Schools

[Carrotcakeforbreakfast]

I know this has been done 1000 times but my search function isn't working.

With the extended lockdown and daily numbers, when do you think the schools are likely to go back.
I believe lockdown won't end anytime soon but just wondering if anyone thinks schools opening will have changed?

RigaBalsam there is a big picture that you seem to be failing to engage with here.

The world has changed. We are in more trouble here than whether some children are less than well rested or not.
*
And you say I lack the big picture.

Send the kids back regardless.* 🙈🤷🏼‍♀️

You have your opinion, and are more than welcome to it. I'm not going to bother explaining.

RigaBalsam there is a big picture that you seem to be failing to engage with here.

The world has changed. We are in more trouble here than whether some children are less than well rested or not.

So do you have children? Teach?

If you do you will know they want to see their friends, be kids, play outside, live in the world again.

They need that for their mental health right now before Pythagoras and I say that as a teacher.

Not sit 2 metres apart in the classroom with teachers focused on hygiene in an unusual situation.

I have reported Snog for whipping up anti teacher resentment

@Everyexitisanentrance NHS and other staff are not rigidly sticking to their contracts in the face of a pandemic

Thanks Every seems standard on mumsnet at the moment.

I think that 4 weeks ago we had 281 recorded deaths from covid, we now have 14,000 and that is without counting community deaths.

I think that when looking at Spanish flu the cities that locked down longest had the fewest overall deaths, the ones that opened up quickly had a second and more severe peak.

I think that this may well change our society in a more fundamental way than we can currently appreciate.

I think that anyone who is willing to sacrifice thousands of our vulnerable citizens is morally bankrupt.

I think that we are heading into the biggest global recession we have seen in our lifetime and that there are no easy answers that don’t cost lives.

@Snog my school already opens during the summer as we offer a holiday club for working parents.

I don't see why this can't be or isn't already the case in some schools already. We staff ours with TAs who are then laid the extra money. The I don't have to do it, but many choose to. We ensure they also have at least 2 weeks off where possible so they are well rested before we return in Sept.

If it's all about getting the workforce back together, maybe some schools might volunteer to be hubs and provide some summer provision at expense of the government.

This means teachers can have their 6 weeks off and people can still go to work.

Everyexitisanentrance Good idea, but I don’t think MNHQ care.

So it’s not the education and welfare of the children some are worried about here but the need for child care?

As if as suggested we have a two week break how would the terms work? Autumn term 1 is 7 weeks long already. I think Autumn 2 is the same or even 8 weeks. Where are you going to add the extra weeks?

What I find funny is that the rest of the time we have posters saying that our children start school too young and ‘in Europe’ they don’t start until they are 7.
Now it’s vital that all children are in school or the whole country goes to shit.

@Snog we have tried to explain the difference in contracts, we have tried to explain the issue with social distancing etc. The schools have only been off for the Easter break plus a max of two weeks. There are lots of others without children. You are not listening

I would love to hear some honesty from some teachers on here. I have two teacher friends one whose school is closed as they have no key worker children - at home full pay. Another on an alternative week rota working one day again on full pay both admit they’re lucky. My children’s school send the odd link to work and there’s links on the school website curriculum page. Teachers can you honestly say you deserve full pay for the work you’re doing now? If the kids can go back sooner and the summer holidays reduced I think it’s the right thing to do. Everyone has been affected by this and life isn’t ‘normal’ and we need to pull together and help each other and if that’s not having a 6 week break then so be it!

Yes but schools have been closed for only a few weeks and the MN parents are continually complaining that they can’t handle their own children. And a fair few of them at actually satm

It seems so @FlamingoAndJohn.

I'd also suspect those demanding we go back now are the same parents who complain about every little thing we do in school and also then complain on social media and in the local community about his crap we are.

It's been 2 weeks officially off school. Including the Easter break it's 4. Not exactly the forever some complain about!

@Iateallthecookies000 - yes you are right. Busy thread will be liked by advertisers. It is really schools/education and parking that generates huge amounts of comments

I don't understand what the obsession with schools going back and why people think it's going to be do traumatic for their poor DCs to miss out on a bit of education and potentially a bit of fun. In the scheme of life, a few months isn't going to make a difference to their educational achievements or their long term mental wellbeing because they missed a disco and didn't get to say "goodbye to their friends".

If friendships are strong they will survive difficult times and there won't be goodbyes. When it comes to education, everyone us in the same boat and teachers don't expect parents to do the same job they do (sorry to all the wannabe teachers on here). I'm sure there will be allowances made and a way that will help the kids to get back on track.

The only legitimate reason for wanting kids to go back go school is do that parents can go back to work. As far as I'm concerned this is the only good reason.

Really though, it's a question if priority. Would you rather a few months of discomfort or the potential to completely destroy your family, if someone you love dies unnecessarily?

@FlamingoAndJohn the difference is that we are in a pandemic situation now

And now @Whyisitsodifficult will start the let's get them all furloughed campaign.we have already said on other threads what we are doing.

I honestly think teachers (including myself) should stay off these threads as it will not do our blood pressure any good.

@Whyisitsodifficult

Yes, with what I’ve been doing I believe it is fair that I am on full pay. Additionally, if you feel that your children’s provisions are not sufficient, then complain to their school.

@Whyisitsodifficult I am a teacher and I am also a member of SLT.

My team worked non stop from the Thursday before lockdown and school closures were announced as we knew it was coming in mixing weekends. We set up online learning and made and sorted hundreds of pieces of work for each year group.

We then spent the next week on zoom meetings throughout the day as we attempted to figure out how to feed put FSM pupils, hand delivered out workbooks to homes so all pupils had those to access as well as some staff being in to look after key worker parents.

I then worked during the Easter break for free. Apart from good Friday and Easter Monday as we were closed. Whilst I was looking after those pupils I still had to ring my class twice a week to ensure they were safe and also be on call to answer any emails parents had. During this time we also set daily work for core and curriculum subjects and filmed lessons to go out at a later date. We have still had to plan and resource these lessons and it's actually harder to teach remotely than in class as you don't have the pupils to feed off of. We have also been in sorting food for pupils so in school packing and making parcels and this has to happen on a weekly basis. We are also dealing directly with families who have lost loved ones to covid19 and having to provide emotional support where we can.

So yes. I have most definitely been working - actually harder than I ever have in over 10 years of teaching.

@Snog

Pandemic makes no difference.

Families will just have to make the summer holidays work as they usually do.

don't understand what the obsession with schools going back and why people think it's going to be do traumatic for their poor DCs to miss out on a bit of education and potentially a bit of fun. In the scheme of life, a few months isn't going to make a difference

*Agree with this apart from the disadvantaged children which we have our eye on as does social services and health visitors, covid has picked the best term for this to have impact. The one with the most holidays and y11, y13 leaving.

We do not want a second wave in the winter term. That would impact all children including disadvantaged further.*

I’ve not said to furlough teachers have I? If my two teacher friends can be honest and admit they’re very fortunate to be at home on full pay then I’m sure they can’t be the only teachers thinking it! Lots of people are struggling with reduced/no pay and we should all be doing our bit to get the country back on its feet. Surely you can see having a 6 week break after a lockdown period is not helpful?

@Whyisitsodifficult I agree.
I have two friends who teach primary. Both are doing one day a week for a handful of keyworker children - far fewer of them than had been expected. Both say that they are doing very little other than this at the moment and they have a lot of free time. One had to go in for two days over the Easter break and the other did not.

Not all teachers are working their full hours right now and they are still on full salary - which I think is right.

And I definitely deserve my salary.

I won't be working during the 6 week holiday that I'm not paid for and I can't imagine any teacher who has been working the same as I have to give that up. There's no way the unions will allow it.

I too would rather resign and I'd imagine thousands would in their droves. It's fine for people to say teachers can resign then - good luck finding staff to teach your children in September!