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Original poster

To resent parents who are still sending their kids to school on Monday

999 replies

letmeinthroughyourwindow · 21/03/2020 06:52

Not the genuine cases, obviously.

But I'm a teacher and we will be opening for the duration because 40% of our pupils have at least one parent who is a keyworker.

Before the list was released, the government told us to expect 10% and we planned accordingly. In fact, we planned for 20%.

When the list was released, it was so broad that far more parents than we ever expected fell into one of the categories.

Now, if your need is genuine then of course I want to care for your child. I'm happy to do it, and proud that doing so keeps you working.

But we have so many parents who are allowed to send their child to school, but shouldn't be, that it's infuriating me.

If you are a keyworker but your partner is a stay-at-home parent should you be sending them in?

If you are a keyworker but your partner works from home or is allowed to work from home indefinitely, should you be sending them in?

My sister's employer is allowing all employees who are parents to work from home on full pay, but many are saying that they don't need to, because their partner is a keyworker so their kids can still go to school

Just because you can send them, doesn't mean you should. It shouldn't be the best or easiest option for you, it should be a last resort if there is nowhere else to keep them safe.

The number one, most critical piece of advice for keyworker parents is, 'if it is at all possible for children to be kept at home then they should be.'

Please don't think I'm lazy and cba babysitting these children. I cried when my class went home yesterday, and care about every child in school. If I am in work full time anyway, then it really doesn't matter how many children are in the classroom.

But so many people don't understand social distancing. They are walking around like they are immortal, or only thinking that they themselves will probably be ok if they get it. For social distancing to have the desired effect, then everyone who can be at home, should be. If there was a chance of your child dying from this, would you send them to school? Well then think about who might die because they came into contact with your child.

And all of this brought on by a friend who called me last night to say that she is thrilled to be able to send her child to school on Monday because she is a deliveroo driver, even though her unemployed bf will be home all day on the PlayStation.

OP posts:
CappyCapCap · 21/03/2020 10:58

Surely most people won't want to send their kids if they don't need to. They know they will be sending them to spend time with the children of medics and health care workers and these people will be at high risk of catching the virus and passing it on.

You would think so. But there are people on this thread that think their husbands are so important, they wouldnt be able to watch an 8 and 12 years old and give them some work to do. These people would be sending their kids in, if they were a key worker. They think that's more reasonable than their husbands actually juggling WFH and older kids, like most of the country will be doing.

Plenty have come along to say their kids are still going, because they have no choice. When in fact they do.

It's always the husbands that have such important jobs. I wonder how many households with the woman as a high earner are saying the same thing 'oh no I couldnt possibly even attempt to WFH with the kids here'

rainbowstardrops · 21/03/2020 11:03

Yanbu. I work in an infant school and wish I had £1 for every time I've told a child to stop picking their nose/eating the pencil etc etc etc. and to go and wash their hands. Again.
I fall into the vulnerable category and I'm avoiding supermarkets etc.

My HT asked everyone who COULDN'T come in, to email her. I did this stating my reasons and yet yesterday we were told that ALL staff have to come into school on Monday!

So what's the point of me trying to socially distance myself and listen the expert's advice, only to be told to come into school?!!!

In our area, several schools are joining together in one school, so yet again that is not social distancing! Let's put loads of children into just the one school because that's a really good idea Confused Absolute joke.
One of our teachers was told to bring her baby in with her when she asked to stay home!

I also know someone who works in the NHS doing nights and they asked on SM if she should send her children in. She works one weekday night and one weekend one and has three children over 15 and two that are eleven. Her DH has a manual labour job and has very little work right now and therefore at home a lot and I couldn't believe the amount of people who told her to send them to school!

It's an absolute joke. Except it isn't funny.

Changingchanging123 · 21/03/2020 11:05

Can’t believe the people on here suggesting a hospital consultant, working shed loads of unpaid overtime and taking huge risks with their own health isn’t doing enough by wanting to try and not lose their house.

CallmeAngelina · 21/03/2020 11:06

Vegan, "We are most definitely not encouraging parents to send children in."
You are missing the point. You may have disappointed some parents by telling them they may not send in their children, but the minute word gets around that you are providing phonics lessons ffs, and effectively teaching, you will have people breaking the doors down to get their child in too, as long as they're technically on the Key Worker list. Then you're right back to square one with numbers and increased risk of spread.
That's very short-sighted.

pinkazing · 21/03/2020 11:06

Our School have said they are prioritising where both are key or single parent is a key worker. At the moment my DH is a key worker, but luckily even though I work for a key service, I can work from home. My DS will stay with me. But yes loads are taking the absolute, by trying to send them in, one I know has 4 kids school age he’s linked to a key worker group (but not a key worker) but his partner is a SAHP, they were delighted to tell me they would be arguing the case for theirs to go in.

CappyCapCap · 21/03/2020 11:07

Can’t believe the people on here suggesting a hospital consultant, working shed loads of unpaid overtime and taking huge risks with their own health isn’t doing enough by wanting to try and not lose their house.

Who said that?

LaurieMarlow · 21/03/2020 11:10

Can’t believe the people on here suggesting a hospital consultant, working shed loads of unpaid overtime and taking huge risks with their own health isn’t doing enough by wanting to try and not lose their house.

I’m more surprised that the hospital consultant, with the non key worker husband, isn’t doing everything she can to halt the spread.

Given that she’s on a consultant salary and she’s the lower earner, her financial situation will be miles better than many.

MadameMeursault · 21/03/2020 11:10

YADDNBU. I’m a key worker and DH will be working from home whilst sporadically nagging the kids to do schoolwork. There’s no way I’d use a school as free childcare when we’ve got an alternative. Social distancing and all that.

PurpleFlower1983 · 21/03/2020 11:11

I think parents need to realise that in most cases children are much safer at home if they possibly can be kept there.

TrentBridge · 21/03/2020 11:12

I've just seen a Facebook post where someone was asking whether anyone knew if the school has confirmed places for Monday as she wants to know if her daughter has a place. The daughter is in year 6, but has 2 older sisters in year 9 and year 10 - for the love of god, surely they can look after a 9/10 year old while the mum is at work?

SmileEachDay · 21/03/2020 11:15

I’m a teacher - I’m devastated that I’ll have to send my boy to school so that I can go look after other people’s children.

I’m just hoping the numbers are low enough that I’ll be able to be at home some days.

Levi18 · 21/03/2020 11:19

I think there is more then one side to this.

I am getting a bit peeved with teachers who are complaining about parents, you don’t see NHS, police, fire or shop workers complaining this much, we all have to work together, stop judging each other we are all trying to do our best for everyone.

Some will abuse it but for most it would be the last alternative sending their children to school.

I honestly can’t believe you have said that sending children puts them at risk of dying when in fact it is proved children have very mild symptoms and are very unlikely to die, in fact I don’t think a single child has died?

I’m a key worker working 3/4 days/nights a week all my colleagues have said they will only send children on the days they are working and have no other option, many of them have tried to get alternative child care and weekend shifts etc.

SallyLovesCheese · 21/03/2020 11:22

To be fair, NHS, police, fire and shop workers don't have to deal with parents in the same way, do they?

99% of teachers I've seen posting are understanding their part in this and doing what needs to be done.

CappyCapCap · 21/03/2020 11:25

I am getting a bit peeved with teachers who are complaining about parents, you don’t see NHS, police, fire or shop workers complaining this much, we all have to work together, stop judging each other we are all trying to do our best for everyone

Yes you do. NHS workers are all over social media asking people to act more responsibly. They are more at risk, because people want to send their kids to school, when they dont need to.

Same with police.

Ita not moaning. Its asking people to be bloody responsible and stop taking the piss.

I’m a key worker working 3/4 days/nights a week all my colleagues have said they will only send children on the days they are working and have no other option, many of them have tried to get alternative child care and weekend shifts etc.

That's all op is asking.

woodhill · 21/03/2020 11:25

I think because the dc tend to be so unhygienic and in close proximity to each other

woodhill · 21/03/2020 11:25

Why shouldn't they moan.

pixley · 21/03/2020 11:26

I would love to not be a key worker and be able to work from home and keep my children with me. Unfortunately I'm not. For the first time ever my daughter said last night "I wish you weren't a doctor."

happyandsingle · 21/03/2020 11:26

I work in a nursery that is opening for key workers children so have to go in but I cant really see it being busy.
Can imagine loads of staff with hardly any children but in order to get paid I have to go in as technically we are still open as normal.Does anyone know how bus services are operating in the south east as I take a bus to work and worried how I will even get there.

CappyCapCap · 21/03/2020 11:26

in fact I don’t think a single child has died?

Yes they have. Not in the uk.

But if people dont start being sensible, the kids who do get very ill from it wont be able to access medical assistance....which will result in deaths going up in all age groups.

ChloeDecker · 21/03/2020 11:31

I would love to not be a key worker and be able to work from home and keep my children with me. Unfortunately I'm not. For the first time ever my daughter said last night "I wish you weren't a doctor."

You are a hero pixley. Star

Original poster
letmeinthroughyourwindow · 21/03/2020 11:31

"I honestly can’t believe you have said that sending children puts them at risk of dying when in fact it is proved children have very mild symptoms and are very unlikely to die, in fact I don’t think a single child has died?"

Absolutely nobody has talked about kids dying.

By all accounts, they usually experience mild symptoms.

But they spread it to others, who do die.

OP posts:
MartyrGuacamole · 21/03/2020 11:31

Dh and I are both keyworkers but both our employers are being extremely flexible and so we are keeping the dc home. I don't think it's been portrayed enough as an absolute last resort. Someone in the playground yesterday was saying dc 'are already behind enough in maths, I don't want him missing anymore' - she seemed not to get it when I explained that there wasn't going to be any teaching beyond what the dc at home are getting, and probably less due to large group sizes and mixed year groups.

SmileEachDay · 21/03/2020 11:35

I don't think it's been portrayed enough as an absolute last resort

I totally agree. We need it to be the absolute bare minimum, because otherwise it doesn’t help stop the spread, which is the whole flipping point!!

ScarlettBlaize · 21/03/2020 11:35

@recreationalcalpol My DH is WFH but he’s a corporate dealing with distressed companies. He is rammed with work. So my 18 mo continues to go to his childminder. I really don’t know what else I can do, but open to suggestions!

I can't put my suggestion here. I'd get banned.

LaurieMarlow · 21/03/2020 11:36

No child under 10 has died (according to official statistics).

That’s not the point though. Children are believed to be key carriers and keeping them at school will result in the deaths of more vulnerable people.

Looking at it from the outside, the official position in the UK and people’s reactions to it will result in a situation far, far worse than Italy.

I believe that the UK already has more deaths at the same stage of the pandemic and is already behind the curve of (all?) other countries in implementing distancing measures.