To be annoyed they've cancelled my son's nativity

[JudesBiggestFan]

I'm just so tired of the arbitrary and pointless decisions that rob children and parents of yet more joy.
Last year my son had his nativity play cancelled at preschool. This year, the school (after designating him a shepherd and giving him a line...the excitement!) have cancelled again. Because Covid. Never mind all the pubs, restaurants, Christmas shopping, family parties that all the kids, teachers and parents will be going to.
The nativity is some kind of super spreader event that must be forfeited!
It's not going to make the news, but I'm just so bloody tired of it all. He'll never be this little and innocent again...I tolerated it last year but my patience is gone.
Anyone who wants to be is jabbed, we have lateral flows, it's as safe as it ever will be.
Yet the commercial stuff can go on, but the pure joyful ness of a kids Christmas nativity can't. Just wanted to vent really. No point complaining in real life anymore!

@Abraxan

Nobody ever closed a school because of an outbreak of noro or flu.

But they do!

Go and look for the news reports on school closures, esp in the north and north west of England, from autumn term 2019. Several schools had to close classes and indeed a number of schools were closed for a few days due deep clearing - all due to norovirus.

We also expect any child with norovirus to stay home for 48 hours after the last bout.

We also send children home if they have either norovirus or a nasty cold/flu causing the child to be unwell or have a high temperature.

A few days, and 48 hours. Not 3 months and 11 days.

The whole thing is an absolute sack of shit.

None of it makes any sense.

It pisses me off beyond belief that simple things like school plays aren't happening and the school are asking us to wear masks outside in the play ground in all this fresh fucking ventilated air but out in the rest of the world concerts and football and theatre and Xmas markets crack on as normal.

I don't want any of these things to be stopped. I think we need to get vaccinated and get on with life. But it is fucking stupid to not allow a controlled school nativity to go ahead considering what remains unaffected.

@HeyMoana

It's not just the " play". It's sitting in rows in a freezing classroom doing sums in your coat because you have to have the door open when it's snowing outside for ventilation, when you're five! It's not participating in any competitive sport as you're all in bubbles and can't mix with other classes let alone other schools, when the only thing you're good at is sport. It's going to school everyday without ever being called to the front of a while school assembly for the school to clap you because you got a swimming certificate that you've tried a year to get. It's having chapped hands because you're asked to wash them fifteen times a day and you're little so don't dry them properly and go out in the cold. In my case, it's very clearly having a child with autism that can't get diagnosed through school because Covid has backed the service up so much. Covid is a problem but the collateral damage is huge. All the motivating bits about school are cancelled and all the challenging bits remain. The nativity is just another example of this and quite possible the thing that's sent OP over the edge 😉

This. 100 percent this. I feel so sad for all the things my children and others have missed and will never get back. I guess most of the posters here who don't get it have grown up children and got to enjoy the pleasures of watching their child's nativity. Last summer my daughter was telling me about sports day and how the teachers told her that the parents used to be able to watch. She couldn't believe that parents were allowed through the door.

@CoffeeWithCheese

They didn't see the need to cancel the Teaching Awards last night - nice little night out with no masks or distancing for all the teachers and the dear Education Secretary.

But our kids - oh they get dehumanised and referred to as "spreaders" "vectors" - not even human anymore.

Society is fucked and the posters on here with adult children who've had all the milestones and didn't miss out on two fucking years of them... they're just selfish smug twats.

True

@HeyMoana

It's not just the " play". It's sitting in rows in a freezing classroom doing sums in your coat because you have to have the door open when it's snowing outside for ventilation, when you're five! It's not participating in any competitive sport as you're all in bubbles and can't mix with other classes let alone other schools, when the only thing you're good at is sport. It's going to school everyday without ever being called to the front of a while school assembly for the school to clap you because you got a swimming certificate that you've tried a year to get. It's having chapped hands because you're asked to wash them fifteen times a day and you're little so don't dry them properly and go out in the cold. In my case, it's very clearly having a child with autism that can't get diagnosed through school because Covid has backed the service up so much. Covid is a problem but the collateral damage is huge. All the motivating bits about school are cancelled and all the challenging bits remain. The nativity is just another example of this and quite possible the thing that's sent OP over the edge 😉

Absolutely well said @HeyMoana

I suspect There are parents, grandparents, aunties etc all over the country who will be bloody delighted that they don't have to sit in a freezing hall, bored shitless listening to little Jack and little Lottie mumbling incoherently for over an hour😀

@HeyMoana

It's not just the " play". It's sitting in rows in a freezing classroom doing sums in your coat because you have to have the door open when it's snowing outside for ventilation, when you're five! It's not participating in any competitive sport as you're all in bubbles and can't mix with other classes let alone other schools, when the only thing you're good at is sport. It's going to school everyday without ever being called to the front of a while school assembly for the school to clap you because you got a swimming certificate that you've tried a year to get. It's having chapped hands because you're asked to wash them fifteen times a day and you're little so don't dry them properly and go out in the cold. In my case, it's very clearly having a child with autism that can't get diagnosed through school because Covid has backed the service up so much. Covid is a problem but the collateral damage is huge. All the motivating bits about school are cancelled and all the challenging bits remain. The nativity is just another example of this and quite possible the thing that's sent OP over the edge 😉

Yes this really sums it up well. I work in a school and I don't think cancelling the nativity will keep me one bit safer when we're all frequently jammed into the hall together for lunchtime and assemblies. Asking children to isolate when members of their household are positive would have a far greater impact in my opinion as this is where the majority of our cases are coming from but I know this would make life incredibly hard for parents who are working so it would helpful if they could be given more support.

By the way I am genuinely sorry @Innocenta if you felt I was having a go a CEV or disabled people or wishing any harm to you. This is honestly not the case. I think this whole thing must have been so hard for you & I hope you're ok.

@Innocenta

So do you work 'front line' or are you management, *@Woohooforwine* ?

I find management very believable. Because according to the dozens of doctors I'm aware of on whose testimonies I've based my opinion, it's common for management to be out of touch with how medical staff feel.

It's very interesting that you're so angry and dismissive at the idea that many staff do feel absolutely desperate and almost sick with dread. I'm sorry, but that is the reality. Many are in private therapy for PTSD from earlier waves.

Yeah because it’s so unbelievable that someone can be both frontline and management 🙄 clearly showing you know nothing about the NHS, again.

Where have you got that ‘I’m angry about staff feeling dread’ that’s rather a big assumption on your part? All I have done is factually tell you the position of my NHS hospital to dispute the falsities you were trying to portray on this thread.

@CoffeeWithCheese

They didn't see the need to cancel the Teaching Awards last night - nice little night out with no masks or distancing for all the teachers and the dear Education Secretary.

But our kids - oh they get dehumanised and referred to as "spreaders" "vectors" - not even human anymore.

Society is fucked and the posters on here with adult children who've had all the milestones and didn't miss out on two fucking years of them... they're just selfish smug twats.

Tbf there’s a few here with young dc who don’t care either…

It is crappy and I’m gutted about my Dds carol concert and the nativity We're having to film at my school.
But after the last week I’m just grateful the school is still open at all.
The case numbers in both schools have shot up and we’re a hairs breadth away from being closed due to lack of staff!

@HeyMoana

It's not just the " play". It's sitting in rows in a freezing classroom doing sums in your coat because you have to have the door open when it's snowing outside for ventilation, when you're five! It's not participating in any competitive sport as you're all in bubbles and can't mix with other classes let alone other schools, when the only thing you're good at is sport. It's going to school everyday without ever being called to the front of a while school assembly for the school to clap you because you got a swimming certificate that you've tried a year to get. It's having chapped hands because you're asked to wash them fifteen times a day and you're little so don't dry them properly and go out in the cold. In my case, it's very clearly having a child with autism that can't get diagnosed through school because Covid has backed the service up so much. Covid is a problem but the collateral damage is huge. All the motivating bits about school are cancelled and all the challenging bits remain. The nativity is just another example of this and quite possible the thing that's sent OP over the edge 😉

I'm so glad our school is run by a sensible head who hasn't forced them to have the windows open all day and wash their hands 15 times a day.

DD is in reception and her school is running pretty much as normal - whole school assemblies, nativities going ahead with limited numbers (more performances), Christmas fair after each nativity to limit numbers, I hope it stays that way.

It’s disappointing and I get feeling upset, but I can see why these things are being cancelled. I don’t know why they can’t do a performance that is videoed or aired to parents on Zoom or something.

@CoffeeWithCheese

They didn't see the need to cancel the Teaching Awards last night - nice little night out with no masks or distancing for all the teachers and the dear Education Secretary.

But our kids - oh they get dehumanised and referred to as "spreaders" "vectors" - not even human anymore.

Society is fucked and the posters on here with adult children who've had all the milestones and didn't miss out on two fucking years of them... they're just selfish smug twats.

My son is 7. He is in yr2. Pretty much one of the most affected primary school years.

He's never had a birthday party. I have only just managed to get him swimming lessons. He missed 6 months of reception. He's an only child. Last year's nativity was potted. So was sports day. So was Halloween.

Hardly smug with adult children.

I simply don't think they are a huge deal in the grand scheme of things.

We haven't seen his cousins for two years however. They live the other side of the country and his aunt and uncle work for the nhs. We are supposed to be seeing them the weekend after the nativity.

Excuse me for not wanting him to be in a room of parents who won't have lateral flows and wont wear masks even if asked. And not being terribly bothered by the shit nativity.

shit nativity

Not really relevant but love the idea of the teaching awards being for ‘all the teachers’ - never in my 16 years of teaching met anyone that has been!

And I'd rather see Hamilton!

Cancelling the Nativity won't stop the spread of the virus between children at the school. They must have done this because they are concerned about spread between adults and/or adults and children but it is not clear what guidance that is based on. There is currently no guidance that says they have to do this. Schools have simply been asked to ensure staff and secondary age pupils wear masks in communal areas and prepare for return testing in January.

There is the air of panic about at the moment. It is likely to cause more damage than it solves. We need to follow the guidance.

all the teachers who were there

The meaning was fairly clear. She didn’t mean ‘all the teachers across the whole country.’

My DD's school have moved theirs outside which I think is fair and allows it to happen in a safer way. The Local community has lent them heaters to keep the children warm and parents have been advised to wrap up warm.

I'm eternally grateful for the fact they've adapted instead of just saying no.

Thanks @nojudgementhere - I really appreciate you clarifying

And I don't think I've been clear enough either that I do think it's absolutely crap for young children, and for their parents. I don't think the current balance is fair or ideal at all, I just think it's a discussion we should be able to have without either (a) spreading misinformation or (b) slipping into 'just drop all restrictions! give up!'

It's perfectly possible to agree that children are getting a really bad deal, and yet not to think we can just pretend Covid isn't a think. I truly believe we can discuss this in a way that isn't ableist or indeed dismissive of the many traumatised and exhausted NHS staff who are feeling so despairing today.

@CoffeeWithCheese

They didn't see the need to cancel the Teaching Awards last night - nice little night out with no masks or distancing for all the teachers and the dear Education Secretary.

But our kids - oh they get dehumanised and referred to as "spreaders" "vectors" - not even human anymore.

Society is fucked and the posters on here with adult children who've had all the milestones and didn't miss out on two fucking years of them... they're just selfish smug twats.

Why on earth would an adult social event where most people would be vaccinated, be cancelled? It really is pfb to be whining about something as insignificant as a school.play!/ you're going to look back when your children are older and you have real stuff to worry about, and cringe!

My point was more it’s not really a ceremony that involves all teachers, just teachers that work for the right academy chain or know the right people.

That is exactly the point that @CoffeeWithCheese was making.

@Thebackofbeyondandback if she only means the teachers there it also makes it irrelevant to 99% of schools anyway! Why would random teachers at an event make any difference to the decision for every other school in the country.

@Thebackofbeyondandback

shit nativity

I like how thats the part you pick up on rather than the not being able to see family members who have been working all sorts of extra hours and how we got stuck with restrictions at different times last Christmas.

Sorry that the nativity doesn't rate higher in my list of life priorities.

Or shall we have conversations about smug twats who have seen family lots and don't appreciate why their precious nativity isn't really something I'm arsed about.

We've bust our guts out doing other things to try and make up for other missed opportunities. DH runs a local scout troop and he's gone out of his way to make things happen for kids. The imagination he's had to have to do it. And the time. Its not feasible for many teachers who are already using their spare time to deal with x kid who is over a year behind, or y kid who has problems at home or z kid who has mental health issues thanks to covid, whilst they hold the ship together cos 3 of their colleagues are off this week and whilst they are currently pregnant and terrified enough of the kids without their vocal anti vax parents who make a point of how many rules theyve broken this week. We know how much the school has tried to make things happen - we have friends who work there and you won't believe some of the abuse parents have hurled at them.

Genuinely get off your arse and do a home nativity for your own kids within your family if it bothers you that fucking much. Do it in front of nanny and grandad. You dont need a classroom full of kids nor a special invitation from the school to do your own imaginative thing to make special memories and have rights of passage. You be the bloody back end of the donkey

Seriously its a nativity. Schools and hospitals are at breaking point and people have the nerve to hold onto the idea that life can just switch back to a world that no longer exists. Get real.

If you cannot trust the school to be doing their best and be the best placed to make decisions about whether to go ahead with things like this, take your kids out and go private or homeschool them instead.

In the meantime make the best of what you have and appreciate it for all its worth because god knows what the next month never mind 12 months might bring. Make the magic yourself.

Im so done with the perpetual whingers.