AIBU or are the lives of school staff worthless?

[Witchcraftandhokum]

I fully appreciate that the education and mental well-being of children is important but why does it trump the physical and mental health of school staff? The facts are simple, people are being told to stay at home because it is unsafe to do otherwise, unless you work in education or the NHS who are provided with effective PPE.

On a daily basis I am expected to supervise the diner where 150 students eat lunch (obviously mask free) if I wish to eat I am also mask free. I have to supervise the same 150 children in narrow corridors. For this pupils are supposed to wear masks but there are a number who refuse (not the students who are exempt) and we cannot enforce it. We hand out hundreds of masks per week to students whose parents don't ensure they have one with them.

We are not allowed to wear masks in classrooms but are given visors which aren't as effective. The children are not allowed to wear masks in classrooms. None of this are rules imposed by the school but are in-line with the government guidance.

We have students who say they have developed a cough knowing we have to send them home, we cannot make the decision as to whether they are lying or not, but I've been verbally abused by parents calling me "fucking stupid" for not knowing when a child is lying.

Before half-term we had 25% of staff off sick as they had tested positive (including myself). There are many experts stating schools should be shut but Boris has done a fantastic job of insinuating that school staff are lazy and don't want to work, and the early response to the unions concerns shows that this is working. I've never suffered with stress or anxiety but the thought of a return to school tomorrow is making me feel sick.

Talking to colleagues who work in other schools it appears my experience is not unusual. So AIBU to think that this government doesn't give a shiny shit about school staff.

@AtoZZ well arent you a dick.

It’s teachers having another f*ing moan, like they always do, thinking they are more important and special than everyone else.
This is exactly why teachers are the most despised profession

Nice

Personally I've been campaigning for masks and social distancing in schools. Because I care about the education of my students. And I want schools to stay open.

Report the troll, don’t respond, they’ll only try to get you banned if you do.

I’m just saying noblegiraffe you just can’t compare the risks teachers face with that of care workers and bus drivers particularly at the beginning when there was no treatment. If 30 % of deaths did happen in schools then schools would be shut no question about it. I personally agree with ECV teachers working from home and the schools given extra money to fund supply teachers. I also support mask wearing. That all seems reasonable. I just don’t support part time schooling or online schooling. It just didn’t work. I fear that is what some teachers on here want.

I personally agree with ECV teachers working from home and the schools given extra money to fund supply teachers. I also support mask wearing. That all seems reasonable.

Jolly good, we are in agreement.

I will add funding for ventilation (including money to put the heating on) and regular testing particularly where there are positive cases.

AtoZZ

I’d love to know what your job is.

@SmileEachDay

AtoZZ

I’d love to know what your job is.

Advance search is your friend here.

I don’t agree with those suggestions noblegiraffe I’m not sure about putting the heating on with all the windows open, I think the environmental impact would be really bad. NHS workers don’t get regular testing and I think they should be the priority first as they are looking after the most vulnerable.

@stairway

I’m just saying noblegiraffe you just can’t compare the risks teachers face with that of care workers and bus drivers particularly at the beginning when there was no treatment. If 30 % of deaths did happen in schools then schools would be shut no question about it. I personally agree with ECV teachers working from home and the schools given extra money to fund supply teachers. I also support mask wearing. That all seems reasonable. I just don’t support part time schooling or online schooling. It just didn’t work. I fear that is what some teachers on here want.

We already have part-time schooling in some schools due to the volume of positive cases in those schools. Some students have so far been physically in school half the time. The current system is fine in some areas of the country where there are low rates of covid, but in areas with high number of covid cases, it simply isnt working. And the students, because other people with no idea, insist on them being in full time, are suffering, because theyre not in full time, but everything is set up for them to be in full time.

@stairway

I don’t agree with those suggestions noblegiraffe I’m not sure about putting the heating on with all the windows open, I think the environmental impact would be really bad. NHS workers don’t get regular testing and I think they should be the priority first as they are looking after the most vulnerable.

Hell fire do you know how cold it would be with all windows and doors open with no heating on?

If you drive a car, go on planes and eat meat you can fuck right off with saying students should be sitting in rooms at 6 degrees because of the environment.

My friend's DC works for one of the major supermarkets and gets tested every week - more often if requested.

So, that's nice.

I’m not sure about putting the heating on with all the windows open

So are you in favour of kids trying to work in freezing classrooms or covid spreading through unventilated classrooms?

NHS workers don’t get regular testing and I think they should be the priority first as they are looking after the most vulnerable.

So you think covid should be allowed to spread through schools undetected as most pupils will not show the symptoms required for a test?

Let’s be clear what you are arguing for when you say those things.

Pretty sure crowds like this aren't permitted in shops, on buses or in GP surgeries these days. And certainly not in Parliament.

Hey, @AtoZZ, ever thought about training to be a teacher? It's easy, and they're pretty desperate to recruit at the moment.

@CallmeAngelina

Pretty sure crowds like this aren't permitted in shops, on buses or in GP surgeries these days. And certainly not in Parliament.

Hey, @AtoZZ, ever thought about training to be a teacher? It's easy, and they're pretty desperate to recruit at the moment.

Exactly. This is remarkably similar to most of my lessons.

I think maybe a compromise, a window open near a teacher ( they’re the important ones) all the windows open might be a bit much. The government should be testing nhs workers regularly first because most deaths occur in hospitals and when it spread in hospitals people die ( really die) If a supermarket wants to test their staff and pay for it that’s up to them.

Again, people saying teachers 'aren't as at risk'. ONS data (though the government has tried to spin it) shows we are at the same risk of catching covid as care home workers and healthcare workers.

Everyone think carehome workers should be kept as safe as possible? Yep, good, I agree. They are doing an amazing job in dangerous circumstances.

Everyone think healthcare workers should be kept as safe as possible and are doing an amazing job in dangerous circumstances? I agree.

Everyone think teachers (same risk of contagion remember) should have the safest working conditions possible and are doing an amazing job in dangerous circumstances? Oh wait.... I think this thread answered OPs question pretty thoroughly.

Care home workers like myself actually are dealing with covid residents on a daily basis. Personal care often for a long time.in the last month I have every shift been up close to a covid resident we are more at risk than a teacher

All the people saying 'just get on with it' aren't spending every day in the company of society's biggest virus spreaders unmasked, nor would they happily do that themselves.

So yes, OP, according to these selfish bastards, teachers lives don't mean shit and they're happy for you all to take risks bigger than they do so long as their kids aren't at home.

Twats.

@Vivana That sounds incredibly tough I know some on this thread are pretending that teachers are claiming to have worse than anyone, but we absolutely aren’t. What we are saying is that in our profession specifically there is risk which the government isn’t helping us to mitigate. That doesn’t mean that other professions don’t have it worse, it’s just that there are a lot of teachers on MN so we often speak here about our experiences. I think there are many people who have been affected by Covid, from the frontline workers who have to go in everyday knowing their job is risky, through to those who have lost their jobs or are dealing with loneliness and mental health problems from prolonged working from home. It’s a tough situation all round. I think it’s absolutely fine for any one of those groups to speak on MN about how tough things are at the moment without others coming on and presenting straw man arguments and gaslighting.

Aside from the daily risk to teachers from Covid itself, the impact from the sheer numbers of absences is incredible. We have had so many teachers off because they live with / have had contact with someone with Covid. That alone is giving me so much stress.

I agree teachers have it rough and should be allowed to wear a mask after all there teaching children in a enclosed area for hours 5 days a week. In lucky as Care staff are tested every week for covid as routine for working in a care home. I don't understand why teachers are not allowed ppe.

@Vivana you guys are all doing an amazing job

Considering countries all over Europe are near full capacity for ICU beds it is horrendous teachers are expected to work on these conditions.
Can you sue your employer for not keeping you safe in the workplace.
Teachers should take civil cases if it is possible.
Italy has brought in freezer lorries for the dead France is as bad.

Why, why on earth, don't you coach, teach, tutor on-line?

(Please don't say one child might not have an internet connection, therefore all must be denied. Anyone whose train of logical thought can propose that, is not someone who should be influencing children)

Why, why on earth, don't you coach, teach, tutor on-line?

Because the government have directed all schools to open fully 🤦🏻‍♀️