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.

If, in plain words, a government letter arrived stating that not one student and not one teacher could ever use the assistance of internet study to access or assist their learning, I would be surprised to see proof, and surprised if no teaching union declared "up with this we will not put". Apart from anything else, it is breach of disability discrimination law to fail to make adjustments.

Plainly, some students are physically disabled or injured or need special tuition, at any time. Then, there are the complications of shielding family members. There are child carers. There are children who dread going to school because of bullying.

Then, the shielded or shielding or injured or disabled or recovering or newly retired or pregnant or caring teaching staff, or bored new mums i.e. a huge untapped resource of experienced willing educators, who might include many who would be glad to work from home, not least for the job satisfaction of having the chance to coach one to one, or in small groups, and see the difference their efforts make.

That's your plain words? I don't get what your point is at all.

@noblegiraffe

That's your plain words? I don't get what your point is at all.

Nope, me neither.

@noblegiraffe

That's your plain words? I don't get what your point is at all.

Nope, not getting it.

20mum

Do you mean:

There are some students who would be better off working at home.

They should work at home.

Staff who are vulnerable plus an assortment of others could teach them.

I think that’s what you meant.

However, I’d refer you to my previous answer. The government have directed all schools to be open fully. No ifs. No buts.

The claim is that the government" wanting schools open" is interpreted as meaning that " no reasonable adjustment is permitted". If this has been put in plain words in a government letter, it is an interesting document, because it orders a breach of law. I suspect it has not, and that some heads are for whatever reason choosing that interpretation, and others not. .

The claim is that the government" wanting schools open"

No. The government has directed schools to open fully, as usual.

Headteachers are not “interpreting” anything.

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

A child in my class has tested positive for covid. No distancing or PPE for me so I guess my life doesn't matter.

Unless you had to wipe the child’s bottom, clean their teeth and give them a bed bath while the child was actually symptomatic and coughing all over you It’s not really comparable to what a care worker does.

@stairway

Unless you had to wipe the child’s bottom, clean their teeth and give them a bed bath while the child was actually symptomatic and coughing all over you It’s not really comparable to what a care worker does.

Why mention care workers? The thread is about teachers. The whataboutery on this thread is both stupid and infuriating.

Do you honestly think teachers should just suck up the danger they are in because others are also in danger? That's a ridiculous argument with no logic at all.

Schools could be made much safer than they are at the moment. Why would anyone object to that? Do you want teachers to get covid? That seems to be the logic of some here.

The hatred for teachers is epidemic. Jealousy, I suppose.

Lastdaysofgoldensummer The poster above purplewaterfall compared her risk to that of a care worker because someone in her class tested positive. I was just stating why the risks are different.

Unless you had to wipe the child’s bottom, clean their teeth and give them a bed bath while the child was actually symptomatic and coughing all over you It’s not really comparable to what a care worker does

I agree, and I work in frontline healthcare. Our new patients are tested for covid and barrier nursed until a negative swab is obtained, but others go out on leave, see relatives, go to the shops etc. I only get a standard surgical mask. If I have to be hands-on with a patient I get a visor and apron. No fitted mask or full PPE!

Teachers can socially distance from children unless very young (and I’ve seen nursery workers in visors and fitted masks). Healthcare workers can’t.

I agree teachers should be given masks and visors and scrubs but I don’t agree with closing schools!

Another non-teacher telling teachers incorrectly what their working conditions are. Super.

I worked in a school and care home, Giving personal care to a covid patient is so much more risky, it’s obvious unless you only think carers make cups of tea. I do agree with vulnerable people working from home whatever their profession and of course teachers should be able to wear masks ( they do in both my children’s school).

“Data from 2 September (the start of the school year) to 16 October 2020 show no evidence of differences in the positivity rate between primary and secondary school teachers, other key workers and other professions.

The “other key workers” category includes the following occupations:

resident-facing care home workers
patient-facing and non-patient facing healthcare workers
protective service occupations”

I agree teachers should be given masks and visors and scrubs but I don’t agree with closing schools!’

Scrubs? Why on EARTH would you be providing scrubs?

Ffs - hope you aren't going to the supermarket or accepting deliveries or taking post because if you are you aren't valuing their lives. You are a key worker you are doing your job just like everyone else in a similar position.

Noblegiraffe rates in care homes were low between that period though, now they are much higher and they were much higher during the first peak. When rates are low everywhere then key workers generally do have the same level of risk. Look at the risk over the whole period and care work is significantly more risky.

Anything to avoid acknowledging that there’s a risk to teachers from being in the classroom unprotected against positive covid cases, right, stairway?

@RattleOfBars

Unless you had to wipe the child’s bottom, clean their teeth and give them a bed bath while the child was actually symptomatic and coughing all over you It’s not really comparable to what a care worker does

I agree, and I work in frontline healthcare. Our new patients are tested for covid and barrier nursed until a negative swab is obtained, but others go out on leave, see relatives, go to the shops etc. I only get a standard surgical mask. If I have to be hands-on with a patient I get a visor and apron. No fitted mask or full PPE!

Teachers can socially distance from children unless very young (and I’ve seen nursery workers in visors and fitted masks). Healthcare workers can’t.

I agree teachers should be given masks and visors and scrubs but I don’t agree with closing schools!

This is not my experience of working in primary at all even with upper primary, some of whom are age 11.

No SD between adults and children, only anti bac gel for all as no time to hand wash using soap with 30 children and 1 sink, no masks allowed or visors for children or staff at my school because the head says no. Unless you work in a school you don’t know the working conditions so please don’t make assumptions.

Buy one of those see-through masks. You won't get sacked for wearing it, will you? You've already had it, so that's in your favour as well. I think you sound a bit self-indulgent. Check your privilege. We're all of us in a mess.

I’m simply describing the working conditions for staff in my school. Any staff wearing a mask in my school would be told to remove it due to the government guidance. Anyone not towing the line has to be prepared for the consequences. I’ve seen this at other times in my workplace and it doesn’t end well.

Scrubs? Why on EARTH would you be providing scrubs? confused

In case teachers are worried about carrying infection home. They could change into scrubs at school, wear masks/visors, leave scrubs at school to be hot washed (presuming the school has these facilities if not scrubs get washed at home like many hospital and care home workers).

@RattleOfBars

Scrubs? Why on EARTH would you be providing scrubs? confused

In case teachers are worried about carrying infection home. They could change into scrubs at school, wear masks/visors, leave scrubs at school to be hot washed (presuming the school has these facilities if not scrubs get washed at home like many hospital and care home workers).

Why not just take a spare pair of clothes and change before you leave work if you’re concerned? And have them laundered AT work? In school? Who exactly would be doing that? Honestly people post stuff like this and expect it to be taken seriously?

There is a risk noblegiraffe but its no worse for teachers then other key workers, your stats show that teachers are not at more risk than other key workers. So maybe the title should be are the lives of key workers worthless? Maybe we should all work from home so we don’t put ourselves at risk.