Our children have the right to an education.

[NameChange738676756]

So many posts about whether schools will be safe when they reopen but I’m not seeing this point made. Lots of discussion around the childcare that schools provide and the importance on children socially.

My 11 year old has lost all interest and I can’t get him to do anything significant. We’ve had one zoom social with his teacher and classmates. So pretty much zero learning going on.

We know children are less susceptible and there is some discussion around whether they’re transmitting less. The children of key workers (i.e. the ones more likely to catch and spread it) have been at school the whole time and as far as I know there haven’t been massive outbreaks in schools.

So I think I just want to loudly shout: our children have the right to an education.

I'm concerned about the social and emotional difficulties that some children will be having and the vulnerable children that are under the radar or haven't been offered a school place but education. No.

What transformative event do you imagine is going to happen in two months time?

There is unlikely to be a transformative event, and that's not quite the point. There will be 2+ months more data, including from countries whose peaks were ahead of ours and who are consequently lifting restrictions ahead of us.

And that will inform decision making and what is the best way to lift restrictions. And perhaps more study will give a fuller answer on transmission chains, particularly the role of children in transmission (where evidence is mixed) and also on how enduring ant immunity is.

And if the 'coming soon' reliable antibody test actual does come (that's gine quiet, hasn't it?) then we might also get some idea about how much of the population has had it. Estimates on that vary considerably too.

There was an article in the weekend FT which featured Sweden's state epidemiologist, Anders Tegnell. It states that schools, restaurants, cafes and shops are open in Sweden, whose approach differs from the rest of Europe.

Mr Tegnell argued that 'nothing (about lockdowns) had a scientific basis,' particularly decisions to close schools because there was no evidence that children were a major cause of transmission. 'It's a big mistake to sit down and say 'we should just wait for a vaccine.' It will take much longer than we think

www.ft.com/content/a2b4c18c-a5e8-4edc-8047-ade4a82a548d

I agree with you OP.

Also I see a lot of outrage at the thought of teachers going back to work without appropriate PPE but when I walk round my local asda once a week Noone seems to be petitioning for the rights of the shalf stackers and till staff who have been at work throughout this with the great British public who often seem incapable of social distancing (as noted on thread after thread after thread on here).

What about the hospital porters and hospital canteen staff, on minimum wage, they've been expected to carry on.

I get that it's scary but this isn't going anywhere and at some point we all have to move forwards.

To note... My BIL is a teacher who is outraged at the prospect of going back to school. He is currently on full pay whilst doing 0 teaching and not having to prep anything for students..... Adult children so no childcare responsibilities. He's up in arms about going back.

He's super keen to play golf on Wednesday with the husband of a front line covid nurse though, and go on a group jog with same person and some others at the weekend. If he could he'd be socialising with friends more. (clearly not representative of all teachers but I'd also imagine he's not unique)!

A right to an education doesnt mean in a classroom.

If your child needs more structure than school is providing, try the bbc lessons. Mine do those as well as their school work and they do prefer it to the vague research tudors and build a tudor house shite I’ve had from their school. They do their school online english and maths, then i direct them for the rest.

So many children and adults have absolutely No resilience and self motivation, this is a good opportunity for some to work on those things.

And if your child has access to a safe, calm home, a computer to enable then to do their work, healthy meals, and a parent who actually cares enough to make sure they are getting some education at all, they're doing better than a huge amount of children right now. And that’s the reason we have the rights of a child. For those children.

It’s a difficult situation for everyone. Children in hong kong have now been off for 15 weeks. Look at HK’s death numbers. Study them and how they reacted To c-19. Then look at us and our piss poor situation at the moment and ask yourself why you want everything back up and running now. Who benefits? What are the benefits? Who loses? What are the losses?

I agree too OP, but without teachers on board any return to school would be pointless anyway as it will just be childcare rather than education or normality for the children. I'm quite shocked by the strength of teachers' reactions, I'd have thought they'd welcome getting back to work in schools. I'd be so glad to get back to my own workplace, distanced or not.

school has done no meetings at all

Goodness me, I wonder why not?

Yes children have a right to education. For the sake of this post, I'm presuming the 'education' you refer to is that of the National Curriculum. How much of that do you think will happen after 1st June?

As a teacher I can categorically tell you - nil. It will be childcare we are providing.

I don't know which class I'll be teaching, how many will be in that class or what classroom I'll be in. Do you really think I can plan to deliver 2 months of lessons with that information? With a class half full of either over-excited or extremely anxious children recovering from the past 8+ weeks? Whilst keeping them and me 2m apart from each other?

If I'm very lucky I will get to be with half of my usual Year 4 class, so at least I'll know them. I still won't be delivering the NC. That's not what the children need right now.

Education is so much more than the NC and what is delivered inside a classroom.

superstressy did you mean to be so rude?

Why can’t schools do at least some live lessons via teams with the video option turned off? Surely it’s better that at least some students get properly taught lessons than none at all. Lots of parents are really struggling with ‘teaching’ and trying to do their own jobs. It’s obviously very difficult for the staff with younger children, but surely some live interaction is achievable.
I do teach btw -yes, in a private so lucky to have access to resources. But most of society have phones where the teams app can be downloaded and students could at least be called for interaction?
This is a genuine question, not an attack.,I did work in the state sector for 7 years so I do know what it is like.

there will be 2+ months more data, including from countries whose peaks were ahead of ours and who are consequently lifting restrictions ahead of us

scaevola

So you advocate continuing the current lockdown conditions for a further two months whilst awaiting data from countries which have eased lockdown? This ignores the economic, social, financial damage which lockdown is inflicting and its proponents don't mention. The FT interview with Anders Tegnell, Sweden's epidemiologist, is interesting. He points out that a vaccine is elusive and may not materialise and that Covid is here to stay, so countries must adapt to that. Sooner rather than later:

It's a big mistake to sit down and say 'we should just wait for a vaccine.' It will take much longer than we think. And in the end, we don't know how good a vaccine it will be. It's another reason to have a sustainable policy in place

Lockdown is not a sustainable policy.

Noone seems to be petitioning for the rights of the shalf stackers and till staff who have been at work throughout this with the great British public who often seem incapable of social distancing

Actually, there is a petition. Why havent you signed it?

They also now have plastic screening up at checkouts in every store ive been in.

Tell the unions OP
they’re having none of it
Not sure what they think will be different in September the virus will still be about, buildings and class numbers won’t be any different
Do they intend to stay off until there is a vaccine?

I'm on both sides of this argument as a teacher and parent to a year 8, reception and nursery aged children. My eldest son's school has been shockingly bad, zero contact, worksheets that say "hand this in once back", no feedback, no concern, nothing. My school are doing live lessons along with many others. I'm not sure why people keep claiming this can't be done, it can and it is.

Children do have a right to be educated and I will be back as soon as I can to help with this. In the mean time I am doing all I can to help my students but this situation is not an adequate replacement. And, no offence to parents, but I would never consider them to be an adequate replacement as an educator.

Many parents are working full time from home and out of the home. We have students home alone all day with very little input. Claiming parents need to step up as educators is exactly why there there will be full classrooms back once opened.

I understand teachers concerns but if the unions are going to continue to block any discussions about schools reopening then they need to put the same effort into setting some basic standards in terms of what teachers are expected to provide for pupils who are stuck at home. Teachers are still receiving a full salary and in my experience many seem to be doing very little. Photographing a page from a text book and asking students to complete the questions (some of which can’t be answered because the relevant pages are not included in the photo) does not constitute “teaching.” I do have relevant experience of this. I work in education, I have children and I am still working full time and engaging in a full programme of teaching for my students. It is time for teachers to start sharing best practice and thinking creatively about how they can support our children because yes they do have a right to an education.

Teachers have a right to a safe working environment, just the same as everyone else.

@valenciaoranges in my school that wouldn’t work because there are several families with 3,4 or 5 children at school and one parent’s smartphone to access the internet.

There are other families with one laptop which a parent needs to use to work from home.

In my household, we have the tech but dh & I would struggle to support the children accessing live teaching whilst also working ourselves. Friends with primary age children who are getting online lessons (private school) are needing one of them available all the time to facilitate it all for their dc.

Potentially 20% of our families & children could realistically access live taught lessons.

Live taught lessons are not the only way to support families at this time. We are providing physical paper resources each week alongside web-based stuff & some pre-recorded videos. 99% (actual figure, we did a survey) of our parents are happy with our provision. I do wish people (on mn) would stop going on about live online lessons as the gold standard when it totally depends on school context.

I understand teachers concerns but if the unions are going to continue to block any discussions about schools reopening

Which unions are you referring to who have blocked a discussion? source please. The unions im following all are desperately trying to discuss the best ways to make it work. Im curious which are just refusing to discuss it!

At the price of their health?

I will always put my child’s health and emotional wellbeing before their education.
Can you imagine the reaction in the smaller ones to all the changes if sent back? Everything they’ve ever known about school changed. It isn’t just as simple as going back to school, everything about school is different, the atmosphere will be different because teachers are concerned, interaction with friends has to be different.
For many, it will drill into them how serious this situation is and cause a lot of anxiety.

For many kids, education at home with a parent is better than the reality which will ruin their perception of school for a long time.

ConnieDoodle
I've not seen the petition so don't know what the content of it is, but my comment was more in relating to the number of MN threads and Facebook posts I see daily talking about teachers versus the same outlets and the lack of uproar I see on them for supermarket workers, hospital porters, undertakers, factory workers etc etc

The plastic screening is a good step forward for those on the till, but given its full of large holes for passing cash through and receipts I'd be interested to know how effective it is in preventing droplets from passing through to the till operator.

Society can't just grind to a halt. I have three year old twins, I work in a key sector and cannot function effectively in my job whilst also entertaining/educating my kids.

The argument about kids not being taught the NC if they go back in June is strange, why would they suddenly be okay to be taught in Sept.

Also if teachers aren't happy to go back to work... For those doing no work (as I appreciate lots of teachers are actually busier than ever as they are doing online teaching whilst looking after their own children) why are they on 100% pay and not effectively furloughed like everyone else? My BIL has done no work... Why does he get 100% when Mr Bus Driver only gets 80%?

Anyway I don't think that was the OPs point.... When I'm able to I'll be sending my kids back to school, I think social distancing will be fine given how many people will be keeping their kids off school till the magic of September rolls round.

"I can't get him to do anything significant"... one of the more empathic results of lockdown might be an improvement in how teachers are regarded. Try teaching 30 kids who don't want to do anything significant!

Teachers have a right to a safe working environment, just the same as everyone else

pussycat

Can you define what you mean by safe working environment for teachers? What measures does that entail? What criteria will determine 'safe'?

My school are doing live lessons along with many others. I'm not sure why people keep claiming this can't be done, it can and it is.

Your school sounds like it is discriminating against the disadvantaged students.

If you do have 100% of students engaging in live lessons, is your school a fair representation of schools in england?

Valencia agree they are not the gold standard. That's being in a classroom with a good teacher, however the live teaching I have done has really helped me see the gaps in their learning. Weekly group chats or even online interactive live quizzes or something can really help with engagement levels and assessing where they are at

Replied to the wrong person, sorry Valencia