Keeping children at home until September

[Witchcraftandhokum]

I work in a school and I'm seeing and hearing a lot of this both on here and in the contact I have with parents. I am worried about how we will manage social distancing and whether we will have PPE if the schools open soon, but I do appreciate the need for kids to be in school, particularly Year 6 and 10.

I also don't know how it will work if a lot of parents chose not send their kids back until September. I wonder just how many parents will do this?

So...
YABU - My kids won't be back until September.
YANBU - My kids will go back as soon as the schools open.

A lot of adults in the general population won't use masks properly never mind children.

Given the very low risk to children it's more damaging to them not to be in school. Obviously teachers unions may feel differently, and since unions always win, I guess that's children's education, social contact and general well-being that can go whistle.

Re opting out - I dont know at this point, but there are lots of teachers saying they don’t want to be back in classroom environment with more than a few kids. However, they are still paid.

I can’t think of any other profession or setting where staff are saying they won’t return to work but still want full pay. We wouldn’t have this option in the NHS.

However - and I mean this - I do sympathise. I’m am wfh on full pay, occasionally I’m in work. For me, it’s the perfect arrangement really and it helps keep me safe.

However, if it carries on, my patients won’t get treatment. Similarly, if schools don’t go back, kids won’t get their education. At some point, we will all have to take a deep breath and a risk.

On the other hand, people have different ideas about risk. Different circumstances at home. So forcing people who are genuinely terrified to work isn’t fair. They should have an option to take unpaid leave and still have a job.

Because the alternative isn’t sustainable Either.

It’s parents who somehow think their children are more important than the next t child

no shit

What entitled parent could possibly want to put their own children first!

Given the very low risk to children it's more damaging to them not to be in school. Obviously teachers unions may feel differently, and since unions always win, I guess that's children's education, social contact and general well-being that can go whistle

This is my view too.

Screwed over by Brexit and now this.

The kind of PPE that actually keeps NHS workers safe, also leaves them with marks and sores all over their faces and ears from being worn and having to be tight enough to be effective for hours on end. I'm sure that parents would love for their kids to come home with them! Can you imagine the first book aid book and facial injury forms?! I probably missed the post suggested that children wear full PPE or then again maybe nobody did.

I can’t think of any other profession or setting where staff are saying they won’t return to work but still want full pay.

I can think of most office workers, currently working from home, who do not want to return TO THE OFFICE and expect full pay. Because they are working full time, just not in the office.

Why should teachers be any different? They CAN work from home as proven these last weeks. No reason whatsoever to force them to return to classrooms. There are enough who have to work providing childcare, as the schools are mainly opened at the moment.

My son is at nursery, he's due to start reception in September. For his benefit being able to go back to nursery before he has to start school would be beneficial as he really misses going. And he has delays in some area of development and nursery was really helping him with interaction with other children and with his development (we are doing what we can at home but obviously we can't do what nursery can).

Given the very low risk to children it's more damaging to them not to be in school. Obviously teachers unions may feel differently, and since unions always win, I guess that's children's education, social contact and general well-being that can go whistle

no, it's a lot more damaging to children to be forced in schools in the current conditions, with (seemingly) ridiculous restrictions and it's unworkable.

Going back to school AS NORMAL would benefit the children. That is not the current choice. Staying home instead of the social distancing school, that is the best option.

It's also better for the children of key workers currently at school, the increase in number will just mess things up for them too.

Unless you accept that classes of 30 are divided in 3 or 4, and children go back in shift, in groups of 8 or 9 maximum? That is a reasonable option, they can keep working at home but benefit from a bit of social interaction with their friends.

But you’re talking as though those who want to keep their children at home (I’m not one of them by the way) are the same people who think teachers are lazy and should get back to school ASAP (I’m not one of those either)

No. I am saying, the decision that will be made is schools open - so we all go in regardless - or schools closed.

I think it’s quite possible for y10 to go back in an empty school.

I think it is possible that parents will keep their children out of school once it re-opens, even if only for the first few days to find out what happens.

I'd start with year 10 and 12 going back, where if teachers or others had to wear masks, it would be not unreasonable, and classes could be smaller.

No one is suggesting children wear p95 masks. In fact most well respected medical researchers are supporting they need to be kept for those on the front line. But research is irrisputedly showing that wearing a fabric facemask has huge benefits if everyone wears one.

rs-delve.github.io/reports/2020/05/04/face-masks-for-the-general-public.html

Nb. Delve = data evaluation and learning for viral epidemics

<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.bmj.com/content/bmj/369/bmj.m1435.full.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjOxcmOtKnpAhVFi1wKHWQcARAQFjABegQIBhAI&usg=AOvVaw2MFCRKmEY_CcRD7pPxpEJ-&cshid=1589117559976" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.bmj.com/content/bmj/369/bmj.m1435.full.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjOxcmOtKnpAhVFi1wKHWQcARAQFjABegQIBhAI&usg=AOvVaw2MFCRKmEY_CcRD7pPxpEJ-&cshid=1589117559976

www.authorea.com/users/316109/articles/446320-masks-for-the-public-laying-straw-men-to-rest

www.fast.ai/2020/04/13/masks-summary/

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200409105405.htm

www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/politics/2020/apr/21/scientists-join-calls-for-uk-public-to-wear-homemade-face-masks-outdoors

All this is backed by respected researchers and scientists in this field.

*It’s parents who somehow think their children are more important than the next t child

no shit grin

What entitled parent could possibly want to put their own children first!*

I think you missed the context..

Schools and nurseries have to consider all the children. Not what the parents want to happen. Their child is no more important than the next. At the forefront of everything we do health and safety is the most important.
My staff will be able to wear masks when they return and if the children are scared because their parents think they are or have taught them to be, then they don’t have to bring them. A parents perceived idea of their child’s fear is not more important than my staff’s heath.

@iVampire completely agree !!!!!

I will be keeping mine home as long as I see fit. They're close in age and get on well, so have eachother for company, and are doing well learning from home, so I'm in no rush to get them back. I appreciate we are in a fortunate situation as I do not need to return to work during the week.

I can't see the advantage in waiting until September, unless people are assuming there'll definitely be some kind of vaccine or treatment until then.

Every day its delayed the more chance that scientists and medical researchers and labs will be able to find more effective treatments for serious Covid cases. Science constantly evolves. We know now that some treatments that were initially used actually caused more harm, in another 2 months we'll have even more knowledge on what is effective and what is potentially more harmful long term. It also allows researchers in pharmaceutical to look at developing and modifying and exploring the.impacts of different medications on treating Covid. These things take time. Even a week or a month difference can hugely influence the medical knowledge and effectiveness of treatment available.

I read in a recent journal (cant remember were) that there are some promising treatments being explored currently, which may hugely lower the fatality of Covid even if vaccine wont be ready by September surely it's better to give medical science as long as possible to become effective and tested?

There’s also loads of stuff coming out about vitamin D

no, it's a lot more damaging to children to be forced in schools in the current conditions

What is damaging our children is being locked away, and if you had it your way it would be nearly six months in confinement from March to September is downright dangerous not only to their education, but more importantly to their mental health. Children's mental health will be shot to pieces after six months out of school, how to do you suppose you would even manage to get them back after so long? They will have fully entrenched psychological problems after so long out of school, and even the most healthy children will struggle.

This is without the huge loss of education, physical well being and emotional damage one I can not believe anyone be it a parent or someone that works with children is unable to see the lasting and very real damage this is having on our children.

The risk is tiny, absolutely tiny to the children, and yet our children are still being locked up months and months on end, it is an outrage.

I am furious on their behalf, they are being forced to sacrifice their childhoods, education, friendships, mental health, physical health for something that will not harm them. It is too big a price to pay.

The whole idea was to support the NHS, to slow the spread. The hospitals are completely empty now! What would we carry on with this?

I for one, will not be supporting any further lockdown measures after June, and I will set up my own school if I have to, and sports teams.

I will not see my children be used in this ill advised social experiment any longer. No way. They have my tacit support until the end of the month and that is it.

September will be the same as now, no different. We are a year away from the rollout of a vaccine even if it is successful. So what would be the point in 'waiting' so no, enough is enough!

@Freddiefox the problem is masks arent particularly effective unless everyone wears one.

Dont get me wrong it's better then nothing (research backed), but if everyone wears a fabric or home made mask it hugely reduced the r value.

Theres even some research that shows that when home made masks are enforceable it can being cases to 100 new cases per day within 6weeks to 3 months, compared to no masks which could take 6 months to 12 months. :/ which is why so many countries have now enforced the use of masks in public. As per usual the UK is choosing to ignore the growing body of scientific evidence...

@Daffodil101

Vitamin D is meant to be beneficial (also largely due to being stuck at home without sunlight and natural vitD. Low vitD causes problems without adding Covid in), I was told by a medical consultant that research has also identified zinc(if I remember correctly) and another which I cant remember :'( as being hugely beneficial during Covid. But I haven't looked it up myself and didnt bother to write it down during the discussion.. doh.

If kids wear masks to school, will they were the same ones all day? They go soggy after about 20 mins so will we need to provide enough for regular changes? Will teachers be on hand to make sure they change them properly, particularly in the lower levels of primary? Just wondering how it would work practically.

For me my eldest daughter is in the shielding category so she won’t be going in till at least September but depending on what has happened between now and then she might not even go back in September if we don’t it’s safe to send her.
It will be hard especially if other kids have gone back and she hasn’t but her health comes first.

Most Asian countries require kids 3+ to wear masks and obviously teaching staff too. So bloody soft in West “it’ll scare kids etc”. Being at home damages mental health. If the kids mental health is damaged after this it’s not a result of missing school, probably more the family environment if people think school is better for kids than family environment. Such a narrow misguided view. 🙄

The risk is tiny, absolutely tiny to the children, and yet our children are still being locked up months and months on end, it is an outrage.

What about the adults that have contact with the children? The risk might be low (but it still exists) for children, but it's not like parents and adults can have no contact with children limiting their risk? Surely it's more damaging to children if they happen to catch it (and likely only have mild symptoms) and then pass it onto a parent who then dies from complications of Covid?
I would.imagine that's HUGELY more damaging to children, wouldn't you?