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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think schools just won’t be able to stay open in the medium term

428 replies

Schoolgrand · 07/09/2021 18:13

In the medium term we are having thousands of people mixing from different households at a time of high community transmission and now we are hearing reports of an October lockdown. Aibu to think schools in their current form with no mitigation’s just can’t stay open in the medium term.

OP posts:
TheRealMrsMorningstar · 07/09/2021 18:14

Do you have a link to October lockdown discussions? I very much doubt we will but curious to see what is being said and by whom.

HugeAckmansWife · 07/09/2021 18:18

I honestly don't think the mitigations, masks, bubbles etc made very much difference anyway. Kids are kids, all ages really don't do SD well in large groups. It's lovely to be back to normal in school now and if it does mean half term is a short lockdown then so be it.

LumpySpacedPrincess · 07/09/2021 18:22

Even if there was an October circuit breaker we would have the key worker children, last time that was over half the class, this time it would be most of the class so what would be the point?

toots111 · 07/09/2021 18:35

If they stop my kids from going to school again I will take my kids to Downing Street and let Boris look after them. My kids have been out of school too much over the last 18 months. They have isolated multiple times. And they have had Covid with literally not a single symptom. They have done everything that has been asked of them for a virus that has no impact on them. I am not a key worker and my young kids have to basically look after themselves whilst I work a really stressful job full time from home. It is not fair, not acceptable, that they have to sacrifice any more.

FfrothiCoffi · 07/09/2021 18:39

People have spent the past year and a half telling us the mitigations in schools are useless, don’t work, it’s running rampant etc. Now those mitigations have been largely removed people are saying we need them back or cases will run rampant.
Makes no sense.
Anyway if they close schools again I’ll be alongside @toots111 dropping my kids off at the gates of 10 Downing Street. Working full time alongside homeschooling 2 primary aged kids and looking after a toddler nearly killed me.

Echobelly · 07/09/2021 18:41

There probably should be a shut down for a period (though easy for me to say as have older kids, space, devices and flexible job) but I think this government is determined to keep things open at all and any cost.

FfrothiCoffi · 07/09/2021 18:42

@Echobelly

There probably should be a shut down for a period (though easy for me to say as have older kids, space, devices and flexible job) but I think this government is determined to keep things open at all and any cost.
Yep, definitely easy for you to say.
noblegiraffe · 07/09/2021 18:46

I will take my kids to Downing Street and let Boris look after them.

He doesn't have a good record at looking after kids, so I wouldn't.

Internetio · 07/09/2021 18:49

speaking as a parent who has after 4 school days now got 2 kids back at home isolating Hmm I can't see this being sustainable but I also don't know what the solution is.

One of the daftest points is the repeated contact notification (I'll explain as that probably doesn't make any sense) DD's friend tested positive on Sunday, result received on Monday, school notified us as a close contact to get a test and isolate until result. Result today: negative- yey back to school tomorrow... except Noooo, one of the other kids notified as a close contact at the same time as DD had now tested positive, we are again notified and so tomorrow we need to go and do it all again. chance that DD may test positive after this test due to proximity etc, so then 10 days isolation on top of the 3/4 days she's already had to take off for isolations until tests are returned. Under the old scheme it was 10 days isolation from first contact and none of the faff of repeated testing.

kowari · 07/09/2021 18:49

@LumpySpacedPrincess

Even if there was an October circuit breaker we would have the key worker children, last time that was over half the class, this time it would be most of the class so what would be the point?
I agree. Mine will be in as I don't trust that it will be just two weeks, I don't trust anything the government say anymore. He is year 11 but he won't be the only one his age, his school has been great throughout lockdowns and allowed children to attend if they don't cope well at home, including many year 11 children earlier this year.
LegendaryReady · 07/09/2021 18:50

I work in school and I'm at home today with what is probably a cold, pending a PCR test result.

So far, under the new rules, this affects no one else, but schools are going to struggle to stay open if everyone with a cold stays home, let alone those who actually have Covid.

I'm office based and have wfh so it hasn't affected anyone else (very much) but that's not the case for most staff. If my role in school had been more crucial perhaps o wouldn't have stayed at home so easily, but that would make things worse...

LawnFever · 07/09/2021 18:50

@noblegiraffe

I will take my kids to Downing Street and let Boris look after them.

He doesn't have a good record at looking after kids, so I wouldn't.

He won’t be able to keep count of how many there are for a start Wink
noblegiraffe · 07/09/2021 18:50

Are you in Scotland, Internetio? There's no requirement to stay off school while waiting for PCR results as a contact in England, and school doesn't count as being a close contact.

Confiscatedpopit · 07/09/2021 18:52

Christ, we really do need to move on. Enough now, children have sacrificed enough. You only get 18 years of being a child, all of us had ours, stop imposing this never ending shit on them!

FfrothiCoffi · 07/09/2021 18:52

Yep, mine will be in as well, whatever it takes. Last lockdown 5/6ths of my daughter’s class were in while she was at home struggling next to me working full time. I’ll move heaven and earth to get her in this time.

Angel2702 · 07/09/2021 18:57

@noblegiraffe

Are you in Scotland, Internetio? There's no requirement to stay off school while waiting for PCR results as a contact in England, and school doesn't count as being a close contact.
Our school have said you will be required to isolate as a close contact until negative PCR test is received.
FfrothiCoffi · 07/09/2021 18:59

Our school have said you will be required to isolate as a close contact until negative PCR test is received

Ours has too.

Comedycook · 07/09/2021 18:59

If they stop my kids from going to school again I will take my kids to Downing Street and let Boris look after them

I'll join you.

Bigtom · 07/09/2021 19:05

@Confiscatedpopit

Christ, we really do need to move on. Enough now, children have sacrificed enough. You only get 18 years of being a child, all of us had ours, stop imposing this never ending shit on them!
This!
LittleOwl153 · 07/09/2021 19:07

Sadly schools are not even being notified of those who are close contacts now. You MUST send your child to school even if you or another member of your household has a positive test - UNLESS the have a positive test themselves - thats the law now. It is right screwing up our local schools with primary now hitting about a 35% +ve rate!!

toots111 · 07/09/2021 19:07

@FfrothiCoffi

Yep, mine will be in as well, whatever it takes. Last lockdown 5/6ths of my daughter’s class were in while she was at home struggling next to me working full time. I’ll move heaven and earth to get her in this time.
Me too. Especially after the joke of people who were counted as ‘key workers’ in my kids school. I’m not having it again. I’d bloody set up my own school for the local kids if I needed to. But they are not sitting at home being ignored again. It is not fair. And no, I can’t quit my job and look after them. Because then they’d also be homeless as well as ignored.
SuperCaliFragalistic · 07/09/2021 19:08

FFS some people sound like they enjoy this shit. No I don't think schools should close again, ever.

It's been, honestly, joyful being back in playground this week seeing the kids mixing and playing freely. The delight at being able to use play equipment that was roped off for 18 months and talk to children in other classes. Swimming lessons and school trips being discussed excitedly. Very little makes me tearful but it's been so hard for these little people and they are finally getting back their normal childhood.

People who rub their hands together at the thought of another closure disgust me.

toots111 · 07/09/2021 19:08

@Comedycook

If they stop my kids from going to school again I will take my kids to Downing Street and let Boris look after them

I'll join you.

Great Smile I will be organising a ‘million kid March’ on Westminster if they shut schools again.
Comedycook · 07/09/2021 19:09

I would definitely march! I cannot homeschool again and retain my sanity!

LegendaryReady · 07/09/2021 19:12

I don't think "they" will close schools en masse, but I do think there will be at least partial closures, simply because of staff absence. No one's had so much as cold for a year and now we're all mixing again and can't go to work with cold symptoms.

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