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Covid

Coronovirus IS transmitted in schools

786 replies

mosquitofeast · 10/08/2020 00:29

And lots of teachers have died

I am just clarifying this, as I don't know how many times I have read on Mumsnet that this has never happened. I don't know where this misinformation is coming from, but its rubbish

It was transmitted several hundred times in my school (secondary)before lock down. Hundreds of children and dozens of staff were affected. Some have been seriously ill and have been left with long term health problems, such as low lung capacity and loss of hearing.

I am a teacher and I was infected at school. I did not use public transport, or go into any shops or other businesses for the whole of March, and I was living alone. The only time I was in any contact with anyone else was in school

A school near us (also secondary) had to close a week before school closures were announced, as so many teachers were infected.

Thankfully, no staff or student in our school died, although several students have lost parents, and many have lost grandparents. One of my sixthformers has withdrawn her university application as her mum has lost a lung and a leg and now can't run her home and care for her younger children on her own.

However, according to the union, around 200 school staff have dies to date, so we have just been lucky so far.

So please don't repost this fake news that "no one has ever caught covid in a school" - because |I have watched it happen in front of my eyes, and experienced it myself.

OP posts:
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FrippEnos · 11/08/2020 19:54

askmehowiknow

Right, lets fucking do this

Teachers have described lockdown as being like retirement. Both on here and on the radio.

A teacher on the radio said this. It has been jumped on and spread about by the anti teacher mob that many have said this, They haven't it was one teacher.

Teachers talk about 'free child care' errrr

Nope teachers have said that they are not free childcare, Its true its not our primary function although we stepped up to the plate and did "free childcare" for keyworkers.

Teachers have frequently posted about parents not wanting to look after their kids/being bad parents

Some have in the same way that parents have posted that teachers don't want to go back to school. As a reminder how many 'holidays are too long' threads and 'I can't wait for my kids to go back too school' threads are there every year?

Teachers have had the largest pay rise of public sector workers. Despite schools being closed for most kids since March. Their union described this pay rise as a kick in the teeth!

Actually it was nurses with 4% (yes just like the teachers its graduated). These were decided in January (except for nurses which is a couple of years pay deal). Why would the government put this out now? Think about it.

Teachers have said it's different if you're NHS/other public sector workers because it's 'expected' to risk your life!!

Nurse, firefighters, police, soldiers etc. all have risk with their job. With nurses etc. it is getting ill.

Teachers have posted that looking after the welfare of vulnerable children is other sectors responsibility. Nice

Nope, teachers have posted that it is a requirement of the job and it is nice of some of you to finally notice, cos you haven't given a shiny shit over the last fuck knows how many years, when budgets were being cut to the bone.
Why is that?

Teachers have posted about children wearing masks all day. Despite them themselves not doing this. And ignoring the fact it impairs communication and learning. Plus there is no evidence

Other countries have done this, if its allowed teachers in thios country will be doing this. As for evidence, there is evidence that masks offer some protection.

Teachers seem to think they should be special and protected at all costs from contracting a virus that we all have caught/may catch

Nope, teachers are asking why you think that we are so special that we do not require protection.

Teachers posting have no idea how lucky they are with their secure jobs and pensions. Vs highest unemployment rates on record during lockdown...

Just rubbish really, I expect that you will also post that teachers never leave school, or those that can do etc.

As I say it is only a very few teachers who hold these views. The vast majority are great.

Again. So why generalise.

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Bupkis · 11/08/2020 19:57

@Clavinova
"Government has said "all back in September, no exceptions, no protection".
There are exceptions in the guidance;
"some pupils no longer required to shield but who generally remain under the care of a specialist health professional may need to discuss their care with their health professional before returning to school (usually at their next planned clinical appointment)."

Having just spoken to ds's paediatrician, according to the guidelines set for them, the vast majority of children are being removed from shielding, and so will be expected to return, with fines for parents who keep them off. There will be a handful of children who will be recommended to stay home.

I am very worried.

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BelleSausage · 11/08/2020 20:03

Exactly @FrippEnos

Where were the majority of these concerned posters when school budgets were cut to the point that TAs were let go or that we could no longer afford to employ a school counsellor or when we had to start asking children to buy their own books because we could not afford to buy them?

Where were these concerned parents when CAHMS was virtually eradicated by cuts? Where were those people harping on about child mental health then?

The education system in this country has been will fully vandalised by the Conservative government for years. The only reason you haven’t noticed by now is that staff have been doing extra hours for free and buying equipment to fill the gaps.

It speaks volumes about what the real priority is for some people!

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monkeytennis97 · 11/08/2020 20:04

@FrippEnos

askmehowiknow

Right, lets fucking do this

Teachers have described lockdown as being like retirement. Both on here and on the radio.

A teacher on the radio said this. It has been jumped on and spread about by the anti teacher mob that many have said this, They haven't it was one teacher.

Teachers talk about 'free child care' errrr

Nope teachers have said that they are not free childcare, Its true its not our primary function although we stepped up to the plate and did "free childcare" for keyworkers.

Teachers have frequently posted about parents not wanting to look after their kids/being bad parents

Some have in the same way that parents have posted that teachers don't want to go back to school. As a reminder how many 'holidays are too long' threads and 'I can't wait for my kids to go back too school' threads are there every year?

Teachers have had the largest pay rise of public sector workers. Despite schools being closed for most kids since March. Their union described this pay rise as a kick in the teeth!

Actually it was nurses with 4% (yes just like the teachers its graduated). These were decided in January (except for nurses which is a couple of years pay deal). Why would the government put this out now? Think about it.

Teachers have said it's different if you're NHS/other public sector workers because it's 'expected' to risk your life!!

Nurse, firefighters, police, soldiers etc. all have risk with their job. With nurses etc. it is getting ill.

Teachers have posted that looking after the welfare of vulnerable children is other sectors responsibility. Nice

Nope, teachers have posted that it is a requirement of the job and it is nice of some of you to finally notice, cos you haven't given a shiny shit over the last fuck knows how many years, when budgets were being cut to the bone.
Why is that?

Teachers have posted about children wearing masks all day. Despite them themselves not doing this. And ignoring the fact it impairs communication and learning. Plus there is no evidence

Other countries have done this, if its allowed teachers in thios country will be doing this. As for evidence, there is evidence that masks offer some protection.

Teachers seem to think they should be special and protected at all costs from contracting a virus that we all have caught/may catch

Nope, teachers are asking why you think that we are so special that we do not require protection.

Teachers posting have no idea how lucky they are with their secure jobs and pensions. Vs highest unemployment rates on record during lockdown...

Just rubbish really, I expect that you will also post that teachers never leave school, or those that can do etc.

As I say it is only a very few teachers who hold these views. The vast majority are great.

Again. So why generalise.

EXACTLY! #TeachersLivesMatter #solidarity
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ResIpsaLoquiturInterAlia · 11/08/2020 20:05

@LivingoffCoffee

Thank you for the photo of that USA or Canadian article clipping.

As a mother with a school child but in the UK I agree with the thrust of the sentiments expressed but of course being in the UK we the gun violence do not apply here but more likely Islamic terrorism possibly and also I don't think that many British mothers believe children in person close physical proximity socialisation is as important as education. I think education especially doing the core essential subjects right is of the main critical request for parents to the school. The rest including social citizenship and good moral judgement is nice to have but something all good families instil and uphold at home. I don't think the social and health care issues (apart from Covid risk mitigation measures) is required necessarily as again this should be a priority and instilled by autopilot at home. This is to be viewed in the context of limited school resourcing and basically reprioritising school budgets into targeted most fulfil elements only. Spend school budget on Covid mitigation measures. Possibly sell school emblem crested face masks and face shields and add to compulsory uniform for some limited extra protective reassurance. Airport style at the gate quick health prescreening would be critical to get right as well as entry and exit crowd control and banning of weak safety link shared mass transit public transportation for all including staff. Walking to your local school and doing things locally in a pandemic is a life saver! Staff who commute from outside school catchment areas should cycle, motorcycle or car pool for added school bubble safety. You don't want to be that one inadvertent asymptomatic super spreader!

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Clavinova · 11/08/2020 20:37

Bupkis
Having just spoken to ds's paediatrician, according to the guidelines set for them, the vast majority of children are being removed from shielding, and so will be expected to return, with fines for parents who keep them off.There will be a handful of children who will be recommended to stay home.

Link on the government website to the RCPCH;

"This updated RCPCH advice for clinicians is provided to help members in their discussions with children and young people who are shielding across the UK and their families."

"This advice was developed in June 2020 in partnership with a wide range of paediatric specialty groups: British Association of Paediatric Nephrology, British Association of Perinatal Medicine, British Congenital Cardiac Assocation, British Inherited Metabolic Disease Group, British Paediatric Allergy, Immunity & Infection Group (working with the UK Primary Immunodeficiency Network), British Paediatric Neurology Association, British Paediatric Respiratory Society, British Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, British Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, British Society for Rheumatology, Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group, Paediatric Special Interest Group of British Haematology Society. Many specialties also worked with parents and patient groups as they developed their advice."

www.rcpch.ac.uk/resources/covid-19-shielding-guidance-children-young-people#latest-updates-to-this-page

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canigooutyet · 11/08/2020 20:53

Teachers have described lockdown as being like retirement. Both on here and on the radio.. This I will have to take your word for it. I have seen posts from parents on FB who made this connection.

Teachers talk about 'free child care' errrr
When the argument for opening schools so parents can go to work, those parents should be reminded that school isn't childcare free or not. What is the issue without pointing this out?

Teachers have frequently posted about parents not wanting to look after their kids/being bad parents
When you are the one making the call to convince the parent to come and collect their ill child, how would you prefer it to be referred as? Neglect? When you are the one having to talk to a parent when they want to sent their child back into school after surgery instead of being at home recuperating, how would you phrase this?

Teachers have had the largest pay rise of public sector workers. Despite schools being closed for most kids since March. Their union described this pay rise as a kick in the teeth!
It's been the biggest pay rise in 15 years. It was agreed to before CV. Unfortunately, it's another thing that has been mis-sold. Remind me again what the government had done to give themselves a 3.1% payrise?

Teachers have said it's different if you're NHS/other public sector workers because it's 'expected' to risk your life!!
Well it's hardly the same it is? Not like hoards of people are descending into supermarkets, to have the air systems switched off and not allowed to leave for an hour, and don't forget to hang up your mask outside. Let's do a public trial this week. A nightclub can open their doors and allow people in at maximum capacity. THey only have to do this for an hour, and of course, no masks essential. To make it similar to a school, I'm sure parents will be queuing around the block to also stay and supervise per school ratio.

Teachers have posted that looking after the welfare of vulnerable children is other sectors responsibility. Nice
Some of the work school staff do is down to other sectors, just the other sectors - NHS - are overstretched themselves. It's normal in SN settings to have ta's do physio, gastro feeds, ventilation etc with minimal training. It's in their contracts btw. Often we find ourselves in situations where we become their therapists as you are the one person they will talk to about what goes on at home. I was never ever trained for this.Nor was I trained to deal with the emotional sides when a students passes away.

Teachers have posted about children wearing masks all day. Despite them themselves not doing this. And ignoring the fact it impairs communication and learning. Plus there is no evidence
Government have said masks in schools aren't a requirement. Rest of the world have masks, handwashing stations outside classrooms, social distancing etc.

Teachers seem to think they should be special and protected at all costs from contracting a virus that we all have caught/may catch
What is wrong with wanting the same working environments of other people who have to go out and work?

Teachers posting have no idea how lucky they are with their secure jobs and pensions. Vs highest unemployment rates on record during lockdown... At the moment unemployment rates are low because of furlough. Once that comes to an end is when unemployment could sky rocket.

As I say it is only a very few teachers who hold these views. The vast majority are great.

The vast majority are worth their weight. It is because of those good ones we need to be behind them and support their requests to try and ensure schools can stay open with minimal interruption. If push comes to shove, many of the good ones will quit, or stop being so giving with their own money and time. These are the ones that enable schools to have resources many parents/carers take for granted. THings like soap and warm water to wash their kids hands with.

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canigooutyet · 11/08/2020 21:04

[quote ResIpsaLoquiturInterAlia]@LivingoffCoffee

Thank you for the photo of that USA or Canadian article clipping.

As a mother with a school child but in the UK I agree with the thrust of the sentiments expressed but of course being in the UK we the gun violence do not apply here but more likely Islamic terrorism possibly and also I don't think that many British mothers believe children in person close physical proximity socialisation is as important as education. I think education especially doing the core essential subjects right is of the main critical request for parents to the school. The rest including social citizenship and good moral judgement is nice to have but something all good families instil and uphold at home. I don't think the social and health care issues (apart from Covid risk mitigation measures) is required necessarily as again this should be a priority and instilled by autopilot at home. This is to be viewed in the context of limited school resourcing and basically reprioritising school budgets into targeted most fulfil elements only. Spend school budget on Covid mitigation measures. Possibly sell school emblem crested face masks and face shields and add to compulsory uniform for some limited extra protective reassurance. Airport style at the gate quick health prescreening would be critical to get right as well as entry and exit crowd control and banning of weak safety link shared mass transit public transportation for all including staff. Walking to your local school and doing things locally in a pandemic is a life saver! Staff who commute from outside school catchment areas should cycle, motorcycle or car pool for added school bubble safety. You don't want to be that one inadvertent asymptomatic super spreader![/quote]
What does Islamic terrorism have to do with anything?

Not all have good morals/judgement, if we did, people wouldn't be dosing their children with calpol. They wouldn't be deliberately sending in their ill children to school because their own lives are more important. Where is that person's morals when they knowingly send in someone to a group of 30+ people?

Once the school budget has gone, it's gone. They unlike the government don't have magic money trees. Many school run out of the basics a few months into the school year.

Great force low income families to find more money they cannot afford for school logo masks. A pair of socks with the school logo and mandatory are around £18, any other pair around a fiver max. (football socks)

Airport style screening - where is the money coming from? Will they detect the drugged up to get into school type parenting?

Staff and students often lives miles from their nearest school especially in remote areas. Who would they car pool with? Cannot pick up other people from other houses working/studying elsewhere because of the bubbles.

Under the current government guidelines, every person who walks into a school is a potential super spreader free to go around spreading to whoever.

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OpheliasCrayon · 11/08/2020 22:34

[quote BelleSausage]@askmehowiknow

It is a statutory requirement for all teaching staff to be trained bi-annually in all the signs of abuse and the know how and who to report it to. Most teachers have dealt with the kinds of abuse cases that would make your hair stand in end.

Just goes to show what you actually know about the realities of teaching.[/quote]
Can confirm. The things I've seen in my career are horrifying. Some have made me go to the toilets and cry after meetings they're so horrendous

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VashtaNerada · 11/08/2020 22:37

The education system in this country has been will fully vandalised by the Conservative government for years. The only reason you haven’t noticed by now is that staff have been doing extra hours for free and buying equipment to fill the gaps.
This 100%. If you value education, vote for a party that invests in public services.

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IloveJKRowling · 11/08/2020 22:53

Corona is one virus which for the majority is not a massive risk but, the risk of children not being school is much bigger.

The biggest risk to children not being in school is a coronavirus outbreak in that school. Which is highly likely across the country if social distancing, masks, and proper handwashing facilities are not in place. The government is putting no, zero money towards making any of these measures possible.

Look at what's happening in the USA and in Israel - crowded conditions, covid cases, schools close.

Anyone who wants schools open should be lobbying for better protective measures.

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