Secondary Teachers, what do you think about going back to school for the last term with social distancing?

[sunshineanddaffodils]

My year 8 and year 10 dc are in the best possible situation at this point. Both have their own computer, space to work, pretty good home learning from school and both are cooperating. However, I am so worried about the impact being off school until September will have on them socially, on their mental well-being let alone the academic side of things. When I think about dc who are less fortunate than mine I feel so anxious and concerned. I’d be so happy to see some sort of phased return to school as soon as possible really. Looking at the stats I’m not concerned about the health any of the dc or staff at the school although obviously wouldn’t expect anyone in the vulnerable categories or dc of the vulnerable to be expected to return (there’s only one teacher at at their school who is shielding because he’s diabetic). I think school should reopen and the vulnerable remain isolated so the virus cannot be passed on to them if dc fo pick it up at school.

If you read the thread there is nothing properly conclusive on child transmission.

Also differences between a 3 year old to a 15 year old.

All agencies related to Education, including the U.K. government!! have said we can go back when the science tells us it’s safe- they have NOT said - schools can return once we have a vaccine - it’s about reducing the R value to a point at which the health system can cope.

Schools will be back when they know the NHS can deal with the increase in cases, that being in school will create.

It’s not personal. It’s mathematical.

The government don’t care about 45 year old Mrs Briggs with diabetes - they care about the maths and scientific modelling.

Hopefully, however, the headteacher at Mrs Briggs’ school and Union will care, and will ensure they risk assess her personal situation and support her.

At the same time Mrs Briggs has a right to be scared, upset and worried about said situation. This does not make Mrs Briggs crappy, stupid, lazy, uncaring or entitled. It makes her human. Like the rest of us.

A rigged name generator that LOOKS fair but is designed to never come up with a couple of particular ones?

Just use the same one you use for star of the week.

Oh goody, another thread that can be summed up as "get schools open / teachers need to suck it up".

I'm starting to wonder if there's plants on Mumsnet trying to test the water on how the public feel towards teachers / nurses at the moment.

Alright then, care home-linked community, public transport-linked community. I suppose it comes down to whether or not school, being in school, is considered essential? Essential enough to be worth the risk?

Guessing (correctly) that I am of course a paid government shill does not mean that I'm here to test the water or teacher-bash, far from it. But maybe they do need to suck it up, yeah, like other people who do important/essential work? if it is essential?

RUUUNNNSSS

Construction is one immediately coming to mind- so that’s all builders and maintainance - how many jobs can one person do alone really?

Any jobs requiring lifting -two people handing good so that’s warehouses and factories, manufacturing. Amazon even!

Council workers - no one seen the bin vans with 4-5 staff in driving round?

Taxis and buses - eso taxis
Healthcare - not all have ppe
Prison - no ppe at all unless a nurse in direct contact
Police - no ppe - dh is officer
Custodial staff
Factory staff
Shops - those people stacking shelves are not distancing and literally in contact with hundreds each day
Armed forces
Care staff
Education in non school settings eg private, special need and prisons etc all still working or due in soon - my friend teaches in prison and they’re going back into a prison next month with confirmed cases
These are just people I know I’m sure there’s lots of jobs I’m not familiar with

Exactly Sunshine - all essential, all open, all worth the risk despite impossibility of distancing because they are such important services or functions. So state schools are clearly not in this category.

Sunshine

What’s your point?

I work in education in a private setting

I’m due back next month with reduced class sizes

I do think schools should be back once others are expected to return to work as they go hand in hand. I don’t believe for a minute that they’ll sent parents to work and keep schools shut - even if they want to they won’t. The risks to individuals is low.

Why aren’t state schools in this category? All jobs can remain open not just essential services. Any employer can make staff work if the job can’t be done from home

That’s government advice

If that job can’t do social distancingbthen that’s way it is

It’s only advice to employers - to distance were possible

Amazon et al is hardly essential yet they still operate and state schools are prob more important that all expect healthcare

imhotep3 if I were still in the U.K. & teaching, & the government decided on...whatever, decisions don't seem to be a strong point...then I'd jump to it. I'm a fat wheezy person & closing in on 50, so I wouldn't be terribly happy about the risk level, but I'd woman up & crack on with it.

God knows I'd rather be in a classroom than teaching remotely. I'm in a nice overseas bubble & it's still, definitely, twice as much work & half as much fun. I don't know any teachers who are enjoying any of this.

But, as everyone is trying to tell you, it'll inevitably be some sort of half arsed compromise which means education is not great, children's mental health isn't great & the opportunities for working parents REALLY won't be great - let's not forget that many teachers are parents too & will get whacked over the arse as well as the head.

Teachers aren't the enemy here. There just aren't any options which are 'yay everyone back to school! We've decided not to take the massive pandemic into account'. 🤷🏻‍♀️

If you read the government advice for educational settings and risk it states that kids have low viral load

Unsymptomatic people have even less of a viral load

I’m genuinely not being goady, we are all scared but schools will open and should open. They are essential for the normal running of every other area

Obviously those at extra risk should protect themselves - same as in every other workplace

I’m scared to go back to work but honestly remote teaching is crap and I feel for my learners who are vulnerable

I actually feel guilty sitting at home when I walk in Tesco and see staff risking their lives for half the pay im on

@Beebie2 very good post.

Sunshine I've just watched an ad for amazon which said they workers are social distancing, have masks provided etc.

Mistress

I’m sure they’re trying but how on earth can they pack or sort anything over a certain weight? My neighbour had her house furniture delivered this week from ikea - beds and tables etc and about four people carried it in together

Same with B&Q - many things need more than one person

Children are not infected and do not spread in the way adults do.

The evidence base on this is still very early and incomplete; while there are promising indications it isn’t possible to make absolute statements.

I know PurpleCrowbar, I know. I'm sure it will be a half-arsed compromise, that will please no-one, and I know teachers aren't the enemy and didn't make this decision.

Why do a majority of people on this post think it is in anyway up to the teacher to decide when to reopen?

SouthsideOwl
Has anyone actually read the scientific I information coming out on this?

Several different ones and they can't agree on children.pupils and the virus is affected or affecting them and those around them.

How exactly do we protect ourselves if we're at risk @Sunshine1239?

I've got a dept of 3 (History) in a school of 750 pupils. All of us fall into the vulnerable category. I am mid 50s with COPD. My NQT is newly pregnant and my other member of staff (30s) has asthma and is also diabetic.

Do we just shield ourselves and stay home whilst the whole school returns? That means that History is off the timetable for everyone. We have struggled like hell in the past with obtaining a specialist supply teacher - never mind finding 3 to run the whole dept whilst we sit at home.

Or do we come back into an environment where we cannot socially distance, with classes in excess of 30 in tiny classrooms. Do we risk our lives with no PPE? My asthmatic colleague has two small primary aged children. Should she come back to work and what if she catches Covid-19 and dies? It's a hell of a gamble to take and she is very scared about it. People saying 'We're all scared, but teachers should just suck it up' have left her really terrified.

What does protect themselves actually mean? Because schools are not the same as any other workplace. They're really not.

Sunshine1239
I work in education in a private setting

I’m due back next month with reduced class sizes

So your is taking precautions.

What is your reasoning for state schools not being allowed to do the same?

Sunshine1239

For all of those in your list only the educational ones are anything like school?

And even then of the educational ones few of them are like teaching teenagers or children.

I’m not saying schools back full time at all

I mean schools will return but I almost expect it’ll be a single year group one day a week or similar and I’d be happy with that of course and people would understand

Not opening at all from June etc ( when I honestly think most people will return with social distance measures) is unreasonable imo

I imagine for secondary it’ll be a timetabling nightmare but some reduced modified provision should be provided in line with all other work places

Sunshine we already have a modified, reduced provision. Is you school not open for key workers dc already? We are, and it's modified by extending our normal school hours till 6.