#closetheschools is trending

[Allthestarsarecloser]

I work at a university on the front line seeing students 1-1 (I work in student support) and have continued to see students this term at a distance & with measures in place. ALL the students I have seen have been grateful for the human contact.

I also have 2 kids in primary and secondary. I want them to stay in school as my eldest had to have counselling after the last lockdown.

Aibu to say that schools need to stay open and I say that as someone on the front line.

YABU - they should shut
YANBU- they need to stay open

The issue with schools staying open for me is that it means people dont see the sense in following other rules.

Rightly so (imo) an exception has been made for education, but now threads are full of people trying to widen that extention eg well if my kids can socialise with them at school then they can hang out with them at the weekend, well if im mixing at the school gate then i can meet up with them at the park.

It makes me scream inside a bit when i see posts that say well i have three dc's in three schools so im in contact with so many people that why cant i xyz? I dont think those posters think through that then the only alternative is to shut schools

You don’t work on the front line.

You absolutely cannot compare a 1:1 meeting in a ventilated space with both parties able to wear masks and stay 2m apart to me standing facing 32 teenagers in a classroom with no windows and no masks.

I want schools open. But kids and parents need to take more responsibility. Kids are still sharing pens etc, putting their hands all over each other and meeting up outside school. They are not all wearing masks in corridors. Some deliberately break bubbles. They basically ignore cv rules because they're in school everyday with 1000 other people and think it's stupid that they can't do x if they're sitting next to people in different classes. When isolating, they go out and see their mates.

If cv isn't spreading in large workplaces, it shouldn't spread in schools. But it is. School staff are doing all they can, but what are kids and teens doing?

#keepschoolsopen

#keepuniversitiesopen

Schools should stay open. If parents however choose to keep their DCs at home, then they should be able to on the understanding that they will need to arrange home schooling, and face the future potential consequences of gaps in their DCs learning. But I suspect they will turn round at some point moaning about their child being behind their peers. Maybe a disclaimer should be signed by every parent choosing to keep their dc at home.

If schools do not close then we will see a longer lockdown because the numbers are simply not going to change enough to allow safe lifting of restrictions. Perhaps it’s a test the government will do in order to fine tune our future lockdown procedures. They know that schools are a big issue, however getting Joe and Joanne Public to accept that without evidence is another thing. We can expect a similar lockdown cycle in 2021.

I would be surprised if schools are open during the entire four week lockdown . it would make sense to shut them for two weeks at the end. That wouldn't be too harmful to education and it would help reduce transmission,

@rawlikesushi

I work in a school and we have very strict measures in place.

Despite this, parents congregate to chat at drop-off, attempt to come into the classroom to talk to me, pick up children from other bubbles for play dates, arrange parties and sleepovers, car share and walk home in big groups.

I think that, for some, 'going back to school' meant 'back to normal'. Perhaps the full lockdown will just sharpen people's minds a bit and it will have a suppressing impact on socialising before/after school.

I don't rule out it becoming necessary to close schools again but I do think they should be the very last places to close, and that we have to try everything else first.

Universities are another matter. You only have to look at where the hot spots were to see that. Most students are now being taught entirely remotely. Close the universities and refund accommodation.

Do you feel that all the measures in school were thrown to the wind by these things:

Despite this, parents congregate to chat at drop-off, attempt to come into the classroom to talk to me, pick up children from other bubbles for play dates, arrange parties and sleepovers, car share and walk home in big groups.

It's hard to tell if transmission is happening in school or outside of school. Perhaps there is no way to know but it seems fruitless to have strict measures in schools if people are carrying on like normal outside of school.. hopefully the rates will drop given household mixing will now be banned. Safer for teachers as well.

Agree on universities...

They need to stay open and I say that as someone who works in primary school.

and you don't think there may be children in secondary schools or colleges who also had a terrible time last lockdown? Or that it is just as important for older children to be able to have routine, socialise with peers, and have an education? but no, you only have primary aged children so lets keep them open and shut everything else . Typical I'm alright jack attitude.

My dc is in year 11, and her mental health will definitely suffer if secondary schools are closed, but I agree with ilovexmastime35 that secondary schools should close while primary schools stay open. It's not because secondary aged children have less need for structure, socialisation or education, but because there is a significantly higher level of risk. Look at the data.

I think there are many ways to view this and it is not necessary a binary either /or.

But - please- you work in HE in a 1:1 role (I presume highly SD set up, maybe masks?) That is so not the 'frontline'. Please don't diminish the work of NHS staff, nursery nurses, primary teachers, TAs, careworkers (all of whom are at the top of the occupational risk factors) and your own academic staff, and secondary teachers, who work with much larger groups, in groups with high rates of transmission, by claiming you are 'frontline'

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

Disgusting behaviour of adults, many of whom defend their need to go and play golf, go to the pub, go on holiday and see their parents. Children were bottom of the pile last lockdown, now it’s time to protect them and put them first!!!

100% agree with this.

I work in a school and the difference in the children from September to now is just astounding.

The kids need to be in for their mental health.

Bet there wouldn’t be a #closetherestaurants or #closethenonessentialshops or #closethegyms, would there?

No, because the livelihoods of people who work in these jobs (especially small businesses) are effected by the closures and they’re given lots of sympathy. But when it comes to children’s education there is so very little importance placed on to it.

Also, I bet people are would be fine keeping leisure centres and pubs open for their own selfish gain, but could justify schools closing.

@Clearasmuddypuddles I also teach in lecture theatres of up to 300 students. It’s not a competition to see who is most in harms way

No they shouldn’t shut schools. The last lockdown severely affected children’s learning as it is. I’ve got a DC about to sit A-Levels and one close to GCSEs, so absolutely no fucking way!

Schools were shut for 14 weeks to some year groups. They weren’t shut for 18 months.

You made it that in your own OP by calling yourself frontline!!

I have 2 kids in years 11 and 13 ue to sit GCSE's and A'levels next year. I'm on the fence over this. Obviously I want them to continue to be able to go to school but only if it's safe which i don't feel it is. My ds3 doing A'levels is only in college 2 days a week and we minimise risk by driving him there etc. My dh is at high risk and I worry everyday that the kids will bring it home from school/ college.

Yanbu op

I’m a primary teacher and I think schools should absolutely stay open.

However, I’m a healthy, active, white woman in my mid-thirties with no dependants so perhaps have less to be concerned about than some colleagues.

That’s what it’s called at my uni ‘frontline staff’ 🙄

They need to stay open.

We also need to acknowledge that staff who work in schools do so at a risk. We can't social distance and we don't wear masks. We are up close and personal in small, poorly ventilated rooms.

I am paid for 25 hours a week but I do over 2 hours overtime unpaid each day. Cleaning before, during breaks, lunch and after school.

I would just like this acknowledged.

Children need to be educated. I don't mind whether that is in person or online but I am incredibly disappointed that the campaign from teachers and teachers unions is "close the schools" rather.than "teach online".

However, I’m a healthy, active, white woman in my mid-thirties with no dependants so perhaps have less to be concerned about than some colleagues

Yes, I really feel for teachers who are vulnerable at the moment, it must be very scary.

That’s splitting hairs isn’t it. Schools will still be open for some and teaching will be online even if they’re “shut”. By law that has to happen.