To think this procrastinating about school reopening is going to cause more deaths and long term issues than CV

[whenthejoyreturns]

Credit due to all the schools that have worked hard and found inventive ways to open this week. I know of some that have sent positive messages to parents and managed to reassure them that their dc won’t be traumatised by the experience.
What’s preventing all schools doing this? Our local primary has sent an email basically telling parents they will be committing murder if their dc step anywhere near school. Unsurprisingly they’ve decided they’re not ready to open yet. This is a modern school, all classrooms have doors to outside and are large and airy. The deputy head’s dc has diabetes and I believe she doesn’t want to open because of her personal circumstances.
AIBU to think schools are not thinking about children and the negative impact this is bound on thousands. I believe many will never recover from this.

I wish I was going to be wrong, but unfortunately I don't think I will be. I reckon for all year groups to be full-time in your avarage state secondary, we're looking at November.

Children are statistically more at risk from traffic on their journey to school.

Independent SAGE actually looked at this...

www.independentsage.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Independent-Sage-Brief-Report-on-Schools.pdf

I mean yes, it is still an extremely low risk, but interestingly not lower than being killed by traffic as I've often seen trotted out on MN.

Also says nothing about the risk of staff catching it from a child.

I don't think it is alarmist to point out that for some children months of social isolation, poor support or abuse will eventually result in suicide when they can no longer cope with their lives. Certainly no more alarmist than some of the risk assessment surrounding the current transmision rates and actual hazard level of Covid 19 within communities where schools have been open throughout the pandemic for the children most exposed through their parents' occupations.

It will never be cited as a Covid death, it will only be one part of the picture, but it is relevant and children are coming to harm by months of exclusion from society and support services.

Schools are an enormous part of safeguarding the vulnerable, directly and by being a safe space.

I've been looking for the parallel thread about the procrastination of the medical profession reopening clinics and surgeries causing more deaths - strangely, there doesn't seem to be one. And yet the "actual" risk of death is infinitely higher from all those missed cancer diagnoses and so forth.
But yeah, you know, Covid-19. It's shit isn't it? But it is NOT schools' or teachers' fault.

I think everyone who wants to send their children to school because of work commitments and if they are happy to send them (ie no vulnerable people in the house, etc) should and the ones who want to keep them home and can look after them should. Then there wouldn't be so much arguing and there would be more space for social distancing at school. But even then I think schools will be struggling to cope with space.

I don't think it is alarmist to point out that for some children months of social isolation, poor support or abuse will eventually result in suicide when they can no longer cope with their lives.
Oh you don't? OK then. Some crystal ball you have there.
Certainly no more alarmist than some of the risk assessment surrounding the current transmision rates and actual hazard level of Covid 19 within communities where schools have been open throughout the pandemic for the children most exposed through their parents' occupations.
Because the R rate has been decreased. Because the rest of us have been in lockdown.
We don't actually know what the risks related to schools re-opening will be yet though do we? And partially lifting the lockdown 'in a controlled way' is going so well isn't it?

Of course there are going to people who want to send their children to school for a host of different reasons, but that doesn't change the fact that it is too early to be sure that it's safe. Numerous scientists and medics have expressed serious reservations, but people will plough on regardless and try to justify their reasons, in the same way as all those breaking lockdown and social distancing rules do - because it suits them, and stuff all those who may suffer because of their actions.

Numerous scientists and medics have expressed serious reservations

And numerous others will think it's the right thing to do but that doesn't make the papers.

And yes my child getting an education does "suit me" and I'd question any parent who it didn't suit tbh.

THERE IS STILL A FUCKING PANDEMIC RAGING THE GLOBE!!!! Or had it passed your notice?
Nothing is as it should be at the moment. Is it shit? Of COURSE it is, but rushing to open schools (for little benefit, actually, because such a small percentage of children are able/willing to attend) is not going to change that fact. In fact, it could well directly contribute to it all lasting much longer and be even more damaging to life, health, the economy and mental health (in no particular order).

In fact, it could

Yeah. It could. It also might not. We will never know until we try.

Or yeno we could stay in lockdown forever to appease people who like shouty capitals and don't appreciate that not everyone agrees with them?

Totally agree BogRollBOGOF your post makes for hard reading because it’s true. Astounded that people could dismiss it and quote it as an attack back against you- what you say is depressing but sadly very true. My mum was a teacher for 30 +years and this is the main point she makes, the amount of kids usually safeguarded / spotted as coming from an abusive home by only their teachers is huge and this is now not happening. Not to mention on an educational level the amount of families who can’t/ won’t homeschool their kids to any degree through all of this taking a massive toll on children’s development It’s incredibly concerning. How can you just dismiss that?

TrustTheGeneGenie also agree 100% with you.

Yeah. It could. It also might not. We will never know until we try.

But you're advocating "trying" with risking other people's health. That's not your call to make and I have a right to an opinion on how many people I'm willing to mix at close quarters with, with little to no effective protection.

Brilliant for someone to recognise that's its down to the Governors to decide. There needs to be some parents whose need to read what Governors do. No one wants to be held responsible for a staff member contracting and dying from Covid 19 at work.
Staff in any place if work have a right to be protected and if not the teacher can sue the Governors. If there is a a lack of risk assessment then schools won't open. The documents may change when there is more evidence but not when there are more deaths today than when lock down started.

But you're advocating "trying" with risking other people's health. That's not your call to make and I have a right to an opinion on how many people I'm willing to mix at close quarters with, with little to no effective protection

Well what other way is there to try? The risk is not going to go away for a very long time. Life is never without risk anyway.

Of course. You can mix or not mix with whoever you want. But do I think schools should remain closed because one teacher doesn't think its safe? No.

What would your plan be? Because it's all well and good saying "it's not safe" but what's the alternative?

In Victoria, the schools opened in a staggered fashion last week.
In the first week one secondary and a primary were shut down again because of infections in student families. They are open now, though more than hundred students are in isolation.

Two more primary schools are shut down because of student infections, with no opening date in view.

That's in a population of 6.359m with 1653 identified cases.

People have every right to feel cautious.

But do I think schools should remain closed because one teacher doesn't think its safe?
One teacher? You think I'm the only one who's furious and anxious about this? I've followed Lockdown rules to the letter for the last 10 weeks (unlike many). I have controlled exactly who and what I've come into distant contact with. And now I'm at the mercy of all those fuckwits crowded onto beaches and small outdoor spaces having mass BBQs because that idiot Johnson wanted to deflect media attention away from Dominic Cummings so he announced his stupidly rapid lockdown easing just before the hottest May weekend on record.
What do I want to happen? I want the wider opening of schools to have been delayed for another fortnight, as recommended, to see Tracking/Tracing/Testing firmly established and the death tolls reduced further, as other countries are planning. What the UK is doing right now is insane, and school staff and their wider contacts are going to be collateral damage in the carnage.

Do the parents of the children you teach know you think they're fuckwits?

What the UK is doing right now is insane, and school staff and their wider contacts are going to be collateral damage in the carnage

Ok. Perhaps you should be advising the government since you've got a crystal ball and therefore know what's going to happen.

Absolutely Angelina
Some (a lot) of us just can’t see past our own wants.

It's been a very long time since education was a "want"

That's the whole point. No one "knows" what's going to happen, so I've got as good a chance of being right than the Government, who are ignoring their scientific advisers at the moment. But also, the UK is the laughing stock of the world in the way it's handling this crisis.

It is a ‘want’ to send children back to school before it’s safe to do so.
It is a ‘want’ to go and sit on a beach because ‘it’s sunny’

who are ignoring their scientific advisers at the moment

Are they? Or is it just that a small minority have reservations and have gone to the press?

the UK is the laughing stock of the world in the way it's handling this crisis

Is it? Do other countries really give a fuck or are they busy slagging their own government off?

@JimmyGrimble

It is a ‘want’ to send children back to school before it’s safe to do so. It is a ‘want’ to go and sit on a beach because ‘it’s sunny’

Define "safe"?

I never mentioned beaches nor have I been to one so I'm not sure what point you're trying to prove with that.

Education isn't a want.

Nope. Can’t be arsed with you. Sorry. I get it. You want your kid in school. I’m sorry about that. I’m sure it won’t be long. Meanwhile you will moan on and pretend to care about anything just so long as you get your kid back in school. Whatever.