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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Schools should shut for 2 weeks ONLY !

139 replies

HeyBaby2020 · 03/01/2021 20:04

I work in a school so this is not a teacher / school staff bashing thread at all

Some staff have been calling out for schools to shut just for 2 weeks so people can isolate etc

Now London where I am have that chance, personally think everywhere else should close just for 2 weeks but for people to say they should be closed until February or further are mad! That is simply not an option and unfair on the kids

If you use the 2 weeks you are getting properly you could really make a difference!

OP posts:
BadTattoosAndSmellLikeBooze · 03/01/2021 20:40

Have you actually thought how at their age some of these kids feel ? Cannot see their friends. Not all have phones and fancy gaming devices to chat on

I think about how my children feel every day. My son missed out on taking his GCSEs and is now having his A level education disrupted. My daughter started a new school and hasn’t had a chance to settle. One of my kids isn’t getting medical treatment that they need. They’re not seeing friends and family. We’ve lost people we knew to covid and another has been left unwell long term due to it. It’s very difficult for many people but sending children to school if it’s not safe for staff and teachers is not the answer. There is no easy answer.

Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum · 03/01/2021 20:40

I agree nationally two weeks. Hopefully kids isolating. Then the majority of schools back with new safety measures. I hate masks but masks for secondary at least. Probably upper primary too. Testing but not as a replacement for isolating.

Afraid London and some other areas are going to take more than two weeks for the local hospital admissions to get anywhere near small enough. We will be off for some timeSad

Original poster
HeyBaby2020 · 03/01/2021 20:40

@Saylethewayles

It is an option and will almost certainly happen so you and everyone else need to brace themselves.

At this point there isn't another option. If we don't do it and let the virus run its course education, the economy and your children's future will be even more stuffed than they are already are. Do people not get that?

Blame the government and their piss poor response at the start of this thing (and throughout). Had they acted differently, we wouldn't now be in this mess.

Oh of course it will happen and it will be a fucking joke
OP posts:
Original poster
HeyBaby2020 · 03/01/2021 20:42

School staff should be given priority vacancies and have regular testing IMO that way schools can remain open

OP posts:
Original poster
HeyBaby2020 · 03/01/2021 20:43

If people were not such selfish cunts we’d be in a better position

OP posts:
Saylethewayles · 03/01/2021 20:44

School staff should be given priority vacancies and have regular testing IMO that way schools can remain open

No, school staff should be given priority vaccines, have regular testing and all students should also have twice weekly tests at the bare minimum, including primary school children, conducted by HCP.

Without that they can't open "normally", not with cases as they are.

BadTattoosAndSmellLikeBooze · 03/01/2021 20:45

I’m not saying 2 weeks and it will be gone ffs!

No, you’re saying schools should only close for 2 weeks. I’m saying, be sensible, let the experts look at the data and listen to their advice. If you really don’t agree with that then I’m not sure what to say. If it’s only necessary to close schools for 2 weeks, that is what should be done. If it needs to be longer then so be it.

Saylethewayles · 03/01/2021 20:45

If people were not such selfish cunts we’d be in a better position

No, if the government had not made such an epic cock up of the entire situation we'd be in a better position.

GuyFawkesDay · 03/01/2021 20:45

The NEU were clear on the meeting it's a temporary step, and as data about cases and measures becomes clearer, and situations change them their advice will.

TicTacTwo · 03/01/2021 20:45

@HeyBaby2020

If people were not such selfish cunts we’d be in a better position
Surely it is worse to send everybody back to school this week and u-turn at the weekend because we'd need another 2-3 weeks from next weekend to hopefully see a fall in cases.
Original poster
HeyBaby2020 · 03/01/2021 20:46

@Saylethewayles

School staff should be given priority vacancies and have regular testing IMO that way schools can remain open

No, school staff should be given priority vaccines, have regular testing and all students should also have twice weekly tests at the bare minimum, including primary school children, conducted by HCP.

Without that they can't open "normally", not with cases as they are.

That’s what I said wasn’t it ?!?
OP posts:
Saylethewayles · 03/01/2021 20:47

Also do you not rather think that parents demanding the schools remain open at any costs have an element of the selfish to them, given they're asking teachers and their families to risk their lives in a way that no other profession (yes, shop and nhs workers too) are asked to do in the same way?

Original poster
HeyBaby2020 · 03/01/2021 20:47

@TicTacTwo exactly, my point of this thread is not to send them back this week! I’m saying all schools should have 2 weeks shut!

OP posts:
BadTattoosAndSmellLikeBooze · 03/01/2021 20:47

You disagree with me I disagree with you! Schools should be open !

Yes. I want to base it on data and scientific evidence and listen to experts.

Original poster
HeyBaby2020 · 03/01/2021 20:48

@Saylethewayles

Also do you not rather think that parents demanding the schools remain open at any costs have an element of the selfish to them, given they're asking teachers and their families to risk their lives in a way that no other profession (yes, shop and nhs workers too) are asked to do in the same way?
No I don’t! But I will be at work in a Tier 4 school in south London for key worker kids anyway so I guess it will be no different to me
OP posts:
Saylethewayles · 03/01/2021 20:48

That’s what I said wasn’t it ?!?

You said teachers should get tested, not students.

I imagine many parents would not be happy about their reception aged children being subjected to regular invasive, uncomfortable tests.

It won't happen anyway: there aren't enough HCP to do it. The time when this thing could be controlled by testing is long gone now.

Saylethewayles · 03/01/2021 20:49

No I don’t! But I will be at work in a Tier 4 school in south London for key worker kids anyway so I guess it will be no different to me

So how do you suggest teachers living with ECV family members (including children) deal with this then? And why are they less important than anyone else?

BadTattoosAndSmellLikeBooze · 03/01/2021 20:49

I’m saying all schools should have 2 weeks shut!

Based on what though? Can you not see, we need to wait for the data and that is why things are under constant review.

Cookiecrisps · 03/01/2021 20:50

The way to keep schools open to all is to put proper risk mitigation in place. Why is mask wearing not mandated in the classroom for all? Why haven’t the government funded the soap and hand sanitiser and extra cleaners? Why haven’t schools got decent ventilation systems in place? This is what you should be campaigning for. Point the finger at the DfE and government not the school staff who asked for all these things to be in place since the June opening.

Original poster
HeyBaby2020 · 03/01/2021 20:50

@Saylethewayles

That’s what I said wasn’t it ?!?

You said teachers should get tested, not students.

I imagine many parents would not be happy about their reception aged children being subjected to regular invasive, uncomfortable tests.

It won't happen anyway: there aren't enough HCP to do it. The time when this thing could be controlled by testing is long gone now.

Okay well obviously I mean both 😉
OP posts:
FrostedCranberries · 03/01/2021 20:51

Is it only 2 weeks then? I heard until further notice and take that as at least a month.

Cookiecrisps · 03/01/2021 20:52

And to add to my list - schools need a decent testing system too rather than this shambles coming into place for secondaries which is only there to avoid having to isolate close contacts of positive cases.

Saylethewayles · 03/01/2021 20:52

People like OP don't want facts and numbers, they just want to be told what they want to hear.

The uncomfortable truth is that with cases as they are it is not viable for schools to fully reopen.

Of course, the other uncomfortable truth, which I don't think people are able to handle, is even if you decide that covid just doing its thing is a price worth paying for children to be in school, their education and futures would be even more fucked than they already are.

Does anyone really believe that a tory government, of all people, would trash the economy into the ground to protect the NHS and save the vulnerable, if there was a better alternative?

Original poster
HeyBaby2020 · 03/01/2021 20:53

@BadTattoosAndSmellLikeBooze

I’m saying all schools should have 2 weeks shut!

Based on what though? Can you not see, we need to wait for the data and that is why things are under constant review.

Funny thing is I used to say what you said and was told no 2 weeks will do it! Sort of got used to the opinion 2 weeks will do
OP posts:
EasterIssland · 03/01/2021 20:53

I’ve seen on mn threads that many parents won’t allow their kids to wear masks or getting them tested ... so not sure whether this would be helpful. Will they refuse those kids that don’t wear them or get tested ?