Why do secondary school teachers need to go within 2 metres of a student?

[whenthejoyreturns]

Such a fuss about teachers being collateral damage and in danger. The majority parents want their secondary school dc back asap and would be happy with no social distancing, why can't teachers just stand at the front of the class and at a distance acceptable to them and teach?

Within the half term before lockdown, my Year 10 boys took my water bottle off my desk and furtively passed it around the room (I twigged when I realised I'd seen it during the lesson on one desk but just thought the kid had the same one as me, but found it on the floor under another desk after the lesson - it was open). The same week, I had to clean a hugh smear of snot from a desk - someone must have sneezed and tried to hide the evidence. A week after that I had to clean faecal overspill (a result of a medical condition) with just my own antibacterial wipes. I have a student who frequently sneezes five times in a row into their own hands.

Teachers will be collateral damage in conditions like these.

If you want me to deliver a lesson from the front with no interaction, I can happily pre record than on Zoom as I've been doing for 3 months. I don't physically need to be present at this point.

(& yes huge safeguarding zoom issues, but our expensive upgraded account apparently screens out lots of them).

If you'd like me to deliver identical content from the front of the room, that's going to be the same, but crap, because of teenage silliness amped up to 13 after lockdown.

If I can't go round, look at work & talk to students individually then there's zero point me being in the room but 2m away. I'd do a far better job 2km away using a zoom link & talk/comment app to give individual feedback.

I'd also dispute your assertion that "most" secondary parents would be happy with a return to school. My school sent a survey asking how many parents of years 10 and 12 would send their children back to school for some face to face teaching before summer. Year 10 has over 200 pupils, there are 80 planning on coming in, assuming they aren't ill when they are timetabled to be in. And not a single child from the list we put together of "this child is not engaging with remote learning, they are the ones who need the most input" is prepared to come to school. So from my class of 30 there are 12 who will be coming to school, on a rota, 6 in each half. My nurture group, which normally has 10 kids, will have 4. They will be coming in for both "halves" of the yeargroup, because there are so few of them and they have so many subjects together they are like their own bubble even in normal times.

No but I used to go to school!
That's definitely as good as qualified. I don't know why they bother doing any teacher training.

One thing you seem to have forgotten OP is that while R and Y1 supposedly transfer the virus less than the general population, Secondary aged pupils are in the main essentially adults, physically. My DD is Y9, and has been taller than me for 2 or 3 years.
Social distancing is even more important in secondary schools, but probably more difficult due to volume of students.
The corridors in my school are less than 2m wide, so no-one can pass. There's a one way system in place now, but it will take 3 or 4 times as long to switch classrooms each lesson.

Erm....corridors are less than 2 metres wide. Classrooms that are full are generally not big enough to put 2 metres distance between students and staff.

And your teens might be out socialising but mine have a vulnerable sibling and respect the fact that to keep him safe, they will need to make some sacrifices.

IHeart:

why it’s ok for primary staff to be in school taking “risks” so to speak yet some secondary schools are not prioritising getting their students back

The secondary schools are doing what they are instructed by the government.

And if you want to talk risk levels, I'm only in once a week on the rota but I see 3 or 4 different classes in a day. That's a 3x or 4x risk of me picking the virus up compared to a primary school. I'm not complaining - I'm going in and doing my job like every other teacher on a rota and will do the same when schools open more fully.

None of this is a decision made by teachers, blame the government (who are 'following' SAGE advice, so you could blame them if you want).

If you want your secondary school kids to go back it's the government who closed them, it's the government who have said how and when to reopen them. Schools and teachers are doing what they are told by the government

And as a side note, streaming is ridiculous educationally, my daughter was top set English and low set maths. They're completely different subjects and skills. If she went to a school that streamed she'd either be bored rigid in English or panicking and feeling like shit in maths.

@EnlightenedOwl

You can try all the reasoned argument you like. Teachers have no intention of returning any time soon.

If you were that enlightened you would know that it's the government and local authorities making the decisions. But don't let the facts get in the way of teacher hatred, eh?

The main room I teach in is so small I can’t keep even one metre from the students, much as I’d like to. Love the idea that you can simply lecture from the front there’s never any behaviour issues, no need to manage your classroom, no need to look at work, no need to answer questions, no need to actually help pupils! Students never get sick or hurt. And of course all classrooms are huge, corridors are wide and generally empty, you never get pushed or shoved in those..... dear old op must have had a golden childhood in a pretty amazing school where all of this was true. Bless.

"The majority parents want their secondary school dc back asap and would be happy with no social distancing,"
Absolute rubbish op. You cant speak for me. I'm not sure I do want mine to go back. I dont want them bringing covid home. Also unlikely much teaching will be going on as only a third in and possibly only going one day a week for 3 weeks.

The majority parents want their secondary school dc back asap and would be happy with no social distancing.

My dc's school sent a questionnaire to parents of Year 10 kids (about 150 in the year). About 40 said 'yes' or 'maybe' to sending their dc back at this stage.

I was in this week. A child needed help with the work. I was desperate to go over but had been told not to. I managed to help eventually, but it literally took four times as long to do so. With even half a class, keeping a distance is impossible, let alone corridors, fights etc. Some parents will be fine with no distancing, but others will expect it.

We aren't sending dd back. She's doing fine with distance learning, is not fussed about going back, and the limited provision possible atm (essentially some English and maths but not with their normal teachers, plus an individual meeting with form tutor) doesn't make it worthwhile going back. I'm not worried about her bringing the virus home - I'm almost certain I've had it, so the rest of the family have been exposed.

Has the op been back at all to acknowledge the many reasons secondary teachers don’t just stand at the front or was this just another “aren’t teachers whiny and shit” post?

In three weeks time I will be doing just that op. Going into school to stand in front of a class for 3 hours at a time. No one will be allowed to move around for that time and there will be no breaks or lunchtime. 3 hours in. Clean classroom for the next lot.

With the whole school back in, children will each be invited in for three ‘sessions’ prior to the summer holiday. Three. That’s 9 hours of contact time before the summer and we will be focusing on well being and training for further use of Teams or Zoom.

Parents are not going to be happy with this, but what can we do? I just do what I’m told to. Teachers are being directed by SMT, who are being directed by government.

I’m not sure what teachers are supposed to do or say here.

Well it explains why so many people think teaching is a piece of piss! Stand at the front of the class, talking at the kids, they leave, next class comes in. Lovely jubbly!