Pubs or kids?

[coffeeandllbd]

Whitty said we cannot have it all. Pubs are jobs. School is mental health.

I have a 13 year old struggling with lockdown. I would choose schools. My brother would choose pubs.

Who would you choose?

The best way to teach is a teacher with students without the barrier of the screen. Each barrier introduced diminishes this. PPE and testing are better ways to deliver it.

Outside sounds good, and using other spaces always sounded good but it’s not parents against this option.

Schools are the future of the economy.

Smaller classes and more time outdoors would benefit everyone it probably would but it requires
1- more funding
2 - good weather
I tend to be of the opinion that there’s no bad weather, just inappropriate clothing. My youngest attends forest school year-round, regardless of snow or rain. I do agree that more funding is required though. Love how the government has £4bn to give cheap meals to adults but £0 to support changes to the school system.

Schools.

I find it a crazy notion for children to be supervised by other people to do work teachers have set
It already happens. My DM is a teacher and for a number of years has set work for two classes, she teaches one while an “unqualified teacher” supervises the other and delivers the work she’s set. This is because they couldn’t afford two teachers due to budget cuts, and it’s nothing new.

why on earth would you force people who are willing and able to work to provide for their families to go on benefits?
Because due to a global pandemic we can’t realistically provide school childcare to enable them to work any more. They could always arrange alternative childcare, but at least there would be financial support for those who can’t, or who can’t afford it.

I just think too many people are stamping their feet and demanding school back in its previous format, instead of recognising that the world has changed and the format needs to change accordingly. I would have a lot more confidence in the government if they were exploring alternatives, instead of just insisting schools will return as before when that’s clearly unrealistic and potentially won’t happen.

I just think too many people are stamping their feet and demanding school back in its previous format

It really isn’t ‘stamping your feet’ to say that your child deserves an education and that their parents should be facilitated to work to provide for them. These are basics.

So, for example, say we have parents who are NHS consultants. And we decide that instead of one of them working, we give them benefits instead, because we can’t sort out schools? It’s a crazy notion. And no, we can’t have a two tiered system where some are accommodated and some aren’t anymore. All jobs have merit in keeping the country going.

It’s very simple in my eyes. Either education is important, in which case we push out all the stops to deliver it, just like essential healthcare. Or it isn’t. In which case we divert much of the enormous funding for class teaching to online provision/parental support/childminding etc.

I just think too many people are stamping their feet and demanding school back in its previous format

Lego why do you think additional spaces haven’t been used? Parents would not be against this. Schools might even want it. But guidance says something about it - not to be used.

At least look to where the stoppage is occurring before talking about stamping feet.

Lego why do you think additional spaces haven’t been used?
Because a. It would cost money, and b. They’re worried that teachers, parents and children would prefer having smaller classes with more time outdoors and wouldn’t want to go back to the previous format.

Imo the government will nod and say “Yes of course we’ll open schools”, and they won’t spend any money exploring alternatives. Then in Sept/Oct they’ll say “Oops the numbers are too high” and will close them again. Cheap and easy.

So not parents fixated on current format then.

Parents too. In many cases they just want their children back in school. Not an alternative format that might require more effort and organisation.

Parents do not care if it’s in the village hall. They can even drop the dc off at usual place and school take them. It’s no extra requirement. Or even if they drop off at new place it’s hugely less onerous than homeschooling and working.

Look elsewhere if you want to find fault for not using additional spaces.

pubs should never have reopened.

Of course schools should take priority.

Some children ( a small minority) will not cope with or be properly provided for in spaces such as village halls and it is only full time school that will work for them.

Maybe pubs could shut and the buildings be used as additional space for schools. The Government could pay the pubs for rental of the space, win win.

Are you kidding me schools of course!

If schools don't open I think parents should drop off their kids at their nearest pub...then the government can sort that shit out

@MarshaBradyo

So not parents fixated on current format then.

Parents AND teachers are fixated on "how it's always been done". Neither seem to be willing to move to a different format.

@Underhisi

Some children ( a small minority) will not cope with or be properly provided for in spaces such as village halls and it is only full time school that will work for them.

Even with unlimited money, we can't build and staff bigger schools soon enough, so we have no alternative but to look for other options, such as larger rooms like village halls.

@BiggerBoat1

pubs should never have reopened.

Of course schools should take priority.

Fully agree. Pubs shouldn't be open. Restaurants, yes, and the dining areas of pubs for meals only, yes. But a definite no to only drinking in pubs.

Parents AND teachers are fixated on "how it's always been done". Neither seem to be willing to move to a different format.

Where do you get this idea from? Teachers moved virtually overnight to a completely different format in March!

Bad on the question of additional spaces no.

It doesn’t matter if you keep saying it with CAPS

Parents are not against using extra spaces in any meaningful way. Can you support your claim?

Underhisi schools are still available with extra space on top. So that small minority could be noted.

Teachers and SLT had a weekend to go from schools being fully open to schools only being open to vulnerable and keyword children, and remote learning to be provided to the others. On the day the announcement was made there wasn't a definition of what a key worker was. As soon as that was announced they had to contact all families and find out how many children would be coming in and then arrange the school and staff accordingly (bearing in mind many staff were shielding) and then prepare work in a completely different format that they were used to providing for the remainder children. Do not say teachers are fixated on using the same format.

And the Government guidance has said not to use other spaces.

Parents have had to try and do two jobs at the same time with zero choice in the matter.

A working alternative format that educates all to previous level is not going to be the problem.

Parents are not against using extra spaces in any meaningful way
You only have to look at the Us For Them website which so many parents are supporting. They are totally against social distancing and face masks in any form. They aren’t campaigning for the use of additional spaces, staggered times, outdoor sessions etc. They just want to open schools in their previous format.