To be appalled at the amount of people who think school staff should be collateral damage.

[Witchcraftandhokum]

This is not a response to teacher basing thread, I know full well that all teachers aren't perfect and all schools have not responded to the Lockdown in the same way. But I'm amazed at some posters in here demanding that things return to normal immediately. I've seen someone promoting a petition demanding that schools reopen with no social distancing and no safety measures. People saying schools should have never closed and people saying that teachers should "just bloody well get on with it".

[Viviennemary]

Not again. There are a few people other than teachers on this planet to be considered. I don't know why they are being singled out on a daily basis for us to wring our hands over.

[AllTheUserNamesAreTaken]

People keep saying teachers will be put at high risk. However, there is evidence (statistics for deaths by occupation) that they are NOT disproportionally at risk to the rest of the population. And before anyone says it, no that isn’t because schools have been closed to the masses - the statistics are up to 20 April
Also, teachers keep pointing out some have been looking after keyworker children throughout. Where is there any evidence that these teachers have been falling ill disproportionally.

[W00t]

The supermarkets I've been in have all had extra staff corralling shoppers, making sure people adhere to distances, etc.

[W00t]

They also have perspex screens around all checkout staff, and close early for restocking.

[Laiste]

These next 6 weeks are going to be an interesting experiment aren't they? (Even if you don't believe they were meant to be)

My youngest went back Mon to Thu in a bubble of 6. Yr1. With one adult, a TA. I'm not expecting her to get through the whole 6 weeks.

Six 5 and 6 year olds over six weeks ... one of them is going to get ill with something at least once and we'll be called up and asked to stay home for 14 days. Quite possibly more than once. With the probability that it wont be CV. This is such a mess.

[Goldenbear]

Yes, exactly. Shops bad practices are not a reason to justify bad practices in schools.

[GreenTulips]

But it clearly is not the case that retail workers, transport workers etc have adequate safety measures in place, as we are dying at a higher rate than the rest of the population

It will be interesting when and if they bring out the occupation figures for those who are dying.

Teachers are at risk. Some kids have been out playing with friends, sleepovers and BBQs - and have ignored government advice.

These children will be a bigger risk to staff.

Some kids spit and bite - yet they are allowed to stay in school.

How would a shop worker deal with being spat at, at work?

They are different risks.

[Namechangeapril20]

Jesus people on here are hysterical. Not once did I say that bad practises in shops meant they were justified in schools. This is not a case of fuck the teachers. As I said before, i have the upmost respect for teachers and the work they are doing at the moment. My DDs teacher has gone above and beyond for her class during this time, and it's very much noticed and appreciated.

Its simply to highlight it is not an issue solely faced by schools - everyone deserves to be protected and work safely! There are major let downs in most workplaces at the moment, schools are not alone in this, and they are not the only industry suffering from understaffing issues, vulnerable or shielding staff, poor/no government support/guidelines - nor will they be the only ones working with people (whether adults or children) or are incapable (or choose not to) socially distance.

@w00t cool, but unless you've been in every fucking supermarket in the country and are privy to all their policies (in theory and in practice - they're not all doing what they say they're doing) then that's a bit of a sweeping statement to make isnt it - but of course that wouldn't suit your agenda.

[Epigram]

I would think that teaching is a relatively low risk job, as they are interacting with the same group of pupils every day, compared to someone who is dealing with different members of the public or travelling to work on public transport? (Obviously some teachers travel on public transport so they would fall into that group too.)

[Mascotte]

I also think there is an incentive to carry on working if you're not going to be paid if you don't, like care workers, and easier not to if you're paid throughout.

[TheFallenMadonna]

That is the thinking behind bubbles. However, the risk of transmission if someone is infected is increased because of the amount of time spent together.

[WaterOffADucksCrack]

posters like polly and her pizza don’t think they are worth any PPE..... I don't think anyone has said that?

Teachers should have PPE. As should shop workers, carers etc. Of course they should.

However, I feel like you can't have a sensible conversation without people instantly accusing you of teacher bashing. It is also purely online I've encountered a nasty attitude towards them (or reports of it at least). My son's at school and all his parents and step parents are frontline so he's gone to school throughout. I'm on a whatsapp group for all the parents in his year. Literally nothing negative has been said. Everyone has praised all the school staff.

I think a lot of that is down to the attitude of the staff, it's definitely been "how can we work with this as safely as possible" as opposed to "we're not doing any of that nor are we prepared to try" like some of my friend's children's schools. They've also clearly communicated everything and given us the opportunity to ask questions. I manage a care home and have supplied them with PPE and anything else they've needed. I've also thanked them countless times for caring for my son so well.

[OnItCarBonnet]

I’m appalled at the amount of people who think that vulnerable children, cancer patients, the underprivileged and people under 70 should be collateral damage. Because a large number of these people will die, and a huge number of these people will suffer, because of the lockdown measures.

[Toomboom]

I wish people would realise that it isn't just teachers that work in schools.
What about admin staff, cleaners, catering assistants, maintenance? They are all at as much risk as teachers, but never get a mention

[Goldenbear]

Namechangeapril20, what is your argument then? That others have a similar amount of risk so let the teacher's console themselves with that knowledge and let them get on with it?

[gypsywater]

@Witchcraftandhokum Absolutely agree with your OP. Its abhorrent.

[gypsywater]

Also hard to take seriously any adult who cant spell ransom properly

[OPTIMUMMY]

@Epigram
It will depend if it’s primary or secondary schools the risks will be different and the number of people exposed to will be different.
Typically I’d be in close contact in my secondary school with around 3-400 different pupils per week- talking to them standing next to them helping them etc. We know that the classes will be smaller but we will perhaps still be exposed to a large number of pupils for an extended period of time. We will have no PPE. Until we know more of how it will actually work it is impossible for us to measure the risk. Parents sent in pupils with symptoms before we closed, they coughed at each other and there was no sanitiser, some pupils struggle with their behaviour and there are likely to be fights that teachers may need to split up (again no PPE). Teachers whose health is at greater risk but not shielding will be in this situation. I can’t speak for the safety of other people’s jobs, I’m sure NHS workers and police are higher risk for example. However lots of people are able to work from home or have PPE so I wouldn’t call teaching low risk.

[brakethree]

I think the problem is that, as with other things through this pandemic, nothing is clear. Now the message seems to be that it'll be November before the children are back.

This info may be out there but what exactly needs to be in place for all pupils to return to schools? Do teachers want PPE?

I am confused when teachers say they 'can't wear PPE' - who says? Who is going to stop you?

I also think that we don't seem to be hearing what other plans are in place until schools do go back properly. It's clearly been very very patchy with provision since March with some schools providing very good support and others just a few worksheets. This is really unacceptable and I hope that there is a committee somewhere outlining more detailed guidance for schools because it would seem that it is being interpreted differently. If heads need to be spoon fed with what to do then someone needs to take responsibility and do it. I think parents would be a lot more understanding if they thought there was some kind of plan in place.

[lljkk]

I don't agree with the "only zero risk is acceptable" brigade.
I feel like the whole country has been betwitched into thinking that covid-19 is Ebola, tbh.

[Newmama29]

I am genuinely wondering why teachers are getting a high priority of concern for returning to work?
NHS workers have been working throughout this full pandemic in environments where people DEFINITELY have CV, teachers are going into environments where people “might” have it/carry it.
Shop workers, lorry drivers, police, takeaway restaurants etc have all continued to work throughout this - albeit with certain measures in place (in most cases, not all). Therefore, why can’t this be transferred onto teachers?

This is a genuine question, not a rude comment

[InfiniteSheldon]

Collateral damage?? You are being utterly ridiculous.

[Silenceisnotgolden]

@brakethree we have been told by senior leadership that we can’t wear masks as it will affect our ability to teach.

[lilgreen]

Children get close to adults and forget social distancing.Teachers don’t have Perspex screens or ppe. It is different!