Schools open or shut?

[Andrea87]

Should schools stay open?
A tricky one to answer. I have to add I have an interest in shutting them as I am a teacher who had to give up my job in the summer because I couldn’t risk bringing the virus home to a family , so I have spent this time creating an online course for teaching parents how to teach reading plus become an online tutor so I would do better personally if schools were shut plus I have lots of teacher friends who would be safer if they don‘t go to work.
On the other hand I know how challenging it is for parents who are working, trying to keep their job in these difficult times, plus home tutoring their children and the online educational support has been ranging from excellent to some schools doing very little in lockdown. Such a wide response by schools in terms of what they provided at home, it amazed me.
Then there is the important social aspect of children missing out even if they were home educated with excellent support from school and parents.
It is not an easy answer. I live in an area where the virus has been prevalent and know about 3 primary schools and none of them seem to have had the transmitted at school, so it seems primary schools have been safe.
Primary children seem safe. What about the teachers?
Having said that I know teachers who say they do not feel at school and then go to large shopping centres for non essential shopping which surprises me.
So what can happen to keep adults in schools safe and parents the opportunity to continue to work but also keep educating children?
So that teachers like I don’t have to make that difficult decision and leave teaching ( believe me it was hard , I loved my job of 20+ years and miss it dreadfully) maybe the government could furlough teachers who are in the high risk category or live with people in that category and have supply teachers cover their classes. As said children seem to be safe. This would make it safer.
However it is not an easy decision.
Stay safe everyone.

As my late mother used to say, "there is none so blind as those who will not see."

I would prefer them to stay open.

However, I would prefer more effective infection control in place. All 4 of mine wear masks, the youngest is 7 and it really doesn't bother him. I would like teachers to be protected with effective ppe, screens and early access to the vaccine. Mass testing would help too.

I am biased as I am an nhs worker that is shit at home schooling.

Open

Children have given up enough.

I still say and I stand by it...if this virus killed children at the same rate as it killed older people, older people wouldn't be willing to make the sacrifices children have.

I can see with my own eyes that children in primary school have been spreading it as I work in one.

Staff and children dropping like flies prior to the holidays, and yet some bright spark in govt thinks our London borough with higher infection rates than a neighbouring borough (which is closed for 2 additional weeks), will open as usual next week, makes sense!

Can't wait to get back to the post-Xmas Covid soup that will be our school next week.

Children have given up enough.

And now you want them to give up their elderly or vulnerable friends and relatives too?

Because way more people will die because of this.

@noblegiraffe

Children have given up enough.

And now you want them to give up their elderly or vulnerable friends and relatives too?

Because way more people will die because of this.

A very elderly relative dying is a fairly normal occurrence...

Yes but it’s not only very elderly relatives is it?

Remember all those deaths that people like you write off because of ‘underlying conditions’ (like diabetes)? That’s not a normal occurrence.

@ivfbeenbusy

Primary should stay open. Every primary teacher I know has been splashed all over social media going out, meeting family etc so can hardly then say with any certainly that they caught the virus from a pupil

Yet the ones I know haven't been to a pub or restaurant since lockdown ended as they are too scared to bring it back to school.

One head told me that despite living in a place well known for tourism and breweries/restaurants she hasn't felt that she could go into one as so many staff rely on her.

She has had 4 days off since March. Just 4 days on which she has not been contacted about Covid. That includes weekends. She doesn't get any holiday back in lieu, worked through easter and May completely and
only had 4 days in the summer where no Cv19 demands

Schools should be open.

The ramifications of closing them far outweighs the benefits of closing them IMO.

Children’s future and education shouldn’t be sacrificed to protect those who should be shielding anyway.

@noblegiraffe

Yes but it’s not only very elderly relatives is it?

Remember all those deaths that people like you write off because of ‘underlying conditions’ (like diabetes)? That’s not a normal occurrence.

Nearly 90% of deaths in age group 65+

Primary schools open if the majority can wear masks, windows are open and schools can split over primary and secondary sites to cap class sizes at max of 15. Parents volunteers would be needed, or they go part time. That way it reduces the risk for all and does more than just handwashing.

@millymollymoomoo

Yes I’ve seen the news. No evidence at all that kids are spreading it if you look at the data Last time i looked, and at least for now, we live in a feee country where we are allowed opinions

No evidence at all either that lockdowns have had any impact

You’re allowed an opinion, and other people are allowed to tell you that your opinions are not factually correct. You honestly think that having everyone mixing as normal this entire time wouldn’t have caused an increase in cases? 😂

Nearly 90% of deaths in age group 65+

And you’re counting 65 as very elderly?

Ffs.

"Children have given up enough."

What, exactly, do you believe they've given up? Because all those I know (hundreds) are having a fine old time.

I think schools should remain closed until we have a clearer picture of this new variant's behaviour. The teachers I know have met the challenge of 2020 with admirable courage. No one should be asked to hold their hand to the fire like this.

@noblegiraffe

Nearly 90% of deaths in age group 65+

And you’re counting 65 as very elderly?

Ffs.

Absolutely this. What a despicable attitude. 65+ is not elderly. My mum is 72, fitter than me and hopefully got at least 20 years of life to see her grandchildren grow up.

Absolutely disgusting comments about the deaths of the 'elderly'. I can't believe what I've just read.

I agree with the pp whose preference was rotas. I think if some time and effort had been put into planning a carefully thought out rota system, att least in secondary, then we would be in a much better position now. The constant last minute announcements are stressful for staff, students and parents alike.

The fact you think it's disgusting just shows how desensitized to death we have all become. Three score years plus ten was previously accepted to be a good innings. We now expect to live closer to 100 with the end years being invariably ghastly. I'm not sure it's hugely better.

Please confirm, formerbabe that you think that being 65+ is ‘invariably ghastly’ and therefore deaths in that age bracket aren’t even worthy of consideration in this debate.

Plus, of course, deaths of people with ‘underlying conditions’.

@formerbabe

The fact you think it's disgusting just shows how desensitized to death we have all become. Three score years plus ten was previously accepted to be a good innings. We now expect to live closer to 100 with the end years being invariably ghastly. I'm not sure it's hugely better.

The disgusting aspect is the way you are dismissing people over 65.

@CallmeAngelGabriel

"Children have given up enough."

What, exactly, do you believe they've given up? Because all those I know (hundreds) are having a fine old time.

Everyone has had to give things up but adults have far more than children.

I'm not saying we should do nothing...the lower the number of deaths the better. I'm just saying that I believe the damage being done by lockdowns, school closures, business closures is too great

All schools need to offer a variety of learning platforms. Online, in person and group. The options need to be available equally to everyone. Needs to be a national program.

I'm just saying that I believe the damage being done by lockdowns, school closures, business closures is too great

Compared to the damage done by rampant covid?

As a parent I am sick of the last minute changes so I can only imagine what it is like for teachers.

I would like to see a mental health/core skills focus for lower secondary years - I feel the obsession with/pretence of 'keeping up' is pretty stressful for very little educational gain. I feel a sane country would be less concerned about keeping on a strict curriculum treadmill for non-exam years.

The government doesn't give a shit about children's mental health, teachers' mental health, or parents' mental health.

I'm so lucky my children can manage at home.