Why has return to School has been much better than people thought it would be ?

[worzelsnurzel123]

Prior to the return to school, there was a feeling in the media and on here that it would be awful for the children, sparse classrooms, social distancing and bubbles would all affect the children negatively? Now it seems as though the reverse has happened. Children are reported to be coming out of school beaming, having loved their time to reconnect with peers. Aibu to think that this is only because of the amazing effort put in by those heads of schools and teachers who are doing their best, and not because it was a case of “ see there was nothing to worry about after all”. The worry in my view wasn’t so much about the children but about teachers being exposed to the virus by children. Aibu to think that some parents feel that now the kids are back and happy there’s an element of “ and they all lived happily ever after” at play here. This isn’t over and I’m not one of the doom sayers. I’m desperate for this thing to be over but I can’t help but feel some parents are being a little over optimistic after the first day? ( I’m not a teacher by the way.

Some of us managed to WFT without wanting to get rid of our kids, but each to their own.

I would suggest that your work quality and children's education quality in the last couple of months is probably not as good as you think it is.

AGrownManMadeWager

why do people bother having children if they are such an inconvenience?

As an example, but there are many, this forum is full of threads moaning that a week of school break is too long, that a weekend is too long, that children should not be home during the summer holiday and should be kept at school at all time.

The drama and upset because parents had to spend a few weeks with their children is unreal and depressing.

Schools have been kept opened for frontline workers so parents who NEEDED childcare had it all along.

I am sick and tired of people complaining how hard it is to survive because they have to look after their own children once in a blue moon.

Kokeshi123
nice goady post, but the results speak for themselves, so we are good, thank you.

I even have time to waste on MN, like the rest of you.

Yabu .
Many of us parents built it up in our own head (thanks in part to the media) that it would be terrible but in reality kids just want to see their friends and have some normality.
I really don’t think it’s any more than that .
My dd’s teacher told me she’s been working all through lock down and it’s not been much different to normal except a little quieter obviously

Because kids are adaptable.

Novelty value. It’s still interesting and new to the kids.

Because only the parents whose children have loved it are likely to post. People are VERY defensive about taking the risk of sending their kids back and desperate to tell everyone it was fine. Those experiencing problems are less likely to post.

And - frankly - because it’s too soon for anyone to have got very sick or died yet. People are less likely to feel positive if their loved ones gets the virus because it’s going round school.

Ds 6 went back yesterday and I went back to work at a junior school.All good here it's been well thought out and I feel like my ds and the children at my workplace are safe.

I am sick and tired of people complaining how hard it is to survive because they have to look after their own children once in a blue moon.

@ProsperTheBear I am sick and tired of reading judgemental, goady shit. Have a parenting gold . School is important for children is my opinion.

YANBU OP it has been hyped up beyond measure by the mainstream and social media. Clearly children (particularly of year 6 age) like to have a life outside the four walls of their house. Even if it wasn't exactly the same as before. The teachers at DD's school have been fabulous at planning and getting the kids back, can't fault them and the children are really excited. DD was just pissed today that it was only a half day!

Some of us managed to WFT without wanting to get rid of our kids, but each to their own

Being unable to work from home and educate your children at the same time is not the same as wanting to get rid of them.

People are VERY defensive about taking the risk of sending their kids back and desperate to tell everyone it was fine

I don't see it as a significant risk so this is nonsense.

Schools have been kept opened for frontline workers so parents who NEEDED childcare had it all along.

Ermmm, it isn't just frontline workers who struggled w/o childcare - what about the millions of people WFH in non-frontline jobs. I'm fortunate to have a very understanding manager, but I know of a boss who basically just shrugged and told his employees they'd have to work something out regarding working with children at home.

People are VERY defensive about taking the risk of sending their kids back and desperate to tell everyone it was fine

It’s not the motivating factor. It is seeing your dc happier on going back. Their happiness makes you think great so pleased. But not because it’s neglect as pp stated but because screen learning and online chat is only ok for so long before children lag.

@Saladmakesmesad have never read such a massive amount of twaddle .
People are always quicker to complain than praise and that is a fact

my niece was thrilled to go back and the school have been brilliant - teachers decided no masks as might be frightening, they can play together etc

but

there are only 6 of them and she can only go 2 days a week at the moment, the other 2 days will be for the other half of the class and in the middle is deep cleaning. I dont know how it would work if all the children came back

@Fluffybutter

Calling it Twaddle doesn’t make it so. Let’s see how positive people are about schools when it’s not Day 3.

That’s not to say teachers aren’t doing their very best. Most teachers are incredibly dedicated. I feel for them and the risks they face.

@Saladmakesmesad we have to get back to normal and start living not existing. Life has risks, covid is just another one that we are going to have to get used to. It may well shorten all of our lives who knows but more people are still dying of other things including children. Someone I know's child has just been diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour, really scary stuff but we don't worry about that happening every day. It could and it does to real people.

It'll all be a damp squib I reckon. The children will get used it and it will become normal for the next few weeks and people will stop talking about it.

Because Mumsnet social media whipped everyone up into a huge hysteria, predicting Armageddon. We'll have the same when we're allowed to go back to the theatre, recreational sport, and when this utterly farcical social distancing rule is finally consigned to the dustbin where it belongs: people Mumsnetters will be predicting that we're all going to die, second lockdown, blah blah blah.

Ultimately we have to fill our cups to half full rather than keeping them permanently half empty.

It’s like any school experience and depends entirely on the teacher, and the wider school staff.

The school my younger two go too has had a really positive outward attitude. Both to the childcare for keyworkers (they became the local hub) and then the return. Even though there’s been a lot of stress for the staff (I used to work there so I still hear a lot) it’s never been shown outwardly to the children or the parents.

It’s been careful, but positive the whole time. So I’m not remotely surprised that all those who’ve gone back so far have had positive experience so far.

Whereas another local school has a domineering and unpopular new head (justifiably unpopular too - he’s managed to destroy the atmosphere in an outstanding school in less than 18 months) has had ridiculous expectations of his staff and has been openly and publicly critical of staff, parent and pupils. It’s also no surprise that there are a lot of complaints going around about how things have been done there

Because every friendship group has an Eyore. The one who always expects the worst, who has a permanent half glass off piss on their tray.

And COVID has legitimised them.

Doom mongers were just mongering doom I guess.

Some of the posts I have seen on the school thing have been downright bizarre. Saw one person claiming that 'the virus will mutate and kill off all the children at school', then you will be sorry! for fucks sake..

People seem to like winding themselves up and panicking about stuff thats extremely unlikely to happen.

I also think there is an element of (not all..again) parents not wanting to start with school runs again, and definitely not wanting schools open as they might be recalled to work should that happen. Where a fair few are enjoying having spare time and sunbathing! Because they didn't want schools reopened, next tactic was to try and scare parents shitless so noone sent their kids in.

Some of us managed to WFT without wanting to get rid of our kids, but each to their own.

Good for you, and I genuinely hope it stays this way for you.

Not everyone is finding it easy though, for a variety of reasns. Some are happy with it (2 of my mates reckon they are going to conitnue homeschooling permamently now) and find it preferable to the normal system.

But some are not finding it easy, or have another reason for sending their kids back. Tbh, all reasons for each side are 'right'..totally depends on your circumstances.

Some really good points particularly re children faring better in smaller groups and being happier as a result of getting more of the teacher’s time.

Also to the poster who is criticising parents for wanting to “ get rid” of their children. It’s nonsense in the vast majority of cases. These are unnatural circumstances and can’t go on like this indefinitely. Of course people want their children to go back to school. They need to learn in group environments face to face. Remote and home teaching ( in vast majority of cases) can’t compete. Obviously there are always exceptions.

The drama and upset because parents had to spend a few weeks with their children is unreal and depressing.

That's a joke, right? Or just massively privileged and thoughtless of the situations of others? People (almost all women) with young children at home have had to leave jobs, to lose money, to underperform to a point where they are going to be first in line for highly likely upcoming redundancies, and/or to work insane hours to deliver anything like normal productivity.

I'd love more time home with my kids. They'd love more time home with us. But not like this.

Teachers are doing their best.

We'll wait for the cases to shoot up again - in which case it will be all change once more;

or, the cases won't shoot up - sigh of relief.

Either way, we'll have had russian roulette played with our health, by this government.

DS2 has loved being back in school for Year 1 this week. His school isn't doing any of the stuff that was floating around in the media (and on here) wrt social distancing which is what I think people were worried about.

He's in a bubble of 10, 5 days a week 8.30-2pm, no masks, no chalk circles, they wash hands when they eat, when they come in in the morning, and when they come back in from breaktime. As far as he is concerned, he said it felt like a normal school day within his bubble. His main worry was whether his friends would remember him and still be his friends, but he worried about that on the first day of Year 1 after the summer holidays too.