To feel in despair for the kids

[JudesBiggestFan]

My son was one of 400 children sent home from two bubbles in his high school today to isolate for 14 days. He's in Year 7 and it was his fourth day in his new school.
He'd been catching the bus, made a new friend, had settled in so much better than I hoped after the past few chaotic disrupted months. And now he's home again.
Not only that, he is now going to miss his cricket presentation and first two football matches of the season, not be able to see friends and family, all for the pleasure of three days of schooling.
And I can see this happening over and over and over again. Luckily childcare isnt an issue as I work from home, but I'm just so sad for kids missing out. Six months off and it seems we're back where we started with no end in sight

Aren't you a bundle of jolly optimism, cardibach.

@HesterShaw1 I’ve no idea what you’re reading but it’s not science. The economic implications of where we currently are (ignoring science) are generation changing.

The dc don’t have to make the reverse decision. Adults should look out for them though and that includes their well being.

Some children will be happier out of school, many are happy to be there. It’s not possible but if the former stayed home... hasn’t been an option though.

@mrpumblechook

^Parents will be told that at my school too. Very few classrooms at an actually accommodate 2 m space at the front. I can theoretically get 2m in my main teaching room if I press myself against the front wall for the whole lesson. It’s a bigger room than I’ve had in most places I’ve taught. Other rooms I can’t get to the front without passing very very close to other desks And still can’t get 2m away without actually pressing 8nto the front wall.*

My DD has told me that rather than the school.

It’s actually quite hard to visualise 2m. I had to measure. I’m sure if your DD has been told the teacher will be 2m away and they aren’t actually standing by her desk she thinks it’s 2m. Almost certainly isn’t in most classrooms.

My ds year have been told to self isolate for 2 weeks after being back for one day. It’s hard for them not to leave the house at all. I feel desperately sorry for the teachers who have no protection whatsoever. I can’t think of any other job where there is no protection. Perhaps there is, but my mind is blank.

Just curious and sorry if it's been said but if a child is sent home do their siblings if at the same school /not, need to self isolate and not attend school too?

I think we have to allow the herd immunity to build. Reluctantly because I am over 60 but still enjoy being out and about, I think older people should be holding back a bit so the virus can tear though the population under 40, who have the immune systems to recover. Obviously, if you have a pre-existing respiratory issue, you will probably want to be more cautious. But even given all the above, it would mean to me, in my quiet rural life, that I would still walk the dog, but probably would choose the alternative Zoom option my exercise class teacher offers. I think there is a sensible balance for most of us, with a little thought, that doesn't involve exposing myself or DH to catching a disease that has the potential to be very unpleasant with long lasting after effects.

[quote HesterShaw1]@Oaktree55, yes I'm following the news. I'm also reading lots of reports which are not on the news.

We are being continuously scared o death and manipulated about a virus which whose main symptom is no symptoms.

Yes Long Covid is a thing for a small number of people. So are the post viral effects of glandular fever and flu.[/quote]
So are the things not in the news you are Reading far right conspiracy nonsense? Seems likely. The main symptom is not no symptoms and Long Covid affects a significant proportion.

@lljkk

Aren't you a bundle of jolly optimism, cardibach.

I am a bundle of realism. I’m in schools. I see it. I’ve been saying it (along with others) all summer. Optimism won’t get us through this. Realism has half a chance.

@XingMing herd immunity has never worked for any disease without a vaccine.

@XingMing

I think we have to allow the herd immunity to build. Reluctantly because I am over 60 but still enjoy being out and about, I think older people should be holding back a bit so the virus can tear though the population under 40, who have the immune systems to recover. Obviously, if you have a pre-existing respiratory issue, you will probably want to be more cautious. But even given all the above, it would mean to me, in my quiet rural life, that I would still walk the dog, but probably would choose the alternative Zoom option my exercise class teacher offers. I think there is a sensible balance for most of us, with a little thought, that doesn't involve exposing myself or DH to catching a disease that has the potential to be very unpleasant with long lasting after effects.

That would work if the virus only killed those over 60 but many younger people are vulnerable too is not just those with pre-existing respiratory issues. They can't just go for a nice country walks. They have to work and often will have children at school.

cardibach you do know there is a range between "the news" and "far right conspiracy nonsense" don't you? Or did you not?

That's what this situation had brought to head I think - that people are generally so utterly binary and lacking in nuance. Things are either one thing...or the other. It's like what Bush said "You're either for us, or against us". no grey areas.

FFS.

It’s is better and fairer to have organised part time attendance for all children, than random part time attendance for some children due to self isolating.
Part time attendance would allow space for social distancing.

@XingMing that unfortunately doesn’t work. Reinfection has been documented. The first early vaccines are likely to prevent severe disease but unfortunately not stop vaccinated people from being infectious.

Immunity was the gamble our Government took its looking likely they lost.

Although if we don’t get a vaccine we’re all equally stuffed. Even countries that eliminated it.

We're not hearing much about Sweden at the moment, are we?

@walksen

"No, they would not."

You honestly think if it was the other way around and the message was don't kill your grandchildren, people's response would be nah fuck em? They can stay at home ?

The older generation continually vote for Tory governments because of the triple lock pension among other things. They voted for Brexit. They kick up a fuss about paying for TV licences.

They do these things knowing it has an adverse effect on younger people.

So no, I don't think they would happily forgo the stuff that makes life worth living for the sake of some younger people, no.

Year 7s at our local boys school have also been sent home this week. One lad tested positive.

It's such a nightmare. Especially because Boris said it's safe and I've seen 5 schools over Nottingham and Lincolnshire area have shut bubbles.

I expect it's going to happen in more and more schools everyday!

@MarshaBradyo

Although if we don’t get a vaccine we’re all equally stuffed. Even countries that eliminated it.

That's really not a given is it?

This illness will probably develop into something a lot less serious, like so many other viruses have done.

This is not it. This is not the way life will be now forever, because of a virus which only makes a small proportion of people actually ill.

@AldiAisleofCrap Exactly!!!!! Unless your school is in remote part of U.K. (possibly). There was a better way but too many people threw their toys out of the pram 🙄

It’s shit, shit and beyond shit. Hope your DS is ok.

@smogsville

I'm sorry OP that's just beyond disappointing for your son and the rest of the children. What happens to siblings, do they have to stay away for 14 days too?

@AlexaShutUp I don't agree I'm afraid. If the alternative to keeping potentially contagious kids at home is for those in vulnerable groups to isolate, that would be a least worst scenario for me.

Are you saying that as a vulnerable person @smogsville? If not, I'm sure it would be very convenient for everyone if the vulnerable just shut themselves away. But we also have children and jobs. And those that are too old or unwell to work still have to contact with the wider population to access health services and care.

@tantamountto

I'd prefer high quality blended learning too. I think that schools using each board should get together and produce online lessons backed up with worksheets which can then be shared among schools. In Scotland we only have one exam board, so the government could work with a small number of very good teachers to produce online or televised lessons. This could have been done over the summer. Those lessons could be used for those self-isolating, and to help with maybe half time in school for all secondary school children. Why every school has to deal with the situation on its own is beyond me.

I've often wondered this too. Get great teachers to prepare a topic with resources / worksheets etc, raises standards for all, means every school doesn't have to do everything etc

HesterShaw my parents and my grandmother have voted Labour their whole life, they voted remain. My mother worked as a nurse her entire career, my grandmother worked in a children's mental health facility caring for children who had been abandoned by their parents (oh and she just had her free TV license taken away) so don't fucking tell me the don't care about the younger generation.

And, even if this wasn't the case who the fuck are you to say that people who have different ideas to you should be locked away?

@HesterShaw1have you looked at the typical timeframe for viruses losing virulence?