Page 9 | To think schools should not reopen in Sept?

SusanFrimp · 2020-08-09T13:15:16+00:00

I think that schools should not fully reopen in September and instead be partially reopened to some years. It is just not safe enough to reopen yet. I'd say December at the latest for full reopening. If they can't reopen other smaller places, how can they reopen schools with 1000's of kids? AIBU?

Underhisi · 09/08/2020 16:29

Ds had self injurious behaviour due to the changes of lockdown and initially being out of school.
Clearly all I should have done was to tell him to pull himself together.

monkeytennis97 · 09/08/2020 16:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mbosnz · 09/08/2020 16:32

Well, my kids actually value their education, and work hard at their studies, with ambitious long term career goals, so no, they're not ecstatic. Perhaps you were a bit different?

The eldest one is worried about the long term impact of not having been able to sit the exams she'd worked two long hard years towards, having relocated from the other side of the world just after school began for the first of those two long years, and now potentially being shafted in the grades she'll be allocated in lieu of having done so. I think that's a fairly reasonable thing to be worried about. There's only so much, 'there, there dear, it'll all be fine, I'm sure they know what they're doing, and they'll make sure it's all fair and just', you can do with a fairly intelligent, news-savvy, and politically minded teenager. . . as in, she wouldn't have a bloody bar of it if I were so simple minded as to try it on!

doubleshotespresso · 09/08/2020 16:33

@IAintentDead

FFS How many more times are people going to ask this question.

I'd imagine repeatedly until some substantive, logical evidence is clearly available as to how this is actually going to safe enough to reassure parents everywhere ?

Orchidsindoors · 09/08/2020 16:33

"Wow that’s a pretty poor attitude to mental health. My youngest is coping fine, my eldest is not, due to the fact they’re two different children and handle things in different ways."

But what have they had to handle? 3.5 months off school? We have to teach our kids to be robust and get on with things. If mine have to miss more school, then they have to miss more school, it's not the end of the world and they will get over it. Theyve had a lot worse to deal with and have been fine.

monkeytennis97 · 09/08/2020 16:34

Absolutely @Orchidsindoors

RaeCJ82 · 09/08/2020 16:34

@monkeytennis97 It's completely reasonable for you to put you family's health first. Of course you should do that! But please stop with the martyr card. If you have "given, given, given" at the expense of your family, then that was your choice to make.

Annierose293 · 09/08/2020 16:34

Even those of us with children with health issues are being forced to send them back. I've already experienced my child being on life support in intensive care. Now I am being forced to risk his life all over again.

mbosnz · 09/08/2020 16:35

3.5 is the literal time they've had off school. It's being a tad disingenous to not also accept that it's more like 5.5 months they've been out of their school and holiday routines, in pandemic mode.

Clutterbugsmum · 09/08/2020 16:35

Seems to be almost every poster though. It seems to be what most people are saying. Surely there cant be this many mentally ill children around because they missed 3.5 months of school? It's not just 3.5 months of no school is it. Children/Teenagers have mostly been away from school, friends and family for 6 months. Of course that has effected their mental wellbeing.

I'd have been ecstatic if that happened to me. Well bully for you, but it easy to say that when it's not you that's had you complete life ripped away from you.

ThatDamnScientist · 09/08/2020 16:35

Inthink ALL years should be in but in a part time basis (week in, week off). I don't think they should all be back full time. Part time will give them all a chance at being in school and staying at school.

monkeytennis97 · 09/08/2020 16:37

Ultimately the whole thing is a gladiatorial battle of Children's mental health/parents wanting to go back to work versus teacher and student safety/community transmission. It is a very difficult one and most of us are on one side or the other.

But all we want is THE SAME SAFETY AS OTHERS.

Orchidsindoors · 09/08/2020 16:37

"The eldest one is worried about the long term impact of not having been able to sit the exams she'd worked two long hard years towards"
I've got one in the same position, but such is life. Yes she will be worried about it, but I wont expect her mental health to suffer. That's the last thing I'd think. I'd think "oh she will be worried" but "we will get through it". These are just lifestyle worries, whilst not nice to go through, I wouldn't expect her to be mentally ill about it.

monkeytennis97 · 09/08/2020 16:38

@RaeCJ82 you're not a teacher then?

mbosnz · 09/08/2020 16:38

And monkeytennis, I absolutely acknowledge and respect your viewpoint and your concerns. You guys need to advocate to ensure that the school environment is made as safe as possible for the people working within them, and their families, and that needs to be an extremely high priority, not just with the schools, but with this muttonheaded government, who seem to think that just gobbling, 'well, we're following the science, hufff, humh, hurrah, I'm sure it will all be fine is either at all confidence inspiring, or at all likely to make sure it will indeed be fine.

drivinmecrazy · 09/08/2020 16:38

What would make a difference to this circular argument would be if we as parents had a fair choice.
Either we must accept and have faith that our government is making decisions based on the health and welfare of the wider society, or disbelieve the motivations for opening pubs and schools.
Sadly I don't believe the decisions made are for anything other than economic reasons.
A fairer solution would be for the government to acknowledge that individuals must be given the right to decide what is right for their own circumstances. They have made it crystal clear that it's either go back, face fines or de register.
And how would your DC receive an education if teachers decided that from what information they have it is not in their own kids interests to return to school??

SockYarn · 09/08/2020 16:40

I'd have been ecstatic if that happened to me.

Newsflash - we're all different. My three were delighted at the start - no school! result!

Then the reality hit that "blended learning" was really nothing of the sort, and just an emailed .pdf with links to various websites. Oldest worried constantly about his prospects for the uni course he's had his heart set on for 4 years. Middle one missed her friends enormously, became more and more withdrawn, moody and snappy. Youngest frustrated that his parents couldn't just drop everything to answer his questions when he got stuck. Oldest couldn't get support from school when totally flummoxed by high-level chemistry assignment which was like double Dutch to me and his Dad.

Saying your child's mental health has been affected doesn't mean that they are very ill, or have a diagnosable condition. But you don't have to be an expert to recognise that since March my kids have been more stressed, have experienced a much higher level of uncertainty/anxiety, haven't been able to have social contact, and have had to cope with a lot of change, quickly and without preparation for it.

RaeCJ82 · 09/08/2020 16:41

[quote monkeytennis97]@RaeCJ82 you're not a teacher then?[/quote]
Haha, no I'm not, but I have a career which can be demanding. I would not let myself get to the point where I make some bitter post about giving, giving, giving at the expense of my family.

mbosnz · 09/08/2020 16:41

I wouldn't expect her to be mentally ill, no. Although, in terms of an individual's mental health (even, or perhaps especially our own child/young adults) perhaps it's a good idea to be a little bit open to the possibility that your expectations don't necessarily shape reality, and perhaps, while you don't 'expect' it, it's possible that they could still suffer mental ill health in part of the impacts of pandemic, and be open to seeing the signs of it.

Orchidsindoors · 09/08/2020 16:41

"It's not just 3.5 months of no school is it. Children/Teenagers have mostly been away from school, friends and family for 6 months. Of course that has effected their mental wellbeing."

Why have they? Have you kept them indoors since March? Have you not allowed them to see their friends socially distanced? Have they not been in touch with them online?

"I'd have been ecstatic if that happened to me"

Well bully for you, but it easy to say that when it's not you that's had you complete life ripped away from you."

That's a bit dramatic dont you think? They not been in school. They havent been sent to Mars or put in prison!?

MarcelineMissouri · 09/08/2020 16:43

@Orchidsindoors

"Wow that’s a pretty poor attitude to mental health. My youngest is coping fine, my eldest is not, due to the fact they’re two different children and handle things in different ways."

But what have they had to handle? 3.5 months off school? We have to teach our kids to be robust and get on with things. If mine have to miss more school, then they have to miss more school, it's not the end of the world and they will get over it. Theyve had a lot worse to deal with and have been fine.

It really hasn’t been ‘just’ 3.5 months off school though has it? Months of not being able to see their friends, go to clubs, do sports, do any of their usual activities, see their families, going out for one walk a day..... well done to every one who’s children have come out of this completely unscathed. As I said, my youngest is fine but my eldest is really not. So I don’t think that’s down to my efforts to help them through it. Some kids are just less resilient than others or less able to cope with this kind of upheaval.

SueEllenMishke · 09/08/2020 16:43

Schools need to open for a number of reasons....
Children need an education and we can't rely on homeschooling - so many parents don't have the time/ability/inclinations.

Many children are suffering with mental health issues

For some children school is a sanctuary.

Parents need to work!!

What do you suggest we do with our 5 year old if schools don't open OP? We both work full time .....

howfarwevecome · 09/08/2020 16:45

Deregister your Year 9 child and homeschool him then. Simple.

But don't expect schools to do two jobs going forward: teaching classes AND teaching children whose parents opt to keep their kids at home for non-documented health reasons. Do it yourself.

ineedaholidaynow · 09/08/2020 16:45

For those that have struggled I would be preparing them that school may need to close every so often in the next few months. In some areas it might be fine but in others it might not

mbosnz · 09/08/2020 16:47

Well at the beginning of the pandemic, for quite some time, if you might remember, they were very much kept indoors, except for going out once a day for some exercise.

They have been in touch, online, of course. That's not really the same as a normal teenage life, is it?

Once allowed, yes, they have met socially distanced - those who weren't vulnerable and shielding, or with vulnerable and shielding family members.

While you and your marvellously mentally robust family (Christ I hope they are, for their sake), may have sailed through this without any negative impact to mental wellbeing, perhaps you might want to realise we're all born different, with different personalities, with different pasts, different presents, different family structures and supports, and for others, it might be a lot harder. And that says nothing about them, nor about their parents. Except that they might find it a lot harder.

And while not indulging wallowing, it's okay for parents, children, (and teachers!!) to say that they've actually found it all a bit shit, they're a bit fed up, and they rather hope that they can get back to a bit more normal normal soon, if it's possible.