Schools should close for 2 weeks after the Christmas mixing

[OverTheRainbow88]

I think that schools should remain closed for face to face teaching 2-3 weeks after the end of the period in which Boris will allow families to all mix.

I don’t want to be in a classroom with 30 different kids 5 times a day who’ve mixed inside with all different family members and friends.

I say online learning until mid Jan, if Boris will allow us all to mix at Christmas

I'm not planning on mixing with my family over Christmas. We're keeping it low key this year. I also know lots of families who are doing the same. I really don't think this is the big issue that it's being made out to be.

As a teacher I totally agree!! I bet the majority of parents won’t agree though!

Schools have been closed enough thanks

As we’re not planning on mixing over Christmas it would be pretty annoying to have mine out of school for another 2 weeks (for which I’d have to take unpaid leave) to enable other people to mix over Christmas.
But I can see your point.

Yanbu

Completely agree OP.

We aren't mixing over Christmas so I resent losing two weeks of school.

Of course not.
What should be banned is people mixing With extended family over Christmas. It’s unnecessary.. (exceptions for those with a terminal illness etc of course).
My children’s education is necessary

It would have been better the other way round. So two weeks before Christmas, then everyone knows who is safe to visit, asymptomatic aside.

Whatever, I work in a school and have decided not to see my parents or in laws over Christmas. Heartbroken but I just can't risk it.

This was my thought last night. It would be really difficult for us personally though, and unfair because we have made the decision not to see anyone in that way as we know with kids in school we can't isolate either side.

I would much rather the everyone had lockdown Christmas' so that all kids can safely go back to school without infecting each other (and the staff) than yet more school closures which have such a terrible negative impact.

DS' mocks are the first week of January so if they do this they have to cancel the exams.

This who aren’t planning on mixing won’t it concern you that the majority of the kids in your child’s class will have?

And yes it’s totally shit for those who won’t mix to not be in school being taught face to face, I do realise that.

We are only mixing with our existing bubble and tbh I think this is all people should be allowed to do.

I don't think it is right to close everything down again just for the sake of one day when let's face it Christmas isn't even a religious thing for most people any more, it's a cash cow.

@SushiGo

I would prefer that to

I’m starting to find it really frustrating that my child is going to suffer, so that’s others can have a ‘normal’ Christmas.
Of course no one should spend Christmas alone, single households should be able to form a Christmas bubble. I would also encourage an exemption for those with terminally ill relatives.
But it is infuriating that after months of upheaval, he is going to have to sacrifice even more to allow grown adults to mix at Christmas.

Agree with pp who said should be the other way around, close schools a week early to minimise rate when people inevitably mingle. It's a long term anyway and this means just one extra week for parents to sort, plus some extra rest for school staff, who are already exhausted.

No. Though I'd love to see my parents and siblings (and for the kids to see their cousins), I'm perfectly ok with an Xmas at home just us. My husband will bloody love it - we did it a couple of years ago and he loved not having to go anywhere or have guests. The kids have missed far too much school already in my view. Xmas is special but it can be lovely just being with your core family. I understand some people will really need to see others (eg if they live alone, single parents or those who gave close family who live alone. But the majority of us will be absolutely fine with our seeing our wider extended family. Xmas is also not the only time to see family, and after all no more special than all the other festivals which have passed by with no special treatment. The whole country will be in a much better place by spring, so we should leave the extended family mixing til then.

And what should those of us that are both key workers (both doctors) with young children be expected to do?

@OverTheRainbow88

This who aren’t planning on mixing won’t it concern you that the majority of the kids in your child’s class will have?

And yes it’s totally shit for those who won’t mix to not be in school being taught face to face, I do realise that.

It doesn't concern me on a personal level because we're very low risk as a family.

However extended family are vulnerable and we know within the school there are vulnerable families so we are planning not to mix at Christmas for the benefit of other people, and trying to avoid the impact of having high overall numbers, not our own personal safety if that makes sense.

If I was going to push for something it would be a lockdown Christmas not school closures.

Sorry terrible phone typos in my post: I meant 'most people will be fine WITHOUT seeing extended family'

@OverTheRubicon
Agree with pp who said should be the other way around, close schools a week early to minimise rate when people inevitably mingle. It's a long term anyway and this means just one extra week for parents to sort, plus some extra rest for school staff, who are already exhausted.
But that would only protect the people you see over Christmas. If you then mix over Christmas and then go straight back, that’s huge numbers of education staff (and children) being put at further risk.

Cross posted OP!

I honestly think most people recognise it would be better to have a quiet Christmas. Hopefully they will do that anyway regardless of what is allowed

Me and DH won’t be seeing anyone as we don’t have DP’s and we don’t t see our siblings.
So no, I want my kids in school.

@WillowSummerSloth
And what should those of us that are both key workers (both doctors) with young children be expected to do
So you working is ok even if it puts teachers health at risk? Nice!

No schools should not stay closed !

I always ask this when people suggest this.

Who is looking after the kids for two weeks??