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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think the only way forward now for school staff is to strike in Jan

595 replies

OverTheRainbow88 · 17/12/2020 07:19

Sadly, I believe, the only way forward now for school staff in to strike in Jan.

Schools are unsafe, understaffed and not ‘covid secure’. This will get much worse in Jan when people are allowed to meet inside in a 3 household bubble and travel freely around ( in England at least).

OP posts:
Flaxmeadow · 18/12/2020 00:13

Are you sure? The government now says that children can be at home, remote learning, at least for the first week of January. Face-to-face education isn't vital anymore

Oh yeah? I saw this so called "remote learning" back in spring and early summer. When my grandchildren got one email and ONE learning package though the post, with no feedback, nothing. The grandchild who was the child of a key worker was in a class with 5 other pupils from the whole school and dumped on teaching assistants, who just threw a few jigsaws and crayons at them. Thanks but no thanks

noelgiraffe · 18/12/2020 00:15

You’d better complain to the government about closing secondary schools at short notice then hadn’t you?

Flaxmeadow · 18/12/2020 00:17

You’d better complain to the government about closing secondary schools at short notice then hadn’t you?

Not into complaining.

noelgiraffe · 18/12/2020 00:19

Your previous post suggests otherwise.

Flaxmeadow · 18/12/2020 00:22

Your previous post suggests otherwise.

Against a barrage of complianing teachers? That isn't complaining. Its standing your ground

noelgiraffe · 18/12/2020 00:28

Uhuh. They complain. You merely stand your ground.

Or is it the other way around?

Flaxmeadow · 18/12/2020 00:31

You never stop complaining !!! If you put as much effort into teaching children as you do complaining about it, our children would all be at genius level

Flaxmeadow · 18/12/2020 00:38

You even started a thread about yourself and your own interminable complaining

noblegiraffe wants SAFER schools not closed schools. Do you?

noelgiraffe · 18/12/2020 00:41

Yes, that’s because people kept claiming that I was campaigning to close schools. Like someone on this thread, in fact. Thanks for proving that I don’t.

Flaxmeadow · 18/12/2020 00:46

Sure, and would you back this?

Yesterday 07:52noelgiraffe
Scottish teachers in some areas of Scotland have voted overwhelmingly for industrial action against their employer for an unsafe working environment. Glasgow had a massive turnout on the ballot

saraclara · 18/12/2020 00:46

Complaining that schools aren't safe enough? How unreasonable of you, @noelgiraffe
I mean, wanting kids and teachers NOT to catch it and take it back to their vulnerable family members is so selfish.

PheasantPlucker1 · 18/12/2020 00:49

NoelGiraffe just wanted to say a massive thankyou for your campaigning on here. As a parent and a teacher I want things to be made safer, hugely appreciate people like you trying to do that.

Havent rtft just the last few posts, and Id love to know who these people are who go Tesco and stand still for an hour next to shop staff Hmm

noelgiraffe · 18/12/2020 00:50

@Flaxmeadow

Sure, and would you back this?

Yesterday 07:52noelgiraffe
Scottish teachers in some areas of Scotland have voted overwhelmingly for industrial action against their employer for an unsafe working environment. Glasgow had a massive turnout on the ballot

Back what? I’m not a Scottish teacher.

I already posted on this thread that I don’t think teachers should strike.

noelgiraffe · 18/12/2020 00:55

Thanks, pheasant! And sara, I know, right?

saraclara · 18/12/2020 00:55

The figures for my local area were out today. By far the most cases (120+ out of 300) were in the age group 10-19. If schools were safe, that wouldn't be the case. And these were only the ones tested. There will be far more who are asymptomatic.

Those teenagers are mixing with the vulnerable and the elderly, especially over Christmas. Why anyone should have a beef with @noelgiraffe for publicising just how bad things are in secondary schools, I don't know. Presumably every parent would prefer that their child didn't bring the virus home.

Quarks69 · 18/12/2020 06:45

As a teacher I am mingling with other adults and students all day long, but do not actually feel unsafe, as I have yet to hear of any deaths of teachers due to catching the virus. Surely that kind of event would have made It onto the news?

Before calling for a strike, which will adversely affect so may people, @noelgiraffe

can you provide some statistics? Thank you.

joystir59 · 18/12/2020 06:48

Ridiculous for anyone to go on strike. Be glad you still have your livelihood.

AaronPurr · 18/12/2020 06:50

I have yet to hear of any deaths of teachers due to catching the virus. Surely that kind of event would have made It onto the news?

Back in May the ONS reported 65 Covid related deaths, including 7 secondary school teachers, seven primary and nursery teachers, two SEND teachers, ten teaching assistants, six school lunchtime supervisors and school crossing patrols and two school secretaries.

schoolsweek.co.uk/ons-figures-reveal-65-covid-related-deaths-in-education/

inquietant · 18/12/2020 06:53

@Flaxmeadow

You never stop complaining !!! If you put as much effort into teaching children as you do complaining about it, our children would all be at genius level
Most parents want to hear from valued teachers. I don't consider it complaining, they know what is happening and they are dealing with the fallout.
Quarks69 · 18/12/2020 06:54

@noelgiraffe

Children need to be in school

Are you sure? The government now says that children can be at home, remote learning, at least for the first week of January. Face-to-face education isn't vital anymore.

And to add...teaching remotely sucks. The students do not learn effectively. They get distracted by their phones and teachers cannot get proper feedback to adjust their teaching during the lesson. I know that is true for senior children, it must be super tough for the primary school ones. we can’t expect parents to do our job for us, they have their own to do. As long as those Vulnerable teachers with underlying conditions are Protected, the data shows that the Majority of adults are safe.
Quarks69 · 18/12/2020 07:01

[quote AaronPurr]I have yet to hear of any deaths of teachers due to catching the virus. Surely that kind of event would have made It onto the news?

Back in May the ONS reported 65 Covid related deaths, including 7 secondary school teachers, seven primary and nursery teachers, two SEND teachers, ten teaching assistants, six school lunchtime supervisors and school crossing patrols and two school secretaries.

schoolsweek.co.uk/ons-figures-reveal-65-covid-related-deaths-in-education/[/quote]
You forgot to add the Caveat

“The statistics solely look at the deceased’s occupation, it provides no further analysis – such as where the disease was caught.“

And
This is roughly the same rate as those classed as business and public service associate professionals (6.8 and 2.8) and corporate managers and directors (6.4 and 2.6), but much lower than those in elementary trades and related occupations (27.8 and 12.5) and those in textiles, printing and other skilled trades (24.6 and 7.0).

The ONS stated its analysis “does not prove conclusively that the observed rates of death involving Covid-19 are necessarily caused by differences in occupational exposure”.

In other words the rates of deaths of teachers is the SAME IF NOT LOWER THAN OTHER PROFESSIONS.

🧐.

AaronPurr · 18/12/2020 07:05

“The statistics solely look at the deceased’s occupation, it provides no further analysis – such as where the disease was caught.“

Surely it's not possible to say for certain where anyone caught Covid? Confused

You said you hadn't heard of any teacher deaths. I was just replying to say just as with many professions, unfortunately teachers and other school staff have died.

Quarks69 · 18/12/2020 07:18

I was Looking for a higher rate of death for teachers, than Joe public. But it’s not there, which has to be reassuring..yes?

Anyway, feeling rather more militant about the idea of educationalists having to give Covid tests! Surreal, considering the billions the govt spent setting up testing centres, someone has realised that using schools and non medics might be a cheaper way out!

saraclara · 18/12/2020 07:23

@Quarks69

As a teacher I am mingling with other adults and students all day long, but do not actually feel unsafe, as I have yet to hear of any deaths of teachers due to catching the virus. Surely that kind of event would have made It onto the news?

Before calling for a strike, which will adversely affect so may people, @noelgiraffe

can you provide some statistics? Thank you.

noelgiraffe is not calling for a strike. She never has, not even close. She's only ever asked for the govt to make schools safer. Even the OP (who is not noelgiraffe), in her follow up post, makes it clear that she's not actually calling for a strike.

Oh, and an ex colleague of mine died of covid in April. Teachers are dying and no, it's not making the headlines.

Quarks69 · 18/12/2020 07:30

Apologies @noelgiraffe.. you weren’t asking for a strike. By page 21 of this, I lost track of who the original op was!

She did say however “ Sadly, I believe, the only way forward now for school staff in to strike in Jan. “ which I can’t agree with, as the Covid data does not support it.(Which is a relief, I am not a masochist!)