to say that working parents need a Plan B (and all parents are responsible for their children's Covid-appropriate behaviour)?

[SaltyAndFresh]

We're kidding ourselves if we think we really have the data to say that opening schools with no social distancing, no PPE (not through choice, it's not allowed) and in many cases inadequately ventilated and crowded classrooms is safe. We can't possibly know. Secondary teachers will be in standing in front of around 300 pupils a week, and there isn't the space for a 2m distance at the front of the room.

Teachers are not saying they don't want schools to reopen (not that they were shut) which has been said and ignored multiple times. I'm both a working parent and a teacher.

AIBU to say that schools don't exist for parents' economic convenience and that if too many school staff become ill, it's up to parents to have a Plan B if schools have to scale back their opening? If in the coming months, we as parents end up having to reduce our hours to facilitate blended learning, it will mean difficult financial times ahead but that will not be the fault of schools and school staff.

Please note the 'if'.

Furthermore, AIBU to say that parents of mainstream pupils who want schools open, come what may, should be accountable for their DC's Covid-appropriate behaviour, whether or not they believe the virus is a hoax?

@feelingfragile
As I said, rethink traditional practice. Recruit volunteers, teachers to move between rooms, use of digital technology, use student teachers.

You know, think creatively, like other professions have had to do over the last 6 months

These are excellent ideas that we could definitely follow up if the Government changed the legal obligations binding schools and made them looser and more akin to childcare, like they did during lockdown.

feelingfragile

As I said, rethink traditional practice. Recruit volunteers, teachers to move between rooms, use of digital technology, use student teachers.

You know, think creatively, like other professions have had to do over the last 6 months.

Two things
1/Where will the money come from for this
2/Many professions just furloughed their staff. so lets not pretend that all companies/professions were creative in their responses to this.

Friendsoftheearth
One thing is for sure the reputation and creditability of the teaching profession lies in absolute tatters after this.

only if you are a complete idiot.

@Friendsoftheearth

One thing is for sure the reputation and creditability of the teaching profession lies in absolute tatters after this.

What a disgrace.

Just when I thought you couldn't say anything more ridiculous You do. So silly.

Stop it now, you're making yourself look daft.

Most teachers will have been carrying out welfare checks all last term.

I have not yet seen any teacher saying they don’t want schools to reopen, but they want schools to reopen in such a way that they can stay open as long as possible.

Just think if the Government promised funding for supply teachers then if teachers go off sick it would reduce the need for classes to be sent home or worse case scenario school closing.

If the Government paid for more school cleaners again would hopefully reduce need for schools to close.

If the Government paid for more laptops it would mean that many children could continue their education at home if necessary.

These are some of the things teachers are asking for, not that schools don’t open.

I think some people haven't experienced a classroom in a long time if they'd happily leave them unsupervised for longer than about 30 seconds.

Secondary students are brutal. Individually delightful and lovely. Pack mentality soon kicks in however and it isn't pleasant.

@Friendsoftheearth

One thing is for sure the reputation and creditability of the teaching profession lies in absolute tatters after this.

What a disgrace.

It's a real shame that the Government has been able to successfully divide parents and teachers in order to prevent them from forming an alliance and lobbying for better conditions for children and schools.

I don't have a plan B as no family are anywhere near and you can't rely on friends to provide child care. I'm quite happy to pay but who would have an ad hoc childcare place open. It works me as I work with children aaalllll day and have stayed working throughout the pandemic. It has been fine.

So far I've got one big class in the hall for 60 but that still needs 2 members of staff.

One (unpopular) option I can see is to have primary school children go back full-time. Then set up a really good system of online learning for secondary school children who don't require so much supervision. Then redeploy some secondary school staff to primary schools to help supervise the children there.

Too many to list Iam read the thread yourself, there are many many other threads to choose from.

Not once in all of this time have I seen a post from a teacher that says I am really worried about the children in my school, and I want to get back to the classroom as soon as possible.

We all know the ones at risk, and yet we overlook the pain and the suffering even knowing we are very low risk of covid, and the children are at almost no risk whatsoever - we ignore the mental health and abuse car crash that is evolving in slow motion up and down the country whilst the NEC make 99 ridiculous demands for extra tissues etc. Seriously and you expect us to think you care - that you even give a damn?!

It is an outrage, one that the teachers will never be forgiven for. The ones that tore up their membership might well be given respect, but the rest??

Secondary students are brutal. Individually delightful and lovely. Pack mentality soon kicks in however and it isn't pleasant.

Remembering my schooldays, I agree. Keep them at home unless they can be supervised properly. Individually, they're usually fairly responsible and can be trusted not to burn the house down while their parents are at work (if not, by secondary that's the parents' problem).

Pancakebreakiii

I wonder how many teachers are preparing to give work up to look after their kids..

Zero.

I know of three from my school and several that are going to see how it goes in the first half term back.

So you may want to hold off on that zero.

Who is running the online provision while the secondary teachers are in primary?

I don't think anyone really wants Secondary to go online only. Short term online periods during a shut down are OK. Long term I think they need peer interaction and not just through a screen.

That would be lovely, molecular physics for 4 year olds 😁

@Nicknacky

Venicleover So if you have children you took a pandemic into account when you decided to start a family?

You are a far better parent than I am. I didn’t.

No, of course, I didn't, but I didn't go back to work until I had plan B and C in place and knew that we could cover anything that arose. We shared the childcare responsibility.

We didn't move to a house that required two salaries to service the mortgage until the kids were of secondary age for example.

@PingPongPam

I think we've all grasped that after six months of juggling school/work/home/health.

But thanks

Some might have

Lots have not

iam

It is the NEC that have caused all of this by making it impossible to open schools, backed by the teachers paying them not the government!!!!!!!!!!

How dare you try and blame others, this is all on you.

Friendsoftheearth

Not once in all of this time have I seen a post from a teacher that says I am really worried about the children in my school, and I want to get back to the classroom as soon as possible.

You haven't been locking very hard then.

Not once in all of this time have I seen a post from a teacher that says I am really worried about the children in my school, and I want to get back to the classroom as soon as possible.

I've been saying this from day one. I can't wait to be back.

However the return needs to be sustainable and funded. Currently it isn't.

I’ll come up with a Plan B But I would expect school to do so too ie how will they provide teaching to my child of school not open. Prior to summer my child was posted sheets on google classroom once a week with no guidance. It took the teacher 12 weeks to work out how to use ZOOM. Apparently not their fault as weren’t trained how to use ZOOM

I don’t know, it’s only on MN I see this.

Dds teachers have said in their zoom classes and private meetings I’ve had they can’t wait to get back in the class room.

I’ve also seen on here that teachers have really struggled to set online learning for their school pupils and do their own children’s school work.

I genuinely don’t think all teachers think like the ones who are constantly posting on here. Sometimes I think trolls post just to start a bun fight especially using the tag line ‘school is not childcare’ as they know it’s so inflammatory.

Who the fuck are the NEC? I'm a teacher and never heard of them.

[quote Iamnotthe1]@askmehowiknow
Do you really not get it 🤦‍♀️. If teachers are working from home their bubble or whatever is at home. Right? So 300 ? (mums) would need to be at home. It just can't continue to happen

So you agree that there needs to be better protective measures in schools so that the likelihood of any closure is reduced. That's the logical extension of the perspective you are arguing from.[/quote]
Not at all. I approve of the guidance. I think it will just be a matter of more testing

How advanced would they be though @spanieleyes

I remember how shocked the old Y6 teacher was when he moved to Y1 in DC’s Primary School. He couldn’t understand why they couldn’t get ready for home time with their bags etc and he certainly wasn’t used to being touched all the time!

@Friendsoftheearth

iam

It is the NEC that have caused all of this by making it impossible to open schools, backed by the teachers paying them not the government!!!!!!!!!!

How dare you try and blame others, this is all on you.

What has the National Exhibition Center got to do with this?