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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

After today's accouncement - planning to ask for remote learning

149 replies

Howslifenow · 22/09/2020 15:27

After these new lockdown restrictions and increase in cases, is anyone planning to not send their kids to schools and ask for remote learning.
After today's announcement I am thinking of doing this.
YIBU - To do this
YANBU - It's fine if works for you and the school

OP posts:
Pumpkinnose · 22/09/2020 18:21

YABU. All the restrictions are in place to keep kids at school. If you want to homeschool then do it properly and don’t take another child’s place.

balloonsintrees · 22/09/2020 18:21

YABTU
de register and home school if it bothers you that much. Why on earth should I have to increase my work load because you don't feel like sending your kid and may never do so again.
Every moment I have to spend faffing around dealing with KS3 parental insecurities is another moment taken from my exam classes and my own children. I already have had to sacrifice acres of my free time to mark mock papers, very happy to do this because it really helps my students, but dear god no more.

formerbabe · 22/09/2020 18:21

As long as schools open, my dc will be there. My youngest especially is so much happier being back and seeing her friends again. It's lovely to hear them both tell me about their days. I'm also enjoying the peace at home and finally getting some housework done!

stretchedmarks · 22/09/2020 18:21

Surely it's the child's decision? Have you actually asked your child what they want?

emilyfrost · 22/09/2020 18:23

@stretchedmarks

Surely it's the child's decision? Have you actually asked your child what they want?
Doubtful. She’s allowing her anxiety to rule her decisions.
middleager · 22/09/2020 18:25

@Orangeblossomrose

Many people are whining away here with their POV but fail to realise that several brilliant English secondaries (one thing we are actually world-beating at) are already providing this option for parents who are rightly prioritizing health. The teachers simply switch on the zoom/teams/suite with cam in their class and teach away. It might not be on the front page of the Times / your social media feed but think of some famous English schools for girls and boys, and they are doing this right now !
Are these standard comps in disadvantaged inner city or are you talking about Eton? If so, you're way out of touch.
TheSunIsStillShining · 22/09/2020 18:26

@SummaLuvin

So you want the teachers to fully facilitate remote learning, in addition to teaching a class in front of them? Seems a little unfair to ask them to do double the work. If you are that scared perhaps you remove your child from the education system and home school them for a year and send them back to school for the 2021/22 year.
This would be an awesome solution to many if they could guarantee the space. I can't do this because my son would lose his space in his school in the gcse year.

Me personally: no, I don't want what you are describing as it doesn't work. Together with a few teacher friends we worked out an asynchronous interim learning model that is a viable option. Sent it to a few HTs (not ours) for review, they are using some parts of it by now, some they already had set up. So it's not crap. And it's one solution. I know of many others along the same lines that allow for onsite-offsite students to progress at different rates with very little additional teacher work.

Our school's response: no response.

I didn't send mine back, but the lack of help from school is enraging me to the point of thinking of going to the headmaster to have a chat.

On the other side, I might not have to:
It turns out that in the school my son goes to there were only 4 physically present from a class of 15 (specialist GCSE subject, normal class size is 26). And it's only been 2 weeks.

Codexdivinchi · 22/09/2020 18:30

OP it’s really interesting that all your posts are COVID/school related. Reminds me of another poster who was demanding schools stay shut....

Stop trying to whip up panic. Schools are staying OPEN.

kiwibee · 22/09/2020 18:31

Parents underestimate the time it takes for teachers to prepare things to send home. It really isn't just a quick job.

Freeekedout · 22/09/2020 18:38

If you keep your DC out of school to educate them at home where it is considered safer, will they still see their friends outside of school?

Legoandloldolls · 22/09/2020 18:40

It's not for me, but others want to and can really commit the time then I can understand wanting to.

Problem then is that what's stopping the vulnerable going off radar

Ihatemyseleffordoingthis · 22/09/2020 18:51

I want my kids in school

The difference in their happiness, engagement, mental health is marked

I totally wish I felt more confident that their being in school was safe for them, for our household, for teachers and for the wider community. For now I feel the risk/benefit means they will go until they are sent home, which I view as inevitable in a matter of weeks. But I am keeping a weather eye.

I really wish there had been a plan for a part time blended option and smaller, distanced classes. Even just for secondary.

Rubyroost · 22/09/2020 18:51

So who is going to do the remote learning? If you want your kids off school you'll have to teach them.

Ihatemyseleffordoingthis · 22/09/2020 18:52

"If you keep your DC out of school to educate them at home where it is considered safer, will they still see their friends outside of school?"

If they did it really would be the grossest hypocrisy

PoodleMoth · 22/09/2020 18:54

Speak to your school as many I know already have their home learning up and running for those isolating.

TatianaBis · 22/09/2020 18:55

No.

Freeekedout · 22/09/2020 19:07

@Ihatemyseleffordoingthis

"If you keep your DC out of school to educate them at home where it is considered safer, will they still see their friends outside of school?"

If they did it really would be the grossest hypocrisy

Yes, quite!

And would it be ok for the teaching staff to decide that they would rather not risk being in the classroom and teach from home?

Original poster
Howslifenow · 22/09/2020 19:16

Yes if the teaching staff are vulnerable think schools are not safe they should be given an option.
Also I post about Covid schools because this is something which is impacting me.

OP posts:
heidipi · 22/09/2020 19:18

I can't afford (and don't want to tbh) give up my work to look after and home school my DC at home FT. The best part of 6 months WFH with the DC at home from mid/end of March to the beginning of Sept, covering for furloughed colleagues, having to do additional work related to closing down activity and planning to open it up again for the co's I work for (3 p/t jobs, dealing with stressed out bosses x 3), starting work before 6am, working through the weekends, not allowed to take leave as it was too busy, it was an absolute nightmare. Me and DP know we were lucky that there are 2 of us and
we hung on to our jobs but working like that long term just isn't do-able.

ilovemyrednosedaymug · 22/09/2020 19:19

Our school have made it clear that they will not be sending work home for pupils whose parents choose to keep them off school and they will concentrate on the ones attending (work will be set for those off for a couple of weeks isolating).

Original poster
Howslifenow · 22/09/2020 19:19

Did I say that schools should be closed.

OP posts:
heidipi · 22/09/2020 19:22

@Howslifenow

Did I say that schools should be closed.
So schools should stay open but be optional? Teachers have to offer remote learning AND teach the children who are turning up. Cos it's that easy.

Why not just take your DC out and home ed?

Freeekedout · 22/09/2020 19:24

You're right, vulnerable staff should be sent home.

Our school is seeing work visa Google Classroom and Eschools that mirrors what is happening in the classroom. This isn't too give the parents the option of homeschooling, rather for the children who are isolating at home awaiting tests so that they can keep up with the rest of the class with minimal disruption to their learning. So really, it's not creating extra work for teachers but it stops kids falling way behind.

heidipi · 22/09/2020 19:24

I know parents (all mothers, surprise surprise) who resigned from their jobs over the summer because it was impossible to do their jobs properly with children at home.

Grouse shooting? Yeah fine go ahead, it's a priority. Education, not so much.

cardibach · 22/09/2020 19:25

@Howslifenow

By remote learning - i just need indication of the work they will be doing for a week. I can work with my kid on these activities in my spare time along with DH.
Teachers are working at full tilt to cope with corona changes as it is. It’s completely unreasonable to expect them to provide work for your child when they are in school. Either deregister or make a fuss to get schools blended/online and protect school staff (and all communities).