School return will fail

[covidteacherscotland]

Okay so we have been back to school for a week! Great? No. Definitely not. Some thoughts on why this will be a disaster:

16 and 17 year olds are not children.

Social distancing is impossible. Genuinely impossible. Children will not or cannot stay out your space.

There is no PPE in school at all and staff are not protected in any way.

Children don't give a shit about washing their hands.

We've been doing double periods instead of single to minimise movement. This means that we are stuck in a room with 30 17 year olds with few or no windows as the respiratory droplets add up.

Educating your child is impossible if you can't go near them.

Our time management and pupil progress relies on us being able to give feedback to children formatively as we teach. To mark jotters as we go. We can't do this now.

I think that because infection is so low we'll be okay for a while - a few weeks - then the shit will hit the fan.

The Head can decide if staff wear PP because situations in school vary so much. Staff need to be discussing their concerns with Head perhaps.

Parallel not sure why iPad fancied some karaoke ?!

@cabbageking

The Head can decide if staff wear PP because situations in school vary so much. Staff need to be discussing their concerns with Head perhaps.

In certain names situations where it would be used anyway.

Lots of SS use PPE due to students spitting and personal care, close contact feeding etc.

You don't think our students nationally deserve better and deserve a greater chance at school opening being successful?

I think they deserve an education and I think there are people paid to provide that for them.

Most teenagers I know are already having sleepovers, meeting in groups, visiting each other's houses....against current guidance. But numbers of cases across the UK are still very low. I would be surprised to see a large spike caused by the return of secondary schools. I think the mental well-being of our young is too important to shut schools any longer.

@ChardonnaysPetDragon

You don't think our students nationally deserve better and deserve a greater chance at school opening being successful?

I think they deserve an education and I think there are people paid to provide that for them.

Great post.

I would have more sympathy with teachers that don't want to go back into classroom if is there was actually an elevated risk of contracting covid - but there isn't.

And I would have more sympathy if the teachers complaining were part of the vulnerable class - many aren't.

Zoom/skype teaching has been a failure at least for those teachers that deigned to teach over the internet (my kids' teachers didn't).

There are plenty of options to open schools, look at what other countries are doing. The choice isn't full closure or school-as-usual.

I wonder if medically vulnerable teachers could be compensated and given indefinite leave? I certainly think the blended teaching option for post-16 would work really well. Schools have found it impossible for too long to refuse to take ill kids - now is the time to ramp up powers to have kids removed/parents fined if they arrive at school with a temperature/respiratory illness. Temp. checks on entering school gates.

Some schools mat fail

Thankfully my children go to a phenomenal school. They have already planned to a jaw dropping degree.

Short of gov banning it, my children will be back on 3rd September 8.15-4pm. In uniform. Full sport provision. No swimming. After school clubs to begin after half term

Most teenagers I know are already having sleepovers, meeting in groups, visiting each other's houses....against current guidance

I have 3 teens. They are not doing this. Nor are their friends as far as they are aware. One is working part time which increases our contacts as a family but the rest of the time we are being cautious.

I would be surprised to see a large spike caused by the return of secondary schools

Despite the fact that indoor spaces are clearly an issue and the science suggests length of time in a room with os done with symptoms is the problem? That’s rooms full to bursting and little or no ventilation.

I would have more sympathy with teachers that don't want to go back into classroom if is there was actually an elevated risk of contracting covid - but there isn't

Says who? What has experience in other countries so far shown us?

And I would have more sympathy if the teachers complaining were part of the vulnerable class - many aren't

A significant portion of our entire workforce is classed as vulnerable in some ways. Over 50s, obese and overweight, diabetics of both types, people with COPD and other respiratory conditions, cancers etc are all represented amongst school staff and whilst I am unaware of stats to prove it, there is nothing at all to suggest that these conditions are anything other than represented amongst school staff in the same proportions as in the general public.

Zoom/skype teaching has been a failure at least for those teachers that deigned to teach over the internet

Certainly wasn’t at my school. We made a great go at it with great success. Parents very pleased. Plenty of positive feedback.

@ChardonnaysPetDragon

You don't think our students nationally deserve better and deserve a greater chance at school opening being successful?

I think they deserve an education and I think there are people paid to provide that for them.

Ok.

Teachers are paid to teach.

They do that under current conditions.

Cases rise. Bubbles burst. Schools shut.

You don't care.

It's actually reassuring for many teachers I'm sure that the sole expectation from parents is that schools open whatever happens after that.

@Swelteringmeltering

Moss carpet, with patients coughing and spitting on you, why are you not simply wearing a visor? To catch those droplets. And why wear a surgeons mask?

It's your choice if that's how you go into battle with flimsy ppe.

I'd like more protection.

it's not a surgeons mask,LOL, it's the usual type all NHS staff are wearing currently , except in certain situations as described, they are commnly known as surgical masks as this previously was where they were mostly used!!

It's your choice if that's how you go into battle with flimsy ppe.

and this language is what is adding the problem. I am NOT going into battle. I am simply doing my job, the same job I have done for 20+ years. I am doing it using appropriate precautions given that there is currently a new virus circulating and it makes sense to take steps to reduce the liklihood of me catching the virus. I am also however fully aware of all the science (which is totally not the same as the media hype) and am also aware that if I do catch the virus then I have a liklihood of survival of 99.94% on average. (please note I realise those in higher risk groups face different challenges, but this thread is not about that)

I think they deserve an education and I think there are people paid to provide that for them.

Unfortunate that the schools will probably close again within weeks, or certain classes sent home. You do realise that?

@FlySheMust

I think they deserve an education and I think there are people paid to provide that for them.

Unfortunate that the schools will probably close again within weeks, or certain classes sent home. You do realise that?

Certain classes occasionally will be sent home. And then go back to school again. After 14 days or sooner once testing is ramped up.

What's the problem with this?

This thread has become beyond tiresome. Poster after poster who doesn't understand the difference between transmission between children and adults, how masks actually work (or don't) and what the official guidance from the governments are.

And also posters with no attempt to understand the consequences should schools start shutting down.

@covidteacherscotland

This thread has become beyond tiresome. Poster after poster who doesn't understand the difference between transmission between children and adults, how masks actually work (or don't) and what the official guidance from the governments are.

Ok explain definitively the first two, with links to scientific studies

Several people have informed you that NHS staff wear surgical masks when treating covid positive patients except in certain circumstances. These do not protect the staff. Why wouldn't they be good enough for teachers who are not getting nearly as close to the children, who also don't have covid.

I find it baffling

I’m so glad my children don’t have teachers like you

This thread has become beyond tiresome

People don’t agree with you so it’s a tiresome thread.

Teacher ‘s salaries could be cut to social welfare. Doubt they would choose this over returning to the classroom!

Ask me would you feel that way if your child has 3 isolation periods so misses equivalent of half a term teaching.

And they are in a school with poor back up plans.

But another child in same year group gets fr teaching due to geography and better funded school.

Then both children say same exam at end of year deciding both futures equally?

[quote AllWashedOut]@solidaritea
Of course I read the link I gave. I said that was how Sweden has made it work. That is one option. No masks. No 2m SD (between 0.5 and 1m). Sweden has kept schools open all the way through the months the UK had completely closed down schools.

I just happened to hear the repeat of the radio 4 program. Guess what? Adults are most likely to pass on COVID to kids. Many countries other than Sweden have pooled results. For all these countries with all their different regimes of managing school opening, there have been no major outbreaks associated with schools. Preteens are less susceptible to picking up covid and much less likely to be symptomatic than adults thus they are not major sources of contagion. Teachers - get back to school (I say that as a teacher myself)[/quote]
I was back at school June and July (primary). Sweden made it work by partially closing schools, as did the UK. Like the UK, it was more open to younger children being in and less open to older teens being in, as they are not children. I want to be teaching in September, but I am concerned.

Why is it reassuring that adults are most likely pass Covid to kids? I may be misunderstanding you, but I don't want to make kids ill. I am not particularly worried about my own personal health, but am very concerned at how opening all schools at once with no hope of distancing will lead to outbreaks (0.5/1m distance is impossible in standard classrooms). It is my understanding that no other country has reopened previously closed schools without additional measures that amount to more than what we will be doing in September (I might be wrong).

What's the Radio 4 programme called? Maybe I would need to hear it myself to be reassured as you seem to have been.

@MarshaBradyo take yourself off to any nhs / government affiliated website. I'm not doing your work for you.

No people are allowed to disagree with me of course but what I can't be arsed reading is the countless posters writing 'out a mask on then' or 'shopkeepers have worked throughout'.

Pointless.

@Hulututu

I’m so glad my children don’t have teachers like you

Probably does.

Despite teachers fears and personal opinions they are still the ultimate professionals and teach your child to the best of their ability everyday.

I’m so glad my children don’t have teachers like you

Your child does have teachers just like me. I'm almost sure of it.