Why can't there be a proper lockdown in January, schools to but open them for any extra month in summer?

[TheInfected]

So schools closed Jan but open until Jul/August? So no education missed and people & NHS are protected during the most dangerous time of the year?

Lots of people asking "why should I give up my summer" "why should I miss my holiday" etc etc. Because it might save lives, that's why confused I would have thought that's a pretty damn good reason.

Teachers and school staff are already working toward the "national effort" both as citizens and as part of their day to day work, exwctly what more is it that they should be doing?

As an aside, schools did not ever fully close. Key worker children and vulnerable children were still allowed to attend, schools also had discretion to take other children on an individual basis, they were sorting out free school meals provision, teachers were setting work for pupils at home, etc. If the work provided was patchy or inconsistent then that's the fault of that particular school and the fault of the government for not setting out minimum standards for home learning. Teachers were also at home taking care of their own families and home learning much like everyone else. People act like teachers were on a months long holiday when they weren't.

I think they should have opened schools last summer, and had a planned closure over the height of the flu season.

The constant knee jerk decisions are very damaging, but a sensible planned shut down could be manageable for many businesses.

Cos I don't want a month off at the shittest time of the year with my kids bored and miserable. Because I am also a uni student and have exams/assignments to be in. Because teachers have holidays booked etc.

I think they should have opened schools last summer, and had a planned closure over the height of the flu season.

That would have had exactly the same drawbacks as outlined above - worn out teachers and support staff not getting a break - and of course needing to be paid!

You can rely on teachers to think of themselves if suggestions are made like this.

@LuluJakey1

You can rely on teachers to think of themselves if suggestions are made like this.

Yes, because teachers are just lazy public sector workers who don't give a shit about the students they teach.

Because teachers are expecting their usual august break. Unlike almost every other profession who do not get to dictate their own holiday and have to accept that they may not be able to take it when suits them.

Of course it's in the contract so they have every right for their contracted holiday at the expected time. They forget this advantage when ranting about their awful job.

@LuluJakey1

You can rely on teachers to think of themselves if suggestions are made like this.

Aye. Those selfish teachers. I mean many of them only gave up their easter break to provide childcare. Selfish sods should be giving up even more...

Chaotic45 if there is anyone who doesn't get to decide when to take their holiday, it's teachers! They are permanently stuck to having to take holidays at the time of year when it's most expensive - unlike us parents, who get let out once our kids grow up.

I mean, how clueless do you have to be to not understand that?

If teaching is so easy why not apply, @LuluJakey1?

Lets squeeze the last bit of fucking joy out of life by taking a month out families' summer holidays in 2021, the summer holidays we're all looking forward to to keep us sane through this festering shitshow

@LuluJakey1

You can rely on teachers to think of themselves if suggestions are made like this.

Not everyone against this idea is a teacher.

I'm thinking how the fuck would I be able to work and homeschool at the same time.

You can rely on teachers to think of themselves if suggestions are made like this.

Oh don’t be ridiculous.

I love these hot takes. Like teachers who are hugely effected by all this and know the set up inside and out, wouldn’t have thought of this already if it were viable?

I agree schools need to be shutdown. UK will never get a handle on this if schools stay open during winter.

Schools cannot shut in January because they have to stay open for key workers, particularly health workers.

Therefore teachers will still be teaching in person or doing distance learning for the others.

By the summer they will have completed their contractual hours. I thought this had been covered many many times.

I suspect if the virus continues to circulate as it is, with many more school children catching and spreading it, then yes, we may see more home schooling in the new year.

If you want schools to close in January and then us work through July/August the gov could;

• give us our unpaid leave in January, but then there would be no education or childcare whatsoever in January.
• ask us to work remotely/ provide childcare in January - but need to pay us for our extra work in August
• furlough us in January - but again no remote education or childcare available

I understand it’s a pandemic, but working unpaid is a bit of an ask.

By unpaid leave, I’m referring to the large portion of unpaid holidays that teachers get.

Actually, I think this is a very good idea - and I am a teacher.

The OP said schools closed in January. Not online learning. So there would be no requirement for us to work. So the suggestion is that the holidays are changed, not cancelled. At least, it seemed pretty clear that that was the intention to me. Really don't think we were being asked to do an extra month's work!

And childcare would be no more of an issue than it already is in the summer holidays for working parents. Again, just moved, not added to.

Seems like good sense to me if things really are as bad as suggested tonight.

HOUSE!

I’d hate that. I just want to be in as normal. I don’t object to working longer in summer if needs be, it’s not that, I just don’t want to be out of school in jan.

@Chaotic45

Because teachers are expecting their usual august break. Unlike almost every other profession who do not get to dictate their own holiday and have to accept that they may not be able to take it when suits them.

Of course it's in the contract so they have every right for their contracted holiday at the expected time. They forget this advantage when ranting about their awful job.

I’d happily swop all of august to be able to take even two weeks at a time of my own choosing like pretty much everyone else can.

And childcare would be no more of an issue than it already is in the summer holidays for working parents.

Except you know when the holidays are, and can plan your childcare well in advance. I can’t plan emergency childcare for my primary ages children for a month in January.

Fuck it, do it, but don’t then moan when you come into hospital and there’s no staff because we’re all at home.

It would be very crap for those in years 11 and 13 (England) whose public exams have already been pushed back as far as they can be, but who already cannot cover the entire syllabus in the time.

Cutting out the best part of another month would really scupper them.

@LuluJakey1

You can rely on teachers to think of themselves if suggestions are made like this.

😂 do one. You have no idea.