To feel I can't cope with schools only going back part time in August?

[jbonsor]

Just that. I was coping OK with lockdown, and trying to keep positive about juggling kids and working from home til June, then take a few weeks holiday over the summer just to do things with the kids even if still restricted. This week I have received a letter from my son's nursery to say he has a space for the 2020-2021 school year but that due to covid 19 they can't confirm pattern of attendance, as in, they can't confirm if he will have the 30 hours he was having since August. I also have read a lot that primary school might be 2 days only a week or a very day but only morning or afternoon session.. This has really tipped me over the edge as I am dreading having to keep juggling all this for over a year. This really puts a strain in family life and finances because now we have to basically decide on one income only, and not onky that but I don't feel I am that good at home schooling and feel like my kids are going to fall behind. Sometimes I can't believe how everything fell apart so spectacularly and how is the Scottish government deciding this is the best course of action without any regard for the mountain of problems this will bring to a huge amount of families.

Maybe we will be going back to a time when men worked, women stayed at home and looked after the kids and taught them basic skills before going to school at 5 - not 1 or 2 or 3. I like the sound of that.

Jesus wept! Fucking hell.

And as far as the flu vaccine, it's NOT mandatory!

@lakeswimmer that's so very true, widens the gap.
@iwillhavetea sounds like a horrible setting and I understand how you feel, I feel. So out of control and like I can't make it better for my kids

And I’m afraid I don’t buy in to this ‘oh it’s terrible for women’ crap, if you had children with someone who thinks childcare is all down to the mother then that’s your problem.

My husband earns 4x what I earn. I can't do my job from home with a toddler around, it's simply not possible. And as he is on calls all day, it's also not possible. He's a great partner and is hugely supportive of my business but for fucks sake, of course his wage has to be the one protected. It's keeping a roof over our heads.

That fact doesn't make my career any less important. Our situation is far from unique.

Maybe have a read about the gender pay gap, how self employed mums have been screwed with the SEISS scheme and generally get your head out of your arse.

Based on your posts I am honestly shocked you're a teacher.

@savehalloween

32 children renowned for passing infections on is a little different imo.

@neveradullmoment99

Well, you can compare it. The stark fact is that kids have gone back to school and it’s been fine.

The mechanics of it all are for you and your fellow teachers to work out based on evidence and best practice conveniently available from 22+ other countries that went before you.

Or however many in a class, day in day out.

I don't think it will be 2 metre physical distancing by August. Other nations that have gone back are down to 1 metre or none like Denmark.

@Sadie789

You cannot compare their systems. they were completely different to begin with. For a start they did not have as many children in a class.
They have in Norway currently social bubbles of about 7!!!

Denmark also have social bubbles of x amount of children.
We do not have the staff to do that. Most kids are also outside. They have washing facilities etc. So it is not business as usual.

@neveradullmoment99 or you can choose to make excuses, but the fact remains 22 countries have sent their children back to school without causing a spike in COVID cases.

Denmark have no social distancing because they have social bubbles.

@Sadie789

Its a waste of time trying to explain to you. Its like comparing apples and pears.

I cannot see a reason that schools can’t prepare for multiple scenarios, as our school has done. Meaning there is no need to make a blanket ‘schools will be part time from August’ statement. There needs to be a degree of flexibility, based on what situation we’ll be dealing with at the time.

Honestly I’d prefer it if the giver position was “we’ll only be able to provide partial state education for the foreseeable future.” Rather than “they’ll all get educated but it’ll be blended learning with lots happening at home.” Because that’s not what will happen.

Some children - those with SAHPs or parents with very flexible jobs or paid tutors - will be learning at home. Lots won’t. And I don’t just mean the children of parents who can’t be arsed, I mean the children of parents who are not able to sit with them doing home learning, who don’t have the time or the ability or either to support it.

I could probably do a decent shot at home learning for the age my kids are if I didn’t have a job. But I do, so I can’t.

@neveradullmoment99 if you’re trying to convince me that the schools model in France is so vastly different to the UK’s they only have classes in single figures then you will fail as I know from first hand experience the systems are comparable.

@neveradullmoment99

Can I ask.. Have you seen it in writing that scottish schools are aiming for full time..

I have read the lockdown plan and it only talks about part time..

Part time schools have part time running costs and I’m sure that has been heavily factored in to the Scottish government’s buzzwordy rebranding of standard school education as “blended learning”.

Agreed GoldenOmber. The term ‘blended learning’ is a cop out. There are many families who will not be in a position to provide any out of school education.
So why not just be clear that from August, children will only be provided with a part time education. Meaning that curriculums/examinations etc will all have to be reworked to take that into account.

@golde yeah it will be very limited what we can do if we are having to work from home.

Part time schools have part time running costs

And if it continues long term I imagine fewer teachers will be needed. Part time schools = fewer teachers. Why have multiple maths teachers in a school when just one could pull together an online learning programme for an entire LEA?

32 children renowned for passing infections on is a little different imo.

Did you read my post? I referenced staff living in care homes. You know, where a large proportion of cases and deaths have occurred.

And you really think being asked to teach a classroom of children, in three months time is "a little different"?

I mean, it's certainly different but not in the way you're implying.

I get the issue with part time schooling but what exactly do you want? Do you think that this is a choice that is being made or a necessity. Or would you rather you take your chances with your child falling ill?

I mean, we take our chances that our children may get ill every time we leave the house. The argument is, how are parents supposed to return to work when school will only have their children back 2 days a week?

You are in a fortunate position if this doesn’t impact you.

@Drivingdownthe101.. I asked a question about how part time schooling would work with exams on my local MP Facebook and got a very cheeky response saying it wasn't part time it was Blended and I should retain some responsibility for my child. As he has kids too!

So I guess that's the snp party line.. Its Blended..

My DS is going into year 12 in September I very much doubt schools will be up and running straight away come the new school year but they had better have better provisions than available in most schools now. It is a RIGHT to have an education in this country. 1 term upended by covid is fine but if this is to carry on then full provisions need to be found and administered before a whole generation of children will be adversely affected by this. Other countries that I have family in seem to be able to carry on a full and varied curriculum after only a few weeks on lockdown (New Zealand and USA)

Sadie
Well if women want to leave their jobs, that's their choice, but don't blame employers or society in general.
Change will only come from men being expected to share the load and support their partners career.
If women don't demand equality from their partners it's their own fault.