If You Could Choose Any Education Option for Sept

[IDSNeighbour]

I'm getting so confused by what parents actually want to happen with schools right now (I'm not a parent, I'm a teacher). I want to know what home opinions my classes are going to be coming in from in Sept - whether they're likely to be nervous or confident, whether they will want to SD or not, etc.

I know parents aren't one hive mind but the 'loudest voice' seems to keep changing its mind. Or I hear different ones, idk.

I'm sure there used to be a board for polls and surveys but, if I wasn't imagining, I can't find it.

So, if you're up for an unscientific straw poll to help me gauge general feeling, can you post A, B, C, D or E in the thread (you can explain if you like, I don't mind!)
A - I want full time schooling as close to the old normal as is allowed
B - I want full time schooling but with safety measures such as social distancing and masks for all who can and are old enough.
C - I want blended learning (half in the classroom and half online)
D - I want to keep my child at home all the time, home school them and not be penalised (ie, I want my place back when I think it's safe)
E - I think schools should remain closed for most children for now.

Askmehow - you’ll know from your A Level Maths that you need to be confident your sample is free from bias and represents the population to infer anything at all.

Anyway, it’s all getting a bit silly and I can’t get my tetrahedron to balance on my cuboid like it normally does on Saturday night with all this chatter - so n-night!

Ps On a serious note; if you’re a teacher, there are a lot of us on your side. There is a lot of noise to the contrary, but there is a hell of a lot more support.

I started working in a department with one of the best teachers in the country (fact) and he used to say how teaching was a noble profession.

Noble - having or showing fine personal qualities or high moral principles.

Sums up pretty much every teacher I’ve ever worked with. Stay strong and don’t take ownership of the vitriol - bad behaviour reflects problems and issues from the perpetrators.

This shouldn’t be a fight you have to fight, but you are completely in the right. No attempt has been made to make classrooms as covid secure as other workplaces.

I still don’t believe it will play out how they’re suggesting. Sending lots of support to teachers right now.

Teachers didn't cancel exams. Teachers didn't write the algorithm. Teachers did what they were asked to do and are now trying to sort the mess caused by other people far above our pay grade.
We want the best for "our" kids. That's why we do it. I've been to students' funerals and supported students when their family members have died. I don't especially want to do that again. Schools should be open, but they should be safe.

@noblegiraffe

I suspect no one is! Just made up

But you aren’t a member of the group and therefore have no idea of what they are, or aren’t doing, ask?

Odd that someone not from a group would so confidently state that they weren’t trying to rig this poll.

Yes, you do have to wonder why someone would be so eager to deny the actions of a group they claim to have nothing to do with...

THEY ARE TRYING TO DIVERT THE CONVERSATION TO A-LEVELS

@noblegiraffe

I suspect no one is! Just made up

But you aren’t a member of the group and therefore have no idea of what they are, or aren’t doing, ask?

Odd that someone not from a group would so confidently state that they weren’t trying to rig this poll.

Are you a member? I am a member of neither group. From the numbers I'd suspect there's been no mass voting though

Back to Facebook with you, ask.

@Hercwasonaroll

However it is NOT killing children

You do know teachers aren't children?

ThAts right. But people should be honest then.

Say that you don't want children to go back to school because you're worried adults may get infected. Nothing to do with what's best for children

I personally can't imagine saying I won't work because I'm less bothered about my patients than about me.

Different attitude I guess

If teachers get infected, schools close.

Idiots don’t understand this.

@noblegiraffe

If teachers get infected, schools close.

Idiots don’t understand this.

How many teachers would need to get infected for a school to close. Because hospitals, care homes, police stations haven't closed..,

Oh look, an idiot.

@askmehowiknow
Say that you don't want children to go back to school because you're worried adults may get infected. Nothing to do with what's best for children

Such simplistic terms. Pretending that these concepts are mutually exclusive does not make them so. As has been established by many posters throughout this thread and many others, what's best for children is that their schools remain open for the longest time possible and with them, their teachers and their families as safe as possible. It isn't us suggesting something that isn't the best for children - it's you.

My kids were scared of “The creakers” story because adults disappeared in it for a bit.

Kids need adults.

I’ll be honest - I’m concerned for adults and children.

Anyway, I must go, I’m blaming you for the toppling of my stack of square based pyramids but no hard feelings!

A please.

Lol. Someone who can't engage in a discussion resorting to calling someone who can an idiot

Stick to teaching maths @noblegiraffe

B for primary
C for secondary

A will just lead to a spike and pupils missing more time because schools end up closed again.

I used to work in medical research and we used to wear disposable masks, gloves, hairnets, overshoes and aprons to protect us from cross contamination, cleaned equipment regularly and we still found contaminants in the changing rooms, a corridor away. This was adults who knew the risks and (mostly I guess) followed the rules (or got sacked if caught not doing so).

I understand that children deserve to be in school but A will not get them that for very long before we need to 'protect the NHS' again.

Unless we just sack the whole prevention thing off and let those at risk shield or die. Which actually, will probably lead to a teacher shortage anyway.

Oh dear, ask, people know that schools closed in March because there weren’t enough teachers to staff them.

My own children’s school closed. My school closed to certain year groups.

Do you think people have forgotten?

@Frlrlrubert

B for primary C for secondary

A will just lead to a spike and pupils missing more time because schools end up closed again.

I used to work in medical research and we used to wear disposable masks, gloves, hairnets, overshoes and aprons to protect us from cross contamination, cleaned equipment regularly and we still found contaminants in the changing rooms, a corridor away. This was adults who knew the risks and (mostly I guess) followed the rules (or got sacked if caught not doing so).

I understand that children deserve to be in school but A will not get them that for very long before we need to 'protect the NHS' again.

Unless we just sack the whole prevention thing off and let those at risk shield or die. Which actually, will probably lead to a teacher shortage anyway.

@askmehowiknow read this. It makes sense.

@askmehowiknow How many teachers would need to get infected for a school to close.

Depends on the size of the school and age group of the children. For my school probably 6-7 teachers for it to become unworkable. Of course you can get subs but this wouldn't be sustainable in the long run. Let's also remember that any TA's would technically be required to quarantine as they would have been in close proximity with said teacher.
For the other school in my area maybe 10-13 teachers.
Depends if for example one teacher gets covid and that day are in the staff room for a substantial number of mins with the other teachers then technically you are supposed to quarantine.

C - secondary

The thing is that @askmehowiknow has done their arguments no good. I’m not convinced they care either way tbh.

So many posters motivated to make the world a safer, better and fairer place with choice and best practice reaching as far as it possibly can. I really hope you’re ok @askmehowiknow honestly feeling a bit bad for teasing as I guess you’re not in a great place right now. Honestly no hard feelings at all. It’s a crap time for everyone atm.

A
My son has severe autism and won't do any work at home ,he's stressed by being out of routine😩
For my other child ideally A but I'm quite willing and able to home educate if needs be

But the poll is very flawed and unsafe stats. Not Boris unsafe obvs, he’d be all over these results 😂🤦🏻‍♀️

Eek! Surely any kind of media, even something as lazy and brainless and the Daily Mail wouldn't see this as anything other than a small, informal and inaccurate 'testing the waters' poll, would they? I hope I haven't started anything that's going to cause actual trouble for anyone!

@noblegiraffe

Oh dear, ask, people know that schools closed in March because there weren’t enough teachers to staff them.

My own children’s school closed. My school closed to certain year groups.

Do you think people have forgotten?

There is no reason for a whole school to close if a teacher gets sick. As pp have said priority should be given to exam years if that's the case

There are many teachers per school. Just relax and give it a chance

@IDSNeighbour

But the poll is very flawed and unsafe stats. Not Boris unsafe obvs, he’d be all over these results 😂🤦🏻‍♀️

Eek! Surely any kind of media, even something as lazy and brainless and the Daily Mail wouldn't see this as anything other than a small, informal and inaccurate 'testing the waters' poll, would they? I hope I haven't started anything that's going to cause actual trouble for anyone!

No I think there is only one poster getting excited but thought I’d best spell it out - no offence intended to you! It’ll probably be used in tomorrow’s sun but it’s not your fault 😂😂😂