To not want my child to return to a school full of reluctant teachers

[Heldupwithscaffolding]

Even if the Government endorses school reopening, who would want to send their child into an environment where the teachers clearly do not want them there ?

Lovely! Ok, as a teacher, part of me is reluctant for kids to go back to school because I don’t want to see any of them get ill, or (more likely) stressed by the inevitable changes and the weird new normal.

I’m not worried about myself.

I’m worried FOR THE KIDS and their families because on the days I have been into work with key workers’ kids and vulnerable kids, they do not understand social distancing at all. And these are teenagers, 11-16 year olds. They were close to me asking me questions and I had to keep ducking away, not to protect me, but to protect them. They were close to each other despite us telling them to keep 2 metres distance.

When they’re back in bigger numbers, it’s going to be an unusual, stressful environment for them. That doesn’t mean I don’t want them to come back, it means I want there to be time to plan how to get them in safely and give them as stress free an experience as possible.

I’m also worried about them when they’re off though, in case they’re struggling with the work, if they’re not ok at home, if they’re missing their friends and extended family.

Can’t fucking win.

Either schools aren’t open and we’re all lazy shirkers or they’re open and we’re getting in the neck for not doing enough to protect the students.

I would love to see my students again, to the point where I’m welling up a tiny bit on phone calls home to their parents. I would imagine the vast majority of teachers feel the same way.

And yes, a lot of teachers are worried about their own health. As are people who have to get on public transport to go to work. As are people who work in a supermarket.

But do you understand that teachers can be worried about their own health AND their students’ health and students’ emotional well being (whether school is closed or open) AND how do deal with the logistics of making our school safe?

@mumtomaxwell that may be right. But it doesn’t mean that parents can’t be bothered to parent their children, unless you are suggesting every working parent fits that description

@VashtaNerada that's reassuring. I am desperate to get back to work and I am very concerned about the economy and indirect deaths arising from this crisis. I can't return until my children do, they are both young and in the potential first lot of children to go back.

My husband is a key worker and unable to social distance in his work a lot of the time so we could have sent them but have done what was asked and kept them at home as it was technically possible. The advice has now changed to that eligible children should be encouraged but we won't send them in until their whole year groups are invited to attend.

If it helps, REdReDRE, I absolutely won't judge any parent in these times for sending to school or no.

I am going into school two days a week. I worry I'll bring the virus home to my baby. But I have to go in because we need the money, so I do. So I understand anyone who feels they have no choice but to send their children in. I would never make it obvious to the children or parents that I worry, though.

I'm sure (I hope) you'll find the staff at your child's school just as welcoming.

@happyandsingle my job can be done from home but it involves long video calls with people who are often emotional and stressed - it is literally impossible to do with two young children around. Hence why I've had to stop working throughout to care for them. I can do an element in the evenings of paperwork but not the meetings. I'm sure many people have jobs they can do from home when the children are not there but can't when they are.

It's about trying to create normality in an awful situation but trying to do that is quite impossible in a school setting

This is so true, even with teenagers. Every time you have to tell them to move away from their friend, or not to share that pack of crisps, remind them to wash their hands you’re reminding them it’s not ‘normal’ anymore. Some kids are fine, but some kids get quite stressed and tearful. And that was with only 12 kids in on one day.

Also on PPE - if I worked in a supermarket, I would be able to wear a mask. As as teacher, I can’t. There are students with hearing difficulties and with English as a second language who need to see my mouth when I’m teaching. I’m sure that lack of choice is a blow for teachers who are worried about their own health.

I have spent over a decade defending my profession and the amazingly talented and resilient and caring colleagues I have worked with.
I can't be arsed anymore.
I send a thousand flowers to you OP and ask you now to home educate your kids.
This virus has really shown people up for who they are. You shod be ashamed of yourself.
Rant. Over.

This in an awful thread, teachers have a right to want to make sure they can do their job properly and comply with what’s set out before they go back.

I have concerns about it being too soon. The R has risen again. The BMA are not keen on schools opening. No one in the govt seems to be able to adequately explain why children are safe to mix with each other and school staff but not their own extended families.
I would like the govt to be honest and admit it’s about childcare not education.
I’m over 50 and asthmatic. I know I’ll probably live if I get it but the govt has spent a lot of time and effort telling me I might not. Now they want me to just pretend it’s all fine. I don’t trust them.
However I’ll be there, just like I have been the last few weeks, and I’m a professional so those children will never know I’m worried.
I have cried with sadness at missing this last term with my utterly lovely, quirky and funny class. I look forward to seeing them so much- but it won’t be school as they know it. We will try to make it as normal as possible, just as we are for key worker children.
OP your children will be welcomed and cared for, as always. But we do have the right to question whether it is safe.

Where has OP gone ?

@SachaStarkI’d like to know what sector you’re in, @CayrolBaaaskin*, so that we can all have a good go at you for doing a shite job during a global pandemic.

Unless you’re actually Carol Baskin, in which case you have already had a fairly international pile on, so fair enough.*

You did make me laugh with this one!

@CayrolBaaaskin
As I understand it, schools are generally not teaching the kids who are in. This is the rule rather than the exception. I don’t know anyone in state school getting any useful education at the moment.
This simply isn't true. There are plenty of state schools providing online teaching. There have been many threads about the provision and there are state school parents describing some quite incredible provision. There are, however, plenty who are receiving little guidance or interaction. This isn't fair, but slagging off all teachers isn't either.

Where has OP gone?

OP has done a bunk.

Its almost like the government want us to thrash it out ourselves instead of taking our concerns to them.
I can see it from both sides the educators ( teachers and teaching assistants) have a right to feel safe in their job. They want to welcome our children into school into a nice happy learning environment. I also understand that there are parents in ohther roles who need their child to be in school. Tough times ahead.

Stinkycatbreath

The problem is that the guidance is so poor and the newest come with a 'you don't have to use this'

But whether the schools follow guidance or not, it is very clear that anything that goes wrong will be place at the door of the school and not the government because the guidance is designed that way.

Even if the Government endorses school reopening, who would want to send their child into an environment where the teachers clearly do not want them there ?

Teachers want children back when it's safe, which is hopefully soon, but not yet.

What kind of parent wants to send their children somewhere unsafe?

They're only hesitant because they're worried about how the children will be effected by a return to school during a pandemic versus a normal return to school.
My dds nursery teacher rang today and she was quite open about how worried she is that the returning children are expecting things to be as they were and they're obviously not going to be and how this will effect 3&4 yr olds who can't really articulate what is upsetting them.
There's too many threads like this one that I've stopped commenting on most of them

@FrippEnos

I love that man! Please go on every single thread about teachers and just post that! For me..

Fuck the flowers...They are wasted on the goady and the thick...

Just give them the No more Fucks to Give song. He speaks for many of us.

@heldupwithscaffolding

You are getting an unfair bashing here. There are plenty of threads on MN from teachers saying they don't want to go back to working in schools and they don't want any more pupils coming in (than already are as key workers children) because they are scared of the virus.

Of course I'm not jumping to the conclusion that teachers will therefore act unprofessional and treat and children coming in with hostility and shortness. Every teacher I know is completely professional and will strive to do everything they can for their kids.

However merely by being cautious and scared (which is a completely natural reaction which I do not blame them for) they might inadvertently upset children (especially young primary school ones) by not hugging them, or being as close or open as they were pre pandemic. To a child who is too young to fully grasp what's going on they may interpret this as the teacher no longer liking them and be upset by it.

So yes I agree, if I could avoid it I wouldn't want to send my DC to a school where they aren't wanted because I know even if the teachers push all feeling of apprehension and fear aside they will still be cautious (as they have every right to be) and this may upset my child. I would rather keep them at home, Atleast for the mean time.



Even if the Government endorses school reopening, who would want to send their child into an environment where the teachers clearly do not want them there ?

No, I absolutely would not, if my children's dedicated and hard working teachers tell me that they don't want children in school then that is because it is not safe for them to be there. I don't want my children to die, I don't want their teachers to die.

All these parents who are bashing their children's teachers, why did you send your children to a school and leave them there when you clearly have no confidence in their teachers ? There's not a hope in hells chance that my children would stay in a school where I had the lack of confidence in the staff that you lot seem to have.

Who ever said that the government should admit that they're being driven by the economy is spot on.

School staff have a right to get safe at work. Children have a right to feel happy and safe. Parents have the right to know that they're sending their children to a secure and positive environment. Those considerations are not at the forefront of government strategy and it would be better if they came clean and admitted it.