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Asking too much of teachers?

889 replies

DomDoesWotHeWants · 11/07/2020 10:29

It's looking like masks are going to be a requirement in shops and possibly other indoor venues.

Yet teachers are expected to teach - for hours at a time - in confined, poorly ventilated spaces, with no social distancing. They have been told they do not need PPE. If I was still teaching there is no way I'd go into a room crowded with teenagers and not wear a mask at the moment.

Teachers should be allowed as much protection as possible not thrown under a corona bus because Johnson wants them for child care so their parents can go back to work.

I really can't understand why it's going to be compulsory in shops where meetings are fleeting but not in schools which are crowded and have people crammed in for hours.

Does the right of children to go back to school over rule the rights of of school staff (teaching and ancillary) to be as protected as possible?

This means they should be allowed to wear PPE, if they choose, and secondary children should be wearing masks as happens in some other countries. In some countries younger children also have to wear masks in school.

The safety of teachers has been ignored by Johnson and his chums in their urge to get people back to work and the cry of "back to normal" is taken up by those ignorant of the facts about the virus.

Teachers have been made out to be the bad guys almost from the beginning - as can be seen from many bile infested threads on here. They deserve better.

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ilovesooty · 12/07/2020 14:03

@peasaregood

8giraffe* I'm simply not seeing that. Where are you seeing these "outbreaks"? I've looked at the graphs and they seem to say a tiny number of people have tested positive ( possibly / probably asymptomatic)
At least two schools in my area had to close again.

Do your own googling,

noblegiraffe · 12/07/2020 14:04

If 2m isn’t possible 1m is ok according to our great leader

No. In other workplaces, if 2m isn’t possible then 1m PLUS MITIGATION is needed.

They are not following their own guidance.

Asking too much of teachers?
CallmeAngelina · 12/07/2020 14:09

@tisaginthing

Our school are going to take the children's temperatures when they arrive in the morning in September. I know the government are saying it's not an indicator of covid but it'll make staff feel better and probably some worried parents.
Ours aren't.
Piggywaspushed · 12/07/2020 14:09

I think the mitigation is hand washing...

Danglingmod · 12/07/2020 14:11

With approximately one sink per 300 children Hmm

Appuskidu · 12/07/2020 14:13

How are secondary school teachers going to be doing all this hand washing when they aren’t allowed breaks?!

noblegiraffe · 12/07/2020 14:13

That’s not on the list, piggy.

Worth noting that back-to-back or side-to-side working is on the list and this is what has been recommended for the children who will be in the classroom (side-to-side facing the front working). So the kids at least have some attempt at mitigation while the adult at the front has to...what...turn their back on the class and teach the wall?

Danglingmod · 12/07/2020 14:13

I have no idea.

OverTheRainbow88 · 12/07/2020 14:16

@Danglingmod

Alcohol hand jel is as good as a soap hand wash with water, squirt on their hands as they walk in! Simple!

@Appuskidu
I am allowed a break! I would consult your union

OverTheRainbow88 · 12/07/2020 14:17

@noblegiraffe

The teacher could wear a face visor, and try and keep a 2m distance!

OverTheRainbow88 · 12/07/2020 14:18

Right I’m giving up on this thread!! Too tiring!

Danglingmod · 12/07/2020 14:19

It will a currently against government guidelines to wear a visor or face mask. They must be removed in entry to the premises.

noblegiraffe · 12/07/2020 14:20

The teacher could wear a face visor, and try and keep a 2m distance!

Rainbow that is EXACTLY the sort of thing that teachers are saying that they would like to be allowed to do but are told that they are not.

So now you understand why there might be ‘moaning’.

Appuskidu · 12/07/2020 14:25

The teacher could wear a face visor, and try and keep a 2m distance!

We have specifically been told not to.

This isn’t moaning or not having a ‘can do’ attitude.

TheHoneyBadger · 12/07/2020 14:28

No schools are not allowed to insist on tests or ask to see test results. It’s specifically said in the dfe guidelines.

So a kid can have all the symptoms and be sent home only to be sent back to school because the parent says they’ve tested negative. No proof required.

noblegiraffe · 12/07/2020 14:30

Bloody hell people wandering onto threads and saying ‘I don’t understand what the problem is, teachers can simply wear masks/visors and stay 2m away from the kids and besides they’re all going to be in small bubbles and their classrooms will be sparkly clean, the kids temperature checked and will definitely be at home if they’ve got coronavirus so it’ll be fine, what are teachers moaning about?’

TheHoneyBadger · 12/07/2020 14:36

We need rtfg (read the fucking guidelines) to catch on as an acronym

OverTheRainbow88 · 12/07/2020 14:41

Maybe get a different job then as that’s the reality of it. As it stands schools are going back in sept. I can’t imagine a member of SLT walking into a room and demanding the teacher remove their visor.

I work in a multi academy trust, so will be going into 3 different secondary schools, the one I’m based in has 1,700 students then other 2 about 1200 each! I’m not expecting each 10 different classrooms I will be in to be sparkling clean, that isn’t possible, I will however, wash my hands between schools, not touch my face and try and keep some distance between kids, also realising I split up about 4 fights a week!

Nurseries have opened without social distancing, and so far, thank the lord, they have been ok

Hercwasonaroll · 12/07/2020 14:45

If a kid in a bubble has tested positive the whole bubble self isolates

The guidance says 2 positive cases per bubble before isolation is needed.

Wearing gloves when marking books that have been to kids home, then cleaning your table once finished marking them at your home.

I don't take books home. Never have and won't start now. Too much faff carrying 90 books.

Easier for secondary teachers but trying to keep the keep 2m rule

As noble said, my primary aged child has a classroom twice the size of mine. I struggle to be 1m away.

cantkeepawayforever · 12/07/2020 14:48

OvertheRainbow, with your comment about nurseries, I presume you mean 'OK apart from the ones that haven't been OK'? Take, for example, this one in Milton Keynes:

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/coronavirus-outbreak-nursery-20-children-22253165

there were 55 outbreaks in educational establishments for the last week that we have data. That's with the current arrangements in place, where only 1/14th of secondary pupils are back in school and primaries are working at half capacity with separate small bubbles.......

MoreW1ne · 12/07/2020 14:54

Just. Refuse. To. Clean.

My head wouldn't dream of asking me to clean. Not even wipe a table. They know it just won't happen. It's not my job.

Equally if I wore a mask not a chance they would even consider telling me to take it off.

Please try saying no...its not as hard as it sounds. You'll be doing yourself a big favour and a favour to all other teachers!

Molteni · 12/07/2020 15:16

My sister is a primary school teacher. She isn’t complaining, she thinks it’s doable with proper adjustments. She kept teaching throughout the height of the pandemic (children that required childcare; from key workers ...). With PPE admittedly, in her case probably for the best since her health is quite shaky (that’s why I gave her 10 FFP2 masks/week but she prefers wearing the regular provided ones) . The last three weeks of the semester normal service (well with COVID adjustments) - still full classes and no social distancing because primary school. Atm she’s monitoring a daytime sports camp.

CarrieBlue · 12/07/2020 15:20

@Molteni - is she in the U.K.?

noblegiraffe · 12/07/2020 15:26

Maybe get a different job then as that’s the reality of it.

Or try to get things changed as it’s still a month and a half away?

You know that teachers are trapped in their current jobs till Christmas so saying ‘quit if you don’t like it’ is the most pointless suggestion after ‘just stay 2m away from the kids’.

DomDoesWotHeWants · 12/07/2020 15:28

Please try saying no...its not as hard as it sounds. You'll be doing yourself a big favour and a favour to all other teachers!

This with huge brass bells on.

Teachers start to say no very loudly.

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