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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Our children have the right to an education.

999 replies

NameChange738676756 · 13/05/2020 05:41

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.

OP posts:
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6
merrymouse · 13/05/2020 12:14

There will be no decent education on your child's return.

I think this has to be underlined. We need to be realistic about what schools can provide at the moment.

It's not relevant to compare schools to businesses - some businesses have adapted, some will fail, but education can't fail.

The schools that have failed their children will be exposed, inquiries will be held and those schools can expect to be closed if they are failing to such a degree

And that will be completely pointless if the children still haven't received an education.

Easilyanxious · 13/05/2020 12:14

Also people forget lots of children don't have a computer Or internet access or maybe share a room with younger siblings and we have all had to adapt but can understand why people want there children to go back to something
It's not like whole school is opening up on one day and the schools haven't even seen who wants to come back yet they my only have a few pupils from each year and let's not forget the one thing , it is not definate it's only if we have a low enough r number and cases etc
So many professions such as care workers , social workers , bin men , supermarket workers even cleaners who are also back to work taking a risk everyday

echt · 13/05/2020 12:14

Some are just throwing a few ill thought through work sheets our way and weblinks to oaktree or similar

So what are you doing about it? Or will you join the queue of every single parent who's pissed and moaned on MN about the work without saying how they've got on to the school about it.

Next.

formerbabe · 13/05/2020 12:16

If you’re a decent parent they aren’t losing out on an education

What a load of nonsense

mumsneedwine · 13/05/2020 12:17

@LaurieMarlow I agree. I hate being stuck on a screen all day. And before I get the 'you are a teacher you should be chained all day to a desk' I am having a break before next on line lesson. Some of you seem to have loads of time on your hands for teacher bashing - are you not working ??
This situation is not teachers fault. We didn't start or spread the virus. We are also parents working from home, many with small children to look after.
The hatred towards teachers is not going to help anyone. But as lots of people are apparently going to now become teachers the shortage will be solved. So that's good.
Right off to explain fractional distillation to year 9.

LaurieMarlow · 13/05/2020 12:17

So what are you doing about it?

For about the millionth time. Emailed teacher and head. Got no response from teacher. Got platitudes, empty promises and the line about ‘I am my child’s primary educator’ from the head.

Nothing changed.

The bottom line is there is no accountability for schools doing a shit job right now. And no consequences.

PuttingoutthefirewithGasoline · 13/05/2020 12:17

The woe is me I am a teacher is nauseating for those of us in medicine, that do actually have a great deal of risk to contend with every single day.

^^ Its not just those in medicine its bin collectors, postal workers, shops staff, packers, pickers, bus drivers, endless walks of life - hospital staff, cleaners porters etc..It staff - keeping everyone on line...

formerbabe · 13/05/2020 12:18

If you're a well off family with a highly educated stay at home parent, with access to the internet, a laptop for your child and a printer, then perhaps your children are receiving some semblance of an education...

No idea what your definition of a "decent" parent is @maybelatte

PuttingoutthefirewithGasoline · 13/05/2020 12:19

The bottom line is there is no accountability for schools doing a shit job right now. And no consequences.

^^ I agree. Where is the consistency and how come schools in the same area can do so much more than others and who will hold them accoutable

mumsneedwine · 13/05/2020 12:19

@Easilyanxious all those workers have PPE. We would like PPE. But being told we don't need it. That's why we are reluctant. USE YOUR ENERGY TO CAMPAIGN FOR TEACHER PPE AND WE WILL GET BACK FASTER.
Was that loud enough ?

OneOfTheGrundys · 13/05/2020 12:19

I want to go back. I am really, really looking forward to seeing the teens I teach again.
But. My husband will die if I bring home the virus. I’m scared.
And I’m so, so saddened and depressed with the utter hatred and bile directed towards the entirety of the profession - that I’m proud to be part of and love - based on personal and anecdotal experience.
I want to go back but I don’t feel safe at the moment.

merrymouse · 13/05/2020 12:20

If you’re a decent parent they aren’t losing out on an education.

That isn't fair. Parent's have different resources and some are out at work all day. Even if you are a key worker, how do you persuade a 17 year old that they have to be 'babysat' in school?

Easilyanxious · 13/05/2020 12:20

@mumsneedwine so they all have ppe though so you have a link for this as I've read on other threads they don't in all countries or simply just a facemask not in full ppe
Also he said earliest date subject to numbers being down etc so we may well be at those levels or hopefully not we rent and then they won't go back

mumsneedwine · 13/05/2020 12:20

@PuttingoutthefirewithGasoline but they all have PPE. I want PPE. I can keep doing this if people are finding this hard to understand ?? I have one DD working in a supermarket - has PPE. One works in a hospital - has full PPE. I'd just like a mask and some Flash please.

OneOfTheGrundys · 13/05/2020 12:21

The woe is me I am a teacher is nauseating for those of us in medicine, that do actually have a great deal of risk to contend with every single day.
With ppe.

mumsneedwine · 13/05/2020 12:21

@Easilyanxious a mask would do me. And some cleaning stuff to clean desks between classes. And a guarantee no one will cough on me because it's funny.

SheWranglesRugRats · 13/05/2020 12:22

If you’re a decent parent they aren’t losing out on an education

Yeah, fuck those kids without decent parents, who cares about them anyway?

Iwalkinmyclothing · 13/05/2020 12:22

If you’re a decent parent they aren’t losing out on an education

That devalues professional teachers, whose qualifications, knowledge, skills and resources gained through training and experience cannot simply be replaced by well meaning parents.

Easilyanxious · 13/05/2020 12:24

I meant hopefully we won't be at high levels still but if we are then we won't be going back
Fingers crossed our levels continue to drop

Boxachocs · 13/05/2020 12:25

I’m so sick of parents complaining their kids aren’t motivated and they can’t get them to do any work. Start bloody parenting properly! I’m not talking about people who are working from home and trying to help small children. I’m talking about people who aren’t working, I’m talking about parents who never bothered hearing their kids read at home before all this, the ones who didn’t bother getting them to do homework. And there are plenty of them. The ones who would say to me ‘Oh they won’t read at home’. They are your children, your responsibility. Step up.
Again, I’m not talking about people trying to manage full time working and looking after small children.

OneOfTheGrundys · 13/05/2020 12:25

@Easilyanxious a mask would do me. And some cleaning stuff to clean desks between classes. And a guarantee no one will cough on me because it's funny.
^
This. Because working with teenagers in large numbers is not the same as working with a largely rational and sensible general public.

TempsPerdu · 13/05/2020 12:26

If you’re a decent parent they aren’t losing out on an education.

Not true, even for supposedly more privileged families. My friend has a Cambridge degree, as does her husband, and they are massively struggling with home schooling their DD13 and DS10 because they’re both still working full time - longer hours in her case as Covid-related. Her DS’s primary in particular has provided next to nothing beyond a few uploaded worksheets so she’s spending her evenings crafting timetables and finding resources. It’ll be ‘an education’, I guess, but it definitely won’t be a good one.

Jojobar · 13/05/2020 12:27

You can namecall if you like Echt, but the reality is that real poverty is not something that most people in this country are acquainted with. Those who are tend to be the ones who are still working whatever the risk to health.

Unfortunately if we all stay off til September or beyond, it's going to become a horrific reality for many.

Reluctantbettlynch · 13/05/2020 12:27

Your child, educate them. If you are concerned then do something about it. It's not the time for blaming schools or teachers.
However I do think it is the time for them to reconsider the excessive pressure on attendance.

Easilyanxious · 13/05/2020 12:27

@mumsneedwine surely your school can provide you with a mask
As a parent if it's about money I would happily donate some masks to my school obviously they can't be medical grade as I think whilst in short demand Drs and nurses treating vivid patients need these more