Are our kids being thrown under the bus

[Pixxie7]

Chris Whitney has said that children are safe to go back to school because they are at low risk of complications from Covid.is this another case of politics being more important than lives?

Of course they need to go back to school but the government has had months to come up with some imaginative ideas. They did it with the nhs so why not schools?

I.dont understand why secondary children and teachers are.not being told to wear masks. Surely that would help the situation. Transmission in schools was a big problem round here back in March.

The whole thing is anecdotal as studies aren’t being done on the longer term impact but as the virus has changed over time it doesn’t seem to causing huge problems. Unlike delays in cancer treatment, suicides and dental abscesses to make but a few

@angelfishrock

They all had SD though.

no, they didn't. At least not in Germany. schools open, breakfast and after school clubs running, holiday clubs running as usual. That was already back in June!

They did have SD in secondary, and masks. Their class sizes are smaller to start with.

@Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow

Why lattice? What is the alternative as this virus is here forever and I sure as hell am not living like this forever.

It’s not even hospitalising people now. It’s another common cold

Nobody can be this stupid, surely. Common cold? Bollocks.

Nothing is as stupid as what we are doing
to our country at present for a virus that isn’t making people ill and is here to stay.

@Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow

The whole thing is anecdotal as studies aren’t being done on the longer term impact but as the virus has changed over time it doesn’t seem to causing huge problems. Unlike delays in cancer treatment, suicides and dental abscesses to make but a few

No, sorry, this is false.

Well we shall agree to differ and I shall remain infuriated at the damage being done daily for nothing

Interesting point above from @Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow. If CV requires a vaccine every six months to remain effective due to constant mutation would you be prepared to regularly get an inoculation?
I can't see why not personally it would just be something else on the calendar - the cost of the programme would be high but potentially it could be administered in pharmacies or at home.

@Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow Please could you point me to the medical studies you are reading which says the virus is changing?

@Newdaynewname1

No. our school (independent) was fully back mid June, and its been so good for the kids. Closing schools was pretty bad for most kids

DS state school was back mid June as well and had a full provision during lockdown. Even calling up to speak to the children and marking work. I don’t feel like my DS was let down at all. I feel very sorry for his headteacher who will most likely be reading all the negative comments and feel like she couldn’t have done better as prior to the schools closing she was loosing staff and children each day and was doing the best she could do in the situation.

I can't lay my hands on a handy graph, but Im pretty sure in Scotland no one under 16 has died of coronavirus, so it's hardly throwing children under the bus to get them back to school.

Teachers are more of a concern, particularly those over 50, obese and/or with underlying health conditions. Personally for those teachers I wish we'd be able to offer some non pupil contact roles.

But what is the alternative to DCs going back ? They need an education, and before the usual suspects pop up, BBC bitesize is not an education as part of it is working with their peers and exchanging thoughts and ideas. My DS has just started (Scotland) the first year of his Nat 5s if school shuts, I shall be paying for tutors, rather than relying on the schools offerings.

Absolutely not eng and neither do I get the flu vaccine as there are no studies into the long term effects of annual vaccinations. Dog owners discuss this regularly - over vaccination is a huge issue for long term health in dogs. And whilst I do vaccinate for things like measles (kids) and parvo (dogs) I do not think annual vaccines are remotely sensible for dogs and probably not humans either.

Not true re lack of distancing in German schools

maybe it's regional but I have family and friends (in the East) and apart from staying within your class (not mixing with others) it is all back on (and no masks).

But what is the alternative to DCs going back ? The missing word here is fulltime

My opinion since about May has stayed that we need sd in secondary so need either part time or additional space with cover.

I still believe we need SD.

Winter was always going to be worrying, and UK classes are far bigger than most of Europe.

Italy for example has hired extra teachers and has found space.

@angelfishrock

Not true re lack of distancing in German schools

maybe it's regional but I have family and friends (in the East) and apart from staying within your class (not mixing with others) it is all back on (and no masks).

How many in the class and how big is the room?

No @latticechaos there was no missing words in my post. DCs need to be back at school ft.
We're lucky if SD is required, they'll spend half the time in a gym hall doing set work. Most DCs would only get pt schooling. They may be in secondary but I wouldn't want to leave a teen to study all day by themselves- it simply doesn't happen.

i wonder if many students will prefer to wear masks?
will their temperature be taken on arrival?

lattice
Normal classrooms - no idea about the size. 25-30 kids in the classroom. I am talking primary though.

@Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow

Absolutely not eng and neither do I get the flu vaccine as there are no studies into the long term effects of annual vaccinations. Dog owners discuss this regularly - over vaccination is a huge issue for long term health in dogs. And whilst I do vaccinate for things like measles (kids) and parvo (dogs) I do not think annual vaccines are remotely sensible for dogs and probably not humans either.

DS primary school came up with some interesting ideas for how to replicate some interaction. They used google meet (they use google classroom) and had the comments sections on the work areas for the assignments. There were the usual nonsense comments to work but there were also some discussions. It’s a problem that can be solved. Personally I’m very pro the flipped classroom in normal times, where the bulk of the learning takes place outside of the classroom which allows the teacher to focus on the students who need extra help (in whatever form that takes). If children were used to doing this, having lessons over teams or google meet would have been far easier as it could have been more of a discussion about what they struggled with and the teacher could help with that. As an ex teacher it’s a skill I have been teaching my DS, he needs to own his learning.

@angelfishrock

lattice Normal classrooms - no idea about the size. 25-30 kids in the classroom. I am talking primary though.

Oh, ok.

I think sd is needed in secondary, not primary. I believe German secondary classes are smaller, wearing masks and sd

If govt had got the strategy right the first time and more schools had delivered a proper education in the summer term, then we would have more flexibility from September to be able to better adapt rather than have this ridiculous farce that everything will be fine and no one is going to get it.

It will be those who suffered the most without proper teaching and resources who suffer the most now because they will be least equipped to respond so will stay open longest because of politics pressure to deliver education, putting staff, students and their families there at greater risk.

Three examples of schools I know of, reception year, all state schools:

School A: We aren’t going to set anything because “we are worried about kids’ wellbeing”. Kids did nothing for whole term.

School B: Here’s a list of things we were meant to learn (halving, doubling, phonics sound ai, at etc). Off you go to find stuff yourself.

School C: Here’s a couple of activity books you can do with some links to bug club and doodle maths

School D: Here’s our online platform. Your work will be posted each week, maths, writing, phonics, with some links to art activities etc for those who want them. We’ve emailed all the parents and activity packs are available for collection from school for any parent who has requested. Please return the work weekly so we can have a look at where help is needed.

If one can do it well why can’t they all? We are going to have a repeat of exactly the same problems this term. We need a strategy that tells schools exactly what they are obliged to provide in the event of outbreaks in order that they CAN close when they need to and students don’t lose out anymore. They’ve had long enough, there are no excuses now.

@majesticallyawkward can you not see the difference between me returning to work, in a small classroom, with zero ppe or social distancing, with 33 four old years and my friend working in a supermarket wearing ppe, behind a glass screen, in a shop where social distancing and mask wearing is required?
Do you see it now?

My dh has serious health problems at the moment and will have to live elsewhere for the foreseeable future.
It's shit but we need to keep him safe. I know I need to get back to work for the sake of the children I teach. I love my job but the government really haven't thought any of this through and clearly doesn't care!
I'm basically crossing everything and hoping for the best for myself and my colleagues.

Schools need to go back full time. How on earth are we ever going to get back to a functioning country otherwise? Just indefinitely have a part time school system? Chris Whitty is right to say risk to children is minute (and I'll take the opinion of an eminent immunologist over a bunch of randomers on MN).
Covid is not the only thing that will kill people. A recession and it's resulting poverty for a portion of the population could be devastating.

Kids need to have some normality back though.

If people could go on holiday to different countries while still being in the pandemic,kids can go to school.

Its not only the lack of learning.My son especially was hit hard with not being with his friends.He was worried about catching Covid for a long time.

Then when kids where allowed out to play here,took me a while to get him out.

Plus kids have lost milestones as well with school being closed.My ds is going to secondary school now,so he lost out on his graduation.Hes only having a small confirmation cause we cant go anywhere.They have suffered enough.