Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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:
Peteycat · 08/09/2021 19:28

Everyone has had it tough especially the kids. There's no medal for who's had it the worst.

herecomesthsun · 08/09/2021 19:34

@Peteycat

Everyone has had it tough especially the kids. There's no medal for who's had it the worst.
No, but there is the prize of being able to keep education open over the winter.

That is something that we all seem to want.

And it does not particularly help children to antagonise their exhausted teachers on an online forum (not saying you have personally done this, but maybe we could keep that in mind.)

herecomesthsun · 08/09/2021 19:38

Although maybe exhausted isn't the right word at the start of term?

Beleaguered maybe?

MarshaBradyo · 08/09/2021 19:39

Tbh some of those types of threads are strong posts from a group at some posters who get involved. Many avoid them I reckon.

IRL though I agree staff have been well supported usually (our schools anyway)

Peteycat · 08/09/2021 19:45

"No, but there is the prize of being able to keep education open over the winter.

That is something that we all seem to want.

And it does not particularly help children to antagonise their exhausted teachers on an online forum (not saying you have personally done this, but maybe we could keep that in mind.)"

Herecomesthesun you don't have to be her you know.

Peteycat · 08/09/2021 19:47

Antagonise teachers? Are they so precious we can't say anything opposing to them? Really? I'm sure most teachers will be insulted by your post, they deal with kids day in day out they are made of stronger stuff!

herecomesthsun · 08/09/2021 19:49

@Peteycat

"No, but there is the prize of being able to keep education open over the winter.

That is something that we all seem to want.

And it does not particularly help children to antagonise their exhausted teachers on an online forum (not saying you have personally done this, but maybe we could keep that in mind.)"

Herecomesthesun you don't have to be her you know.

Who is "her"?

I think I'll just be me thanks xxx Wink

Mistressiggi · 08/09/2021 19:56

We are not all in the same boat, peteycat, though are we? In fact we never are! Someone on furlough isn't in the same boat as someone working in the NHS. Doing an office job from home isn't the same experience as working in a supermarket. Someone with a CEV child isn't in the same boat as someone with fully healthy children. A teacher isn't in the same boat as someone working from home but also isn't in the same boat as someone who's lost their job due to Covid.
This "you're all in it together" stuff is just designed to shut us up I think.

herecomesthsun · 08/09/2021 20:02

@Peteycat

Antagonise teachers? Are they so precious we can't say anything opposing to them? Really? I'm sure most teachers will be insulted by your post, they deal with kids day in day out they are made of stronger stuff!
Actually, my experience on here is that teaches seem quite pleased and surprised if someone sticks up for them.

However, I will note that you would perceive sympathetic posts as "precious", peteycat; we are all different after all.

Peteycat · 08/09/2021 20:32

Herecomesthesun, ooh you are being sooo dramatic tonight. Go have a lie down.

Peteycat · 08/09/2021 20:33

Teachers don't need sticking up for! 😂 There's not some hunt down for teachers. Honestly. Your causing a scene for them.

Peteycat · 08/09/2021 20:34

Ah in your above post you spelt teachers wrong. That's karma for pointing out me putting her instead of here.

Peteycat · 08/09/2021 20:35

You put teaches.

Peteycat · 08/09/2021 20:37

"19:56Mistressiggi

We are not all in the same boat, peteycat, though are we? In fact we never are! Someone on furlough isn't in the same boat as someone working in the NHS. Doing an office job from home isn't the same experience as working in a supermarket. Someone with a CEV child isn't in the same boat as someone with fully healthy children. A teacher isn't in the same boat as someone working from home but also isn't in the same boat as someone who's lost their job due to Covid.
This "you're all in it together" stuff is just designed to shut us up I think"

No perhaps not but there are so many jobs that work directly with the public or children, I was just trying to explain that it's not all about the teachers all the time y'know.

Wheresmybiscuit3 · 08/09/2021 21:16

I don’t want to antagonise teachers… my best friend is one. I just want some of them to actually realise that they aren’t the only profession / people struggling.

I wanted some acknowledgement about the effect repeated lockdowns are actually having on children’s mental health… and their parents which I see daily. Working with a lot of teachers I also recognise the effect on their mental health… but it’s not just teachers.

Didn’t get that though!

BustopherPonsonbyJones · 08/09/2021 21:21

But this is a thread about schools. It is obviously going to attract those who work in schools.

Abraxan · 08/09/2021 21:35

I know one newspaper definitely printed about an October firebreak lockdown this week. However, at present the Government has denied they are even considering it.

Personally I doubt they will lockdown, and certainly not including schools, unless things became untenable in the wider community.

Mycatcontrolsmymovements · 08/09/2021 21:39

My point is we achieve more together than we can apart.

I get how hard it is, covid has had long lasting impacts on my world.

I won't sit here and say I'm worse than others but lots of us have had hard outcomes as a direct result of covid.

I just wish we could align and at the very least have a safe space for talking about covid

Peteycat · 08/09/2021 21:42

"21:21BustopherPonsonbyJones

But this is a thread about schools. It is obviously going to attract those who work in schools"

And possibly attract parents maybe who work in various different fields?! 😂

Peteycat · 08/09/2021 21:43

Teachers have kept their jobs. Lots have not.

CheeseTiger · 08/09/2021 22:12

Why are people who work in schools talking about schools in a thread about schools? So strange!

CheeseTiger · 08/09/2021 22:14

My CEV colleague has lost their job in a school.

lannistunut · 08/09/2021 22:18

@Peteycat

Teachers have kept their jobs. Lots have not.
Gosh, should anyone with a job now put up with anything? I kept my job, didn't work as hard as teachers, still feel entitled to moan!
jumpbounce · 08/09/2021 22:40

[quote 2020in2020]@jumpbounce

If you’re going to refer to me and deliberately miscontrue what I said, at least have the guts to reply to me directly. I didn’t say “if my children aren’t in school I will commit suicide and your CEV child should suck it up” that’s disgusting.

I said if there is another lockdown and schools are closed, I am at risk of suicide. I managed to pull myself out of the very black hole the last lockdown created, and now I am right back down there. But I notice you conveniently ignored my post until you needed to have another dig at me. I hope you feel very pleased with yourself.

My mental health is on the floor. As is yours, as is many peoples. And still you insist that children being kept home from school is an “inconvenience”, rather than what it is, a decision that will have huge adverse effects.

I’m stepping away from this now. I wish you well and sincerely hope you never experience the “inconveniences” I have.[/quote]
To be fair I didn't actually mean you, just in general the consensus on threads relating to schools in general on here. Apologies should have made that clear. There is a huge difference between school closures/lockdowns and keeping off for a few days if symptomatic for testing.
I also would not want another lockdown or school closures because of the impact on both parents mental health and that of the children but this is why I would advocate for mitigations in schools to prevent widespread covid and longer term disruption and one of those mitigations is very simple - if everyone tests a symptomatic child then we reduce cases in schools (we can't avoid them completely due to asymptomatic spread etc.) The less cases coming into school the less disruption for everyone!

Wheresmybiscuit3 · 08/09/2021 22:48

@CheeseTiger

Why are people who work in schools talking about schools in a thread about schools? So strange!
Schools don’t just contain teachers though do they? They are a community which includes the students and to some degree also their families