Schools Reopening?

[ClimbDad]

A major, peer reviewed study into transmission in South Korea has established that tweens and teenagers spread the SARSCOV2 virus more than any other age group.

The study involved more than 65,000 people and used South Korea’s exceptionally effective contact tracing system to look at who brought the virus into households. Tweens and teenagers were the highest index case age group. Younger children transmitted at the same rate as 20-somethings.

This is a large scale, rigorous piece of research that proves children are effective at transmitting the virus. It was conducted in a country that implements strict social distancing and mask wearing among children. The authors say the rate of transmission would have been higher if children weren’t subjected to those measures.

Plans to reopen schools more or less as normal in September will place many lives at risk, and increase the likelihood schools will have to close again. The government needs to acknowledge schools will be highly efficient vectors of viral transmission and change its reopening plans.

Published Paper:
wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/10/20-1315_article

Article on the paper:

www.bloombergquint.com/business/covid-19-spread-fastest-by-teens-and-tweens-korea-study-finds

Taking children's temperatures will go. Despite the fact that many other countries routinely do this, once more it has been advised against in the DFE guidelines.

They are in that shop with no windows for hours at a time.

Reminder from SAGE

The highest risk is in indoor, crowded, poorly-ventilated space for an extended period of time

Shops have taken measures not to be crowded and there are signs up everywhere to stay 2m away. If a shop worker is closer to someone in the aisles they are not following the rules set for their safety. When the work means they have to be closer (checkouts) they have screens.

In small shops the public have been instructed to wear masks. And from next week will have to for all shops.

If a teacher cannot stay 2m away from their class, the guidelines say ‘oh well’.

@Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow

Oh for goodness sake. Destroying children’s lives is NOT the answer to a virus that is mild in most people. Utter nonsense and we need to learn to live.

Exactly!!

Ah, the magical 1 in whatever stat. That's a nationwide statistic. My chance where I am is far higher and yet my school will have the same cram them all back in non measures as one in a remote area with few cases.

Time2change2

All of those years that they had sneeze guards at buffets and salad bars and they did nothing.

Who knew.

Shops around here are still limiting numbers in to the shop. etc. etc.
But you already know this.

Only 73 allowed in the store at any one time at my local Next. Which is huge. The equivalent floor space in a nearby school would probably accommodate 300 pupils and staff.

@Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow

Oh for goodness sake. Destroying children’s lives is NOT the answer to a virus that is mild in most people. Utter nonsense and we need to learn to live.

How is putting in simple safety measures destroying children's lives?

Im going to repeat my post of earlier to the 'we need to crack on and open schools fully, it's only a mild virus for most people anyway etc etc...

what of children and staff that have been shielding?
Ok schools need to open to a wider cohort of children...but to do that in a way that makes it near impossible to have any form of social distancing or protective measures.... and then expect all those who have been deemed critically vulnerable, to just go back. Don't you think that is just madness and an example of the way this has not been thought through?

Bupkis

We already know that the fuckwit response to that excellent question is that they should resign from their jobs.

By the way @noblegiraffe, your posts are spot on.

Teachers will remain 1 m at least from pupils in secondary for the vast majority of the time.

Literally not the space in the rooms I teach in. How does effective teaching take place when I can't get anywhere near the students work?

@Piggywaspushed

Ah, the magical 1 in whatever stat. That's a nationwide statistic. My chance where I am is far higher and yet my school will have the same cram them all back in non measures as one in a remote area with few cases.

And you may catch covid. Same as pre lockdown. Same as everyone else. If this is an unacceptable risk to you, please consider your options. Like everyone else has to.

openplankitchen

If this is an unacceptable risk to you, please consider your options. Like everyone else has to.

What would those options be?

I am capable of thinking beyond myself, you know.

That one in 4000 will rise the minute infection spread is not controlled.

I love the idea that teachers worried about the community, colleagues, children they teach and their families are painted as the irresponsible, shiftless ones.

Tbh kitchen, you still haven't told us about the h and S measures your employer has in place for you.

@FrippEnos
We already know that the fuckwit response to that excellent question is that they should resign from their jobs.....and shielded children should either be deregistered for home education or their parents should pay the fines.....oh the options are endless.

piggy, try advanced search. V illuminating.

Ffs. People endlessly say well what do you think should happen? They then straw man it to make out teachers want schools closed forever.

So you take time to spell out what you, as a secondary teacher who knows the environment and is an expert in learning, think should happen and everyone ignores it and continues with the straw man.

Did anyone bother to read my post on effective blended learning and could answer what about it would be objectionable?

@FrippEnos it is the government's responsibility to put in measures to reduce community transmission. In schools this will include washing hands, bubbles etc.

It is an individual's responsibility to consider what options are available to them.

Some of the parents here had better be careful what they wish for. If you are so set on your children going back to school regardless of safer conditions being met, and are seriously proposing that all teachers who have realistic concerns for their own (and others') health should resign, then have a think about who you think will staff those classes. Children will be sent home because there is no teacher, rather than specifically because that teacher caught Covid (which of course, will also be happening).
Bit like turkeys voting for Christmas, as far as I can see.
It seems to

That one in 4000 will rise the minute infection spread is not controlled.

Exactly. It took a month to get from February half term where things were normal, to a country in lockdown. People seem to have forgotten how exponential growth works.

If this is an unacceptable risk to you, please consider your options. Like everyone else has to

The only option available to a teacher (standard teaching contract terms) is to resign before October half term, effective at Christmas - ie however unacceptable the risk, the teacher still has to teach a full term from this point.

I would also make the point that 'everyone else' has other options. Employees only have to go back to their place of work (if currently wfh) if it is Covid secure. No school is Covid secure, as the guidance for schools does not meet the Covid secure guidance for other workplaces - but no teacher can wfh once schools return.

There is such an obvious middle way between teachers having to return to deliberately insecure workplaces and having to resign - to make the workplace more secure, by spending some money and applying the same Covid-secure rules to schools as other workplaces....

@TheHoneyBadger blended learning would not be effective for the majority would be my problem with it

I’m your kid’s maths teacher. If I resign they won’t be able to replace me. Your child will be taught maths by a series of supply teachers who are probably trained in PE.

Are you really sure you want me to consider my options?

@noblegiraffe of course I would support you being able to consider your options. Why shouldn't you be able to?