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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

If you don't want your child to go back, homeschool them.

388 replies

Mrgrinch · 22/02/2021 08:11

I've seen so many people on here ranting about how they don't think the schools should open. Many even saying they won't follow any other rules anymore if they do.

AIBU to think they should just homeschool their DC then?

Do they not realise how badly this is affecting so many children and families? Do they not realise how many children have been having no education at all? Some parents are at breaking point trying to keep their jobs and make sure their children are doing some school work.

Homeschooling was always an option, even before covid so if you are so concerned then unlist them and provide their education yourself. We can't stay home forever.

OP posts:
FamilyOfAliens · 22/02/2021 08:13

I don’t get how you can ask people to understand your situation, and yet refuse to understand theirs?

ineedaholidaynow · 22/02/2021 08:13

And do you think schools will stay open if we send all children back with no mitigating measures?

UncleBrynsMySpaceFriend · 22/02/2021 08:15

I agree with you but people like to have their cake and eat it - they want the option of schools being available to offer guidance on the work set. As if teachers don’t have enough to do!

Original poster
Mrgrinch · 22/02/2021 08:15

@FamilyOfAliens

I don’t get how you can ask people to understand your situation, and yet refuse to understand theirs?
I haven't refused to understand theirs. They have the option to keep their children at home, which it what they want.

I will not however, understand people who say that they won't follow any other rules anymore.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mrgrinch · 22/02/2021 08:21

@ineedaholidaynow

And do you think schools will stay open if we send all children back with no mitigating measures?
Who said there will be no mitigating measures? That's not true at all.
OP posts:
ineedaholidaynow · 22/02/2021 08:23

So what mitigating factors will there be @Mrgrinch? That little bit of yellow and black tape on the floor doesn’t stop the virus in its tracks

Original poster
Mrgrinch · 22/02/2021 08:27

@ineedaholidaynow

So what mitigating factors will there be *@Mrgrinch*? That little bit of yellow and black tape on the floor doesn’t stop the virus in its tracks
Have you not realised that the NHS is no longer at risk of being overwhelmed, and groups 1-4 have been vaccinated? There will be cases bit it will be manageable.

They will do the best they can. Separate break times, masks in communal areas, no sharing equipment, class bubbles.

Or do you want to wait until there's zero covid to send them back? Because maybe it's time you realise, that's not going to happen.

OP posts:
Tangledtresses · 22/02/2021 08:30

Our secondary had different year groups in different blocks, separate entrance, separate places in the grounds, absolutely no mixing of year groups
We had 3 positive cases last year all caught it at home from their parents!
That's 1000 kids with 3 positive cases

noblegiraffe · 22/02/2021 08:31

The option to keep your own child off school doesn’t make it any less of a risk to the whole population of having 10 million people mixing freely with no social distancing or masks, does it?

ISBN111 · 22/02/2021 08:33

I would love to have my youngest at home as long as our workplaces are allowing us to wfm. But I don’t know how long that will be. If I take him out of school he will lose his place, so then when we return to work we will have to find him a school place which could be a lot further away, never mind the disruption for him of changing schools.

With a little thought to the future, of course I can’t ‘just homeschool’ him. I have no idea how long certain restrictions are going to last and while the authorities continue with a lack of flexibility about school places and threats to fine for non-attendance, I’ll just have to go along with it.

Jumpers268 · 22/02/2021 08:34

I completely agree OP. The whole point of lifting lockdown gradually is to see what difference it makes. I completely understand why people may not want their children in school and they shouldn't be punished for that. But I also, likewise, shouldn't be punished for wanting mine in school.

(I did a little dance in my kitchen this morning with my son at the prospect of 2 more weeks of home schooling (whilst WFH) and him finally being able to see other children.....).

ineedaholidaynow · 22/02/2021 08:34

@Mrgrinch many of the people in hospital with COVID are in group 6, not yet vaccinated. Why couldn’t they stagger schools going back until Group 6 are vaccinated. Group 6 include many teachers and parents.

ineedaholidaynow · 22/02/2021 08:36

Also isn’t the highest rate of infection currently in Primary School children. Just shows how safe schools are

Hazelnutlatteplease · 22/02/2021 08:38

Yep.

The next educational and health divide will be those that can afford to pull their kids out and use and home school provider and those that cant.

The cats out of the bag now. School in its cure format isnt the only way to learn. Turns out both of mine are significantly happier and healthier out.

FamilyOfAliens · 22/02/2021 08:39

I haven't refused to understand theirs. They have the option to keep their children at home, which it what they want.

You don’t sound like someone who is understanding of other people’s situation.

Perhaps it’s just how you come across on here. Maybe irl you have empathy and understand that everyone’s situation different and that people are struggling to work while at the safe time home schooling their children.

Hazelnutlatteplease · 22/02/2021 08:39

Cure= current

ufucoffee · 22/02/2021 08:39

If you homeschool your children you will lose that school place. If you then decide to send them back you'll have to reapply and if it's a popular school you won't get the place because it will be gone.

PurpleDaisies · 22/02/2021 08:40

The whole point of lifting lockdown gradually is to see what difference it makes

Sending all children back to school at once is not lifting the lockdown gradually. It’s reckless madness.

dappledsunshine · 22/02/2021 08:41

💯 agree op. It's time to prioritise our children and young people and get them back. I'm delighted with the decision and believe it's the right approach.

ineedaholidaynow · 22/02/2021 08:42

Also if people pull their children out of school that school will get reduced funding and will be more financially screwed than it already is

Original poster
Mrgrinch · 22/02/2021 08:42

@ISBN111 I understand that, but that's the choice you have to make if you don't want him in school. People are at risk of/have already lost their jobs sue to school closures.

@Jumpers268 my thoughts exactly, I believe the children have missed out on enough already.

@ineedaholidaynow they're vaccinating group 5 now, group 6 are up next. Many schools are already at 50% capacity, exactly how much difference would a staggered return make? I'm sure they've considered that and decided against it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mrgrinch · 22/02/2021 08:45

@dappledsunshine

💯 agree op. It's time to prioritise our children and young people and get them back. I'm delighted with the decision and believe it's the right approach.
It definitely is time, I'm delighted too.

Do those of you who are against this not remember that the schools were always going to be the main priority, and the first thing to open. That has been the case since we went into this lockdown.

OP posts:
Terfy · 22/02/2021 08:48

Totally agree OP. Ultimately, I don't want someone else's paranoia to hold my children back. We need to live with this.

JustAnotherPoster00 · 22/02/2021 08:52

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Jumpers268 · 22/02/2021 08:52

@ufucoffee

If you homeschool your children you will lose that school place. If you then decide to send them back you'll have to reapply and if it's a popular school you won't get the place because it will be gone.
I think that's terrible. I think people should be allowed the choice, at least to start with and I don't think they should be punished for either choice.

@PurpleDaisies my sister works for a secondary school and my aunt for a primary school and I did think they would do a staggered start to schools reopening. My point, however, was if those who disagree with all children going back to school decide to "fuck the rest of the rules" it won't be a clear indication on the impact of schools reopening.