My cynical view on why they are making sure they open primary schools ASAP

[DebbieFiderer]

It's simple really - if they get primary school pupils back before the end of the summer term then it is business as usual in terms of childcare and they don't have to keep schools open over the summer holidays for keyworker children. Anyone else think I am right, or am I being overly cynical and they genuinely think it's the right thing to do for the kids?

How does it benefit the government to deliberately trigger another lockdown? You think they are able to engineer infection rates? Amongst the demographic least likely to get Covid, primary age kids? Lockdown is costing 8 Billion per month. That's on top of an existing benefits bill, excluding pensions of 100 Billion a year. Your idea that the government is engineering infection in the group least likely to catch the virus to trigger another lockdown? That's not 'cynical.' It's laughable

Laugh away then @BovaryX

I suppose you didn't hear the government and medical officers early on when they talked of using schools as a valve to increase or decrease the rate of infection? How about ICL modelling that shows closing schools has an important role in severing contacts between households and lowering transmission rates. So opening schools does the opposite?

Despite your sneering tone, I do not expect schools to stay closed and us all to be locked down forever.

I do however want someone to explain why social distancing guidelines (wear a mask in enclosed spaces, keep 2m apart from anyone, don't meet more than one other person in the outdoors ) just magically don't apply in schools?

Yes other workers are still in contact with the public. Most of them have PPE, increased cleaning and hygiene practises and most importantly are dealing with adults who understand the rules.

Children will not (and should not) follow social distancing rules. And that was acknowledged by the government in their guidance to schools. The evidence on children not carrying or spreading the virus is patchy.

So HOW is this not about increasing the spread?

People currently at loss with their children because they never had to entertain them or spend any time with them are the ones struggling and complaining the most though

This poster has absolutely nothing to back that up. Well done for goading.

Plus I didn't accuse YOU of being one of these parents always moaning that the weekends, let alone the holidays, are too long

You’re deflecting from the very real issues others are facing now by talking about something completely different.

Denmark imposed lockdown on 11th March so quicker than we did

They closed the borders on the date when diagnosed cases ticked over to 800 and one day prior to the first officially recorded death.

It was the 13th March, initially for a month.

I know this date is accurate as I was travelling from Berlin to Copenhagen by train and the announcement was made during the last few miles of our trip home. I texted my son at 18.15 to say we were about to cross the border as the travel ban was announced on the train. The train staff were unaware, initially, who would be allowed to stay on the train to enter Denmark.

It was the most surreal moment in my life so far!

There were quite a few on that train who were unable to complete their journey.

To date there have been 533 recorded deaths in Denmark (there are currently 92 Danish deaths per million population vs. 472 per million in the UK).

(population density pop./mi2 - Denmark = 350 : UK = 725)

I am not deflecting anything, we have threads pretty much every month of parents complaining that spending an entire weekend, let alone a WEEK with their children is too much, and they should be at school more.

It's hardly surprising that the same parents are in a bit of a shock right now. I am allowed to reserve my sympathy for the children who didn't ask to be put in this mess and who are resented.

I don't know anyone who is not working - pretty much everybody is managing because these are exceptional circumstances. So we change schedules, it's more socially acceptable should a child interrupts a meeting - because where else would the child be!

I disagree with wanting to reopen schools purely because they are used as childcare, when their purpose should be the education and well being of the kids.

Thanks @OneEndStreet that's really interesting. It must have felt a bit nerve wracking. How do you feel schools/parents/pupils are managing? Have rates of infection dropped back down?

I'm have never once seen a thread with parents complaining kids need to be at school more - yes maybe a moan during school hols or weekends when the parents are having a bad day. Intentionally goading.

The reason is hardly a secret:

it's to restart as much of the economy as possible

Parents of primary school children cannot work without childcare, so the schools must open

I would like Unis to reopen asap. No view on primaries but Gov do need to get the next (inevitable) spike done with before winter and normal flu causes havoc on top.

"My bet for Scene Two? Strikes and refusal to return to work. If the economy is not on its knees by 2021? It will be a miracle."

This is why the government must work with the unions if possible, the transport unions too
Listen to what safety measures they want

It it means all staff being allowed to wear masks / face coverings and encouraging kids to do so as well, then that's OK
It should be optional

The priority imo is to get the country back to work

So primary schools could be mainly for childcare, with education to be added as teachers get used to working with social distancing
Secondary schools should centre education, but with kids required to follow SD rules - or be suspended

Also, it's fine too for school to be optional this year,
say for parents who are SAHP, or choose to give up work - and swallow the cost themselves

Fewer kids would make it easier to get the system going in the early weeks

Parents of primary school children cannot work without childcare, so the schools must open

You know that plenty of us are still working...

wizzbangfizz

You have never seen the school holidays are too long threads?