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.

since adults are more likely to pass the virus on than children

I don't think this has been established.

@Coyoacan

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

When the union tried to look after their interests, MN went nuts and there were multiple threads about the Unions keeping schools closed (they weren't, they were just pushing for a safe environment for their members).

I work with children in a nursery. No masks anywhere. We hug the children same as ever. They cough in our faces same as ever. 11 hour days. There's no union.

@NannyGythaOgg Jesus what a callous remark! I trust you have to face Covid everyday without any PPE do you?

@Littlewing25

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.

I totally agree. If secondary school pupils are obliged to wear masks in shops and other public places, why aren't they being instructed by the govt to wear them in school? It makes no sense.

Teachers are allowed to wear masks though? At least, according to the government guidance; some schools may be choosing to tell staff not to, but that’s an SLT decision. The government is simply saying they’re not necessary, not that they are forbidden (not saying that’s the right decision necessarily... but some people seem to think the government have actually banned teachers from wearing them!)

I’m a teacher, and I wear a mask in the corridors. I don’t in the classroom because I find it it makes it almost impossible to actually teach because no one can hear what I’m saying. But some staff choose to, and so do some students. If some head teachers are banning them in some schools, that’s madness.

When the union tried to look after their interests, MN went nuts and there were multiple threads about the Unions keeping schools closed (they weren't, they were just pushing for a safe environment for their members)

This is still going on, with some posters lying about what unions did/are doing. Post after post saying things that are untrue, have been challenged and not refuted.

And still they go on.

But you could use the same argument for supermarket, pharmacy, bank staff?

Imagine the volume of people supermarket workers serve. They have to scan and touch all the products that their customer has touched. Yeah there a screen but it’s the physical touching of the items that’s the problem.

Children education is a necessity although some line to believe it’s not! If teachers are that worried then they could always leave the profession? If it got too much?

@Smileyaxolotl1, I don’t know if it makes a difference but I consider all of my children’s teachers total and utter stars, and emailed my son’s tutor to say that. (I felt a bit cringe but the school emailed to say all bitching on FB must desist and I was so shocked there had been any - I’m not on Fb - I couldn't bear the idea they might think the majority of parents would feel like that and would rather be cringe than silent on that point) I am constantly amazed by how upbeat teachers are almost all the time - whatever is thrown at them.

I don’t really like the angel stuff, although I guess it’s preferable to being called lazy shirkers. I think both extremes are bollocks and cheap sentiment.

In which case the staff probably got it from elsewhere or it would be rife in schools

I caught it most likely in school, an infant school. Almost certainly from a symptom free child.

Other than Dh I don't have close contact with anyone else, and definitely not prolonged.

Dh has had no symptoms and hadn't been in contact with anyone who has tested positive.

At school I work with 270 children for prolonged period of time with no SDing, masks etc. I have no close contact with any other adult at school. I'm not even in a bubble as I work across school. I did meetings via zoom from my laptop and sat alone in my room for lunch. It was a pretty dismal situation tbh as I had so little adult contact it got somewhat lonely some days.
I was super careful as I'm clinically vulnerable but it felt inevitable.

9 other staff have since tested positive, different classes, different year groups, bubbles not mixing, separate areas for accessing kettles etc, a number of parents form affected classes have also tested positive, again even some who have limited contacts outside their home. No known children as far as I know but with young children that's not surprising- we know that for most young children they will have little more than cold symptoms (which many have) or even no symptoms so won't be eligible for testing.

It cannot just be coincidence for so many adults to test positive across the school community in such a short period of time. No way were they isolated cases!

Teachers are at the same coal face of covid as the supermarket shelf stackers working on the frontline from day 1. You dont see covid cases coming clusters from tesco. So teachers need to pipe down
They had their paid months off so suck it up like every other worker dealing with the public during this crisis. I'm a nurse and I'm not shirking or calling for action and I have asthma !!!

Go on unpaid if ye feel so strongly and not on the tax payers expense

I've always had utmost respect for teaching staff and my dc have always had wonderful teachers. I have always had excellent relationships with teachers, but I have seen other parents that are entitled and demanding of teachers. My DIL is also a teacher.

Unfortunately, there are ignorant parents who go on to bring up entitled children. I am very sympathetic to teachers.

It seems areas do differ and the teachers at our school are pragmatic and positive - they do have some rules that I haven't heard mentioned that they don't pick up papers etc from children for 48 hours - a child collects them and puts them aside etc. Windows are open, yes it is cold but people understand why.

The same ignorant people also access the healthcare system and we have to deal with them also. It's upsetting how unpleasant some people are, but can only ever try to stay calm and hope they learn by example (some do).

I think decent people really admire/respect teachers and that is why they support schools continuing. It is very important work they are doing.

The OP said 'we are being told to stay at home because it is unsafe not to do so.'
That's not what we are being told. It worries me that people in a position of responsibility of our children's education write or think this.
We're told to stay at home to avoid exponential transfer of the virus. We already know that it becomes serious for a small minority only. However, once hospital beds are overwhelmed, any other urgent medical care is impacted.
That's very different to "stay in your homes because it's unsafe outside!"
HTH

And I don't want schools closed, despite getting ill and ending up with hospital ad is soon due to Covid. I don't know a single member of teaching staff who want schools closed.

What is want is safer conditions in school.

What I want is for the idea that children don't get or spread it to be erase.

What I want is for the government to fund schools to enable them to put better protection into schools.

What I want is for some of the WHO guidelines to be applied in our schools.

What I want is for some parents to realise that their actions outside of school puts other at risk including their child's teaching and school staff. If you have symptoms keep your child at home until you get your negative result. If your child have a bit of a cough don't assume it's a cold, dose them up and send them in - keep them home, isolate and rest. Your child shouldn't be in school if they need a spoonful of camp ok first. Your child will manage without play dates for a little while. If you want your child's school or bubble to stay open then you and your family need to follow the rules too.

We need safer schools not closed schools.

Nanny, many teachers did continue to work through the pandemic, on line... Unfortunately to many schools couldn't even begin to grasp the concept and here we are.
Cases are snowballing all around us now. It's so frightening but if school refused to get children properly taught in line what else can be done

All this division and nastiness is sad.
For what it's worth I work in nursery, we are absolutely not allowed to wear masks, can't keep doors open now it's cold, old building means not much ventilation from tiny window.
Ive been coughed, sneezed, spat and puked on pretty regularly since March. It is what it is. We absolutely must not social distance from the children and would not want to.
Saying all that I don't want us to close and I don't want my kids school to close. What I do want is a bit of compassion from people not all this gaslighting.
Instances are greater in staff because they are more likely to get symptoms and be tested, children can easily be positive, have no symptoms and not be aware and therefore pass it on.
BTW my dh is a police officer and they absolutely wear masks when dealing with the public.
Also Nannyogg, not very Terry! You've let down his name there.

@MonicaBelulaGellar

Stop moaning and just deal with it! A lot of us still have to go out to work and put ourselves ar risk. We are all in the same boat here!!! I dont have any childcare when the nurseries close and I still have to go out to work because I work for the NHS. Just think yourself lucky your not on a covid ward kissing your kids goodbye everyday wondering what the day will bring. Sick of the moaning now, we are ALL aware of what's going on!

Nice comment. Bet you would not work with no protections.

@noblegiraffe

That sounds very mature.

Aragog, funding isn't needed to simply mandate open windows every hour for ten minutes, open the doors and so on.
Ask dc too try and sd, get parents on board. It's disgraceful that some of us try and ventilate rooms and have Moaning students and sometimes Moaning staff members as well!

Can I say, without reading the thread, that most people in real life get it and are baffled by the expectations on school staff. Only online are people wanting in the area of sympathy and understanding. Brave aren't they. Knobs.

@Thehogfatherstolemycurry

Well said . All this division is non constructive .

But perhaps it’s just on mumsnet.

Very popular for using a pandemic to push political points rather than finding solutions.

I am done with the attitude towards teachers. I have worked all through half term (a -fucking-gain) to update our schemes don’t they can be taught remotely AND to the pupils in front of us

I am also responsible for the care of my elderly father and sorting out my own childcare for my own child so that I can spend almost all my free time sorting out and marking work for students.

So do bore off with all the ‘you shouldn’t be paid’ or ‘why are you talking money for a job you don’t want to do’. Just get in the sea.

You have no idea the amount of pressure school staff are under. People clapped for key workers but are strangely silent when teachers get ill and are still setting work from home that the kids don’t even do.

I wouldn’t actually mind doing it all if people were the least bit grateful. But they aren’t. If you want me to do the ‘job I’m paid to do’ then I’m going to start to work to rule. See how much the quality of what your kids are offered drops then.

What about every factory in the country?

All still open, they have the highest covid death rates too, higher than healthcare workers and education staff.

Not seen a single person going "ohh what about the factory staff" more just people whinging they cant get x item they normally do.

Imagine the volume of people supermarket workers serve. They have to scan and touch all the products that their customer has touched. Yeah there a screen but it’s the physical touching of the items that’s the problem.

Supermarket workers wear masks. Their customers are required to wear masks. They almost all hand sanitise before entering, and they will only have brief contact wiith staff.

School staff are almost all not allowed to wear masks. None of their 'customers' wear masks, their hand hygiene will be very patchy, and the staff are in close contact with 30 at a time for an hour at a time (or all day) in a much smaller space.