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Related: Lockdown Learning, discuss home schooling during lockdown.
Covid
To ask you to show your kids how to wash their hands?
Tiredoutteacher2020 · 07/03/2020 21:41
I'm a teacher. My immune system is compromised. I'm expected to be in work. There are currently lots of colds going around which I just can't shake. I'm not specifically worried about Covid 19 but I'm worried about catching yet another winter virus. I wash my hands religiously but you'd be amazed how many kids we have to send back to the toilets to wash their hands (and that's just the ones we happen to see). Then there's the putting pencils in their mouths, leaving tissues on their tables, sneezing all over you, holding your hand etc etc. I'm tired of being ill constantly. I love my job and want to do it well. Aibu to ask you to have a hygiene chat with your children this weekend? I would be grateful and I'm sure hundreds of other school staff would be too. Thank you.
TorysSuckRevokeArticle50 · 07/03/2020 21:45
My 5 yr old came home from school with filthy nails the other day, I asked why she hadn't given them a food wash with soap and water. She informed me that school don't have any soap.
The teacher confirmed that they have run out and haven't been able to get any new supplies due to shortages. I offered to find some and send it in, but apparently that's not allowed as someone may be allergic to the one I find. I offered to just send my DD with a private supply, also told no.
Not sure what more I can do. I've stuck some anti bac gel in her book bag but not the best solution.
Tiredoutteacher2020 · 07/03/2020 21:57
That's awful. Schools should have soap no matter what time of year it is.
BookMeOnTheSudExpress · 07/03/2020 22:03
Gosh, and there's us just letting our kids go round all unhygienic and filthy.
I'm sure we'd never have thought that handwashing was necessary if you hadn't told us.
(Also a teacher and had a cold since end of January)
Frankiecandle · 07/03/2020 22:05
I would think that everyone knows how to wash their hands, You can't put the TV on without some expert on handwashing showing you.
Tiredoutteacher2020 · 07/03/2020 22:15
Yet there are still lots of kids in my school who don't bother or who have no clue that sucking a pencil can spread germs etc. And I said absolutely nothing about being filthy.
Tiredoutteacher2020 · 07/03/2020 22:16
We've done lots as a school about hygiene but there's only so much we can do if washing hands isn't a consolidated habit.
Knocksomesense · 07/03/2020 22:18
My 2 year old and 3 year old say "rub rub, back back, corner corner"
My 3 year old coined this phrase about 12 months ago. Corner corner is between the fingers. It's so cute and I'm now glad they say this
OrganicSmorganic · 07/03/2020 22:19
It’s not just kiddos who don’t wash their hands properly. The amount of times I’ve seen adults washing their hands incorrectly in public loos too is disheartening.
Hands need to be wet under the tap first THEN soap added to form a lather, and rinsed, not soap added to dry hands, water added and rinsed.
Tiredoutteacher2020 · 07/03/2020 22:26
I agree that there are many adults who don't have good hygiene too. However usually they follow social norms such as not picking their nose in public, not coughing all over the person next to you etc. Mind you this isn't always the case.
Peacenquiet2 · 07/03/2020 22:29
I think, given the very nature of children and your job, germs are an inevitable part of life and there's very little that can stop them spreading, even good hand washing
Tiredoutteacher2020 · 07/03/2020 22:35
Peacenquiet you're probably right that it's inevitable but does that mean I'll spend the next 30 years constantly being ill? It's no life and my body can't keep taking it.
Olawisk · 07/03/2020 22:36
A kid who is sucking or playing around with the end of a pencil is just being a kid! What are you expecting! If you hate it that much, then I suggest you find another job.
Sometimes kids are in a rush to play or get back to class... it’s life, they are kids.
We don’t need to be told that we have to show our kids how to wash there hands.
Brefugee · 07/03/2020 22:36
did you know about your health issues before you went into teaching?
Olawisk · 07/03/2020 22:38
It's no life and my body can't keep taking it
Look into other professions then but I work in a office - all adults.
Just as many bugs go around, people come into work sick as they can’t take time off, need to meet deadlines, have no sick pay left. It’s all air conditioned so recycled air all the time.
Tiredoutteacher2020 · 07/03/2020 22:40
Brefugee - no I didn't.
Olawisk - I never said I hated it. In fact I said the opposite. I love my job. I also never told you to show your kids how to wash their hands. I ASKED you.
Zombiemum1946 · 07/03/2020 22:45
I'm afraid that whether parents have a talk to the kids or not , it will make little difference unless your teaching p6/7 and even then it's be a bit dicey. An explanation as to why the kids need to be especially careful might help, but not every parent may take it the way It's intended. My husband has the constitution of an ox, but even he has been taken ill a lot since starting teaching. Any work place can be dodgy for immune compromised people, but a school is especially bad.
guiltynetter · 07/03/2020 22:45
I've shown my 5 year old a million times how to wash her hands, even before the whole corona virus thing, I'm a nurse so quite hot on it. she still does a crap job if I'm not watching. puts soap on and rinses it off without barely rubbing together. not sure what else I can do, she just wants to get back to playing!
BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 07/03/2020 22:50
My dc do know how to wash their hands properly & do when they’re at home but, aside from asking them to, there’s not a whole lot more I can do once they’re through the school gates.
Sausagis · 07/03/2020 22:50
I had this conversation last week and it turns out school soap dispensers in the main toilet ran out weeks ago! It would appear they have soap but no fucker thought to refill the dispensers! Now filled following me complaining 
MooseBreath · 07/03/2020 22:52
As a former teacher (I left due to the insane workload and my own personal disagreements with educational standards), I was shocked at the pitiful self-care skills that many children have. I don't expect the world, but children old enough to be in KS1 should have been taught at home to wash their hands after using the toilet and cover their mouths when they cough and sneeze. Schools are a disturbing Petrie dish of germs.
Zombiemum1946 · 07/03/2020 22:52
You may love your job but if your health is suffering then maybe you need to explore other avenues. I had to change jobs after surgery because my body just couldn't cope anymore. Discuss it with your line manager, but it does seem you're hoping for more than is attainable.
LabiaMinoraPissusFlapus · 07/03/2020 22:55
In my child's class another pupil had worms a few years ago, and a letter went out. I raised the lack of hand washing with the teacher as we often have friends back and so many children do not wash their hands well, if at all. Her answer was bright and breezy: "Oh yes we are learning handwashing next week!" I was thinking no, it needs to be done now! Our school often run out of soap, and the children have to use a washable towel that they are meant to pull round to get a clean dry bit, only they can't as the towel is too stiff to pull round. So they all share a wet towel all day long....
OoohTheStatsDontLie · 07/03/2020 22:58
Hi OP
I put YABU. In an ideal world yes you're right. In reality I tell my school age child how to wash her hands, I show her, we do it together, I buy her soaps that smell of bubblegum and her favourite fruit to encourage her, I try to make it fun by having competitions as to who can make the most bubbles. I've explained to her how germs spread and how good handwashing will help keep her healthy. If I'm not standing over her and checking, about half the time she will 'forget'. I feel like I'm treading a fine line between trying to keep her healthy and giving her a complex about germs. I can't control what she does at school. She is 4 and I'm not sure what else I can do. I imagine lots of other parents are the same, and the kids know what to do but when it's a choice between washing their hands for 20 seconds or rushing to play with their friends, their hygiene doesnt always win.
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