, so maybe more lockdowns then, in which case holidaying until September would be a v bad idea
At some stage, people need to earn money to pay for public services ^

This is the new reality. well said BigChocFrenzy

I can't believe there are people on here that seriously even think they have a 10% chance of taking their 'booked holiday'.

Even if things are relaxed slightly, it is extremely unlikely people are going to be able to head off en masse to the countryside. It would be dangerous for people from different regions to mix. Countryside areas have reduced healthcare provision. And have people not seen local sentiment from rural communities on the news? Good luck to anyone declaring to the locals in Wales or anywhere else when you pitch up with your tent, that you NEED your holiday come what may and to the detriment of their community. You are likely to end up with a pitchfork up the ass.

On top of this as has been widely reported in the news today, the schengen area are floating keeping their borders closed until the end of September. So that is European holidays out too. As for the rest of the World, few if any holiday insurance companies are currently including Covid on their policies. I would be very much surprised if there were many people stupid enough to travel regardless.

Unessential group gathering places like cinemas, softplay and theme parks are going to be last things to open.

Education isn't unessential, so schools are highly likely to be reopened before any kind of leisure activities (see the current situation in Denmark).

Saying that. Teachers do work hard and I agree the Sept - Dec term is already long enough.

Let us all hope that they can figure out a way to get at least nurseries and primaries back for June and (all of) July. And possibly Secondaries for years 10 and 12 as a priority.

Then the teachers can still have August off.

@carrie Then why is it safe for kids to go back to school but not on holiday to the countryside? That makes no sense.

I don’t see why, if there absolutely HAS to be a six week holiday so that teachers can have a break, it can’t be moved to May. Then schools can reopen in late June on the basis that they’ll probably be locked down again by October. Does anyone REALLY think it’s sensible to keep schools shut in the summer months even if corona cases drop significantly, only to open them again in autumn when we might soon get another peak coinciding with winter flu season?

Ylvamoon

And if the economy is going to be kickstarted then nurseries, care centers etc. will be open too.

Or are you willing to kick them to the kerb for some free childcare?

My kids mix with less kids on a British holiday than they do in a school. Either both are okay and safe, or neither are.

I am generally incredibly sympathetic to teachers situations as I am to all frontline key workers at this time but to those that are criticising furloughed workers at home on 80% of pay such as I am please be aware that I would much rather be working as normal and as I work for a very small charity that relies on fundraising events, there is no guarantee I will have any job if the lockdown continues for more than a few weeks.
My partner is a dentist and would also prefer to be seeing his patients but isn't in a position to as all face to face treatment are not allowed without necessary PPE which they dont have access to.He has been told he may be redeployed to the frontline in order to continue earning some of his monthly salary but as yet is still waiting to hear.
So like I say not unsympathetic to teachers but having a guaranteed salary/job doing a job you are trained to do is something to be grateful for imo even allowing for the challenging circumstances.

Nurseries and primaries are generally fairly localized. Even where I am in Central London primary children are mostly locals.

Letting children go back to school in a phased way as they are in Denmark (and they have announced in France beginning 11th May), is far less risky then letting people from various cities and towns flood the countryside en masse. A localized bad resurgence of the virus is a lot easier to stamp out. The NHS in rural areas don't have the capacity to deal with a large number of holidaymakers as well as locals.

But will they be mixing with people from lots of different regions, probably in lovely rural and coastal areas which have fewer critical care hospital beds? Places like the Highlands of Scotland, or Wales and Cornwall?

Johanna06

My point was that no one is criticising (that I have seen ) anyone furloughed on 80% pay.

FYI - As stated by others. Schools close end of July and August due to high temperatures. Spanish children have 3 months off school because of this.

Actually schools used to close at those times so children could help with the harvest. It’s rarely so hot in July or August in the majority of the UK to make it imperative that schools shut! What nonsense.