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?

Even with ppe @HerNameWasEliza* ?
My DH works for the NHS, ( his hospital is actually currently covid free, but wasn’t earlier on) but he can’t believe the conditions under which teachers are expected to return,*

For me personally, yes (as in I'd rather teach a class of 30 then nurse one sick covid patient). It is not just staff on covid wards who are nursing sick patients. I work in a mental health trust. When our patients got covid they did not transfer to a covid ward (unless sick enough to warrant that). They were not well enough to go home or they'd already have done so so we nursed them. At the start it was without full PPE of course as it was not really available despite the government spin. But as time went on it was. But still antibody testing records 1/3 of staff in some areas with antibodies - which means a much higher percentage have had it according to some studies which have also looked at T cell responses. PPE did not entirely stop people getting ill and that, of course, is why health care workers in more vulnerable situations did get it. In my area our staff were scared too but they had to get on with it - largely for some out of economic necessity which made the clapping a bit uncomfortable for some. People will judge situations themselves of course, as with any risk. I am no expert on this but I'd be interested to hear an expert's position as I believe that teaching a class, or classes full of asymptomatic children is much safer - hence the relatively low risk rating for teachers compared to many other professions. There does seem to be so much anxiety around for teachers that it would be useful for an actual expert to make some comments on this - publicly. and perhaps to justify/ explain the decisions that have been taken.

[quote epythymy]@BigChocFrenzy that is just another "estimate". Based on my experience and that of colleagues, this is predominantly a disease of the elderly and has simply given many people who were on the edge a push. It's extremely difficult to say that someone would have undoubtedly have been dead within a year retrospectively although many other "estimates" suggest that a majority of these people would have been. The average age at death is 80 with 3 or more comorbidities. These are not healthy people with years of life left in them. QALYS wise, the deaths caused by lockdown already outstrip those that have died of Covid. By all means, believe what you want to. You've made your mind up anyway and nothing is going to change that as many studies have shown. [/quote]
...
Based on your experience and your colleagues ?

We all know age is the dominant risk factor,
with risk increasing x 10 for every 20 years of age
so e.g. teachers aged 63 have 100 x the risk of teachers aged 23

However, when it comes to calculations of years lost, I'll take the government statisticians and other experts
rather than an internet random who is probably not in the ONS or a government actuary

The issue is that the demands will go on and on: because ultimately the aim of some teachers, not all - some are incredibly dedicated, is to keep the schools closed.

Even if they were stood head to toe in full PPE, they would still argue for something else.

The militant attitude of 'can't do, won't do' is staggering!

There is an independent girls' school claiming on social media that they can 'close that gap'. I worked their very briefly and have seen the reality. Their maths and English 5+ pass rate was 20% last year (and they do all do GCSE). Anyway that's an aside but the poster banging on about how much better private schools do everything reminded me of it.

@ZigZagPlant. So buy your own

Why should I have to? For all my classes? Because parents like you refuse to take responsibility? Or because the Government has decided schools should do a mill,ion and one new things to keep your child safe but not provide any funding for that?,

As if anyone is asking for head to toe PPE. Just the right to wear a face covering, hand washing facilities and to have a ventilated space.

By the way @Friendsoftheearth, I worked in a clinical role in the NHS briefly and recently. Sanitiser was only an acceptable substitute for two washes. After that it was soap and water. If you're relying on sanitiser you're probably a bit manky.

It just takes the piss, because I was still in training when lockdown happened and we were told not to go back to placement. Then, because lots of us asked if we could go back, they sent an email the next day saying we could go in voluntarily but that it wouldn’t count towards training.
So I went in and helped until I passed, at which point I started teaching a bubble of 15 kids full time at my new school to enable them to open to further year groups.

Literally at NO point have I been sat around on full pay (I haven’t even got full pay 😂) and yet you get posters saying all teachers are lazy... it actually pisses me off. Like do you think I do this for fun or could it be, because I care about the children?

And I am certainly not the only one to be in this position.

@LaurieMarlow

Well, countries that don't scapegoat teachers or their union will probably do quite well

If unions don’t alienate parents with unworkable solutions, then they’ll get their support. No doubt the German unions got parents on board.

.... No, it was never teachers vs parents, because the whole strategy was based on cooperation & trust - as is in many countries - so all stakeholders were reasonably satisfied

The authorities listened to the german teachers' union when they said what they wanted for their members
e.g. the most vulnerable teachers allowed to WFH
Masks in corridors and optional for staff & students in classrooms,
with compulsory masks for secondary in the state with the highest cases
The govt provided extra money for cleaning, equipment, teacher training in online as backup etc

If unions don’t alienate parents with unworkable solutions, then they’ll get their support. No doubt the German unions got parents on board

Yes exactly, because they work together and find solutions, and it is not an us versus them mentality Laurie Good schools have the full backing of parents, and will do all they can for the children, and the teaching staff. This is in evidence in our local schools all of the time, so I don't really recognise or see this on many school threads.

All my teaching friends are reasonable and considered, and want to get the schools open as much as any of us (many for their own dc if nothing else!)

@Friendsoftheearth

The issue is that the demands will go on and on: because ultimately the aim of some teachers, not all - some are incredibly dedicated, is to keep the schools closed.

Even if they were stood head to toe in full PPE, they would still argue for something else.

The militant attitude of 'can't do, won't do' is staggering!

There's people like that in every profession.

No other rotes sin isn't being demonised because of a few anomaly's.

There were consultants who resigned because of lack of PPE and were very public in doing so.

Many who worked whilst campaigning for better.

Many who died.

We've seen this before. Why repeat the experiment for schools and pupils?

I will just be so glad next month when schools are open, everyone is back and we can all move on. This whole debacle/divide has been even worse than brexit. If that is even possible.

Roll on the end of September and beyond!

The difference is in the government strategy:

cooperation is business as usual here, instead of confrontation and scapegoating

It brings trust and much better results
However, the UK government, like some pp, couldn't resist union-bashing
to cover their arses for not investing in sensible measures to make ft schools as safe as possible

@Friendsoftheearth

The issue is that the demands will go on and on: because ultimately the aim of some teachers, not all - some are incredibly dedicated, is to keep the schools closed.

Even if they were stood head to toe in full PPE, they would still argue for something else.

The militant attitude of 'can't do, won't do' is staggering!

The frothing, fictional narrative you have about teachers is staggering.

Can I just thank you flat for your post and for returning to school, it can't be easy being pregnant at the best of times, and I am really glad your school are doing all they can to support you. Most parents will do whatever they can to support schools and teachers, and I am sure your parents will be even more grateful come the autumn. I wish you well with your pregnancy!

@Friendsoftheearth

I will just be so glad next month when schools are open, everyone is back and we can all move on. This whole debacle/divide has been even worse than brexit. If that is even possible.

Roll on the end of September and beyond!

Laughable. You think schools can stay open sustainably without any infection control? I give it until November.

@Friendsoftheearth right. Read my post about what I (and probably many others) have been doing in lockdown, and then kindly take your “teachers are militant and would refuse to work in full PPE!” screaming and leave.

The frothing, fictional narrative you have about teachers is staggering

Not all teachers fedup many teachers I know personally and professionally are an inspiration. Sadly however there is a minority that lack a can do spirit and can not think of solutions.

Why aren't you thanking the rest of us, none of whom have said they don't want to return? @Flatwhite32's 'admission' that she was ok about going back seemed to imply that the rest of us aren't, but I don't think that's what she intended.

@Friendsoftheearth

Can I just thank you flat for your post and for returning to school, it can't be easy being pregnant at the best of times, and I am really glad your school are doing all they can to support you. Most parents will do whatever they can to support schools and teachers, and I am sure your parents will be even more grateful come the autumn. I wish you well with your pregnancy!

But you're not supporting schools and teachers?!

See you in September

@BigChocFrenzy yes because the government statisticians have done a brilliant job so far of getting it all right. Speaking of these people though, Neil Fergusson said 2/3rd of these people would have died within a year. Relying on statistics and the lies they can tell is why we're in this mess.

@Friendsoftheearth

The frothing, fictional narrative you have about teachers is staggering

Not all teachers fedup many teachers I know personally and professionally are an inspiration. Sadly however there is a minority that lack a can do spirit and can not think of solutions.

The solution is to afford us the same measures as all other workers.

I will just be so glad next month when schools are open, everyone is back and we can all move on.

Except when they have to close due to insufficient staff or outbreaks. You’re living in a fools paradise. They will be closed by 1/2 term

@Friendsoftheearth

The frothing, fictional narrative you have about teachers is staggering

Not all teachers fedup many teachers I know personally and professionally are an inspiration. Sadly however there is a minority that lack a can do spirit and can not think of solutions.

Solutions: Primary- class bubbles, no assemblies etc, minimal adults crossing bubbles. Secondary - currently - absolutely bugger all. What the unions want is masks for all who can/want to wear them, reduced class sizes to enable social distancing (as bubbles at secondary are impossible due to different subjects and options). Extra funding for better cleaning.

neu.org.uk/media/11476/view

The NEU checklist for safe opening. Funnily enough it’s focused on the welfare of both teachers and children.

If we can make this safer we can stay open - which will be better for everyone. At the moment, bubbles will close regularly, causing mass disruption.

We actually want the same thing. Children in school, safely and permanently. People need to see what current conditions are like.

I have one sink and loo for 30 children. Any idea how long it takes for 30 children to wash their hands? My school will take money from other budget areas for sanitiser - so less for books, equipment etc.

My windows open - lucky me. My classroom is already around 16 degrees in winter. I’ll put a coat on and teach with windows open anyway. Parents WILL complain. Probably the same parents who complain about their child having sore hands.

If I seat the children in rows I can have a metre at the front. A metre from the 30 children all breathing in my direction.

My Head can actually say - no masks allowed. I have no choice in this at all. It is up to them. Unlike a shop where I would have the choice. Oh and where the people in my room would be wearing masks.

Why can’t we ask for basic safety measures which will help make the opening sustainable?