Are our children being used as Guinea Pigs?

[Emcont]

I have two primary aged children, who have both gone back to school.

I sent them back because we were told it was safe. We also have a low infection rate in our area.

Though for the last few days I've read multiple posts and a few articles stating that these particular people aren't sending their children back yet (as it isn't safe enough) and that our children are being used as Guinea Pigs to see what happens before the rest of the school years go back.

I'm now wondering if I have made the wrong decision in sending my children back.

What's your opinion?

No.

The guinea pigs were the children in China and Germany if there are any, they returned long before everyone else, and gave the scientists some excellent data confirming that children are safe to return, the reopening of schools did not cause a big spike in infections and we can be reasonably confident that it is safe and prudent to return children back to an educational setting.

The teachers and support staff are.

@pigeon999
Ah except all the schools have closed again in Beijing haven't they?
Due to a Corona outbreak.

Better a Guinea pig for returning to school with close to zero chance of even becoming quite unwell... than a Guinea pig for remaining imprisoned at home with zero education and suffering potentially permanent and significant resulting mental health issues. 🤷‍♀️

[quote RickOShay]@pigeon999
Ah except all the schools have closed again in Beijing haven't they?
Due to a Corona outbreak.[/quote]
They're busily disappearing political dissidents. I really wouldn't pay too much attention to any "information" volunteered by China.

I believe almost every European school now is fully open, and no spikes whatsoever anywhere. Given we are in Europe and not in Asia, I am quite right in thinking that British schools have followed the same pattern.

I do feel rather sorry for the teachers that hate their job so much they would rather harm millions of children than return to their job.

I feel more like that about the child stuck at home than the one back.

Return to school is not compulsory, so no, not forced to be guinea pigs. It's an open offer to take it or leave it based on circumstances.

I'm taking it as on the balance of risk my kids will experience harm staying in lockdown indefinitely. They don't have choice or control like I do and I can see they need a respite from home life.

I agree marsha We have never tried the social experiment of keeping children locked down for six months.

@PicsInRed
So fake news then? All the tv footage of children being sent home just well edited?

The Beijing outbreak wasnt caused by kids going back to school so I'm not sure how its relevant?

Because the schools are closed due to a corona outbreak.
Why do you think that might be?

Well no, otherwise everyone could be classed as a guinea pig like those who have just gone back to work or even those who have now gone shopping in the now open shops.

We all have to start somewhere, we can't stay like this long term so we just have to get on with things. I'll hopefully be going back to work in a pub in a few weeks, I don't think I'm a guinea pig, we need things to get up and running.

I sent my child back to reception on the 1st, I realised there was a tiny risk but I take such risks daily. He needed to go back for everyone's sanity and he is absolutely loving it. I didn't view him as a guinea pig because I realised that like everything else we have to start somewhere and it was my choice to send him.

I’m pleased and grateful that my child has gone back to school. They should all be back.

Because one of the biggest food markets was open.

Not sure how that relates to transmission in schools?

No, they're not. They are back at school which is where they should be. DS is Y6 and has been back at school for a couple of weeks, he is so much happier being back with his friends. He is learning, socialising and school have arranged some leaving events for them, sports day, prize giving a picnic and the traditional shirt signing. His life is almost back to normal.

It's my Y3 who is stuck at home, isolated from her friends, on line learning who is the guinea pig in my opinion.

My Y3 should be back at the end of the month. It's only 1 day a week for 3 weeks (as summer term is ending on scheduled date) but he is so happy that he gets to see some of his friends and teachers that it's going to do him a world of good even if just psychologically

Mine have been back at school the whole time as we are keyworkers. They certainly aren’t guinea pigs.

The interruption to education is really worrying me now. I get quite tearful when I think about it.

I agree with everything that @Nihiloxica says.

This:
Return to school is not compulsory, so no, not forced to be guinea pigs. It's an open offer to take it or leave it based on circumstances.

Stop using over the top language OP YABVVVU your children are not guinea pigs. If you feel strongly enough keep them home, you really don't have to send them back if you don't want to.

We've all been Guinea pigs. Humans aren't wired to live like this. I'm glad you have a choice for your child and it must be a difficult decision.

You don't have to send them in if you don't want them to be 'guinea pigs'. At some point things have to start getting back to normal, including schools. There is no way of moving forward in this kind of situation without taking some kind of risks. We cannot wait until it is 'risk free'.