To think this class should be closed?

[Jenster03]

I'm a part time primary teacher and in the space of two weeks, 14 children have tested positive out of 30 in my class.
We've had 2 or 3 return in that time, but more and more are testing positive. Now my teaching assistant has it.
AIBU to think we should be sending the class home and remote learning? How would you feel if you were a parent of a child in my class?
Oh, and I'm pretty anxious about my level of exposure too!

@CallmeHendricks

A poster.

Erm yes, that’s who I was responding to when I asked what her solution was

You said "posters" plural.

I’m staying at home. A shame as I’m an experienced and very effective teacher in a core subject and fully intended to do some supply work once retired. But goodness me, some of these threads have opened my eyes. Much as I love teaching, I’m not prepared to put my health and well-being at risk, especially now I’m fully aware of the contempt and derision piled on teachers trying to do their best in difficult circumstances.
Private tuition isn’t as interesting or as much fun, but it’s far less stressful and pays well.

@CallmeHendricks

You said "posters" plural.

I was responding to a specific poster.

If you read through the thread there are other posters wanting this too.

I'm with you, Born. If these Mumsnet Covid threads have taught me anything, it's to put myself first where work is concerned. It seems that many parents and the wider public couldn't give a flying fuck about my/our welfare and health, so yes, I will jog on and do the job (to the best of my ability) for as long as feel like it. But long gone are the days when I will struggle in to work unwell.
If that means classes have to be sent home due to lack of cover, then so be it.
Be careful what you wish for, people.

@borntobequiet

Teachers work with the lowest risk group of all (DC) so of course they shouldn’t be prioritised.

Now that’s an interesting, illogical and misleading claim. Children might not be at high risk of serious illness themselves, but they are in fact the demographic with the highest infection rate at present. So school staff (TAs especially, who work closely with children) are very much at risk from children, who spread infection prolifically.
That’s why they should be prioritised for boosters.

You’re missing the point. The whole object of the exercise is to prevent the nhs being overwhelmed.

DC and teaching staff are both very unlikely to be hospitalised with covid, so no need for boosters. Covid should be allowed to circulate freely in these groups.

They should absolutely be keeping themselves separate from anybody who is CEV. The problems are arising because teachers (and others) are mixing with people who are CEV.

If the CEV group kept themselves separate, schools can operate as normal, with no need for the 10 day isolation policy.

@borntobequiet

They won’t get seriously ill though, the facts on this point are really clear.

I alone have three quite seriously ill ex-colleagues (I’m retired). One has been ill for three months and has cardiac and thyroid problems, previously a fit and healthy 40 year old man. Though many don’t get seriously ill, some do. No one knows before the fact who will be badly affected - that’s why all need to be vaccinated, or given a booster to supplement waning immunity.

That’s very unfortunate, but this is a very unusual situation,

The figures published by the ONS are a far more reliable source than your personal experience and tell a very different story.

There are CEV staff, parents and pupils, what happens with them @SheikhMaraca?

@CallmeHendricks

"They won’t get seriously ill though, the facts on this point are really clear."

"An adult, of working age with normal BMI is very, very unlikely to become seriously ill with Covid."

You know, it REALLY pisses me off when randoms on the internet decide whether or not I should be OK to catch Covid. Vaxxed or not, I still reserve the right to prefer to NOT catch it from children (or anyone, for that matter) who have been sent into school when they are quite likely to be infectious.

This is just part and parcel of participating in society.

Ultimately, we’re all just animals living in close proximity with one another. Disease will always circulate amongst us, and without it none of us would have an immune system to protect us when we really do need it.

@toomuchlaundry

There are CEV staff, parents and pupils, what happens with them *@SheikhMaraca*?

It would appear, according to this thread at least, that no one gives much of a fuck about them, laundry.

@toomuchlaundry

There are CEV staff, parents and pupils, what happens with them *@SheikhMaraca*?

For the third time for those at the back.

According to the ons, 0.009% of the population of the uk is both of working age and CEV.

It’s just not proportionate to have this level of disruption to protect a tiny, tiny minority of people.

Why? Why should Covid be allowed to circulate freely? Why shouldn’t we try and keep our chn from getting sick?

It is RELATIVELY mild (relative to adults) for chn. That doesn’t mean it is mild. Once again! Some chn are ending in icu. Some are dying. A significant minority are suffering long Covid. Why should I agree to let it rip into my child? Remind me?!

You’re missing the point. The whole object of the exercise is to prevent the nhs being overwhelmed.

You completely missed mine.

Because NHS staff work with CEV people

No, not all of them do. What a daft thing to say!

My admin cousin in the NHS certainly doesn’t and she has ‘qualified’ for her booster. As has my DH’s speech therapist relative.

@BeardyButton

Why? Why should Covid be allowed to circulate freely? Why shouldn’t we try and keep our chn from getting sick?

It is RELATIVELY mild (relative to adults) for chn. That doesn’t mean it is mild. Once again! Some chn are ending in icu. Some are dying. A significant minority are suffering long Covid. Why should I agree to let it rip into my child? Remind me?!

The efforts to prevent DC being a bit poorly for a week or two are utterly ruining their futures.

Would you really prefer a lifetime of diminished opportunities and outcomes across the board for all DC (and probably their DC as well) to a coupe of weeks of feeling a bit unwell?

It’s just madness that anyone thinks this is reasonable.

And my daughter who, at a healthy 23, qualified for her jab back in January on account of the fact she volunteered as a phone buddy to elderly people a couple of times a week.
She was the first to admit she shouldn't be on the list.

"The efforts to prevent DC being a bit poorly for a week or two are utterly ruining their futures."

Now who's being hysterical? What nonsense.

That’s very unfortunate, but this is a very unusual situation

The figures published by the ONS are a far more reliable source than your personal experience and tell a very different story.

No, my point was that a) some teaching staff do get seriously ill and b) they should be protected as far as possible.

I’m not sure what specific figures you’re referring to, but if they’re the ones from last year they’re highly suspect and well out of date.

Protecting school staff helps protect your children’s education .

@Howshouldibehave

Because NHS staff work with CEV people

No, not all of them do. What a daft thing to say!

My admin cousin in the NHS certainly doesn’t and she has ‘qualified’ for her booster. As has my DH’s speech therapist relative.

Of course, your cousins experience proves that all NHS workers only deal with people in the very pinnacle of health.

Silly me for thinking the NHS was for sick people!

@borntobequiet

That’s very unfortunate, but this is a very unusual situation

The figures published by the ONS are a far more reliable source than your personal experience and tell a very different story.

No, my point was that a) some teaching staff do get seriously ill and b) they should be protected as far as possible.

I’m not sure what specific figures you’re referring to, but if they’re the ones from last year they’re highly suspect and well out of date.

Protecting school staff helps protect your children’s education .

For the fourth time now, I’ve posted them up thread.

@CallmeHendricks

"The efforts to prevent DC being a bit poorly for a week or two are utterly ruining their futures."

Now who's being hysterical? What nonsense.

Who do you think will be paying back the trillions of pounds we have borrowed to fund the State’s response to the virus?

With that many definately home learning for a bit

"Who do you think will be paying back the trillions of pounds we have borrowed to fund the State’s response to the virus?"

The children whose futures have NOT been "utterly ruined."

Anyway, there seems to be a certain disparity between the voting on this thread, compared to the few posters shouting loudly on here.

If these Mumsnet Covid threads have taught me anything, it's to put myself first where work is concerned.

Yep, me too. No extras now.

[quote BeardyButton]@CherryBlossomWinter you speak sense with a level head. I think that’s to be applauded. But doesn’t it make you angry? The situation in schools? That some don’t even have CO2 monitors?[/quote]
Yes it makes me really angry. I’ve written to my local MP and Public Health, to relevant people. I wrote in August 2020 to all those people asking for HEPA filters and better ventilation in school… although I hadn’t thought of CO2 monitors. Such a good idea, so simple. They just will not listen because they were told that schools were safe, and children did not transmit. Several professors have been campaigning loudly saying that schools are only ‘safe’ if community levels are low, and have been ignored. It’s just mind boggling as the mitigations aren’t that hard. But schools have not been given them.