"Let our teachers be heroes"

[Hitchyhero]

I've seen the front pages of the daily mail and now the telegraph are attacking teachers unions because they want to ensure that the place is safe.

The headline was 'Let our teachers be heroes'. Frabkly, if it was safe they wouldn't need to be heroes. That headline implies its unsafe to go back and they are taking a risk.

I'm also wondering, as I'm sure teachers are.... How they will implement social distancing in nurseries. My 2 yo toddler was due to start nusury just before the lockdown but that's been delayed. When he does eventually go back when I think it's safe, how will teachers implement social distancing. He needs help with potty training. Most children his age won't have the developmental capacity to social distance. My child touches and kicks everything.

Think it's a bit ridiculous that these papers are attacking unions when they just want to be safe like everyone else. Think they are asking the right questions.

[WyfOfBathe]

I'm a teacher. Have been going in to look after keyworkers' kids and not against students coming back in June/July.

But I don't want to be a "hero". I don't want to take more chances than necessary. I care about my students but I'm not going to be a martyr for education.

[WhatTheFeckIsGoingOn]

"I'm also wondering, as I'm sure teachers are.... How they will implement social distancing in nurseries"

They won't, I work in a reception class, we have been told not to expect social distancing and just to wash hands.

[ChloeDecker]

Samtsirch

SimonTJ was being serious.

[Lynda07]

Maybe teachers don't want to be any more heroic than anyone else at this time. A lot of them have families too, one I know wouldn't dream of sending her kids back to school, never mind her going back to work.

There's too much talk of 'heroes' at the moment, yes we appreciate what front line workers are doing, especially medics, carers, emergency services but what we need, when this is over, is for all those services to work properly, efficiently, caringly. I and others have experiences awful hospital treatment before this problem kicked off, my prayer is for a vast improvement in regular treatment, not heroics. In any case, not everyone is the stuff of heroes made but they can still do a decent, professional job.

I'm behind the teachers all the way.

[daisymay133]

If the rate of 24 in London today is true then there’s nothing to say in 3 weeks time when schools open fully after half term, that the rest of the uk is similar and cases are only at couple hundred a day across uk

That’s likely what they’re planning

The aim is to open if safe by then and the infection rate could be massively lower by then so makes sense to at least prepare

[Keepdistance]

The avengers probably have masks. Also superpowers.
Im concerned we wot have any teachers at the end of this. We can always find more people to write newxpaper articles.
But teachers 3,yr degree. And pgce or training in a school.
They will all be emigrating to aus/nz as will the drs and nurses...

They need to be allowed to wear masks. The kids are not going to be afraid.
Real fear is having a vax or having instruments put up your nose to remove something you stipuck up there. Quite franly kids wouldnt give a crap about you having a mask on. They survive the dentist dont they...

If they are going to be scared the gov should have started with older dc who could SD and wouldnt be fazed.

[ChloeDecker]

X Post. Sorry

[lemmeavabru]

It's the wording of these newspaper. As if to say if you die you will die a hero. If people want to take the risk it's up to them but to call people with concerns such as the unions 'militant' is deliberately polarising people into the goodies and the baddies. fgs.

[WhatTheFeckIsGoingOn]

Also, I have been going in to look after keyworkers' kids, they really haven't been socially distancing no matter how often we remind them.

[ChloeDecker]

It's the wording of these newspaper.

Yes. Look at the tone of this article regarding the NHS unions today

[RoosterPie]

I agree with @Napqueen1234 that unless vulnerable, unfortunately it isn’t realistic to expect not to have to go back to work until it’s “safe”.

That said, the headline is provocative and disgraceful.

[Porcupineinwaiting]

@Oysterbabe it's not just about death. A significant number of people who get COVID get very ill indeed (figures from South Korea show that 20% of those infected required a hospital stay of a month). In the UK we hear about those who need a ventilator or those who get better in a week or 2. But behind closed doors are a growing number of people in the middle. Those for whom it is taking months to recover.

[zaphodbeeble]

So this week we're heroes ? We're usually work shy, lazy, communist lefties, which they'd make their minds up

[SqidgeBum]

I agree @lemmeavabru. Its the idea that as teachers who do the job for the 'love of it' and for the benefit of children should also be so committed to our vocation that we are cowards if we dont want to put ourselves in a room, in contact (because you cant effectively teach from standing at the top of the room) with 15 kids an hour. That is over 280 kids a week. Sorry, but that is scary. But, according to the Daily Mail, I should aim to be a 'hero' and face it head on.

[Itisasecret]

The same Daily Mail which actually photoshopped out BAME children, that’s the biggest scandal.

[GrimmsFairytales]

But behind closed doors are a growing number of people in the middle. Those for whom it is taking months to recover.

This.

I don't want to be a hero, none of us do.

[Samtsirch]

@SimonJT
@ChloeDecker
Thank you.
Genuinely had no idea.

[Samtsirch]

@SimonJT
Why would they do that?

[SimonJT]

Because the Daily Mail have always been racist and nationalist.

[DamnYankee]

@Napqueen1234

I will provide the best, most engaging educational experience I can. Just very hopeful parents will understand there are limits to what I can control.

[Napqueen1234]

@DamnYankee absolutely I agree. It’s not going to be back to normal school and I hope parents don’t expect that. We are going to have to hugely overhaul our whole role. But ultimately it’s the children that suffer when not in school (some more than others) and my feelings are we have a duty to get back to work. Having said that I am young ish and low risk so don’t have the fear of the virus that others have. I’m secondary but in primary for example it would make sense for higher risk teachers to swap to older years and low risk to younger who won’t distance as well (not ideal for the teachers but better than nothing) as one example.

[BruceFoxton]

I'm a teacher and I have been working bloody hard with remote learning. You have to provide information in a different way from how you can do it in class and also need to provide it in several different formats to account for kids who can't attend live lessons. And there's a shedload of worry about vulnerable kids who would have taken up a lot of my time as a pastoral leader and of whom I am hearing nothing and KNOWING that its not because suddenly their lives are so much better. I would love to be back at work, I really would, as long as it is safe for me and my family.

[itsgettingweird]

Well maybe while the mail are sourcing PPE for the nhs hero's (as they call them) they can source it for the teachers or help fund decent desk spaces and dividers. They want to help the hero's - well nows their chance.

And teachers have been working. Most harder than usual. Online schooling, teaching their own children, in school teaching keyworker children who are the highest risk category for transmission and continuing to plan for the upcoming year. On top of that some are having to provide data to exam boards and work out how to do this using a completely new system.

[Whitewinetonight]

Not a teacher, but work in a school. I felt totally uncomfortable there before lockdown (I have a second job with lots of contact as well, but feel a lot more protected there). I've said I'll go back because it's my job, hope I can support colleagues and children throughout this, but am having a complete wobble at the moment as social distancing won't happen and it's going to be impossible to keep areas clean in relation to the footfall in the areas, also suspect my manager won't be much support. I'm not a hero compared to the NHS staff, but just someone who hopes I can hold it together for the children, what I do makes a difference to them and the fact it'll do me good to be back in the job.

[AdoptedBumpkin]

If staff are unwilling, I don't want them to be forced to go. Many of them will be under obligation.