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.

Despite the disingenuous bleating on here there is no other profession who have to be in close contact with 30 or more people in a room without protection

And yet I've just given an example of that very situation 🙄

Newspaper distribution requires up to 200 in the same packing area, with little PPE. Many people have to travel on public transport. sit next to strangers and go to factory work.

Teachers really need to have a union that looks after their interests.

Everyone should be wearing a mask - teachers, police control room people, pupils, factory staff, supermarket attendents, bus drivers, cleaners. Wearing a mask at all times.

You'll have to speak up when wearing a mask so others can hear you clearly. I've been shouting speaking loudly at my deafer patients since March.

It needs to be done.

My complete sympathy lies with the OP - teachers should definitely be provided with masks, and all pupils made to wear one too.

I think my children’s teachers are awesome and I would hate it if they feel unsafe.

This is not about people not appreciating teachers. This is about people not feeling that teacher’s especially are considered to have worthless lives, and it is also about the fact that the efficacy of PPE is still a bit of an unknown in most situations.

It's staggering that 55% of people think the OP is unreasonable.

How selfish so many people are and uncaring

OP your situation sounds challenging but you clearly work in a school with an ineffective SLT, poor discipline and poor morale.
There are plenty of schools up and down the country where teachers, parents and pupils are working collaboratively to adhere to guidelines and to maximise safety. Far from an ideal situation but teachers who are constantly moaning about it are probably completely ineffective at present so probably should stay at home. I know a number of motivated NQT who are prepared to work.
And yes your thread title is ridiculous and over dramatic.

@noblegiraffe

none wear PPE other than masks in communal areas.

Why don't classrooms count as communal areas?

Communal seems to mean (for DH) the lifts and things where there are several people in a very tight enclosed space. Sitting at desks in an open plan office and having a meeting with some others (might only be a small number at any time but obviously different groups) they wouldn’t wear masks.

I’m not arguing that teachers might be being asked to do something that some others aren’t being or that the profession is not valued but I just don’t understand the assertion that it’s only healthcare workers and teachers working even in full lockdown when it isn’t and never has been.. I know so many people who have been going to their normal places of work since March and will continue to do so ... the “key worker” definition includes so many people.

My brother is a fire fighter and can’t socially distance at emergencies can’t wear ppe when doing certain tasks. They come in to contact with all sorts of situations where every second counts so hard to prepare for every ppe condition and no they can’t always wear masks. My best friend works with homeless people so they are given ppe but unfortunately some of the people they deal with won’t wear ppe and given that masks don’t protect you and are for the benefit of others... so I do sympathies with teachers but other jobs are working in tough conditions. It’s shit for a lot of people

They're not being asked to stay at home because it isn't safe to leave. They are being asked to reduce the rate of transmission in situations where people can work from home.

It is to preserve NHS capacity for things over than covid and the economy can function at a basic level - driving to work etc and have an accident we want NHS to carry on picking pieces up for other people than just covid. It is not because it isn't safe to go out it is to reduce rate of transmission.

Everyone should be wearing a mask - teachers, police control room people

In an ideal world yes but we can't. It was tried and it was completely unworkable. The mics are so sensitive we couldn't be heard properly. Talking loudly didn't work either- besides you can't have a room of 40 folk all shouting all day. Its just not always possible

But yes I definitely think teachers should be allowed to wear masks if that would make them feel safer and would totally back a campaign for that.

Maybe I’m too hung up on the semantics of “our lives are considered worthless” it just really irritated me. I don’t consider my life is thought of as worthless when I care for Covid patients in a surgical mask, gloves and a plastic apron (the full PPE you see on the news is only for patients on specific treatments)

Yes we have effective PPE, that is I suppose why more than 50% of us have tested pos.

Redglitter
There was a slight cross post between our posts where you said you didn’t have screens.
I understand that you can’t wear masks.
But surely what you have is a number (perhaps 50) of adults sitting at desks/ computers with gaps between you?
It’s really not the same as having 30 kids jumping around inches from your face is it?

I think the key here will be the parents.

The arguments for keeping schools open when all was being debated would have been largely based around the 'fact' that children are highly unlikely to catch or carry the virus, let alone die. So they believe that telling staff to social distance from each other will be the best way to keep schools running.

Until you factor in the parents... the same types that call you "fucking stupid". The ones that won't wear masks to collect their children even if they're not exempt. The parents that crowd around and don't social distance. Anyone who barges forward and shouts 'me first'.

THEY will spread the virus.

I believe that every teacher should find a way to report things like the above every time it happens. The same way people will be encouraged to grass on people meeting up. Keep complaining. Keep evidence of situations where parents don't comply. Keep showing the government that they are the ones not allowing their 'plan' to work effectively, and therefore still put school staff at risk.

FWIW, I'm not a teacher, but my best friend is. And my heart bleeds for her when I hear how worried she is about returning to the classroom. She wants to teach. She doesn't want to die. She feels that nobody cares. So that's why I think teachers should fight back by showing where the real problem lies with keeping schools open

I honestly don't think teachers or school staff are getting the credit they deserve in these testing times. They have a perfect right to moan - they're childminding the Country's children during a dangerous period where most others are not expected to work in such risky conditions. The teachers at my DS' primary school have been just fantastic. So positive and accepting. They were nervous, but they have managed so so well. I am very grateful.

Likewise to those working on Covid wards/face-to-face with patients and the vulnerable.

It was actually nice to hear Boris Johnson make a point of thanking teachers in his press conference last night. Not before time. Well done to you all!

EmmetEmma I agree that that was needlessly hyperbolic but to me the difference is that NHS staff or carers doing their job with considerable risks she considered angels whereas education staff in similar situations are seen as lazy whingers.

It was actually nice to hear Boris Johnson make a point of thanking teachers in his press conference last night.

Oh, I was sticking my middle finger up at him at that point, fake thanks from a known liar isn't worth anything. What we want is better mitigation measures and funding.

The situation clearly differs depending on the school/ council. I don't recognise your description at all.

My children attend primary school in Scotland (populated central belt area), there have been zero cases since term started in August.

Teachers all wear masks in communal areas, windows are left open, parents wear masks at the gates for pick up and drop off, children wear masks inside the school buses.

Some teachers wear face shields during class (own choice)

Everyone works together towards the same goal.

From what I observed, there seems.to be a near 100% compliance.

"the difference is that NHS staff or carers doing their job with considerable risks she considered angels whereas education staff in similar situations are seen as lazy whingers."

Abso-fucking-luty. The difference in appreciation from the public is heartbreaking.

Surely someone in this day and age can come up with a solution .

Teachers behind screens with microphones.

Not so easy in primary schools , but there must be an answer surely .

@banjaxxed

Surely it's essential service? Like police, police staff, supermarket staff?

I don't get this with teachers and teaching staff I really don't. I live in a tier 3 very high infection rate area and yet DS' school of 1000 pupils has had 20ish infections and about 40% of them are staff. In which case the staff probably got it from elsewhere or it would be rife in schools with infections in the hundreds like universities

Most kids who get it will be asymptomatic, so no-one will know they have it. So it's more than likely that the teachers got it from asymptomatic kids.

Universities have been testing students, so that's how we know that many are infected. Schools don't so Covid is very likely to be just as rife, but invisible.

I’m a teaching assistant in a secondary. I definitely feel like a bit of a sitting duck, and reckon (if I’ve not already had it) that I’ll get it inevitably. I think schools need to stay open but kids should now be encouraged to wear masks in the classroom, not just on corridors. There should be bigger repercussions for the students who don’t wear their mask properly/use sanitizer.

It’s really not the same as having 30 kids jumping around inches from your face is it

No but its not a competition to see who's non compliant work is the worst is it. I was merely pointing out that contrary to your post teaching is not the only profession affected. Although since adults are more likely to pass the virus on than children, who knows which is the worse of the 2 not ideal working environments

I’m not convinced that comparing NHS staff to teachers is worthwhile.

NHS staff are treating known covid positive patients wearing a poorly fitting surgical mask, visor (often donated by local companies), placid gloves and aprons. They have no choice but to be in extremely close proximity (cleaning incontinent patients, provide personal care and rehab that cannot be done without being a close as literally giving someone a hug for prolonged periods). Only those performing aerospace generating procedures get the fitted masks and full gowns.

I’m not saying that being a teacher in a classroom full of kids is risk free right now, but I think it’s a very unfair comparison.

I don’t think anyone can dictate that teachers cannot wear masks. Our school has said that teachers are entitled to ask kids to wear masks in their lessons if they wish - none have that I’m aware of but it is their right.