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.

@Nicknacky the water thing may be unique to me the PPE is not.

I'll repeat it.

The PPE that is available is only effective if everyone wears it. Children and young adults will not be expected to wear a mask all day. Therefore if I wear one then all I'm doing is protecting them from me - I in return receive no protection.

I don't know if a protective mask exists but if it does then we certainly don't a have access to them.

@cocopops

Just resign then? Think of all the supermarket workers, doctors, porters, nurses etcetera etcetera who worked during the height of the pandemic. They seemed to manage it with people who actually had Covid 19.

If you can’t or don’t want to do the job, why should I, as a taxpayer fund your lifestyle. No worky = no payy. We need to get back to as near as normal as possible without the hysteria coming from a small minority of teachers. I am sure there are plenty willing to teach who can step into the breach.

None of those are shut in a room with 30 people with no PPE though.

Where does you ventilation and air exchange normally come from? What does your school risk assessment say, and your union? I would be very unhappy with no windows (I'm already unhappy and I have them!)

@BarcelonaBetty are the children wearing masks also? If not then the teachers Weating it is pretty pointless

Personally I feel teachers should be given ppe. Is there anything the majority want ???

Generally the no windows is fine. It's a relatively new built school and I'll be honest I've never thought or worried about ventilation before. Generally the temperature is okay and that's a far as I've thought!

It's a strange design. Classrooms range from 10 windows right down to 0.

Some rooms are obviously safer than others then.

@Nicknacky

cantkeepawayforever There is no answer we can give you though. You either need to get on with it or not go back to your school. That’s the reality of your situation.

Actually, I would settle for someone saying 'Yes, it's obviously dangerous, but as a society we really appreciate the risks that you as teachers are prepared to take to ensure the education of our young people. We will ensure that children are strongly encouraged to wear masks, we will provide your school with the money to buy hand sanitiser and soap and to pay for extra cleaning, and we will provide a visor and mask for every staff member which they can use as they choose to balance the needs of communication and safety, depending on their class. Parents who knowingly send their children in when ill will be heavily fined.' Actually, I'd settle for, 'Yes, we know it is a really risky situation, and we are really grateful that you are prepared to put yourself in that position for the sake of our children. Thank you so much.'

What we get is 'Oh, but other people go to work with PPE and SD or both, or exposed for much shorter periods of time so you have to suck it up or resign which you can't do until Christmas anyway haha'

The union aren't saying much just now which I was surprised about. I think the reps are gathering evidence.

Like some PP have said some schools will be safer than others and some will be managed better than others. I wouldn't want to be the union rep in mine though!

@cantkeepawayforever 👏🏻 you'll more likely get a unicorn that shites money though 😀

I think it’s because teachers appear to be the most vocal group.

@Nicknacky

Police Officer. SD is definitely not one of the things my customers do well.

But presumably you are not constantly with said 'customers'? Viral load is the issue

I think it’s because teachers appear to be the most vocal group

Maybe because they're the only group this is happening to?

@Mistressiggi

Staff and pupils in Scotland are allowed to use face coverings, yes. PPE is only supplied for dealing with bodily fluid type things I believe. I have seen one pupil and about four staff members (I was one) wearing a face mask. Windows should be open in every room. If your room has no windows they need a plan for that - if it's not reasonably safe, you shouldn't be in it. I'm not sure how many schools have had all pupils back in yet, I think that will be when the cracks in our plans show. Very glad it's the weekend now.

My sister works in a new build eco friendly school. It's been designed so that the windows don't open. What sort of contingency plan can they have for that?

I agree with you OP.

@cocopops

Just resign then? Think of all the supermarket workers, doctors, porters, nurses etcetera etcetera who worked during the height of the pandemic. They seemed to manage it with people who actually had Covid 19.

If you can’t or don’t want to do the job, why should I, as a taxpayer fund your lifestyle. No worky = no payy. We need to get back to as near as normal as possible without the hysteria coming from a small minority of teachers. I am sure there are plenty willing to teach who can step into the breach.

God you're a twat. OP is making serious points about a system that cannot, and will not, work.

I am sure there are plenty willing to teach who can step into the breach
Shockingly, in a system that was already struggling with recruitment and retention, that isn't possible. 'Fund my lifestyle' - what, my 60 hour weeks looking after your children? Please FTFO, dear.

@covidteacherscotland

There is no drinking water available. You can bring your own but you can't refill at water stations. There is none to buy at this point (I think that will change) Do you understand what available means? Not all pupils can afford to buy water at Tesco and bring it. It should be freely available.

Drinking water in Scotland comes out the tap.

I am absolutely shocked at how people are treating the op! She is just saying how it is at her school. You can not compare to drs, supermarkets etc, because in those jobs, you can wear masks, shoppers need to wear masks. You’re not in the same room with people for hours on end. Most teachers have no protection at all.

I would like mask wearing to be encouraged-especially in busy areas, eg corridors.

I would like additional money from the government for cleaning, cleaning supplies and also additional staff-this would go some way to keeping schools open if staff are unwell.

I would like parents to have to provide evidence of a negative Covid test before returning a child to school. At present the plans say we are not allowed to ask-I think this is open to abuse.

I would like a big media campaign-posters and adverts spelling out exactly when parents need to keep children off school and when its ok to send them in. Huge and widespread-with specific details. There should be consequences for people sending in symptomatic children.

I would like Ofsted/lesson observations for staff and book scrutinies/PMR to be paused for the Autumn term.

I’m sure I can think of some other things, but that’s a bare minimum.

That all sounds very reasonable and achievable.

@Pomegranatepompom

I think it’s because teachers appear to be the most vocal group.

Do you think that’s because teachers are one of the few groups of people returning to work after months of the government learning about this virus, with no real attempts to mitigate risk?

I am sure there are plenty willing to teach who can step into the breach

Ah that must explain the shortage of teachers we have. Oh wait...

fascinated

Op said tap water isn't available because the water supply needs to be serviced

I agree. I don't see how it won't all go wrong. I think we desperately need a vaccine.

I would do it. I would be concerned about seeing my mum and that's a huge ask of people but there's no alternative. The teachers in my school have been amazing. Positive, helpful, calm, encouraging. Above and beyond in so many ways. Key worker children all seemed mentally healthy and happy to go to school. Teachers = heroes.

I think of people posted in the style you just did @Fedup21 there would be much more sympathy and support.