I'm a teacher and I'm scared.

[NebularNerd]

I don't feel safe going back to work in September. When I became a teacher I did not anticipate doing so during a pandemic. I, like many others in secondary schools, will be facing up to 150 students a day, indoors, with no protection.
I am over 40 but not otherwise in a high risk category, although my husband is and we have elderly parents who will be exposed if I'm infected, as well as young children who will also be in school and potentially exposed.
I'm not disputing the need for children to return to school at all. I'm just starting to fear returning.
Anyone else feel this way?

You're not the only one.

I'd give you a hug, but social distancing and all that...

I feel for you. I don't know what to say to make you feel better. I know many think this is just like flu etc but it's not. What I'm finding is people are only worried about themselves and think their kids will be fine but there's really no thought for the adults working in schools. It's just like one big experiment, open up and sure see how it goes. With no thought for anyone who gets the virus or passes it on, tbh I just feel many are just been seen as numbers, if opening schools works, it works, if it doesn't it doesn't. Anyone who dies will just be another number.

I'm not a teacher, but having lost 5 people to this virus who were all healthy and 2 more admitted to hospital this week, I know it's very real. I really feel for you all.

There has been no recorded case of a teacher catching the coronavirus from a pupil anywhere in the world, according to one of the government’s leading scientific advisors

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/no-known-case-of-teacher-catching-coronavirus-from-pupils-says-scientist-3zk5g2x6z

The virus isn’t going anyway. The vaccine (if it becomes available) won’t be ready for a while. I don’t see what alternative we have!

Not a teacher but I totally agree with what you say.

It would be super helpful if people like Summerpeony would stop posting that bullshit Times link. MNHQ have been asked to delete posts containing it as health misinformation during a global pandemic but they would prefer to have teachers do the leg work time after time after time of pointing out that it’s bullshit.

Ok, I appreciate the numbers of pupils will be large but many, many of us are working in close proximity to others with minimal PPE if any and have been all the way through. If you're teaching that many then I assume it's secondary and you can try to maintain 1 metre plus distance from them - keep your classroom windows open, wear a mask and get them to sanitise their hands on entering the classroom.

I don't think anyone envisioned doing their job in a pandemic, least of all low paid supermarket workers and care home staff.

But your job is extremely important and like health workers, you will be exposed to a small risk more than others.

I think being scared is understandable but hopefully once you've got in there and found your way with the new way of doing things, it won't feel so daunting.

I don't know what the alternative is, there doesn't seem to be a silver bullet with this situation.

People “like” me? I’m a nurse!!! How many teachers have died through covid? How many caught it at work? Evidence please!

I understand and feel the same.

I’m scared too. DH and I are both teachers, both close to retirement age but not close enough!

Not a single one of us wants to catch coronavirus. No one wants to think they’re at risk from dying every day, but nothing is certain - the virus isn’t going away. What is the alternative?

MNHQ have been asked to delete posts containing it as health misinformation during a global pandemic but they would prefer to have teachers do the leg work time after time after time of pointing out that it’s bullshit.

Genuinely interested in how that article contains health misinformation?

Are you being asked to work with 100s of different children, wearing no PPE and in poorly ventilated rooms where it’s impossible to Social distance? @SummerPeony

once you've got in there and found your way with the new way of doing things, it won't feel so daunting

Trouble is, we know what it was like before lockdown and the “new way of doing things” Is more difficult but offers precious little protection

@CodenameVillanelle

Ok, I appreciate the numbers of pupils will be large but many, many of us are working in close proximity to others with minimal PPE if any and have been all the way through. If you're teaching that many then I assume it's secondary and you can try to maintain 1 metre plus distance from them - keep your classroom windows open, wear a mask and get them to sanitise their hands on entering the classroom.

Teachers have been told not to wear masks, most classrooms you cannot be 1m away and who is paying for the hand sanitiser?

How many caught it at work? Evidence please!

Surely it would be almost impossible to prove where you caught Covid?

Sure if you work in a hospital / school etc with lots of people in close proximity then it's likely to be from there, but how would you prove it was definitely from that environment?

I don't know where peony works, but I would take hundreds of children in no PPE, than working with COVID patients all day in full PPE. Come on.

In Scotland we are back tomorrow , in service so no kids.My mind won't even go there ! So I'm going to take it as it comes

The number of outbreaks in schools increased during the weeks schools opened for more pupils. So much that schools had the highest number of ourbreaks across all settings for those weeks. No one reports that though! Schools are safe don’t you know!

Not a teacher but I totally agree with what you say

Thank you. This is so much nicer to read than the “tough, suck it up” responses.

Tilly28

Are you being asked to work with 100s of different children, wearing no PPE and in poorly ventilated rooms where it’s impossible to Social distance? @SummerPeony

This needs context. Where is the definitive proof that children have transmitted the virus to adults? It sounds scary voicing it like that. But you need to look at the evidence available.

@SummerPeony

Not a single one of us wants to catch coronavirus. No one wants to think they’re at risk from dying every day, but nothing is certain - the virus isn’t going away. What is the alternative?

Putting some sort of safety measures in place. Schools aren’t much different to last September pre Covid. If smaller classes/masks/more cleaning facilities/more sinks etc were put in place then school staff would be less scared.

Just take each day as it comes. I don't fear school going back but I do fear cancer, mental health issues, environmental damage and global depression. My fears are no more real or rational than yours and sadly we can't just rid ourselves of them. I just try to live with them. Yoga helps.

@bigglewiggle

I don't know where peony works, but I would take hundreds of children in no PPE, than working with COVID patients all day in full PPE. Come on.

Those are the only options are they?

I think every Secondary teacher has the right to be scared. If a 17yo working in a shop can transmit, or an 18yo HCA, a sixth form student can. Basic logic. The virus doesn't discriminate based on educational or work status.

Schools need to reopen, doesn't mean that they are 100% safe from this virus, or any illness. My form tutor at Secondary school lost his hearing in one ear from a mystery illness that led to up to 50% of my class being off in one day over a period of two weeks. The worst affected were off for weeks.