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.

1. it's not just about children dying. Children DO get seriously ill and we don't understand this, nor have data on how many.
2. it's not just about children. Children are potentially key transmissions points in a local community because they are huge hubs for lots of people. So it's not just child to child transmission. It's parent to parent transmission. And all the transmission chains from that, which we have no information about and currently no means to get data about this. C) the cases per 100,000 are still much higher than in countries which are reopening schools and even by 1st June at the current rate of decline in cases we will STILL be above the upper limit of cases per 100,000 for triggering another tightening of restrictions.

Devlesko

It’s the parents responsibility to make sure they are educated, to source a school. That’s what we have done. Because we can’t educate them ourselves, with not being teachers, and with going to work.

As I’m having to educate mine presently, I’m not going to work, or rather, I am being paid to do my job and finding I can’t, not properly.

It’s how it works, as you know, though any statement can be twisted to mean whatever anyone wants it to mean. I never thought I’d read on mumsnet that it’s my job to educate my child during term time, when she’s enrolled in a state school. Or that it’s nit a teachers role to teach her.

Then again I did read in another thread last week that teachers drill in children’s mouths, just the same as dentists. I hope they have the right drill bits.

So the latest is that if your DCs' school doesn't have space your DCs will be sent to a different one?

Are all you teacher bashers happy about that?

God, the whining from parents about being expected to parent their own children is hilarious. And the deliberate misunderstanding of what is being said is transparent and very silly.

Yes, teachers are concerned about their own safety but, even more they are worried about the children. But don't let the truth get in the way of your hissy fits.

God, the whining from parents about being expected to parent their own children is hilarious

No one has any issue parenting their child, how silly. Please quote where someone has said this on the thread.

I am, however, bemused to be told that it’s my responsibility to educate them, when someone else is being paid a full salary to do this.

I hope you are putting your children first, before money

I couldn't roll my eyes any harder at such a reductive thought process.

@Devlesko

Good, it's about time parents put their children first, instead of having a go at the teachers.
I'm a parent, it is my responsibility and I'm doing it thanks.

I hope you are putting your children first, before money.

Devlesko, I freely admit I'm being very, very nosy and apologise for it but I do have a question for you...How are you managing to pay your bills? Have you had to take unpaid leave so you can homeschool effectively? If so, you have truly put your children before money and I commend you.

@devlesko you know that legislation clearly doesn’t apply to now as my child is on the school register , therefore I have fulfilled my legal duty as a parent as they are registered with Lea/ school
I agree with @dafodil as you know it’s real meaning and it certainly does not apply to now ,most of us parents are trying but I can’t teach my year 10 subjects I never even studied ,
The difference between schools is outstanding some seem to be offering little whilst others are offering more
My child’s is doing ok only criticism I would have would be a little more feedback but I expect it will come
And as for your comment re : money before safety , that is unfair what would we have done if all nurses or supermarket workers had said this and how would they feed there children
It’s not that simple and you know it

As I’m having to educate mine presently, I’m not going to work, or rather, I am being paid to do my job and finding I can’t, not properly.

It's interesting that you recognise that you find you can't do your job properly.

I wonder if people could extrapolate to how teachers can't do their job properly either while teaching their own children.

My point is that it's not teachers V parents, although it is starting to feel like it on this site, and certainly in this thread.

I taught for a long time before changing career so when this happened I was ok about needing to support their learning at home a little. To be honest, I'm thrilled with what they're achieving. The 14 year old has to earn a set amount of points in every topic each week and each morning we write a list to gain 100 points across various topics. He chooses to do more Mon-Thurs and take Fridays off, but he's working, engaging and doing what he needs to do.

DS9 is different as his school send over a task list each Monday and he chooses four tasks each day. They both have to do an hour reading a day but aside from that they can choose how they spend their time.

I don't pretend to be offering the quality education they deserve, but it's enough and as far as I can tell, that's alright at the moment. I'd love for them to return to school - both miss it, both have struggled with the isolation. But I also think that if it's a choice between the vulnerable students receiving as much support, education and time on site or the non-vulnerable students, the vulnerable ones have to take precedent. The safety of teachers and those vulnerable students has to come above everything else for now.

I am really very happy to parent my children.
I just never thought I would have to do that all the time while me and my DH holding down a mega stressful job without any form of childcare for six months..
A few months yes no worries - it's really difficult time - but when everyone else is being told to go back to work and teachers are saying it's not safe, um no.

I am, however, bemused to be told that it’s my responsibility to educate them, when someone else is being paid a full salary to do this

Lots of A and E departments have been much quieter than usual. I hear Cancer specialists are getting less referrals at the moment. Maybe we should put them on 80% pay too.

Actually I do have a good suggestion about who should be on statutory sick pay or 80% pay right now and that's Boris Johnson who isn't carrying out his full duties. Maybe we should back date it to January when he didn't turn up for COBR meetings.

Lots of A and E departments have been much quieter than usual. I hear Cancer specialists are getting less referrals at the moment. Maybe we should put them on 80% pay too.

In fairness, while I appreciate they are quieter than usual, they are not telling patients that it is their responsibility to treat their own illnesses.

They also have a right to live. No one is happy about the situation but YOU as the parent need to step up. The risks are far too great.

Not sure why some of you send your kids to school since teachers are such a useless bunch of layabouts. I'm on a tea break after lots of lovely lessons with the students. Now to marking.
Again for those not getting anything I give you this. It's free. Does what you are all clambering for. Admittedly it is written by teachers for which I apologise. Did you see that the chief statistician says numbers are not coming down as fast as they thought. Still far too high. And even dear Gavin is now admitting opening schools is not like opening an office.

www.thenational.academy

The health risks will be the same ie low whenever schools return.

The risks to the NHS and economy of a delayed return are far greater.

I am, however, bemused to be told that it’s my responsibility to educate them, when someone else is being paid a full salary to do this.

The law has been pointed out many times. Your responsibility. Bemused or not.

Dear god @Jojobar do you not understand ! The risks will not be the same. Once contact tracing and testing works the risks are lowered as Germany shows. And once R level is down less people carrying virus means less people catch it. It's so simple the rest of the world understands it.

I have a secondary age dc

Subjects he has work for are

Maths
English
Science
Geography
History
RE
Spanish
French
Art
Design
Food
Music
Drama
PE

Plus I have a primary DC too

There's not a teacher in the world who could do all that surely?! Let alone an average parent.

Personally I think all children should repeat the year.. I understand that logistically this is probably impossible...but surely the curriculum moving forward will need to be tweaked to take into account this huge gap in schooling?

Some of you struggling to juggle educating your kids and working from home might want to get off the internet then. Certain people seem to spend the whole day arguing their point on a forum yet apparently they have no time to work or educate!
Contact your school if you are not happy and if they don't help then use the oak national academy or BBC bitesize. Learn to problem solve

Well said OP.

Lots of medics whose normal clinics are closed are working on critical care Covid wards to support their colleagues. HTH.

The law has been pointed out many times. Your responsibility

And I’ve fulfilled that by registering them in school.

Now, can you clarify what responsibility my child’s teacher, being paid a full salary, has?

Because the message on here seems to be none.

I am, however, bemused to be told that it’s my responsibility to educate them, when someone else is being paid a full salary to do this.

Bemused or not, that is the law.
We don't have schools atm, and whilst many parents seem to be trying their best juggling work and educating their kids, others seem happy to forgo their children's education and bash teachers.

I find it both ironic and hypocritical since it's the parents responsibility by law.