Do teenagers care? Open the fucking schools.

[FreierFall]

All my son's friends are now meeting up in groups. Probably in each other houses. Of course I am the worlds worst mother for saying he can only meet one friend outside at a time. Pretty much everyone he knows is assuming they can do what they want now. Why bother keeping secondary schools shut now? It's pointless. Instead we are going to have groups of bored teenagers roaming around all summer. I am in despair.

The only concession for teachers at this time is smaller classes.

No PPE, no plastic shield, no masks allowed, social distancing is not possible with children or as you are now saying teenagers. Teachers will be in one room for 5-6 hours . Parents will send their children in ill they always do why would this be different

Teaching is one of the only professions that have been told to go back to work as normal with no protection from Covid.

The government guidance to schools has said the risk of getting Covid in a crowded school corridor is low however the risk of getting Covid in a crowded tube or bus is high - where is the logic in that?

Obviously it's the teachers fault that some parents can't handle their children and let them out thinking they will social distance- knowing for a fact they won't- but probably lets them to just get them out the house for a bit!

Maybe it’s partly because teens aren’t distancing that school staff are reluctant to go back without proper measures.

My teenagers are abiding by the lockdown, as are all their friends. They think I'm completely insane for not doing so, and for encouraging them to go for the occasional walk with one other teenager (people might still DIE if they do this, apparently, or the NHS might fall apart).

I used to be a teacher pre-DC. If I were still a teacher now, I'd be very happy to go back to work.

Why does your title contain two sentences completely unrelated to each other? Are you wanting two separate debates or is it just a game?

Use an umbrella when it rains. I like bacon.

My teens aren’t out roaming. The government hasn’t said secondary schools should return yet, nothing to do with the unions.

My ds has been once for a bike ride with 1 friend. Most of the time a group of them are online together, their take on it is if they cant all go out together theres no point going out at all

I don't give a flying toss

Apparently so if you were not aware that schools have been open throughout. You want all the kids back, creating a high viral load environment, without protections for staff and children, simply because you don't like having a whinging teenager?

Teachers have been working throughout the pandemic, often wrangling their own children as well, most in schools for keyworker children. Daily Mail propaganda with photoshopped White Heroine Teacher Wants to Return doesn't change that

Direct your whinging at the government to provide the support needed to expand capacity in the already open schools, preferably prioritising g disadvantaged areas and children first.

Parents will send their children in ill they always do why would this be different

Exactly. Anyone who thinks otherwise is delusional.

What are Ofsted inspectors doing at the moment? Are they currently furloughed? Will they volunteer to help staff the summer schools Gavin Williamson is so keen to set up?

There has been a outbreak in two schools near me who are caring for key worker children. We are in a low risk part of the country too. The schools are closing for a deep clean and anyone who was on the site with the infected person is isolating for 7 days. Will be interesting to see how this works when there are more children and staff in as all staff will be needed to teach the children in their groups of 15. I can see this happening in many schools when the opening is extended to larger numbers of children.

@Connie222 your son is a credit to you, he sounds really lovely & sensible.

You cannot compare supermarkets & schools.

I have nothing but admiration for supermarket employees working in store - I'm happy to support any action they wish to take but this is about schools

Without any emotion...

The Government has not even met its OWN targets for 'easing' the lockdown, let alone the WHO's

I'm not a teacher (thank god) They should not be being pressured into being part of this governments game of pandemic. They're actual real humans, not pawns in a game -nor are our children!

The Govt wants babysitters so parents can go back to work - that's all.

How well is our economy going to run with a large part of the population frequently self isolating or in hospital.

This is a ridiculous move for BOTH the health of the nation & the economy.

What's it going to take to make some people see sense?

POA was one of the first Unions I distinctly recall vocally expressing concern for it's members in the media -

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-52133835

www.expressandstar.com/news/health/coronavirus-covid19/2020/04/03/prison-officers-forgotten-service-or-coronavirus/

Lo and behold, four weeks later -

www.expressandstar.com/news/uk-news/2020/04/30/worrying-rise-of-prison-staff-contracting-coronavirus/

Yup, perhaps the government should be telling the Teachers' Unions they're comparable to Prison Officers, only a few hundred of them will get ill and a handful die every month as a result of going back to work, so what have they got to be moaning about?

My teenagers come out with us for daily exercise, that's it. Their friends all do the same.

The 17 year old over the road also socialises virtually.

I saw a group of teenage girls at the park so yes, it obviously goes on with some. However, most teenagers we know aren't doing what your teen is, and so it's a strange logic there that just because some are out, that all kids - and the adults who work in schools - should be.

Some of you lot are seriously delusional.
Supermarkets are less dangerous than school, keep telling yourself that. All that protection in place at the supermarket is like masking tape on a cracked leaking wall.

And sending dc's back to school isn't about protecting only teachers.

Plus if people want teens to not go out and act responsible then adults need to stop going KFC and garden centres.

There you go op lots and lots of people confirming they are happy with parenting their own children successfully. I guess YABU

No kids out in my area other than the few who would normally be anti social anyway : sadly these kids are unparented and unchecked and always have been : if anything I have seen less of them. All the other teens are following the rules, including my 18 year old DS1 and 16 year old DS2.

Focus your anger on the parents who are letting the teens do this. I don't think Boris , or Chris Whitty, Jenny Harries et al have ever given uncontrollable teens as a reason for easing any element of lockdown.

But, yes, you are correct it is irritating as kids who are gathering in groups now will be far more difficult to manage when they do return to school because they will literally laugh in the faces of teachers who ask them to keep distance and abide my rules. Thanks for that, those parents.

I don't recognise your picture of teens. Mine have barely left the house since school closed, only for permitted exercise with DH. I'm shielded and both DC have significant health issues. One is chronically asthmatic and has allergies requiring epi pens, the other asthmatic with CHD. I wonder if you'd feel different if you were us?

My teenagers are not meeting in groups - only on line. They are still following all Gov guidelines and I'm sure will continue to do so. They are 18 so it's up to them but as they are (mostly!) sensible and considerate they only its the right thing to do.

My teenager is not roaming - he communicates through x box.

I see no reason to send secondary back . I am glad it is something I don’t need to consider till at least September

Just parent your kids.

It's not right to palm them off on teachers because you can't manage them.

Most teenagers aren't doing this though. It's only the stupid or poorly parented. The Gov is basically treating schools as a child care service.

because the government can't tell us all not to see our families or mix households then chuck all teenagers back into school with not changes or restrictions.

None of the teens I know are doing this. My son who is Mr Social has only now just met up this week with two mates to go for a motorcycle ride - that's the limit of breaking the rules (meeting two rather than one, but at least both outside and most of the time on their bikes).
My daughter hasn't seen anyone outside our home. However she is very keen to get back in the classroom as she is a diligent student and worried they are falling behind (Y10.).
Your child may be irresponsible but most of the kids I know are following the guidelines to the letter. That doesn't mean they shouldn't go back to school though.

Nothing like this here and none of my friends’ teens are socialising. They all stick to rules.

OP, why you are in despair? Tbh it wasn’t clear from your post.