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.

I'm going to email the heads of the schools my DCs attend and beg for some flexibility. If none is given I'll deregister and home educate for a year. I don't see any other option really, and I'm privileged I have the ability to stay home without it destroying us financially.

But what are parents who say A going to do when their school, or year group, or subject has to shut because of staff illness?
That’s what I don’t understand about the blind repetition of ALL schools must go back, no exceptions!
Without extra precautions for cleaning and distancing etc and a ban on masks for most schools, Covid 19 will rip through schools and communities. Staff will be absent, children will be absent and need caring for at home by their school staff parents.
Even with my best fingers-in-ears Pollyanna impression I can’t alter the fact that Serious Illness = Critically Low Staffing. This will close schools or lead to bundling of children into groups supervised by people who either teach a different year group or subject or unqualified TAs.
Taking out of the equation the fact I work in a school I don’t want that for my dc. I’d rather a plan for blended learning.

Whatever transmission mechanisms are occurring in factories etc will happen in some form in schools. Crowded transport, bodies packed together in rooms for lengthy periods......Covid 19 doesn’t give a shit who you are or where you work. It will spread if the conditions are right and conditions in a school, in the Autumn and Winter terms particularly, suit it down to the ground.

@pontypridd

And if he gets Covid and passes it onto you / one of you dies or has long term health issues as a result? It might not happen- or it might.

Will you then be the happiest you’ve ever been?

I'm in my thirties with no health conditions and I've already had it. For most people there are many many worse things than Covid. We would not cope if schools were off until January or later. Happiest I've been in five months I said. Like many people, it has not been easy.

@pontypridd

And if he gets Covid and passes it onto you / one of you dies or has long term health issues as a result? It might not happen- or it might.

Will you then be the happiest you’ve ever been?

How patronising!
There's potential risk of death in alot of things we do everyday its about putting things in perspective and assessing probability. We can't stop life going on for a miniscule probability of certain death from 1 singular thing. If you want to stop yours and your families lives then fine but don't patronise others for not feeling the same way.

A = some bubbles self isolating within days, some schools closed within weeks, and a total rethink by Christmas, possibly half term depending on how slow on the uptake our government are about it.

Why are so many people stubbornly plumping for A when it's obviously fantasy land and can't work?

I'm more likely to die in a car crash driving to work, I still go. I'm more likely to die from suicide than Covid (not that I intend to do that). My child is better off going to school, Covid is a tiny risk (for us) that I'm willing to take.

B would be ideal but no idea how it would be possible.

C probably stitches a lot of working parents and might not be much safer depending on the solutions dug out for the times children aren't at school as many children are not good at distancing unsupervised. For young children (U11s or possibly U7s) distancing is both difficult and probably not ideal for development.

A is probably the only "possible" option at this point.

I am an A . Should schools get extra money to support bruises yes but whilst it isn’t going to happen - home schooling is not working . If he only goes back for 2 weeks - he will benefit from that .

In an ideal world we would have bigger space , smaller class sizes . This isn’t going to happen.

D ideally but would accept C.
I find the threat of fines absolutely disgusting and totally dismissive of each individual family situation.
We are going to wait until the week before the schools open to decide whether DC will go back or not.
We will deregister if pushed.

@whirlwindwallaby

I'm more likely to die in a car crash driving to work, I still go. I'm more likely to die from suicide than Covid (not that I intend to do that). My child is better off going to school, Covid is a tiny risk (for us) that I'm willing to take.

I (genuinely!) appreciate your optimism (if it sounds right to say that about car crashes and suicide!) about covid being a tiny risk.

However, my ds might not be able to go back to school full time for a good while, thanks to the health issues that covid has left him with. I don’t want that to happen to any of his classmates, or any of my students.

But if schools are open with no mitigation in place, and cases do increase then some kids will catch COVID, and a percentage of this may well have long term issues.

I’m sure if it happened to your dc, you’d be upset about how much school they had to miss. And while statistically unlikely to happen to your child, it’s likely to happen to someone else’s.

And as a teacher I feel incredibly uncomfortable that it could happen under my school’s watch.

Which is guess is an important point. As a parent, you’re worried about your 1 or 2 or 3 dc. As a teacher, I’m worried about 1000+.

That’s the problem with a tiny risk multiplied by a huge number of people.

Which is guess is an important point. As a parent, you’re worried about your 1 or 2 or 3 dc. As a teacher, I’m worried about 1000+.
I understand where you are coming from and I am sorry that your child has been left with health issues. It's not that I take it lightly, but I have to weigh up the risks. Not going to school is not a option without risks. There would be 1000s of children and families in our position, or a worse one.

I get that wallaby I really do. None of this is easy, is it

A/B
Measures put in place to keep everyone safe, but no masks.

And if he gets Covid and passes it onto you / one of you dies or has long term health issues as a result? It might not happen- or it might.
More hysterical hyperbole.
Cases are not deaths.
Lopk at the stats.
Neither of them is going to die from it. And the 'long term' argument is specious (look it up) since there has been no long term -just another unfounded scare tactic.

Well, over 40,0000 Someones have died of it in the UK so far so.......that’s not really an argument that stands up, is it. But Covid Deniers gonna Deny, I guess 🤷‍♀️

From another thread but very relevant

www.newschannel5.com/news/meharry-ceo-dr-james-hildreth-says-new-research-shows-its-not-safe-to-open-schools?

@lifeafter50

And if he gets Covid and passes it onto you / one of you dies or has long term health issues as a result? It might not happen- or it might. More hysterical hyperbole. Cases are not deaths. Lopk at the stats. Neither of them is going to die from it. And the 'long term' argument is specious (look it up) since there has been no long term -just another unfounded scare tactic.

Sorry, my son being in pain for 4 months because of covid is specious?

You don’t think it’s true, so his doctors are lying? You’re more knowledgeable than a consultant?

Pull the other one

It’s absolutely shameful how callous you are to parents who are worried about their children (not just in this thread, is it?) but your opinion is so foolish that I can’t even take you seriously.

By 'long term' people mean since they had covid, this is now documented and of great concern in the medical field.

I think keeping an open mind and saying we don't know yet so I'm willing to take my chances is one thing, actively denying things are happening, despite medical evidence, is something else entirely.

There are a significant number of covid denialists, this happens with all new threats, some people jump to denial for comfort.

I think children of extremely vulnerable families need to be offered the support to stay home a little longer if they so wish but all other children should to be back in school full time. It ensures that the number of those who remain at home are easier to manage from a school and safeguarding perspective. We know teachers are over worked and schools under funded so the resources that are available will be directed to the right families for home learning.

As for teachers of extremely vulnerable families I can't comment as I dont know enough about their roles to form an opinion other than the must be procedures in place for our emergency service workers in the same position that education HRs could follow.

@lifeafter50

We keep showing you stats, and pulling you up on your very weak, laughable viewpoint.

You however have no answers, and do not engage above spraying copious vile at people who think that Covid is (sadly) all to real (which you obviously don't.)

Your parallel universe can't be all that nice either as you seem to keep coming back!

all other children should to be back in school full time.

I think the fact the school plans in the UK are so bad, amongst the fewest measures taken in the world as far as I can see, means this is unacceptable to me.

With SD, fine. But families should not be compelled to attend somewhere that puts their health at risk.

@latticechaos

all other children should to be back in school full time.

I think the fact the school plans in the UK are so bad, amongst the fewest measures taken in the world as far as I can see, means this is unacceptable to me.

With SD, fine. But families should not be compelled to attend somewhere that puts their health at risk.

I wonder if those families without extreme medical vulnerability and don't want to "attend somewhere that puts their health at risk" are all none smokers none drinkers all healthy weights eat a strict healthy diet and exercise regularly, you know decreasing the risks of diabetes stroke heart attack and cancer that comes as a health risk of a less than perfect lifestyle

Astonishing how the pandemic has brought out the best in some, and highlighted how others are just the worst.

3.4 million are estimated to have had it not 7 million.