Schools should shut for 2 weeks ONLY !

[HeyBaby2020]

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!

@TicTacTwo because @BooksAreNotEssentialInWales got it in one! If unions had there way kids would of been off school for over a year! Embarrassing behaviour!

If it’s another term that’s 2 out of three closed excluding the same children.

At least consider timetabled and staggered returns for god sake ! Not just keep schools closed

I 100% agree and think 2 week strict lockdowns would be just as effective than the longer half arsed lockdowns.
I am a teacher and a parent btw.

Schools have already been shut for 2 weeks and cases are soaring. Why should we expect people who didn't stick to the rules over the last 2 weeks to suddenly start doing so now?
Teaching unions are acting as though education is a non essential luxury. Personally I think they are exacting revenge on the government for years of cuts and bureaucracy! The risk to teachers is no higher than any other public facing role. You don't see private businesses such as hairdressers or nurseries begging to be allowed to close for some reason.
Schools should remain open with clinically vulnerable staff working from home. That may of course mean some schools will struggle for staff but hopefully they can provide all children with some contact time at least.

@SnackSizeRaisin

Schools have already been shut for 2 weeks and cases are soaring. Why should we expect people who didn't stick to the rules over the last 2 weeks to suddenly start doing so now? Teaching unions are acting as though education is a non essential luxury. Personally I think they are exacting revenge on the government for years of cuts and bureaucracy! The risk to teachers is no higher than any other public facing role. You don't see private businesses such as hairdressers or nurseries begging to be allowed to close for some reason. Schools should remain open with clinically vulnerable staff working from home. That may of course mean some schools will struggle for staff but hopefully they can provide all children with some contact time at least.

👏🏼 👏🏼 👏🏼 agree 100%

You put into words for @TicTacTwo why I would be embarrassed better than I could

Clinically vulnerable staff still have to go in. In my school they have exactly the same working conditions as someone who is not clinically vulnerable. They are not even allowed to wear a mask.

@Cookiecrisps

Clinically vulnerable staff still have to go in. In my school they have exactly the same working conditions as someone who is not clinically vulnerable. They are not even allowed to wear a mask.

Well that ain’t the governments fault that school needs to sort its policy out. Masks are optional at my school and any staff member vulnerable are working from home

You simply have got to accept that this new variant has changed everything.

The scientists don't know if two weeks will be 'enough' to stop a staggering death toll and keep the NHS open for business.

Our children need a functioning healthcare system more than education, in a crisis situation.

This will not go on forever. I understand your frustration but no one knows if two weeks will be 'enough' to stop exponential growth of the virus.

There was an article in The Times by a scientist explaining that it would result in fewer deaths if the virus has mutated to be 50% more lethal, rather than 50% more transmissible. I think it's hard to get your head around how much more serious that 50% more transmissible makes our situation.

We can't plan ahead until we see if we're getting a handle on this. Everyone really does want schools to stay open, even teachers who will often be in there regardless.

Schools should remain open with clinically vulnerable staff working from home.

I really agree with this idea (if there’s enough staff) but what about the students who are classed as vulnerable or their parents who are vulnerable?

Which is quite a few of them - so it could be seen that it is discrimination that those that are healthy are getting a ‘proper education’ whilst those who have vulnerable family members aren’t getting as good of an education.
The exam boards will also take into account the students as a whole and so those who can’t come in are going to be more disadvantaged.

I think two weeks needs to be a minimum for all schools to allow for Christmas/New year surges.

Then I think each school/LA should make a decision based on figures for their area. The government can't be trusted to be in charge of this (closed schools in some high areas and not others with higher figures - makes no sense whatsoever).

Schools have already been shut for 2 weeks and cases are soaring. Why should we expect people who didn't stick to the rules over the last 2 weeks to suddenly start doing so now?

That is not a reason to keep schools open. We did, also, as a country have a certain degree of mixing over Christmas so it's been a 'different' two weeks, not to be compared with a fortnight of hard lockdown. We have to shut down whatever necessary to get the transmission rate down. Keeping schools open is a high priority for everyone.

Although individual risk to younger individuals is low, on a national level the numbers ill and dying will be high if the transmission rate gets completely out of hand. That will also cause preventable deaths because we won't have a functioning NHS to help them. You may be tired of hearing this but it doesn't make it any less important and true. This is not something we can get even more wrong.

We're trying to get things to a holding position until enough people have been vaccinated. Prior to having a vaccine, many people argued there was no point waiting for a vaccine that might not arrive and this thing didn't spread between children anyway. Now we do have a vaccine to hold out for and it is spreading among children and we do need to see more data about that to make a fully informed decision about having children in schools en masse.

Perhaps if teachers don't want to work then they should let the supply teachers, who desperately depend on this income to feed their kids and keep a roof over their heads etc, do it?? My mom is a supply teacher and happy to work (conversely so are 3 out of the other 4 education workers that I know personally but whatever) so maybe teachers that don't want to work could take unpaid leave and let the supply that want/need to do it take over?? I wonder how many would leave their principles behind then??

Easy to not go to work when you're being paid for it, not so much for the rest of society

Head is allowed to say this about masks because of the DfE guidance . The guidance also says that CEV staff work at home not necessarily CV.

Ha you and your common sense! I agree with PP that people wouldn’t stick to a lockdown though, everyone has a special circumstance as to why it wouldn’t work for them and why that circumstance is more important than anyone else’s. With no punitive measures people don’t really have anything to fear especially if they think COVID is an overhyped load of old shit. To be honest I can’t effect other people’s behaviours, or outcomes only my own and my family. Horrible, frightening times and I just mean this disease.

Sorry I don’t just mean this disease, the world is turning on itself and it’s really quite frightening.

If I was a teacher I’d flat out refuse to work in an open school with classes full of vectors. Absolutely no way in hell. Any teachers reading this who are nervous and anxious- I stand with you!

Do not go to work if you feel this way- if you all do that then there is no choice but to shut schools.

You have the power here, in numbers obviously.

@TeddysTigerEyes

Sorry I don’t just mean this disease, the world is turning on itself and it’s really quite frightening.

It does feel pretty bad atm. Society spiralling smaller and parts crumbling.

Tg for vaccine otherwise we’d be stuffed.

classes full of vectors

Poor dc!

@MarshaBradyo to someone vulnerable or at risk then that is exactly what they are. Call a spade a spade. Or a class of DC vectors.

We’re all vectors then if you want to use that language.

Vectors with underlying conditions. Vectors at high risk due to being overweight etc

Not sure how it helps .

@MarshaBradyo you’re absolutely right, anyone besides yourself has the potential to be infected. Teachers should have the right to limit their exposure to such potential vectors as much as everyone else.

Children have a right to be educated, to be safe, to be happy, to be safeguarded.

Something teachers agree to when they go into the vocation

:@Littleposh I’m sure the small print didn’t include highly contagious global pandemic though. In that instance everyone has a right to live safely.

The problem with it all is that people who didn’t isolate over the holidays as they should have aren’t going to isolate now. I’m not sure how we make them!

I really feel for kids if it’s more than two weeks as they need to be with friends. Older ones can go for a walk with one friend in the same way as adults can though - they just need to be sensible.