Sorry depressing thread. Are the Government deliberately drip feeding us on schools? So sick of it.

[purplerain2020]

I think I read somewhere that there is a schools review on 11th August. A while ago we were promised summers schools, not that I believed but they never happened. They promised laptops for those that needed it, only a few get it.

We've been promised that schools will fully open in September. I believe they will open and they won't back down on this. But, I think they are fully aware that within a few weeks, schools will be closing left right and centre and working Mums are going to be scrabbling around looking for someone to look after their children while they work and praying for the goodwill of their employers. The Government will have done what they promised, got everyone back in September, after all, they didn't say how long it would be for did they? Surely they must be getting advise by the Scientists of what is likely to happen with the procedures or lack of them for schools in September?

I keep hearing Mumsnet poster say but how can we work? How can we pay our bills? How will we keep a roof over our heads if the schools don't open full time? I am beginning to realise that it may well be the case that indeed, we won't be able to work and we won't be able to pay our bills and there is nothing we can do about it. It will be down to us to step up and educate our children when schools are shut because the government has been underfunding our schools for years. I work part-time from home, 25 hours a week, even that is looking rocky at the moment. DH's job is ok but I feel like he is hanging on by the skin of his teeth. So sick of our lives being turned upside down.

I'm in my early 40s, I was a child in the 80's and my family was hit hard by the recession. I've got a sick feeling in my stomach that the future is going to repeat itself.

@FrippEnos that’s your opinion. People suggesting that’s kids be taught in churches and other buildings I personally cannot not see it as other posters have suggested. I hold no power I’m just a normal person so don’t focus on me too much as ultimately I won’t be making any decisions come September.

@mosquitofeast

Teachers have a possibility of getting COVID-19 they are not looking after kids with POSITIVE test results big big difference. How can you be so sure that you have not had the COVID already??? Or has anxiety got the better of you and you are assuming that you would automatically end up on ICU?

You are not making any sense. I have no idea what you are talking about. I have looked after children with covid, and I have caught it from them, as have many teachers in my school, not all of whom have recovered. I don't want to get it again. I might not get off so lightly next time

We have also dealt with families who have been critically ill or bereaved.

WE are dealing with children left disabled by covid too

Again, what are you actually complaining about? It is incomprehensible to me

So why do you keep replying? Evidently you enjoy arguing as you keep continuing to respond to something you don’t understand.

[quote Bananabread8]@FrippEnos that’s your opinion. People suggesting that’s kids be taught in churches and other buildings I personally cannot not see it as other posters have suggested. I hold no power I’m just a normal person so don’t focus on me too much as ultimately I won’t be making any decisions come September.[/quote]
There are many things that are possible, but a blanket "no" on all ideas that would cost money (as this government is doing to education) is reprehensible.

As is there inability to make masks compulsory in secondary schools. which is the way the rest of the world is going.

Evidently you enjoy arguing as you keep continuing to respond to something you don’t understand.

I don't see Mosquitos post as arguing, they're trying to understand what you're on about. Frankly I don't blame them, as i'm also confused by what points you're trying to make with your posts.

So why do you keep replying? Evidently you enjoy arguing as you keep continuing to respond to something you don’t understand.

I am not arguing with you. How could I be arguing with you? Your posts are totally incoherent. I have no idea what you are trying to say, or what you are angry about, or what you want, or what point you are making.

All I have been trying to do is elicit some clarity form you, that's all.

And if people are so against masks and any other form of PPE or SD in schools then the only way for schools to open safely is to prevent it from getting in schools in the first place and that means compromising what you do outside of schools.

And that is all children teenagers and adults, and frankly people are far to selfish to do that.

You need part time learning in smaller groups, or you need a lot more money. I think parents are going to need to bend to the former, I'm afraid.

It hasn’t happened yet, for primary anyway. And it hasn’t been proposed for September. It could happen I suppose, but seems unlikely.

@Ickabog

Evidently you enjoy arguing as you keep continuing to respond to something you don’t understand.

I don't see Mosquitos post as arguing, they're trying to understand what you're on about. Frankly I don't blame them, as i'm also confused by what points you're trying to make with your posts.

So why is it that they feel the need to be constantly obtuse could it be perhaps because I don’t agree of hold the same view as theirs?

I work in a hospital on the front line believe me they were floods of tears when we were told we couldn’t have PPE!!

Facts is nurses were not kicking up a fuss the way teachers are on MN.

From the same poster.

@noblegiraffe

If I thought I could get out of the shitshow that teaching in September will be, I would hand my notice in today. But I can’t resign till Christmas.

So I would prefer it if people could STOP FUCKING SAYING IT’S AN OPTION.

I'm sorry that you'd (understandably) like to hand your notice in, but can't That's crap.

Could you explain why you can't though? Is it because you've signed a contract saying you can't? Private or state?

I get that schools need notice & rules, but not being able to hand your notice in for a full term just seems barking.

Is there any chance that the rules have/will change due to Covid?

Could you do it on medical grounds?

What would happen if you just refused to go in?

Sorry, just really interested in how it works.

@FrippEnos do you actually have any experience of wearing a mask for numerous hours? Primary school children will struggle to understand what a teacher is saying with a mask on their face. Teachers would be much better with a visor for this sole reason. People think they know all yet they have not tried it themselves. Go and wear a mask from 9-3 and let me know how you get on.

@noblegiraffe

I work in a hospital on the front line believe me they were floods of tears when we were told we couldn’t have PPE!!

Facts is nurses were not kicking up a fuss the way teachers are on MN.

From the same poster.

Did you volunteer at the same to help the NHS? Or did you just clap and think that was your bit of support done?

So why is it that they feel the need to be constantly obtuse could it be perhaps because I don’t agree of hold the same view as theirs?

How would anyone know if they agree or hold the same views? You haven't said what your views are yet. If you want a conversation, you are going to have to say what your views are

Did you volunteer at the same to help the NHS? Or did you just clap and think that was your bit of support done?

You're completely missing the point Noble was making.

But I suspect that's because it doesn't suit you to admit that actually yes, some front line NHS staff were kicking up a fuss.

@Bananabread8 many of us have volunteered, and have word masks 9-3 or longer, and I really don't have any idea what you are trying to say, and I have tried to understand you, but I am going to stop replying now, because I can't make any sense at all of your posts.

[quote Bananabread8]@FrippEnos do you actually have any experience of wearing a mask for numerous hours? Primary school children will struggle to understand what a teacher is saying with a mask on their face. Teachers would be much better with a visor for this sole reason. People think they know all yet they have not tried it themselves. Go and wear a mask from 9-3 and let me know how you get on.[/quote]
Yes I do know what its like to wear a mask for hours.

Enclosed spaces trained, BA trained, Scuba trained. Hazardous waste trained, emergency response trained.

And I said secondary not primary.

It is about time people started to separate out the two school levels.

As for visors, yes it would be a start.

Incredibly it’s not that I can’t hand my notice in, it’s if that I hand my notice in now (or in fact if I’d handed it in any any time past 31st May) my leaving date would be Christmas. It’s how it works in teaching, there are three times of the year you are allowed to resign - Christmas (hand your notice in between 1st June and 31st Oct), Easter (hand your notice in between 1st Nov and 28th Feb) and the summer (hand your notice in between 1st March and 31st May).

Is there any chance that the rules have/will change due to Covid?

God no, the government are relying on teachers being stuck in role.

Could you do it on medical grounds?

I’m not in any clinically vulnerable group, neither are my family, I’m not especially worried about the CV risk (although I fully understand that other teachers are and am in full support of them fighting for better protection). My concern is how completely emotionally stressful, physically demanding and utterly futile the measures put in place for September will be. I was pretty much an emotional wreck by the time lockdown happened and I’m fairly robust.

When I say ‘shitshow’, I’m talking about the working conditions, the uncertainty, the potential for unexpected closures and the complete lack of plan for dealing with any of this.

Bananabread8

Here is a semi suitable visor, can't see the government splahing out that amount of money to get one for ever teacher/TA/LSM

www.toolstation.com/honeywell-bionic-face-shield/p57929

@IncrediblySadToo I'm not the person you directed the comment at but teaching jobs have standard leaving dates - to leave at the end of a term you have to have resigned by the end of the previous half term.

So to leave at Xmas notice must be in by Oct 31st, to leave at Easter notice in by 28th Feb, to leave in July notice in by 31st of May. If you miss one deadline then you have to wait until the next one (so resignation on the 1st of June would technically allow you to leave in December).

Leaving before those dates is considered breach of contract and the school has the option of persuing legal action against you, it is a major black mark against you in terms of references etc. It should also be noted that because of these dates you also then get points of the year where job openings come up more frequently. School recruitment is a fascinating beast.

There are ways to leave early, if the school agrees it (usually because they are desperate to be rid of the teacher and would they go quickly and quietly), with union intervention or on medical grounds. To use myself as an example, I handed in my notice mid November and could have left in December due to medical grounds but chose to stay on until the end of the school year so that a good replacement could be found (I was a head of department and taught two shortage subjects at A level so I wasn't going to be easy to replace) and to see my exam classes through to the end. I didn't have to, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone as 7 months of notice is brutal but it was the choice I made.

@noblegiraffe X posted. Sorry! Couldn't resist answering the question, I guess a little bit of the teacher remains!

@FrippEnos to be honest I’m obviously not part of the government and I’m not a teacher so I don’t know the ins and outs. However 24.99 is not a lot as the teacher would keep it and clean between each use an they could purchase this themselves. Could it be to do with the wearer needs to be risks assessed? Did it get cleaned properly? Why are teachers wearing PPE but not the kids?
Do masks do more harm than good for children who will just touch the mask anyway. I only know from a hospital point of view that even though it’s not rocket science to put a mask on there still is training and and accountability for wearing PPE.

If the Government can find money for HS2 (particularly when there is increased home working for some) and useless PPE it can find money for additional spaces, washing facilities, extra buses, masks/visors, extended cleaning contracts etc. It doesn't want to.

Much more cost effective to stir divisions between teachers and parents (ignoring that many teachers will be parents too).

Bananabread8

Training if required could be given, and secondary school pupils should also be wearing masks, as they are required to do in shops etc.

And exemptions should be given for those unable to wear masks, etc. etc.

Do masks do more harm than good for children who will just touch the mask anyway.

Children in other countries manage without these issues. Why are the children in the UK so special that they can't manage it?

@FrippEnos

Do masks do more harm than good for children who will just touch the mask anyway.

Children in other countries manage without these issues. Why are the children in the UK so special that they can't manage it?

We'll have to ask Johnson and his boss Dominic that.

I imagine some teachers will find the stress too much when schools open and will be off with stress within days. And kids will be sent home.

Perhaps they wouldn't be so stressed if they were allowed PPE and older kids also wore PPE.