AIBU to think that schools can't return to normal while social distancing remains?

[LockdownLoppy]

So many people want schools back to normal in September but how can they be? Even if social distancing was reduced to 1 meter it's still going to be a logistic nightmare for schools to manage and a long way from normal.
I have a child in year 10 and a child in year 7 who attends a special school due to autism and severe learning difficulties. They will both have a few check-in sessions in the last few weeks of term but it's going to be a world away from normal.
People are demanding the full reopening of schools but I just can't see how it can be done - do they just want to end all social distancing in schools and return to normal?
AIBU to think we can't have social distancing and schools open and working at full capacity?

Many people seem to want social distancing in their own workplaces (or long term working from home) and when out and about to keep themselves safe.

They want schools to go back as normal, however, with no social distancing at all-including wraparound care and clubs, mixing with huge numbers of children and staff!

Safety is obviously very important for their workplace, but not for those working in a school...

I imagine that’s what most parents want when they demand that schools reopen fully: no more social distancing.

It’s just not physically possible.

One of the schools I regularly work in, and where my best friend is senior management, reopened for Year 10 this week. They are having 1/4 of the year group in each day (approx. 70 students).

Just lining each bubble up in the corridor for the start of the day requires 30 metres of corridor space. That means that that line already snakes past several other classroom doors. What happens when schools “reopen as normal”, and all those classrooms also have a 30 metre queue outside? It’s not possible.

I've been thinking the same OP.

Just fail to understand how schools are to be expected to do this with any success, scale of spaces available alongside teaching availability is a massive challenge.

This said I don't think I'd be prepared to return DC if numbers are still the same come September without social distancing.... it feels so wrong. I'd rather have the option to continue home schooling or perhaps a mix of both . I think it's worth considering options for all parents, but prioritising those families who have no choice but to return to work.
To my mind social distancing needs to remain in place until we have seen and maintained far better levels up and down the country before stopping it.

@Fedup21 spot on!

Everywhere else yes, in schools- fuck no pack em in!

I'd be happy to see social distancing scrapped in schools.

I'd happily drop social distancing in schools. I'd happily go back in to support in the DC's school as I was in March when the risks were substantially higher.

The harm being done to children by social isolation and lack of appropriate education is far, far higher than the risks of them being in a classroom with their peers.

@Waxonwaxoff0 Disgusting comment. Hang your head in shame.

@LegallyBlue why? I'd happily go to work with no social distancing either. I can't work from home (currently on furlough though) and I don't think it will be practical to social distance at my workplace anyway when I go back.

Get rid of social distancing get schools open, get the NHS functioning properly let's just get back to normal. Enough now

I agree I’d be happy for social distancing to be scrapped in school too , there is absolutely no shame in that . I’ve done my research and am happy the risk is minuscule. Many people work without social distancing already as their jobs are impossible to do with it in force , myself included , schools are part of that group. The damage to the children is too high now to sacrifice their education and emotional well being for something that in all likelihood will never happen.

People who think the social distancing should be scrapped in schools have no reason for thinking we shouldn't just scrap social distancing altogether.
Some children are extremely vulnerable and would likely die if they caught Covid - to think they don't deserve any protection is gross. Some teachers too. Healthy people die from Covid too and people have health conditions that they don't know about. Your suggestion would sentence some people to death for literally no reason other than you just not caring.
If your children were the ones who died then I'd imagine you'd then start saying schools should have been social distancing and kicking up a fuss - but I guess you just assume that your children are safe and nothing bad would ever happen to you.
The anti-social distancers are no better than anti-vaxxers, just ignoring science and the need to protect children because it's easier and convenient for them.

OP - obviously schools cannot open in a normal capacity in September. Schools have no idea what they'll be doing because no one can predict the future. We all just need to be flexible and do what we can.

@Waxonwaxoff0 Because your suggestion would result in children dying and you're saying it would make you "happy".

Just nicked this from another thread but it sums it up
www.rcpch.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2020-06/open_letter_re_schools_reopening_2020-06-17.pdf

@LegallyBlue would it though? How many children have died in Sweden where schools have been open as normal?

@Waxonwaxoff0

I'd be happy to see social distancing scrapped in schools.

Why just schools? Are children and teachers more dispensable?

[quote LegallyBlue]@Waxonwaxoff0 Because your suggestion would result in children dying and you're saying it would make you "happy".[/quote]
Would it? More children die in car accidents.

@Waxonwaxoff0 No one has published the proportion of deaths that were children, but Sweden has the highest number of coronavirus deaths per capita so maybe we shouldn't follow in their lead... www.wired.co.uk/article/sweden-coronavirus-herd-immunity

@FreddieFox as I said, I'd be happy to go to work myself with no social distancing either.

@LegallyBlue yes, but we're talking about children dying. If children were dropping dead in Sweden it would be all over the news.

@TrustTheGeneGenie Imagine if you understood how numbers work. On average, about 2000 children per year die in car accidents in the UK. If we open schools without social distancing, imagine that just one child dies from coronavirus - just one. That wouldn't prevent anyone dying in a car accident. So, the total deaths of children would go from 2000 to 2001. Do you see how 2001 is the higher number? That means a child died because of the lack of social distancing in schools - the number who die in car accidents is irrelevant.

@Waxonwaxoff0 So, your logic is that Sweden has had the highest deaths per capita for seven of the last fourteen days (as of when the article I shared was written) but that none of them are children because it didn't explicitly say children!? Great logic.

I'm going to stop replying now because the level of stupid/selfish on this thread is higher than I can withstand. Thank God decisions are being made by scientists rather than mumsnetters, eh?

[quote LegallyBlue]@TrustTheGeneGenie Imagine if you understood how numbers work. On average, about 2000 children per year die in car accidents in the UK. If we open schools without social distancing, imagine that just one child dies from coronavirus - just one. That wouldn't prevent anyone dying in a car accident. So, the total deaths of children would go from 2000 to 2001. Do you see how 2001 is the higher number? That means a child died because of the lack of social distancing in schools - the number who die in car accidents is irrelevant.[/quote]
Imagine if you understood how risk worked.

The risk of children dying from covid 19 is TINY.

If you were that concerned about the safety of your child you wouldn't let them get in a car.

@Waxonwaxoff0

I'd be happy to see social distancing scrapped in schools.

Me too. We’re allowed to go to the zoo again soon and other such places so it’s ridiculous to hold back schools opening because if social distancing measures.

I follow the stats closely and I think the risk is very minimal, we are on the way out of this - even if certain people refuse to believe it. I’m not prepared to lose my lively hood and my home because of it.

It isn't about the 2m rule, at least not in primaries. The DFE guidance already makes it clear that's only needed "where possible". The significant current limit is on "bubble" size of 15. Until that is changed to 30, most schools won't be able to welcome back all pupils.

However, some schools are not even fitting 15 in a room, mistakenly believing they have to space desks out 2m at least as well. So capacity could be increased in many places if they wanted to. Grrrrrr!