School re-opening under threat - thread 2

[DomDoesWotHeWants]

First thread here -

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/3981349-School-re-opening-under-threat?msgid=98768334

It seems to me that Johnson is creeping towards masks in schools come September, given that he's extended the paces they have to be worn.

Do teachers think that's enough?

You might be in the room with those 30 children at the time but you are no more at risk than all the families of the children in that same bubble. The difference between the coronavirus risk to you and them is about five days.

I can't see young children being able to wear them correctly tbh. Although if that's what is recommended I will be all for it. It does seem like it's going to end up with schools just taking children part time though, to facilitate smaller class sizes.

This has nothing to do with not wanting to look after my own child.

My ds needs to learn, he needs wider ideas, he needs the society of other children. He is an only child.

He would struggle wearing a mask but if that’s what it takes... His school is good and has already worked out how to split pupils into classes of 16 for years 7,8 and 9. We are in a low cv19 rural area.

I have all my fingers crossed

I dont see a problem with high school kids wearing masks.

I have the greatest sympathy for parents who need their children in school so they can work. But I don’t find it reasonable for school staff to have less Covid protection than other workers in order to facilitate parents working. Equally I have the greatest sympathy for children who don’t have a good home environment but I don’t think school staff should have less Covid protection in order to safeguard those children. Staff safety needs to come first, followed by delivering the best education possible under the circumstances. If that means parents need to WFH or seek alternative childcare provision then that’s up to them to sort out.

And children’s safety. I don’t believe for one moment that our kids will be safe in the September chaos.

Unfortunately I’ve foreseen a lot of this ahead of the government. Our government is so behind the curve and no one can deny that.

Fuck me has anyone just watched Dr Jenny Harris said on Sky, children don't suffer badly from the virus, don't spread it so schools good for September

don't spread it so schools good for September

How can she say that, when we know that's not true.

@LegoMaus very well put. Also up thread someone used Covid hokey pokey, which is exactly what will happen. I don't see how that helps working parents. You will get a call to immediately put your child up for 14 days at home. Surely organised blended learning means you can organise something with work rather than possibly being completely unreliable?

*Hokey Cokey

@Regulus

Fuck me has anyone just watched Dr Jenny Harris said on Sky, children don't suffer badly from the virus, don't spread it so schools good for September

Funny that there were more cases in schools before they closed in July than care homes.....

I’ve not seen a single scientific piece of evidence that says children don’t spread it, do you really think a virus knows the difference between its hosts ages?

@Regulus

Fuck me has anyone just watched Dr Jenny Harris said on Sky, children don't suffer badly from the virus, don't spread it so schools good for September

We have to differentiate ‘children’. What age group are we talking here? 0-the day before their 18th birthday?

I don’t think it’s safe for the dc to go back right now, much as I would love them to for my own sanity.

Would prefer online learning

How can Jenny Harris say that?! it's not true!

*Also, I can’t for the life of me teach maths. I’ve taught sex Ed and PSHE successfully to KS3 and 4, but yet I struggle with my primary kids school work.

I am not ashamed to admit that. I wouldn’t class myself as thick, but maybe I am compared to some mumsnetters.*
I'm in Ireland so dont know your children's ages from the classes, but I struggled teaching my 10 year old maths this year at times, a mixture of the teaching part and being able to work it out too!

@LegoMaus

I have to say, I think children can be adequately educated by attending part-time and having access to homework and distance learning the rest of the time. That would enable safe working conditions as well as education. Insisting on full-time attendance is more about parents wanting childcare than it is about education.

Absolutely agree.

It would have been better to have organised proper part time Ed, in safer Socially distanced small groups with provision for distance learning than the repeated non education that is likely to happen with such ridiculous disruption that actually attending will serve no discernible educational benefit.

For secondary school students, where the risk of transmission appears to be higher, I think it would be far better to plan on the basis of half the school attending each week. There is much less of an issue with that age group spending some time on their own at home (obviously not ideal but for the majority it would be ok). I would rather they had 50% face to face than none at all.

@iceCreamAndCandyfloss Of course age makes a difference in how people's bodies react to the virus.

@Beebityboo

How can Jenny Harris say that?! it's not true!

You can bet that won't stop some people repeating it as the truth though.

It's so dangerous to spread misinformation.

Fuck me has anyone just watched Dr Jenny Harris said on Sky, children don't suffer badly from the virus
It may be the case that children don’t suffer badly, but they do transmit it to other family members and school staff. Literally yesterday there was some research posted saying children transmit like adults and young children transmit significantly more than adults.

jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2768952

Been reading the first thread today, some really interesting points raised.

To throw my two pence worth in - I’d prefer blended learning, perhaps one week in, one week home learning or two days per week etc. I do resent the implication by some that children have had ‘no education’ for the past 5 months, I’ve worked really hard to educate my children, obviously not being a qualified teacher it’s not to the usual standard but that’s not to say they haven’t learnt anything. For emotional well being I want them to go back to school in September but I think it’s totally unrealistic to send them back as per the government plans!

That article says that they could potentially drive the illness but it doesn't conclude that they do.

My kids are going back on the 11 th August, no social distancing and no masks.....that should be time to see how it goes for you and yours?

Oliphantitus I am not complicit in that. I do not want your children to be Guinea pigs for mine.

No reference on children's ages.

I'm so so sorry for those that are celebrating Eid in the areas that have gone into lockdown. It does feel crass to compare it to canceling Christmas at 10pm on Christmas day but maybe that will make people realise how much this will affect people.

with the best will in the world.. can English parents stop and breathe.

Scottish kids are going back on the 11 August full time no masks.. By the time your kids are due to go back it will either be fine up here and you can relax a little
or it will be chaos and there will be a u turn on english schools

you at least have the benefit of scotland going ahead to see what happens