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.

Massive apologies mrsmc wrong name

@wutheringtights

Thankyou for being so sensible (I hope that didn't sound patronising)

We are literally just finding out how many selfish people there are out there.

I know someone who is a key worker and has kids. The father can't look after them for genuine reasons. And she still isn't sending her children to school. She is organising childcare.

This situation is just showing how many people think it's all about them. Not even key workers and demanding that they put their kids to school.

If you don't have childcare, then yes as a key worker send them in. But if you have a sahp or even just a useless twat at home like in the ops example, then they stay at home. Stop being fucking lazy and stupid.

I'm really struggling with this as a parent. We are both keyworkers. I'm in management but will be redeployed to the front line as so many people who have vulnerabilities or are pregnant are isolating (and obs people with symptoms). It is very much an 'all hands on deck' situation. My DP is frontline.

My instinct as a mother is to keep them home and close, I probably could have argued that I needed to work from home, however I feel that I'm in a position to actually make a difference to extremely vulnerable people in these dark times so DC will be going to school. I'm ready to roll my sleeves up and do my bit.

I'm very conscious that all the children at school (as with the teachers and parents like myself) will be covered in bloody germs. I've told everyone we know that they will be going to school and coming home and that is it!! I am trying my hardest to practice social distancing as much as possible. As a family we have a massive potential to infect other people so feel very strongly that everyone we know (who is not mixing with people or have kids in school) keep as far away from us as possible.

And the teachers banging on about "having to babysit" are frankly disgusting imo.

It'd be like care home staff complaining that since the residents children are now wfm they could take care of them ffs

Lots of people have to work. You are not the only ones risking. And tbh, those exposing themselves the most are supermarket staff. And they get the least in return. At least their children can have some normalcy while they ensure we can all eat.

YANBU. I'm a primary school teacher and I have no problem putting my health on the line to care for vulnerable children or those of key workers at work or sleeping between shifts. But that's it - people saying that their conference calls are impossible etc need to start making them with the kids there and show that this is the new normal, it's shameful to send your kids to school if there is a fit and safe person at home.

But you are being hugely unreasonable by assuming someone who works from home can look after a child.

In times such as these they're going to HAVE to!

It’s incredible yet all the words on here won’t change it. Is there any way to change it?

Schools set up own rules
Write to higher up
Be really blunt about deaths they will cause, use SM?

Dawn .. 🤣

I think we're on the same team! #fuckjemimassums

but we all have to make sacrifices.

In your situation, what sacrifice would your DH be making?

Is there any chance this will improve behaviour and independence of our young people?

12 and 8yo not being able to stay at home with a WFH parent?
Send aside wtf have you been teaching them throughout their lives?

By the age of 5 they should be able to understand entertaining themselves and if they haven't yet they can learn pdq.
And I can assure you they will be learning it in school - it's childcare. holiday club type facility. They won't be entertained or educated. Would you rather they got it at school with risk or infection or infecting others or at home?

I'm a teacher and it's really upsetting me too. We have around a third of our usual school population in next week. It's madness.
Overheard so many conversations in the office yesterday, parents complaining that they "can't work from home properly with my child there because they'll drive me mad"

Utter stupidity and selfishness.

Problem is marsha some schools are encouraging kids to come in, and that is a MASSIVE problem.

Absolutely agree with you OP. We can send our kids but are choosing not to use resource/contribute to spread unless absolutely necessary.

So much selfish behaviour out there at the moment, makes me very cross.

I'm a key worker (nhs nurse), my dh isn't (works in IT for food producing company) but is still going to work (he can work from home if needed). I'm off next week on annual leave so wont be sending my dc anywhere. If I work weekends I'll have an extra days off in the week to look after them. I work 4 days a week usually. I've suggested my dh work from home on the days I'm in work so between the two of us we should manage but he's still insisting I book them places in schools to send them in. I feel like hitting my head against a brick wall. My other worry is if most of the other dc are children from key workers from the NHS all those children in one place might be at higher risk anyway? 🤷🏼‍♀️ I completely understand for some people they have no other choice, but I feel we do!! My work have been great and have said only one nurse has contacted them so far to rearrange shifts for child care issues. I have to say all my nurse friends and colleagues have been amazing and are trying to do what ever they can to stay in work!

Dawn do you know what their reasons are for encouraging them to come in?

Dont the idiots who send their kids in, out of choice rather than necessity, realise that they will be mixing with DC who are at greater risk of carrying the virus.
Because their parents are the very people treating CV.
School should be a last resort.

"Disagree. I'm in finance, but no one is going to live or die if I don't work, and no one will be unable to pay for food and drugs, therefore I'm not critical."

I am sympathetic if an employer is telling staff they can't work from home because they're a keyworker. In those circumstances I wouldn't judge someone for using school because it's out of their hands.

@ChloeDecker he has cardiomyopathy, so his sacrifice is accepting he may get seriously ill if I bring it home to him.

He would also be taking unpaid parental leave for holidays. Kay?

20% of all health care workers in Lombardy have caught the virus. Let's say there is a 50% chance of them passing this on to their children. This means 10% of health care workers' children in the school setting will be infected in a month's time. And that would be if they did not see anyone but their infected parent. Now put them in with all the other health care workers' children.

Your child will then come home to you.

If you catch the virus, there is a 20% chance you will be hospitalised. Hospitals WILL be rationing care. Even if you are not one of those who will be rationed, and will probably survive, you may take up a place of someone who did not meet the rationing criteria.

If you can avoid this risk, avoid it.

it's shameful to send your kids to school if there is a fit and safe person at home.

Could not put it better.

YANBU we are both key workers and will work our shifts around each other. I really wouldn't want to send my children to school at the moment and anyone that does when they have someone else around is completely stupid.

But you are being hugely unreasonable by assuming someone who works from home can look after a child

There is no alternative.

Some people's just involves running towards this virus. Literally running towards death.

Other people's jobs involves rescheduling or cutting short a telephone call so that they can dress their kids or set them up with some colouring in.

I'm a single mum on benefits. Ds gets a tiny amount of early years funding (slightly behind in social and emotional development) and the pupil premium. I received an email saying he could attend nursery if I wanted

If even a stay at home mum on benefits can send her kis in, then what is the point if shutting schools?

Jobs not just.