School re-opening under threat

[jomartin281271]

Headline in the London Evening Standard today that this new surge could threaten re-opening of schools. I'm not surprised. The government know that it's not safe to open schools under their current guidance. Cramming children, teachers and admin staff into those tiny spaces could cause a catastrophe. I feel sorry for teachers. Most of them are really committed to the job and their lives are being put at risk. Scary times.
www.standard.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-second-wave-schools-september-a4511516.html

I also took note of the massive rise in private school numbers that were published last week ... parents are well aware that most private schools pulled it together and got their online education in order, whereas state schools didn't. All the private schools around here are suddenly 'full' from what I've heard.

shhh, The HoneyBadger. You're crushing the American Dream.

@Lougle

At my girls' school, the staff will be using a gadget to spray a 'sterile solution' into the air once the children leave the classroom (only for specialist classrooms - the teachers will be moving to the children for all other lessons). I'm not sure quite what they were told that would do. It won't do a thing.

@Lougle A magic spray? I need some of that!

Any parent with half a brain will know that it is money and selection that accounts for the majority of difference between private and state schools.

Despite my leftish leanings I’d have had ds at a good private secondary rather than the current state of state secondaries any day.

He might have gotten a maths teacher who could speak English. Imagine that?

Honestly, if I didn't think it would be highly disrespectful, I'd post the video of the demonstration. It's just mind boggling.

@nellodee

This is what annoys me. If it was acknowledged that we might face disruptions, we could have spent the summer realistically preparing for them. I have about 2 weeks of work to do over the next month, producing resources to support a full return. I'll be pretty pissed off if having spent a good proportion of my holidays doing that, I am then placed in the position of supplying substandard distance learning at ten seconds notice for a second time around. We had ample time to prepare for a really high quality blended learning regime this winter, and in my opinion, we wasted it.

Do NOT come complaining to me if your child's learning is substandard this Autumn. (I don't know who I'm aiming that at really, it's just a scatter gun rant!)

Completely agree and you could have been given time to liaise with families and find out who was struggling etc. No time on plan B equates to a complete lack of understanding of teachers’ expertise, you’ve been robbed of the time to plan and been given a tremendous amount of unnecessary stress. Prioritise relaxing now if I was you - so far as possible - it’s so uncertain, the best thing you can do is start in as happy a place as possible yourself.

@howfarwevecome

I've seen lots of parents of small children out enjoying themselves in coffee shops, restaurants, getting together at each other's houses for parties, shopping trips together, driving off to France for holidays and jetting off on holidays to various destinations in Europe, especially Spain.

They will all bitch mightily if their children don't go back to school in September.

I won't feel sorry for any of them. They will have all contributed to the problem imo.

I think this is what needs to be spelled out to parents:

There is no good solution that gets your children into school full time while providing any decent degree of infection control while they are there.

So children going back in September - and staying back - requires us to drive community infection down to as close to zero as it can go. this means that EVERY SINGLE FAMILY needs to step up now, to follow the guidelines and to reduce infection. Every time the guidlines are broken, this makes it more likely that children won't get back into school.

The choice is up to every parent - the schools are ready and waiting for your children, but they can only open and stay open safely if everyone avoids anything that could increase community Covid infections in the meantime.

parents are well aware that most private schools pulled it together and got their online education in order, whereas state schools didn't

Isn't it amazing what money can achieve? If only state schools were funded instead of being told that they will receive ZERO funding to educate children during the covid crisis.

I also took note of the massive rise in private school numbers that were published last week

Yes, me too. I thought it was quite odd given that teachers were being constantly told how lucky they were to have a job and an income and out in the real world everyone else was destitute. Apparently not everyone is equally affected.

@nellodee

shhh, The HoneyBadger. You're crushing the American Dream.

Oh let them have it. Fill their boots in la la land.

If only state schools were funded instead of being told that they will receive ZERO funding to educate children during the covid crisis.

Oh, and if only they only had children from families who can afford to buy the relevant technology and have decent internet access....

I have to say that I'm very impressed with their school's efforts and communication in general. On the theme of facemasks, we've been told that if the children travel by public bus, they'll need 1 mask for the journey in, which will be disposed of or put in a plastic bag for washing on arrival. They may wear another mask during the day if they want to. On the way home, they must have a clean facemask for the return journey. So potentially 3 masks per day.

Right, I’ve got a kettle to sterilise water, and a water mister to spray it in my classroom and kill the COVID.

I’m now all set for September.

@noblegiraffe You need to get yourself on Dragon’s Den 😆

@cantkeepawayforever

If only state schools were funded instead of being told that they will receive ZERO funding to educate children during the covid crisis.

Oh, and if only they only had children from families who can afford to buy the relevant technology and have decent internet access....

Yes a classes with no SEN. Or children with pesky child protection issues. Or children where English is their second language.

@howfarwevecome

I've also seen some families doing what you've said. On the other hand, i know of a lot more families (mine included) not doing any of that. 1) Because there's a virus doing the rounds, which I'd quite like not to get. 2) 3) 4) 5) all come back to the virus.

I'd love to have a normal summer, I really would. For now, we're sticking locally because my (eldest at least) children do need to start seeing friends soon & they need an education. Which despite what some people think here, teachers provide.
Most of all, they need the stability of their teachers, parents & family being safe. If that means schools become part time, then that's what needs to happen. If that means we miss out on going on holiday, fine, that's what needs to be. If it means we're sick of seeing the same old places on our walks, fine.
Hopefully, they will be lots more holidays, lots more places to see. They'll get over not having an amazing summer but they wouldn't get over losing a much loved teacher, family member or parent.

@Tootletum

So how am I supposed to earn a living? Teachers won't lose their jobs if schools close, I will.

Not the teachers job to ensure you can work, your child is your responsibility.

My ds is about to enter year 11 and I am extremely worried about his education.
He can be quite laid back ( aka lazy) and the lack of teaching has had an adverse effect on his studies.
I am not convinced that a September start is imminent , so myself and dh have decided to take it in turns to tutor ds in the core subjects. Fortunately, we both work from home atm, so this will make it slightly easier.

@cantkeepawayforever

If only state schools were funded instead of being told that they will receive ZERO funding to educate children during the covid crisis.

Oh, and if only they only had children from families who can afford to buy the relevant technology and have decent internet access....

Yes and other wonderful things like a whole room to themselves to work in or even degree educated au pairs supporting them with their learning and lovely leafy grounds to let off steam in.

No bothersome lack of support because you’re mum is out working on a check out or trying to help 3 kids in a 2 bedroom flat with one ancient laptop. Etc ffs

@noblegiraffe- ha ha

cantkeepawayforever, you are absolutely right. If people want schools back to normal, then they shouldn't be part of the "Let's get everything back to normal NOW" crew, they should be part of the "No holidays, no pub lunches, essential trips only" crew.

The government needs to give proper guidance ASAP because apart from anything else, school uniform and shoes etc is expensive and everyone could do without wasting the money if we won't need it. It's not like you can keep it for next term if your dcs are growing rapidly. Yet another example of how out of touch the government are.

Keir Starmer was saying a couple of months ago that they need a proper plan and suggested using public buildings for extra space, I remember that from PMQs. It seems like the government has in fact done f* all and shifting the responsibility for it all to schools.

Shitfuckoh, that's a lovely post.

So how am I supposed to earn a living? Teachers won't lose their jobs if schools close, I will.

Not the teachers job to ensure you can work, your child is your responsibility.

Oh dear. From a teacher I bet.

And yet I can so easily imagine you telling parents they shouldn’t have had kids if they can’t afford them on a benefit thread Marsha

Perhaps I’ve confused you with another type of poster.