John Swinney, blended learning likely for a whole year

[backaftera2yearbreak]

“Things are unlikely to return to normal before the end of the school year...” I’m actually going to crack up. Near 18 months with no proper schooling. This is a disaster for kids in Scotland 😡

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-scotland-52939719

I wouldn’t put too much store on predictions for the next 12 months. We might have a vaccine, we might have more effective treatments, we might have pandemic flu, we might have riots.... I don’t think anyone knows anything that far ahead. I agree if it happens though it would be a disaster.

This has been my prediction for months. It's good he's being honest.

Makes sense.

Yes if we do not think education is important then we can scrap it. Hopefully it wasn’t actually important because it feels like a big gamble certainly if we ever thought we could build a high skilled economy!

Its an absolute travesty.

I hope this doesn’t come to pass and we’re back to full time at some point in the next academic year. I was hoping by Christmas.

I know the Scottish government will be criticised for this, but I actually think the Scottish government have done a much better job about managing public expectations about the impact of coronavirus than Westminster. Nicola Sturgeon told us that once the schools were shut doesn’t expect them to open until after summer, and I prefer that to the mixed messages and rushed half attempts that have happened in England.

I would protest against that.

I get it might not be able to be education as normal.

But for crying out loud we cannot let down a generation this badly.

So we can go on holiday, shop everywhere, and meet up with friends.
But our kids can't get a full education. Fucking ridiculous.
If there is full time school there has to be some for of other childcare available. Otherwise how are we to work??

Fucking shambles

Im of the opinion it’s a shambles as well and would feel strongly enough to protest. I cannot work full time and look after a child. If this carries on he will have had a massively limited education in the run up to him starting secondary school. It’s becoming a farce.

Also says children would be expected to attend which seems unenforceable considering the circumstances.

Exactly. The SNP might want to take into consideration there’s an election next May. They certainly won’t be popular round here if they don’t get better plans in place!

already a thread on this on scotsnet

come join us

Thanks I will

Also a very active campaign group #usforthem Scotland. On Facebook

The Times is reporting today that John Swinney has said that parents who do not send their children back to Scottish schools will be prosecuted.

www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/scotland/coronavirus-in-scotland-parents-prosecuted-if-pupils-are-kept-at-home-kcv269dbn

Agree unenforceable - and there must be quite a few children who are genuinely vulnerable or living with people who are. I want schools back normally, but there should be flexibility for those with medical conditions.