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

@noblegiraffe

Parents accusing them of child abuse in public (as I have seen following a mask mandate on twitter) is probably also a good deterrent.

Heads have enough on their plate, without taking the flak for a policy the government should be responsible for.

But this is why senior managers get paid what they do. A couple of negative remarks on a public media which attracts people with ‘interesting’ views is not representative anyway. If my employer is not operating in accordance with H&S and putting my health at risk I complain. Maybe because I’ve been in the situation before that my health has suffered because I didn’t. The upshot will be that your employer is probably motivated to complain higher up which is often more effective. If we’re talking about secondary schools kids are used to wearing face coverings now, some parents will object and find reasons for exemptions but a lot will accept it. Most people don’t want their kids unwell, they don’t want teachers unwell and they don’t want to be unwell themselves. We have a weak government, so falls to us all to be pragmatic. It would be very interesting to study infection rate versus infection control measures taken. It could of course be luck and the local demographic but when you see your school has 95% attendance I think that vastly encourages support for all measures, even those that are uncomfortable and unpleasant. Perhaps there needs to be more sharing of things like that in the media

It’s not just on social media they’ll be getting it in the neck. Heads are in the shit with parents whatever they do at the moment but no masks in classrooms is more defensible because that is the government guidance.

Do you really expect schools to put up plastic barriers around your desk and provide surgical gloves instead of hand gel?

I’ve had to resort to buying my own surgical gloves but then teachers are used to spending their own money to make the lives of their pupils better due to lack of fundingbecause my hands have gone red raw and really hurt, from having to clean 34 keyboards, mice, monitors and work surfaces after every lesson (7 times a day including Form time) so yes, it would be nice if schools had the funding to provide this for me. The cleaning products provided out of the schools existing budget even specifically state not to get into contact with skin. That’s not too much to ask is it?

Most nurses/doctors/midwives/physios also ‘resort’ to spending their own money on buying things they need to provide care for patients. My stethoscope cost me over £80 then theres the cost of my nmc registration just so I can actually practice within my profession. Then there’s courses we self fund to enhance our knowledge due to a lack of funding.

Do you really expect schools to put up plastic barriers around your desk

Yes.

Children come up to my desk and lean over it to ask me things. A barrier wouldn't stop air floating over the top but it might keep us more separated!

Yes, I expect schools to pay for safety screens, cleaning spray, sanitiser and so on. Do you expect shop workers, bus drivers and NHS staff to buy their own? Everyone deserves the safest working environment possible. Schools are workplaces for adults.

I heard yesterday that a local school has 4 classes in out of 21.

Yes, I expect schools to pay for safety screens, cleaning spray, sanitiser and so on

where do you think the money is coming from for that? What with all the redundancies of support staff in recent years, budget freezing etc. etc. etc. Even this year's payrise for teachers had to come out of budgets, nothing extra was given to schools to cover it.

Can you even begin to work out the cost of a squirt of handsanitizer for 1000 children in secondary schools every day? One squirt? Or one in and out of every lesson? And at the beginning and end of the day?

I had a hospital appointment on Friday and I must admit I was very surprised. My consultant, health care assistant and the nurse were in a tiny room, with no windows at all and only a mask.

where do you think the money is coming from for that?

It should be coming from the government, shouldn’t it? They managed to find the money for plenty of safety measures for other people. Just not schools.

where do you think the money is coming from for that?

Have you seen the amount spent on expenses
for MPs? £50k spent on takeaways during lockdown alone signed off by Hancock!

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.

we won't mix with families so why should my kids be penalised?

Why is it that the government has been spending money left right and centre, furlough, nightingale hospitals, PPE from all their mates' companies, Eat out to help out etc yet when schools say 'can we have some money for hand sanitiser and windows that open please' posters will rush to say how outrageous these demands are and teachers should be funding their own safety measures or going without.

Not mixing over xmas but if my Facebook friends are anything to go by you wouldn't know we are in lockdown. Lots of metting up going on in homes. Though, it is cold now. One couple with 3 school aged kids had a family gathering last night for one of their bday, lovely food spread and pics all over facebook. Lots of people still meeting up. I'm not but feel like a dick sticking to the rules when I know so many kids at my kids school haven't been.

Kids are already mixing. The ones sticking to the rules likely will carry on over xmas.

I should have been clearer. I would expect the government to provide funding for safety measures in schools (and for doctors and teachers to have proper equipment). Yes, I know it comes from taxes but we have funded Eat Out To Help Out and we have funded the furlough scheme and continue to do so. Protecting children and the people who are (apparently) essential to the running of the country seems quite important to me, although I have a vested interest, of course 🙂

@GoldfishParade

Surprise surprise. Teacher wants yet more holiday time shocker.

I’m assuming that’s sarcasm???

Surprise surprise. Teacher wants yet more holiday time shocker

Do you think that secondary schools are working well at the moment?

I don't think the schools being closed for extra time after Christmas will change anything - those ignoring the rules (including self isolation) will continue mixing until schools are back (and beyond). Those of us who are keeping to the rules will likely risk assess Christmas and go zoom and have a get together when we (or at least the vulnerable among our family) are vaccinated. Probably see grandparents in summer... not before.

My school gate chat anecdata is that most of those getting together are already in support or childcare bubbles with the people they're meeting with.

My observational anecdata from half term and evenings suggests that secondary kids will be mixing unless in school, at play parks and skate parks and any semi secluded hangout spot they can find...

I realise the government have a tier/lockdown period from the 23rd and 28th. However, imagine what a ballache it will be if you have school aged kids and there's a case in their class/ bubble in the last week of term and are told to isolate for 14 days......

"and are told to isolate for 14 days......"

I would guess that there are a fair few people who would ignore it.

@GoldfishParade

Surprise surprise. Teacher wants yet more holiday time shocker.

Yeah cause we've had it so easy this year.

ODFOD.

@GoldfishParade

Surprise surprise. Teacher wants yet more holiday time shocker.

Do you not understand what blended learning is? If any schools close early, or open late, teachers will be providing on-line work. So, not technically a holiday. But then, you knew that perfectly well, didn't you?

Well said. I’m getting sick of the teacher bashing on here. Don’t forget the extra time teacher will have to spend creating resources that are suitable for live lessons as well which we will be preparing over the holidays. If the kids are off in my school all staff will still be in school teaching remotely.