How/when did the tide turn on schools?

[LaceCurtains]

In the beginning the mood here was almost desperate calling for schools to be closed.

In the last week or so there's been a marked shift to getting them open (from peope here).

Is it the same people who wanted the closed, now calling for them to get back to normal or have the original campaigners gone quiet/new people got louder?

FWIW I always thought schools closed as early as they did because of public pressure and it seems to me that "other" things are getting back to normal more quickly than originally planned/expected (because of DC and the need to distract?) but schools don't seem to be included in that.

I'm at a loss as to why schools are being treated so differently. I'm SLT in school, if that makes a difference and the government guidance is a shambles. Changes daily but doesn't seem to have any clear aim.

I saw on the news that only 8% of the workforce has primary aged children and require childcare. I think it’s all about the economy and this is too small of a percentage for the government to really care about.

Not offering my own opinion on this, just saying what I think is going on.

@ProfessorHasturLaVista

The resources are out there, SockYarn. Instead of shouting in capital letters on the internet maybe concerned parents should contact individual schools who are just handing out worksheets. I don’t personally know of any schools that are doing that, but I’m sure there must be some. Or y’know, send children to grandparents and older retired relatives for 1:1 attention. If there is no risk to school staff over 50 then what’s the problem? Ignore public health advice and get the kids over to Granny’s, after all, if it’s ok for schools, right?

I'd love to send my child to his young healthy grandparents but they also work.

You can have all the resources but you need someone with time, who is capable, to teach them.

I am very surprised that teachers think their jobs can be done by parents and the internet. Not selling yourselves very well here!

@Waxonwaxoff0

Professor most people cannot ensure their children do a full daily timetable of work because they are working. Also a lot of parents won't be able to do the work. My DS is primary age so I can manage but I'd have no chance if he was at secondary school, I didn't do well at school myself so no way would I be able to help him. And of course many parents won't bother at all. This will further widen the gap between the rich and the poor.

Their teachers should be available to help. All the schools I know of are doing this. If anyone’s school isn’t then get on to them, make a fuss, complain to the Governing body. The answer is not everyone crowding back into the school building.

am very surprised that teachers think their jobs can be done by parents and the internet. Not selling yourselves very well here!

They can be done remotely for now. It’s not forever.

We also teach resilience. Maybe we should have sent a few worksheets on that home for parents.

I am very surprised that teachers think their jobs can be done by parents and the internet. Not selling yourselves very well here!

They don’t think that. They are suggesting ways to make the most of a difficult situation that is not of their making. Many other teachers are busy teaching as best they can and therefore not posting. (It’s my day off!)

Heaven help the country if everyone had that kind of negative attitude. Is it too much to ask that they come up with solutions rather than problems?

I agree, but why should they? Classic public sector mentality. They can't all be sacked, as we'll always need teachers. They know that most parents can't vote with their feet and move their children to other schools or into the private sector. So they take the "get what you're given and be grateful" approach. They have zero incentive to be proactive about all this. They're on 100% of their pay and will be for the duration. Job security far more than the private sector employees.

They can be done remotely for now. It’s not forever

They're not being done in a lot of cases. Who knows might be forever if they take your word for it. We don't need you apparently. Just computers!

We also teach resilience. Maybe we should have sent a few worksheets on that home for parents

This is not a resilience issue. This is a practicality issue. This is an issue about denying our children an education.

You can be as resilient as you like but this will have an effect.

This "for now" is pretty much forever at this point.

People should be ashamed of themselves for behaving in that way. Cos blame the government all you like but they listened to the public and we are where we are because of that.
You what? The government are ploughing on opening shops and hospitality, talking about enabling tourism. But they won't focus on what matters most to most of us, which is when can we see family and friends in our homes, and when can our children get their lives back (school, clubs etc).

I agree single working mums are going to be hardest hit. But the Conservatives tend to have little inclination to support that group anyway.

@ProfessorHasturLaVista

There's only one risk and that risk is Covid. Yep. I don’t go round touching bare wires, standing on chairs or drinking bleach from unmarked bottles so I guess there is only one risk to me in school right now.

If only there was a way to deliver education outside of a school building! Some sort of vast network of computers that could access the same thing at the same time! That the majority of parents could use for the curriculum stuff and then not have to worry their children might fall behind!

You are kidding me? You think that is the only thing that matters? You think that the only thing parents worry about is the educational aspect of this?

Shame on you.

I have a year 6 child who has threatened to kill himself over this, he won't be the only one. You, the government, the unions will have blood on their hands.

Wake up and realise that life is full of risk but the risk of damage to our children's mental health is FAR greater than the risk of you catching COVID. (And yes, my DH is a teacher and more than happy to go into school).

They don’t think that. They are suggesting ways to make the most of a difficult situation that is not of their making. Many other teachers are busy teaching as best they can and therefore not posting. (It’s my day off!)

Some of them clearly do. We know how to "make the best of it" we have been doing so for weeks. I appreciate teachers are working very hard and I don't blame any of them for this shit show at all.

We need teachers. This isn't a good enough substitution. It is however much cheaper and I wouldn't trust the government not to use this to their advantage, tbh.

Classic public sector mentality. They can't all be sacked, as we'll always need teachers. They know that most parents can't vote with their feet and move their children to other schools or into the private sector. So they take the "get what you're given and be grateful" approach. They have zero incentive to be proactive about all this...

Am I included in your “they” SockYarn? You know nothing about me or my colleagues, our attitudes or how hard we are working.

I didn't know teachers got days off during the week on school days.

Certainly my Dad never did.

I guess these are lockdown perqs.

Easy to see why they want this to go on forever because if the terrible "risks".

I didn't know teachers got days off during the week on school days

I work part-time. That ok with you?

Destroying society for a disease as dangerous as 'flu.

Yes, dear.

Except it is a lot more dangerous but the truth has never bothered you on your many teacher bashing posts. Why start now?

So bitter.

I have a year 6 child who has threatened to kill himself over this, he won't be the only one

I really feel for the year 6 students. My ds is in year 7 and the end of year 6 was pivotal. Your poor ds...its just appalling this is happening.

In what way is it more dangerous than 'flu?

It has a similar IFR and affects a similar (but slightly older skewed) demographic.

'Flu is more dangerous to children.

Hopefully the private sector will step in in various ways - childcare provision, private nurseries, au pairs, students tutoring and looking after children, new full time summer camps opening particularly amongst the 2m unemployed who want work, private schools reopening or having half days over the summer on a paid for basis for parents who want the children to catch up. We might even find parents vote with their feet and move away from state provision of schooling. the state tends not to do things very well anyway.

We are talking to our Unions and as Teachers we are telling them its not safe!!!!

And yet there a numerous teachers on this thread saying they want to go back to school but unions won’t allow it. Not safe now doesn’t mean not safe in two months time, in the next week or so we’ll start to see the impact of folk crowding on beaches, having VE Day celebrations and the recent protests - if there’s not a marked increase in infections it’s going to be increasingly difficult to justify staying home on the basis of worrying about increased infection. Already local authorities are planning for 10 hours of education provision a week come August, I’m guessing if schools made a profit they’d find a way.

And the idea that we all have grand parents, neighbours or friends who would care for and educate their children is laughable - as is the idea that all children could tolerate that.

@Xenia great if you can afford that. How will that help the poorer in society?

Hopefully the private sector will step in in various ways - childcare provision, private nurseries, au pairs, students tutoring and looking after children,

I pay for education provision through my taxes, I really don’t have the funds or inclination to pay for it twice.

Nihl the danger is in it being allowed to spread unchecked. It’s a low mortality rate but we have very little herd immunity, unlike with the flu where prior exposure to other strains does offer some protection.

If we allowed the virus to do as it wants our services will be overwhelmed. Hospitals full of the vulnerable leaving no room for any other services. Key workers (including teachers) will be in and out of work as the virus spreads through different populations and areas. I am low risk but chances are I will need time off work if I get it, even if self isolation isn’t a thing. The disruption to every day life would be such that I don’t think the situation would be any better than now. The economy will still suffer.

I don’t agree at all with the pace and priorities of lockdown easing by the way.

It is remarkable to see how the private shops and cafes have adapted and made massive efforts to open and continue business whilst teachers/unions can't seem to be able to.

there a numerous teachers on this thread saying they want to go back to school but unions won’t allow it.

Really? I haven’t seen that. Government guidelines don’t allow it, certainly.

private shops and cafes have adapted and made massive efforts to open and continue business whilst teachers/unions can't seem to be able to.

1. Private shops have queues outside and have been told to allow a minimum of 11 sq m per customer. Should schools do this?

2. It’s not up to teachers or unions - the guidelines for safe opening cone from the government.