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

[letmeinthroughyourwindow]

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.

We have been shut down with DC at home for over a week now. Yes, TCs can be tricky. But everyone is in the same boat - collegues, vendors, customers. Yes, calls are interupted by DCs, people are late dialing in or need to leave suddenly. Slower than usual to get back to you. But people understand that childcare is simply not possible for many. If you are lucky there might be older DCs to mind younger siblings. Or if your DP is also at home, you can take turns. Thats not always possible and everyone does the best they can. Anyone who doesnt understand that, is being a complete twat.

Redinthefacegirl

I hope you know that no teacher on the planet would resent looking after your kids. We’re in this together.

The government definition of a key worker is very very broad and both my husband and I fall into one of the key worker categories. Before the list came out we both assumed we’d not be considered a key worker. The list is too broad and open for abuse.

We can both work from home and so will not be sending our children to school or nursery. It would be much easier if we could but we 1. Do not want to deny someone else a space 2. Want to ensure we practise social distancing

I am so fucking furious with posters like fullmoon that I might get myself banned if I commented on her situation.

But re: vets, yes, we need to be able to take our pets for urgent care if they need it, but there must be plenty of vets without small children who could keep that vital service running? Happy to be corrected.

Why is it OK for doctors nurses etc to put themselves at risk? Everyone here expects them to go to work yes? But teachers are the expection why?

Er, have you read the thread at all? I can't think, in 35 pages, of a teacher who has said here they want to stay at home.

Every teacher here has posted that they are happy, willing, determined to do what they can to help our key workers (actual key workers) stay in work to combat this virus. For some, that's working from home. For the vast majority, we are expected to go into work and provide childcare.

Unfortunately, it's people like you who don't understand that by looking after so many children in close proximity all day we are putting ourselves, and our families, at greater risk. Not as much as frontline NHS, granted, but still more risk than if we were able to work from home.

That's a fact. It's not teachers just not wanting as many kids in so we can have a jolly at home. It's about lowering the risk and, you know, potentially not dying.

The fact that your husband getting in his 8 hours of work a day undisturbed is more important to you both than the health of your family and the staff at your baby's nursery is really sad.

Especially as you weren't even sure you are a Key Worker 24 hours ago.
Fucking car parts?! Designing at a computer?
Hardly saving lives in ICU, is it?

It's about lowering the risk and, you know, potentially not dying

How bloody unreasonable of them.

This is a sarcastic post, just in case it's not obvious

As key workers, we all have to remember.... we dont not HAVE to send our kids.

That seems to be the test for alot if the cheeky fuckers. Just because you can, doesnt mean you should.

And anyone that scrapes through to be classified as key working (just like my job has scrapped through) and send their kids when they have other options wants to hang their head in shame.

As do their DHS who cant seem to even contemplate looking after their kids and working, even when there a worldwide emergency

CallmeAngelina yes, my point with vets and key worker status is that they can be a little more flexible with their work and if they have children schedule their 'standard' work outside of school hours.

Emergency situations can be dealt with in the same way they normally are - vets who have kids to look after wont be on call during times when no one is around to look after their children.

Exactly. It's a WORLDWIDE EMERGENCY. People are dying and will CONTINUE TO DIE.

Heaven forbid people change their working lives, though.

I think that there's going to be a U-turn about the definition of Key Workers. I give it until Monday afternoon!

I think that there's going to be a U-turn about the definition of Key Workers. I give it until Monday afternoon

Either that or schools will be totally shut.

When they included food production workers, did they really mean people who work at Greggs?

I think a lot of people still have their heads in the sand about the fact that lots of people are going to die.

Incidentally, when my DC were babies / small toddlers, we had a playpen, safety gates on the living room etc, so that I could leave them safely if I needed to do something for a few minutes. Age appropriate toys in the playpen.

It may not feel like an ideal solution, but popping a baby in a playpen with some toys for half an hour now and again would make it easier for someone working from home to get some work done.

When they included food production workers, did they really mean people who work at Greggs?

I’m sure they’ll have been thinking of farmers or people working in factories that process and package food for the shops.

I'm a SEN TA, I get paid peanuts, get spat on, bitten, punched and kicked on a daily basis and will be in school early monday morning to get ready for whatever the day brings. I will be in, because I care about the kids and I know my job is still a lot easier that the struggles our front line workers are facing. It's all getting a bit crazy out there but i couln't look my own kids in the eye if i turned into a someone as selfish as some people have become. NHS workers, I salute you and wish you all safe days.

Fullmoon Seriously? Your baby may not get corona and die... but may well spread corina which kills. Your husband needs to grow some balls and get on with it. You have 1 baby🙄

Just found out my husband is classed as frontline, I call bullshit. My DCs will be staying at home.

@CallmeAngelina I am so fucking furious with posters like fullmoon that I might get myself banned if I commented on her situation.

(in an Eastenders voice)

"She's not WORF IT!"

It's OK. I hear you, I am completely with you, and so, I'm sure, are the vast majority of people reading this thread.

This selfishness of this fuckwit with his So Important Design Job who can't look after his own fucking child, endangering the rest of us - we hear you.

I am a nurse so classed as a key worker. When i dropped my DD to school on friday I found when I asked what they knew what was happening an undertone of annoyance 🙄 this week I have arranged to do seperate nights so I dont have to sleep in the day (2 under 6 would make this impossible!) So I will stay up all day, all night & all day again to not send my DD to school! My place at DDs school is only on the provision that I absolutely have to send her in. Completely my choice!

@Fullmoon28 I’m not going to jump on you as I understand the financial pressure but your 9 month old is untested for underlying health conditions - imagine if they caught it and something awful happened and this could have been avoided? You would never, ever forgive yourself! I’m a teacher and I have a 13 month old, I have no choice but to go in but I have no idea if my child has any underlying conditions that have not been detected. No way would I be putting my child in danger if I could help it! Please reconsider!

My husband is self employed and will be staying at home to provide childcare.

Oh my god. I assumed @Fullmoon28 was a nurse or doctor, a police officer. But no she works in Halfords or similar!

I just wanted to say thank you to all the amazing teachers out there. I work from home at the moment and my DH is a key worker as involved in justice system (we were very surprised but surely the list will be narrowed soon) but we wouldn’t dream of sending our kids in. This provision of school places must be focused on keeping the health system and the essential food production/distribution network functioning. If people send their kids in unnecessarily it completely undermines those goals.