School re-opening may not go well.

[jomartin281271]

Here's an article from the New York Times documenting what happened when the Israeli government decided to re-open their schools. They thought they had beaten the virus (which this country certainly hasn't) and within days it was spreading again like wildfire. One section of the article is particularly interesting. It reads:

'Public health experts worldwide have coalesced around a set of guidelines for reopening schools.

A major recommendation is to create groups of 10 to 15 students who stay together in classrooms, at recess and lunchtime, with teachers assigned to only one group. Each group has minimal contact with other groups, limiting any spread of infection. And if a case of Covid-19 emerges, one group can be quarantined at home while others can continue at school.

Other key recommendations include staggering schedules or teaching older students online, keeping desks several feet apart, sanitizing classrooms more frequently, providing ventilation and opening windows if possible, and requiring masks for staff and students old enough to wear them properly.'

Our government are going to be cramming the kids into the same old classrooms, students won't be wearing masks, and the older students won't be able to study remotely. And this in a country with one of the highest mortality rates from Covid in the world.

You can read the full article here.

www.nytimes.com/2020/08/04/world/middleeast/coronavirus-israel-schools-reopen.html

I saw another thread recently which summed things up for me. We ALL have to take responsibilty for our actions, which will in turn reduce the Covid risk when schools go back.

If we ALL follow the rules, stay 2 metres apart, don’t have more than 1 other household inside, wear masks in shops, wash hands etc etc etc then the levels of the virus will remain low, which will in turn protect the schools.

But too many selfish people seem to think the rules don’t apply to them, so this thing will spread again.

Do you have anything to contribute to the thread about schools reopening or are you just here to be rude?

Yes, I asked how the idea about one teacher teaching a group of 10-15 children in one classroom all day was going to work in secondary schools. Do you have anything to contribute to that question or are you just here to be offended?

I agree mavey. Where is the public messaging about this??

flu is actually much deadlier for children

Not necessarily. Also, depends which children. Also, children rely heavily on family members to survive emotionally and physically. Anything which threatens all this is extremely serious for them.

Agree people who want their dc in school need to play their part to ensure that their dc don't take Covid into the school.

Wouldn't surprise me if there isn't some last minute, half arsed messaging on this.

It isn't newboy! I have zero solution to this that won't piss a load of people off.

@Chaosreignshere

Agree people who want their dc in school need to play their part to ensure that their dc don't take Covid into the school.

Wouldn't surprise me if there isn't some last minute, half arsed messaging on this.

I can see recommendations on wearing face masks in schools coming in for all who are able.

Those people who were hysterical about their child being muzzled and threatening to home school if that was introduced, will be more than welcome to do so.

@moretolifethanthis2020

It fascinates me that most people on Mumsnet ignore the fact that for a huge proportion of children in the UK, that schools are their place, that schools are their first line of support for child protection, that schools had to provide breakfast for them as they weren't getting it at home. These children have been totally and utterly forgotten about. Not all pupils come from nice middle class homes! You shut these schools down for any longer and there is a MASSIVE safeguarding risk. There already is a massive issue. Viruses are not new to 2020. The flu season kills thousands upon thousands each year, and that's WITH a vaccination. The whole reaction is ludicras. I am a teacher btw.

Please don't think I'm discounting that there are vulnerable DC out there, of course there are.

"huge proportion" though ? Nope.

Vulnerable DC have still been going to school all the way through this. Social Services have still been operating. I know, I am there too, working.

My sister is a mum in one of those families who may be classed as 'vulnerable' . Single parent on benefits with mental health issues. Her DC perfectly fine. She is pissed off at her situation being used by some in the said middle classes calling for unsafe school re openings. There wasn't much interest before.

Again, I am NOT discounting that vulnerable families exist. 'Huge proportions' of all school children though ? Nope.

@CountessFrog

I don’t think she’s being rude with the ‘global pandemic’ thing.

That’s what a ‘pandemic’ is. It’s ‘global.’

When people shout ‘global pandemic’ it reminds me of people on Jeremy Kyle saying ‘on national television.’ It’s just utter dramatic effect.

Have already apologised for my clearly heinous misuse of the word ‘global’. Anything useful about schools to say at all?

Really? Do we need to resort to this level of intimidation and name calling? can we not be civil?

But you aren't wrong hercule as I said upthread. It IS a global pandemic.

And it ain't just flu. Thought that myth had been cleared up in February !!

@Piggywaspushed

From the WHO

A pandemic is the worldwide spread of a new disease.

A true pandemic occurs when almost simultaneous transmission takes place worldwide

[quote Bupkis]@Napqueen1234
...don’t realise how privileged they are
Get away with the bloody privilege bollocks. Just because I would like the option of keeping ds home (and I would like the wider opening of schools to be done with better systems in place) does not mean I am floating on some cloud of fucking privilege.[/quote]
Indeed bupkis!

The fact that someone would think I am "privileged" for being so ill (and extremely clinically vulnerable btw) that I require a full time carer (who herself is clinically vulnerable too) - and thus we are both home and can keep the DCs with us - says a lot about them and their viewpoints on disability. Same of course that you are privileged for having a ECV child. Ffs 😡🙄

Shall we start saying 'true pandemic' then?

My definition above came from the WHO.

Then of course there is the "privilege" of being on benefits rather than having to work.

Next thing I'll admit to the audacity of having a big telly

Here it is again

A pandemic is defined as “an epidemic occurring worldwide, OR over a very wide area, crossing international boundaries and usually affecting a large number of people”.

I think it is officially classified a pandemic when community transmission is in 2 or more WHO regions, so with covid it was when it started spreading in Europe. It was an epidemic when it was just in Asia.

I must admit, I’m surprised they’re going ahead with September opening.

As much as I want my daughter back at school, I don’t agree with putting her education before her health.

I’m seriously considering home schooling, if they don’t make more realistic changes.

Yes a pandemic isn't necessarily worldwide - eg malaria is a pandemic but only between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn

@TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross

Do you have anything to contribute to the thread about schools reopening or are you just here to be rude?

Yes, I asked how the idea about one teacher teaching a group of 10-15 children in one classroom all day was going to work in secondary schools. Do you have anything to contribute to that question or are you just here to be offended?

🤣🤣🤣 at me being the one offended 🤣🤣🤣.

Yes we’ve discussed this on many threads - if we had a blended learning model you could have 50% of the school in at one time. When in we would do the teaching/instructing/modelling bit and with smaller classes of 15 would be able to more easily make sure all were Ok. During the times they are at home we could then set some consolidation/independent work along with some pre-learning for the next lot of lessons coming up.

Obviously it isn’t as ideal as all being back as before, but with time and planning we could make it work the best we could. Students we identify as vulnerable
or without tech at home could be supported by being in more during their time when they would be at home. We could probably provide some tech for students who need it.

There are many other options if the government sorted itself out and was prepared to spend ANY money at all on education. It’s been discussed about utilising sports type camps/outdoor activities/arts subjects that are often marginalised in schools being utilised on different sites, using outside facilities where possible. However that requires money which the gov are not going to provide sadly.

Well i still dont know what to do about schools but i know far more about the word pandemic

@moretolifethanthis2020

Totally agree with you. So much emotive language and drama.

Schools need to reopen fully.
Anyone who isn’t happy should keep their kids at home and continue their “education” via BBC bitesize, and leave the rest of us to have our kids properly educated.
I’m sick of the moaning about schools not being safe.
Life goes on. Much as people would like to spend their days crocheting rainbows and baking banana bread, it just isn’t a long term option.