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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that those people calling for the schools to shut should check their privilege

517 replies

berryfull · 03/01/2021 19:11

It’s all very well and good to decide to keep your kids home or call for the schools to shut when you have enough space/have a garden/ have enough bedrooms/ have a home office/ can work from home/one parent doesn’t work/ you can work flexibly / your work can furlough you/ you have enough savings/ you have enough money/ you have WiFi / you have a device per child/ your children can read and write/ your children are independent/ your children are neurotypical/ your children don’t have disabilities/ you’re not scared of your partner/ you’re not scared of your children/ your mental health doesn’t make you a danger to your children/ yiu can cope with the stress/ your partner isn’t a danger to your children/ your health is good enough to allow you to look after your children/ your education level is sufficient for you to help educate your children you can feed your children throughout the day ..... etc etc

Stop presuming that all children will be safer at home. There are bigger and comparable dangers to the Covid that school keeps children safe from. And the vunerable ones are not being looked after.

Keep the schools open .... please!

OP posts:
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7
ktp100 · 03/01/2021 22:22

There are bigger and comparable dangers to the Covid that school keeps children safe from

The lives of children's families and teachers matter too, OP. In the midst of a global pandemic you cannot take every situation into account, you are forced to prioritise.

Also, schools have never and will not ever close to vulnerable kids.

greenlynx · 03/01/2021 22:22

My child has learning disability, anxiety about Covid plus in higher risk group for health but not CEV. I have mental health issues and can’t cope with stress. So I’ve checked my privilege.

I call for schools being closed for anyone except vulnerable children and children of key workers.
I will keep my DC at home by the way.

happystone · 03/01/2021 22:23

I can not believe people on this thread are so stupid,pigheaded, with a me me me attitude. School are not safe for teachears or staff if you don’t understand why there is no hope for you. And then they try and use vulnerable children as an excuse. Or teachears unions ect. I do not put my child going to school above someone’s life. Yes it’s hard homeschooling my own son goes to a special school so I understand . His school staffs well-being and health is above him teachears help and respect our children. It’s about time we done the same for them

RickOShay · 03/01/2021 22:23

Well said @CakeRequired.
And I’m so sorry that happened to you @ElevenBells, I hope you have peace now.

happystone · 03/01/2021 22:25

Opp if you find things hard please phone social servicesFlowers

flaxensunshine · 03/01/2021 22:27

@happystone

I can not believe people on this thread are so stupid,pigheaded, with a me me me attitude. School are not safe for teachears or staff if you don’t understand why there is no hope for you. And then they try and use vulnerable children as an excuse. Or teachears unions ect. I do not put my child going to school above someone’s life. Yes it’s hard homeschooling my own son goes to a special school so I understand . His school staffs well-being and health is above him teachears help and respect our children. It’s about time we done the same for them
No you put your child’s safety above that of vulnerable and abused/neglected children
LiJo2015 · 03/01/2021 22:28

Response direct to OP - i cannot refute anything you have said. But i will do what i can to keep my family safe. The decision to send my son back to school on tuesday will be made by me and his dad - irrespective of what the school, council or government says.

islockdownoveryet · 03/01/2021 22:28

@happystone

I can not believe people on this thread are so stupid,pigheaded, with a me me me attitude. School are not safe for teachears or staff if you don’t understand why there is no hope for you. And then they try and use vulnerable children as an excuse. Or teachears unions ect. I do not put my child going to school above someone’s life. Yes it’s hard homeschooling my own son goes to a special school so I understand . His school staffs well-being and health is above him teachears help and respect our children. It’s about time we done the same for them
You obviously don't understand.
Lucidas · 03/01/2021 22:29

@flaxensunshine

Doesn't everyone put their child first? Wouldn't you? What a pointless comment.

Luckily it's not an individual decision to make but one that will be forced upon us very shortly anyway.

EmpressSuiko · 03/01/2021 22:29

@PennineSpring it also related to mainstream schools. My children could have still attended this mainstream school due to their ehcps but I wanted them home.
From the very start the government have made of mess of everything with no clear guidelines given to anyone.
I for one just want the choice to keep my children home without risking fines or losing their place, my husband has cancer, I can’t risk them bringing Covid home to him, they need their dad more than an education right now.

happystone · 03/01/2021 22:29

Flaxen sunshine.what the fuck are you talking about.

FoxinaScarf · 03/01/2021 22:31

No you put your child’s safety above that of vulnerable and abused/neglected children

No as these children will be in school. Schools are very aware of who they are. Teachers will continue to go above and beyond to care for them, just as they did last time.

Facelikearustytractor · 03/01/2021 22:31

I've come back to this thread after a couple of hours and I see it has just descended into slinging mud.

Must remind myself to steer clear of COVID threads. No point in just reading rage from two different extremes, with no compromise or understanding that everyone's experience of this is different and it is hard for most people.

The worst thing about COVID (aside from COVID itself) is the divisiveness of it and the way people have behaved towards each other. That said, it's mainly on MN I've seen this - just a few shouty dickheads in real life. I really can't wait for this shit to be over. Maybe people might be capable of seeing that solutions to problems don't just lie at the far ends of a spectrum, but maybe somewhere in between.

happystone · 03/01/2021 22:31

Teachears CAN NOT look after children 24 hours a day

DeeCeeCherry · 03/01/2021 22:32

Children are not at school weekends school holidays or late afternoon evening. What happens to these vulnerable children. No one cared about these children before this pandemic. Children who are vulnerable because of there parents should be in care ect. School only protects them for 6 hours Monday to Friday. Next time people vote for a government don’t vote for one that doesn’t give a shit about children or the poor or disabled

^^ This.

& The NHS is in the firing line in all of this so if children have to stay off school for a time then, so be it.

If people don't want lockdown then ok - herd immunity. & elderly, clinically vulnerable, and pregnant shield. & Employers made to play their part too by facilitating this. Everybody else, get on with life .

Or whatever.

If children are still in school and teachers have to be there too then herd immunity policy may as well be it.

Some speak as if school is their childcare. Unfortunately, it isn't.

We'll be in Tiers for the next 2 years at this rate and what of childrens' education then?

Hankunamatata · 03/01/2021 22:35

Half problem is some schools woeful response to home learning. It's been hot and miss across so many schools or even I individual teachers.

Last lockdown we literally got a maths sheet and an English sheet.

happystone · 03/01/2021 22:35

I think there are some posters on here who are wind ups this this for daily Mail well done had me going I thought people were this pigheaded, Grin

SansaSnark · 03/01/2021 22:36

Most people want schools to be open for vulnerable students. Maybe not all of them will be in school, but some will be able to go.

Last term, many students had to isolate for 2 or 4 weeks, or even 6. How do you think that works for a vulnerable student? Or one with an abusive home life?

At least this way they will be able to leave the house and have some interaction with other people, rather than being locked up inside for days on end.

There are no good options here.

Hankunamatata · 03/01/2021 22:36

Yet if heard other schools that have done zoom classes, interactive online learning or at least checking their pupils are still alive

Witchend · 03/01/2021 22:38

My aunt who is a teacher in a private school made a trolley to provide to their hospital during lockdown of about 100 goggles or something. It was a lovely gesture but millions of bits of PPE were needed. I don’t think schools really were the provider of that on a large scale (and why should they be?).

Our state school, in March sent all their safety goggles and ppe to the local hospital as they were appealed for. They were told that they would be recompensed for it so they could buy more afterwards.
last term they were told by the government "thanks for it, but we're not going to replace it in schools."
So the school is down their safety kit, having been told they would be given more, and having to pay for more out of their budget.

ChloeDecker · 03/01/2021 22:40

No you put your child’s safety above that of vulnerable and abused/neglected children

Vulnerable and abused/neglected children have already been suffering due to schools being open at all costs.

The OP doesn’t want to reply to my question but maybe others who do want schools fully open at all costs, will reply to the issue, that as the situation currently stands, thousands of vulnerable and abused/neglected children have had lengthy self isolation periods last term where they cannot even leave their home for exercise or fresh air, due to the state schools are currently in.
I would ask those posters,

  1. Do you want schools open as safely as possibly so that bubbles closing en masse happens far far less?
  2. Do you think the government should fund schools so that they can afford more safety measures and can afford to provide vulnerable families what they need, should the need or choose to stay at home?
  3. Do you think the government should change the wording of a lot of their guidance to ensure schools can implement more safety measures from as soon as tomorrow? If yes to any of them, then look at the government and stop attacking people who do want those measures.
Aab1234 · 03/01/2021 22:41

COMPLETELY AGREE. School closure is just the desire of the NEU and the privilege of the SAHP. Honestly, the constant banging on about teacher bashing when anyone has a different view is pathetic.

musicalfrog · 03/01/2021 22:41

It really does rile me OP how many people won't even consider what you've said in any conversation on the matter. Life isn't black and white but they act as if it is.

islockdownoveryet · 03/01/2021 22:41

@happystone

Teachears CAN NOT look after children 24 hours a day
Of course they don't . I'll say it again don't send your child to school if your worried but schools need to stay open for so many others .
ineedaholidaynow · 03/01/2021 22:45

The Government need to do more in respect of the vulnerable children, the blame should not be put on teachers. There is something wrong in society where we let children have 6 hours of a safe place 5 days a week in term time, and then ignore them the rest of time.

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