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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
pipnchops · 17/12/2020 10:21

Education doesn't have to suffer if there is good online teaching and a parent available to support as needed, and the technology available of course. It doesn't have to be for long, just until cases get down to a manageable level, maybe just close for January. Surely it's worth it?

RedBetty · 17/12/2020 10:21

@pipnchops

My DDs school, primary, have been sending a lot of info home lately about online learning and I'm starting to think they are strongly suspecting schools will have to close in January. I know school is very important but I do think the main reason schools are staying open is because it would inconvenience working parents for them to close. The answer is that employers need to be more understanding and have support to enable them to be more understanding.
It's much more than an inconvenience though. Businesses, in many cases, are hanging on by their fingernails. The business fails, the jobs are lost. My work has been brilliant in supporting people, but fear is setting in that in the new year there will be job losses. We need to keep things going and schools do have their part to play.
timeforanewstart · 17/12/2020 10:21

A better solution would be to push for online learning first one to two weeks back for secondary with maybe staggered times back
If people behave sensibly over xmas there is no need for the cases to go through the roof as schools are also closed so that should help see numbers come down
Although I know iof a few people mixing most are keeping it to just couple families and have hugely scaled down there normal xmas celebrations .
In many places lots if shops and pubs will be shut so not much chance of mingling with others

AaronPurr · 17/12/2020 10:21

Don't be so stupid!

My DC school are doing just fine! Not one case and we live in a tier 3 area. It's absolute no -sense to say what you have said for everyone. Maybe you school is not handling it well!

Ah yes the classic if your school has cases, staff off sick, is closed or struggling to stay open then obviously they're not handling an airbourne virus as well as my child's school. I honestly cannot believe people are still claiming the schools must be at fault. 🙄

FudgeSundae · 17/12/2020 10:21

Imagine being so entitled in your public sector job that when people all over the country are losing theirs, you feel it’s a good time to strike. Imagine also thinking this while you know that millions of working parents depend on your job to provide childcare so they can get on with theirs (which, as mentioned, are likely not secure).

My mind is BLOWN.

timeforanewstart · 17/12/2020 10:23

OP why did you go to a families home to swab their children why didn't parents do as most are

MarshaBradyo · 17/12/2020 10:24

@pipnchops

Education doesn't have to suffer if there is good online teaching and a parent available to support as needed, and the technology available of course. It doesn't have to be for long, just until cases get down to a manageable level, maybe just close for January. Surely it's worth it?
Primary or secondary? Primary online doesn’t work and it’s not where cases are highest thankfully. I do support online for secondary first week of school though. For this fixed period of time.
timeforanewstart · 17/12/2020 10:25

@AaronPurr but the ones who will break rules aren't following them anyway even now ? Do you think everyone is being compliant and then will suddenly break them ?
As it is now people are breaking them and then the kids are in school,

EugenesAxe · 17/12/2020 10:27

Maybe @Oeliilio has it right... I work in a school and I fully believe it's better for children (and myself) to be in school. However, I would not judge any colleagues who felt they couldn't due to safety concerns.

I am in primary though; it might be a different bag in secondary. It's a bad virus of course but the mental health concerns for children are worse IMO. I feel it's my duty to support; I expect most medical staff feel a similar way - as even with protection the risk to them is not inconsiderable.

timeforanewstart · 17/12/2020 10:27

@inquitant a survey of how many people ? Surveys are rubbish nine times our if 10 , brexit would never of happened if we believed surveys

QueenieButcher · 17/12/2020 10:28

@pipnchops

Education doesn't have to suffer if there is good online teaching and a parent available to support as needed, and the technology available of course. It doesn't have to be for long, just until cases get down to a manageable level, maybe just close for January. Surely it's worth it?
What about when online teaching is patchy, computers few and far between, home broadband a luxury, private study space limited (or non existent) at home and parents both in keyworker roles, leaving older kids to supervise younger ones. It sounds like you have very little idea of what life is like for a significant number of British children.
Fortherosesjoni70 · 17/12/2020 10:29

@OverTheRainbow88

January terrifies me, because I know it will be so much worse than what we're experiencing now.

This is why I think maybe strike action in Jan, If the Government allows mixing, something has to give, and that in my opinion is a week of education.

Scotland is looking at taking action against local councils on the grounds of health and safety! Of course they should strike!
Fortherosesjoni70 · 17/12/2020 10:29

What other options are there?

timeforanewstart · 17/12/2020 10:29

Also loads were calling for mass testing in schools now its being introduced thats wrong
Yes i get teachers doing it isn't right but secondaries the kids can do themselves , they have to at a test centre

OhDear2200 · 17/12/2020 10:30

While teachers strike who looks after my children when I have to work with the most vulnerable children in our communities?

Or do I just stop doing that?

Fortherosesjoni70 · 17/12/2020 10:30

The Government are clearly not listening.
It is unsafe.

BenidormLife · 17/12/2020 10:30

@AaronPurr

Don't be so stupid!

My DC school are doing just fine! Not one case and we live in a tier 3 area. It's absolute no -sense to say what you have said for everyone. Maybe you school is not handling it well!

Ah yes the classic if your school has cases, staff off sick, is closed or struggling to stay open then obviously they're not handling an airbourne virus as well as my child's school. I honestly cannot believe people are still claiming the schools must be at fault. 🙄

So why because it is rife in some schools does op want all teachers to strike.
I have spoken to teachers at dc school
Who couldn't wait to get back in the classroom. I'm so glad my dc don't have some of the teachers on here Confused

TheKeatingFive · 17/12/2020 10:30

Education doesn't have to suffer if there is good online teaching and a parent available to support as needed, and the technology available of course.

Even if that were true (and I don’t agree) a huge proportion don’t have that. Basically you’re catering for well off families with a SAHP. What about everyone else?

Fortherosesjoni70 · 17/12/2020 10:31

@OhDear2200

While teachers strike who looks after my children when I have to work with the most vulnerable children in our communities?

Or do I just stop doing that?

Well there have to be sacrifices. Teachers are making plenty.
52andblue · 17/12/2020 10:32

@helpmum2003

Please think very carefully about this. Everyone, especially professionals, have a responsibility to keep everything working as smoothly as possible, with reasonable modifications, until this awful virus is defeated. Our children need to be educated and parents need to work. (I'm NHS clinical)
I agree with this.

However, I do think Secondary schools should go online if possible for 1st 2 / 4 weeks of Jan to help reduce the spike we'll get from the Great Christmas Mixing. Regrettable, avoidable & too late now

Teachers / vounteers swabbing kids so they don't get sent home to isolate so the Govts attendance figs stay up / Schools stay open / exams go ahead?

MADNESS

mrshoho · 17/12/2020 10:33

@FudgeSundae

Imagine being so entitled in your public sector job that when people all over the country are losing theirs, you feel it’s a good time to strike. Imagine also thinking this while you know that millions of working parents depend on your job to provide childcare so they can get on with theirs (which, as mentioned, are likely not secure).

My mind is BLOWN.

Imagine feeling so strongly about a situation that you are prepared to forego your earnings and be ridiculed and looked down on by certain groups of people. Mind blowing...
year5teacher · 17/12/2020 10:33

No?! The only thing forward is to go in in January and teach the rest of the curriculum. Easy for me to say in primary though when I don’t have to administer tests. Still wouldn’t strike though.

Fortherosesjoni70 · 17/12/2020 10:35

Imagine feeling so strongly and worried about a situation that causes you to make a choice about your actual life/ health and work.

MistletoeandGin · 17/12/2020 10:35

Education doesn't have to suffer if there is good online teaching and a parent available to support as needed, and the technology available of course

So wealthy middle class families with a SAHP then.
What about everyone else?

Fortherosesjoni70 · 17/12/2020 10:35

Noone wants yo strike but what choice is there.

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