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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:
Vigorouspigeon · 21/03/2020 07:44

YANBU I’m so cross listening to parents who are key workers debating about whether to send their kids to school so their self employed DH can work from home in peace.

Keep them at home, work round the kids and do your bit to protect the vulnerable.

I’ll be doing my work at the start and end of the day, while my kids are sleeping, and putting a film on or similar so I can dial in to meetings during the day. It’s not easy or straight forward but it is absolutely doable.

Blackbear19 · 21/03/2020 07:44

I would have thought Vets come under Heath Care and animal feed is part of the Food Chain.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 21/03/2020 07:44

If you only have staffing for 20% then you can only take 20%. Start to filter that list down.

CappyCapCap · 21/03/2020 07:44

Can we remember lots of bus are WFH and keeping the kids home

Whydoesit · 21/03/2020 07:45

YANBU.

If 40% of the school is in they may as well have kept everyone in. That’s not social distancing.

IDontLikeZombies · 21/03/2020 07:46

I'm a nurse.
Its vicious circle - if more people are out and about - kids going to childcare, etc, more people will get sick, more people will need hospital care, more health care workers will have to go into frontline role and more people will have to be out and about providing childcare.
I really, really don't want to be away from my family for days at a time trying to care for people dying painful, lonely deaths who I can do nothing for but who could have been saved if less people had sent their kids in for stupid reasons.

Like the PP said - its a life and death situation. If staying in with kids isn't going to kill you, STAY IN THE HOUSE. There's no dilemma.

ukgift2016 · 21/03/2020 07:46

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Mrsfs · 21/03/2020 07:47

Yanbu my husband is a key worker but I am wfh with work and uni, so my daughter is staying with me. We were offered a spot but don't see why a teacher should have to look after her while I am home.

Original poster
letmeinthroughyourwindow · 21/03/2020 07:47

"One of my colleagues told me yesterday, that one of her parents told her that their children will be coming to school Monday as her Husband is a key worker and that she worked in finance....p/t, so her children will be in."

Working in finance is on the list, so technically they're both keyworkers. Sending her child in on her working days is fair enough I think.

I just wish people would realise - the more kids in school, the sooner they'll collapse.

Then, keyworker or not, you'll be at home looking after your children instead of saving lives or delivering food.

To protect the infrastructure, please only use schools if you have to. It's not teachers moaning, it's right-thinking people begging you to help us make this work.

There are too many people trying to maintain a normal life I think. I guess they'll realise their error soon enough.

OP posts:
Changingchanging123 · 21/03/2020 07:48

@PenguinWings. Thank you for all that you are doing. And lots of luck for the forthcoming weeks.

Unescorted · 21/03/2020 07:48

Wild horses would not drag my kids into school - I value their lives too much.

Thank you OP (and all other teachers), My kids have had really clear communication from their head teachers, tutors and teachers regarding what work they are expected to do, what help is available, what is changing when, sending bad jokes and keeping them in touch with the rest of the class. One is caught up in the A level grading - she is being encouraged to keep working, if only to prepare her for university. I suspect all other schools are putting in similar practices in a very difficult constantly changing environment.

MarshaBradyo · 21/03/2020 07:48

Our school just took a harder line than the government guidelines to stop exploitation. All parents needed to be on the list to qualify.

What’s to stop schools doing this? Sounds like a good idea.

DonkeyKong2019 · 21/03/2020 07:48

@binkyblinky I'm a non-working parent with a child with fairly significant SEN. She will be going in.

RedElephants · 21/03/2020 07:48

We have been told there will be no formal learning,
children can bring in the home learning packs they've all been given,
there will be a time table of sorts ie: registration, snack, lunch, home time
So babysitting in fact.

Sobeyondthehills · 21/03/2020 07:48

I dont work, I am disabled, my partner is not a key worker, but needs to keep working and quite frankly I would do anything to kept me son in his school.

All of you, who are saying how easy it is, don't live my life, he is well cared for and very much loved but I am damn well struggling and all I get is well we need to pull together, that is fantastic, but when social services and god knows whoever else we have gotten involved sign you off and now you suddenly find yourself in charge of his education with one laptop the whole family relay on and you cant afford another

And you have OCD and this has ruined your whole routine so therefore your thoughts have gotten a lot worse but you cant book to see a doctor anymore and then the whole fucking cycle continues and not one of my friends or family would know this

Original poster
letmeinthroughyourwindow · 21/03/2020 07:49

"I don't know what you mean about this. We're farmers and vets are a vital service."

There are lots of vital services. If they were all on the list we'd be opening to 80% instead of 40% and then what's the point of social distancing at all?

OP posts:
whataloadoftoshasusual · 21/03/2020 07:50

It is awful - people just don’t seem to understand the gravity of what we are facing - we should be socially distancing period. If teachers have to go in and risk their and their families lives it should only be because parents have no other choice.
This is a complete failure on the governments part.

I am a teacher and I am frightened and worried - I will go in and do my bit but I feel furious that there are some parents who are seeing this as childcare whilst they merrily work from home.

derxa · 21/03/2020 07:50

animal feed is part of the Food Chain. Yes If we don't get a feed delivery, we can't feed our lambing ewes optimally and they can't feed their lambs.

Isthistrueor · 21/03/2020 07:51

My DC’s school said both parents had to be key workers and they wanted to see evidence.

Conny848 · 21/03/2020 07:52

YANBU a couple who we are very good friends with both have admin roles in the NHS. They are both working from home but are sending their kids to school. They told us they're hardly doing any work and theyre laughing about their kid free days ahead. I don't want to be friends with them anymore.
I know someone else in NHS admin role who is all set up to work from home but is going in to the office and sending her kids to school because "it's easier".
I am sick of admin/office roles in NHS benefiting from things that should only be available for healthcare professionals, porters, cleaners etc (ie anyone that works on or connected to wards and theatres etc).
And yes, I work in an admin role
/office role so I know first hand the piss takes that go on.

IDontLikeZombies · 21/03/2020 07:53

Just for clarity, I'm not front line but my DC will be at home until we absolutely can't manage any more.
It not altruistic, I'm absolutely fucking terrified of having to work through the above scenario. I will because that's how I can contribute to this shit show but I can't tell you how frightened I am. Please, for the love of God do everything you can to save us all from that.

Original poster
letmeinthroughyourwindow · 21/03/2020 07:53

"I'm a non-working parent with a child with fairly significant SEN. She will be going in."

Not for long. I'd consider an alternative for when your school hadn't got enough staff.

OP posts:
Original poster
letmeinthroughyourwindow · 21/03/2020 07:55

Sobeyondhills-

I don't think anyone is saying it's easy. Just that it's going to get much, much harder. We have an opportunity, now, to flatten the curve but it requires everyone to stay at home. Most are. A great many are not.

OP posts:
conduitoffortune · 21/03/2020 07:55

I agree with you OP. I am genuinely a key worker and sole carer with zero other option. I am really grateful to schools for staying open as I would be fucked otherwise. However, although my DC's school has asked for proof, there are so many other children who will still be going in although only one of their parents is a key worker - and most of these key worker parents work part time. Knowing how hard faced some of the other parents are, I would have hated to be in the Head Teacher's position yesterday. It's just so selfish, and it's the same parents who are generally selfish and annoying all year round.

MarshaBradyo · 21/03/2020 07:55

Connie we are hurtling towards a situation like Italy where hospitals have been described as apocalyptic. Your laughing friends are causing it. I don’t know what you can do but just knowing they exist has made me want to see their faces recognised for how selfish they are.

They are responsible for a higher death rate unnecessarily.