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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how you would feel if the decision was made to adopt blended learning to allow for social distancing in schools

269 replies

livevomitlaugh · 13/12/2020 23:05

just that really?
Yabu- I would be fine with that
Yanbu- I very much wouldn’t be fine with that

OP posts:
MarshaBradyo · 14/12/2020 17:51

but I still think it is applicable to primary also.

Why when so many have said why it’s not good

Doesn’t it make you rethink?

GintyMcGinty · 14/12/2020 17:58

OP how do you propose to mitigate the tremendous damage to the development and learning of children and young people?

Covidnomore · 14/12/2020 17:58

live do you have children at primary school?

Especially EYFS, KS1 and lower KS2?

Bert I agree with all you say

Sirzy · 14/12/2020 17:59

I don’t see how online working can work effectively for primary school.

Ignoring the obvious supervision and access to technology issues DS had to shield during the last lockdown, he has a 1-1 so she taught him via teams which worked well on a 1-1 basis but I don’t see how any meaningful teaching could take place at primary age that way

KindergartenKop · 14/12/2020 18:03

The problem is that for this to be effective then you need classrooms half full. So that would mean sending all the kids with surnames A-L home. So then the classroom will be half empty but the teacher will be setting home learning for A-L, answering questions about that work via teams or whatever and simultaneously teaching children with surnames M-Z in the classroom. That is VERY hard work and is essentially two jobs.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 14/12/2020 18:04

live

Do you have children of your own at home?

Try to listen to what the many parents on here are saying. It doesnt work unless your threshold of it "working" is providing a poorer standard of education. If it did, private companies would be queuing round the block to offer this as it would be far less costly than standard schooling.

FrippEnos · 14/12/2020 18:04

If only there was a way to ensure that the teachers wouldn't get ill and that the schools wouldn't have to close or have blended learning.

Maybe the scientists could get together and develop some sort of injection so that schools could stay open.

After all the education of children is so important that nothing should get in the way. (sarcasm for those that missed it)

Sirzy · 14/12/2020 18:05

@KindergartenKop

The problem is that for this to be effective then you need classrooms half full. So that would mean sending all the kids with surnames A-L home. So then the classroom will be half empty but the teacher will be setting home learning for A-L, answering questions about that work via teams or whatever and simultaneously teaching children with surnames M-Z in the classroom. That is VERY hard work and is essentially two jobs.
That’s exactly how a local secondary school have worked it. Setting work online for those who are on their 5 days off, it’s far from ideal but it is working for them although they are back to all in from January as long as cases stay low locally
Thegreymethod · 14/12/2020 18:06

Me as a parent I'd be fine with it as I'm a SAHM and can manage it but if I had a job.... either as normal or trying to work from home I wouldn't be happy, parents can't just take time off from their jobs and having homeschooled quite a few times now (and found it really hard) there's no way I'd manage it either my job would suffer or the children's educations would.

Izzy30 · 14/12/2020 18:07

I think the term ‘blended learning’ for primary makes it sound much more effective than it would be. What I suspect it would really mostly entail would be worksheets posted online which for us wouldn’t work as my very able ds would struggle to engage with them and that’s with me able to fully support him without working from home. Part time learning would be a more genuine term that ‘blended learning’. Teachers and their skills are invaluable and cannot be replaced by worksheets or even pre recorded videos.

Suzeyshoes · 14/12/2020 18:08

Let’s face it, everybody agrees that online learning is a nightmare.
BUT
You’re missing the point.

a) How do you expect to teach children when you have no staff left?

b) Does that mean you all think schools should continue to stay open, even when rates are shooting up and hospital admissions rocketing, and schools are quite clearly the contributing factor to that rise?

So many Mumsnetters currently raging at the idea of no Xmas with the family. So many criticising the governments high death rates. Yet we have this reaction when it’s suggested action is taken to curb an impending spike..Confused

SueEllenMishke · 14/12/2020 18:10

@livevomitlaugh

In my op I was more focused on secondary schools but I still think it is applicable to primary also. As I have said previously I think there needs to be an element of discretion with individual schools
How... just how will it work with primary schools? Without huge swathes of women ( and it will be women) giving up work??
TheKeatingFive · 14/12/2020 18:14

I think the term ‘blended learning’ for primary makes it sound much more effective than it would be.

Totally. It’s a crock of shit.

Part time school, let’s call a spade a spade.

MitziK · 14/12/2020 18:14

Depends. Would I be able to have 'Blended Working'? Half my job can be done at home, thus reducing interactions with teenaged vectors of infection. Reduces their risks of getting it from me, as well, as my job is one of the bubble bursting pinch points.

I could do 2.5 days a week with one bunch, somebody else could do the other half with the other half. Or take alternate weeks.

MarshaBradyo · 14/12/2020 18:15

And part time school is around 25% once kw need provision.

TheKeatingFive · 14/12/2020 18:16

And part time school is around 25% once kw need provision.

Exactly. So if we’re serious about actually educating children then it’s not a runner and never could be.

Suzeyshoes · 14/12/2020 18:19

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland

Sure.. there are around 100,000 teachers over the age of 50 in the uk. That’s not including vulnerable teachers under that age and the hoards of teachers currently self isolating. My kids school had to close a few weeks ago when 20% of the staff were off.

My question remains: how do you teach children in a school with no teachers?

Home learning is awful. I hate it. My kids hate it. It’s damaging and difficult for everybody. But if there are no teachers to teach, you can’t just pull them out of a magic cupboard.

maddening · 14/12/2020 18:21

I think that you need 2 threads,. One for primary and one for secondary as they are 2 entirely seperate propositions for all parties.

TheKeatingFive · 14/12/2020 18:21

My question remains: how do you teach children in a school with no teachers

Individual schools having really problems may have to close briefly, but that’s not reason to to introduce part time learning across the board.

BertNErnie · 14/12/2020 18:23

[quote Suzeyshoes]@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland

Sure.. there are around 100,000 teachers over the age of 50 in the uk. That’s not including vulnerable teachers under that age and the hoards of teachers currently self isolating. My kids school had to close a few weeks ago when 20% of the staff were off.

My question remains: how do you teach children in a school with no teachers?

Home learning is awful. I hate it. My kids hate it. It’s damaging and difficult for everybody. But if there are no teachers to teach, you can’t just pull them out of a magic cupboard.[/quote]
This is a very good question and one people don't seem to want to answer.

It's easy to suggest we find more teachers but given the profession is currently on its knees, I doubt there are lots of people signing up. There is also the fact that you need some sort of training in order to be able to teach.

I am sure there will be many people who would be great as teachers, however, I can't see any of those lining up to join us. If this is the government plan, they need to step up and find these people rather quickly.

In order to keep schools open, we need staff in the building to teach.

BertNErnie · 14/12/2020 18:28

I believe short term closures are just as disruptive as longer term measures.

We need to start mass testing and vaccinating those who are CEV and CV and are working in schools. I am sure this will be met with controversy but honestly, I'd rather my children's school is open and they are being educated in person, on a consistent basis rather than having bubbles close due to no staffing which has happened in lots of schools I know.

We can't have it all. Whilst we wait for herd immunity to happen (which is what the government wants, let's face it) we need to keep those with the virus out to stop the spread and keep the staff in the building.

TheKeatingFive · 14/12/2020 18:32

I believe short term closures are just as disruptive as longer term measures.

There are no guarantees that part time school would eliminate isolation periods. And plenty of bubbles haven’t burst. As a parent, I’d always chose to take my chances over guaranteed reduced schooling thanks very much.

MrsMomoa · 14/12/2020 18:35

Nope. Definitely not.

BertNErnie · 14/12/2020 18:38

@TheKeatingFive

I believe short term closures are just as disruptive as longer term measures.

There are no guarantees that part time school would eliminate isolation periods. And plenty of bubbles haven’t burst. As a parent, I’d always chose to take my chances over guaranteed reduced schooling thanks very much.

I think you seem to believe I am in favour of reduced schooling. I am not thank you.

Please check my previous post for any clarification you need.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 14/12/2020 18:38

I'd like to see teachers prioritised for vaccination but I see people moaning about that. I work in a factory so not a low risk environment but I'd prefer teachers to be vaccinated before me.