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?

Ok also just asked teen how many in maths class, 10 to 15.

Sorry if I missed it, but is this is a state secondary? What year is he in?

@MarshaBradyo sorry was a bit harsh, and you've been lovely. What I meant was is your DS at a private school - am assuming he is with such small classes. At most state schools that photo is pretty representative of a classroom. Packed and with limited ventilation- on hot summer days the smell of teenager can become pungent. A lot of our rooms were built for 25 and I have 34 in them. 3 to a desk sometimes. With me pinned up against the board.

I'll go if you don't want to. I'd love to be able to work as childcare is expensive.

My degree is in science, but then did a graduate accountancy fast track. Earner a wodge for over a decade, then went into teaching to use my degree.

"Ok also just asked teen how many in maths class, 10 to 15"

In my experience classes of this size are not the norm except for private schools or bottom sets.

So let me get this right.

We need the schools open because of the economy.
We need the schools open so their parents can work.
The schools will be open with no social distancing and no masks - age 4 - 19.
To keep the number low, businesses like clothings, electrical, restaurants, gyms etc will have to close.

-Bubbles will be closed if 2 test positive, but regardless has to stay at home anyway, cos you know temperature. Just on the off chance the test was a false negative, and it's not like they are accurate, anyone who has been around that pupil has to also self isolate. Just from sitting in one class, potentially that's 16 other pupils and a member of staff.

If the staff/pupil has anyone at home with symptoms they also have to isolate. Are schools actually allowed to contact agency staff for a days cover?

The keeping schools open, and closing other businesses makes no sense economically. I saved a fortune from places being closed, and tbh I'm not in a hurry to go and spend either. Making me wait made me realise I didn't really need the stuff I was going to buy.

However, it was nice going clothes shopping, hairdressers and all that without the kids hanging about. That's when I did most of these things. Yea I love shopping online, but there's more to the world than work, school and online.

Needed that emergency whatever for the next day, everything open it was easy to get. We've all been there. The after school quick trip to the where ever. If these are all closed to keep. schools open how does that benefit the economy?

It's been a shit week at work, and you fancy a couple of pints with your colleagues, many know what I mean. But oh wait, pubs are closed.

@nellodee

I think solicitors are very used to taking lots of work home and prepping it up outside of work for deadlines. They also (and I know this is petty) seem to have a very professional looking exterior, which tends to make students take them seriously.

The re-trainnees who tend to to do badly, in my experience, are the social worker-y types who are used to building up fabulous relationships one on one or in small groups and think they can extend this to a whole class. They tend to wing it, think it is all about personal relationships rather than having answers to your powerpoints clearly visible on a screen, prepped up in advance.

In my experience ex-services did really badly. They were incredulous at the work load and also found classroom discipline difficult

I work in a state school. Five years ago, we used to have classes of 8 -15 for the bottom sets. Over the past few years, these classes have increased in size to about 19-26. I think this is more due to shortages in maths teachers than shortages in funding, but we are a very well managed school, financially.

Really disappointed to see nurses, Police officers and HCAs amongst teachers' most vociferous critics.

Walksen it’s top set, but they do stream heavily.

@WhyNotMe40

My degree is in science, but then did a graduate accountancy fast track. Earner a wodge for over a decade, then went into teaching to use my degree.

This is what I mean - people who switch because they have some desire to teach more likely to have the right skills.

I'd be happy for switchers - but worry about the idea people who get made redundant from better paid careers will easily transfer.

But granted a bigger pool of applicants would never hurt.

All teachers have a relevant degree at secondary school. Except maths and physics where some have done conversion courses - because there are not enough teachers for those subjects. I have a science degree & worked in industry for 23 years. Decided to go into teaching as I helped out a bit at kids school and enjoyed it. And wanted a change. Best thing I ever did as it is the best job in the world. But also the hardest I've done. I want to teach and be safe at the same time, I don't get why this is hard to understand.
Shops limited the amount if people they let in. And now everyone has to wear a mask and the shops are no where near as packed as my classroom.
And children in that stupid report mean under 10. I don't teach anyone under 11. Show me the data that they don't transmit it. You can't, because no one can prove who catches it from anyone. That's a stupid argument.

In my experience ex-services did really badly. They were incredulous at the work load and also found classroom discipline difficult

I've had a similar experience. They also had quite a reputation among the students as being easy to wind up.

Agree about ex-services, sometimes struggled. Similarly have seen struggles from people where teacher training is their first time in a state school.

Mums no it’s state, but huge old site. I’m aware I’m sounding out of kilter so maybe I’ll stop!

But he’s on track to get high marks so the bottom set thing made me ponder, it’s not that. He’s Y10.

@MarshaBradyo it's private isn't it ? No state school could afford to have so few in a top set - our maths ones are 34+. Bottom sets might be 10-15 to allow for TA support. But most classes are 30.

I think I was really surprised at all he was saying and posted. It’s an anomaly no doubt.

I wish people would stop assuming teaching and supporting staff just don't want to work. Just because we want a safer environment than the government is proposing doesn't make us lazy. I'll say again I have worked in school with my colleagues all through lockdown. We were open through Easter holidays and half term. In the real world I work with children with behaviour issues. Some big, aggressive, in your face at times and physically aggressive regularly. I love working with them and making a difference in their lives. But I have to sit very close to them to get any school work out of them and with no mask or social distancing they for sure will spit and cough at me. So I think I am allowed to be nervous for myself and my family.

@MarshaBradyo sorry x post. I have no idea how your school can afford to have that many teachers ! They must be v rich.

Ok also just asked teen how many in maths class, 10 to 15.

Wow really. My current smallest class is 28. I have worked in a class of 15 but it was low ability and it was in a small school. It was lovely.

[quote mumsneedwine]@MarshaBradyo sorry x post. I have no idea how your school can afford to have that many teachers ! They must be v rich.[/quote]
Me either. 240 to a year group, but classes of just 10 - 15.

How any state school could manage that is beyond me.

@bigglewiggle

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.

This

@Sunrise234 said *"I’m assuming you tried to train to be a teacher and failed?

You do realise most secondary school teachers had proper professions too at one point. I am a scientist. My degree is science and I worked as a scientist. I then decided to go into teaching the Science.
Only one colleague of mine wanted to be a teacher straight from school the others have had various careers in the STEM field including engineers, researchers in cures for cancers, marine biologists and two are ex navy and one is ex army.

How do you think you become a lawyer? You need someone who is an experienced lawyer to teach you!"*

Never tried to be a teacher. Cambridge university educated, note that Homerton college (the Cam teacher training college) had a much more lax entry criteria than the rest of the university, straight into teaching with just a teaching degree in the subject... and honestly why not?

Studied Economics. Job at investment bank. Taught by no one, mentored by myself.

If I lost my job I would become a teacher if the situation required it, yes. I got an 'A' A level in maths, further maths and chemistry. They were easy, although I wouldn't feel confident with the practical side of Chemistry. But could easily teach secondary and sixth form maths (with a quick cursory glance over the current curriculum) why not?

How any state school could manage that is beyond me.

I know. I’m going from two things. The website and Ds’ answers. His set may be a small one, I only asked about maths. I’m sure there are larger classes.

Math class with 10 - 15 in primary was the average ability.
Secondary 25 - 32 average. Still more than 15 for the other sets.