US Doctor On Opening Schools

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Dr James Hildreth, CEO of an American hospital and public health adviser to the mayor of Nashville, has a clear message about the opening of schools.

6 minute video well worth everyone's time.

This needs to be shared and seen.

Is everyone kind of that numbed and desperate and brainwashed? Even the teachers? Why are we not all making a stand against this?

You've only to read the multiple threads on here to know that many are determinedly ignoring the dangers because they're so desperate to get their kids back in school.

But I though MN was against any evidence to support that schools would be unsafe. Even if you give evidence, you are accused of hampering your child's growth. No evidence provided by our government.

I think waiting for a second wave to happen before we do anything about the situation in schools would be a mistake.
Schools are not stand alone places - they are community hubs, and allowing the conditions for large asymptomatic transmission to happen in any group setting is welcoming a second wave in, plumping up its cushions, and offering it a nice cuppa.
We need to be proactive to stop a second wave. Not encourage one.

After seeing the video its as i thought our government are totally winging it! Also no one is talking about preschools, toddlers are not the most hygenic!

Even though it is concerning, my childs school a small primary and for their education, health and happiness they need to go back. Of course it's a risk but we also have to live our lives otherwise we are just existing and the kids will be miserable. With extra precautions hopefully things will work out but even some part time school is better than nothing imo.

Let’s deal with a second wave (if and it’s a big if) if it happens.

A second wave is made up of people. It's not a theoretical model or a statistic. It's families and communities. With a highly infectious disease, particularly one with asymptomatic spread, you are always weeks behind. Once a second wave hits (I believe it's a small if but hope to be proved wrong) it will be too late to deal with it.

I hope the example I set my children is that science is important, always ask questions, and don't assume that those in authority are right or have your best interests at heart without doing your own research.
I hope the example I set them is that we live in a community and we have a responsibility to others, particularly those who more vulnerable.
That sometimes doing the right thing isn't the easy thing.
That problems don't go away by burying your head in the sand but by confronting them and working together and being creative and smart to find solutions.

That no matter how big a problem is, you don't have to roll over and accept defeat. That humans are amazingly resilient, adaptable, creative and collaborative and we can fix things and make things better.
And these principles don't just apply to a pandemic, but to all of the big challenges we face in life - climate change, marine pollution, racism, structural inequalities.
It's certainly not about catastrophising - it's about knowing what you face and then finding the answers. It's a hugely powerful and empowering message to give young people.

Masks are going to be optional at my son’s secondary school (although mandatory on the school bus on the way there!). The head points out though that the parent may wave their child off wearing a mask but he can’t insist that your child actually wears it once they get into school if they don’t want to.

I’m starting a Masters in October and we’ve been told that masks are mandatory inside all university buildings in order to fulfil the 1m+ guidance set by the govt. How schools are safe from the guidance is anyone’s guess.

Do scotland have to wear masks in schools , have they gone back as before or with many chamges can someone pleSe advise who is im scottish school system?

Do we actually know what's going to happen in secondary schools yet? My DS's school (admittedly, it's private), told us they would write to us the week starting 24th August to let us know what the arrangements will be for the start of term. I haven't yet heard whether it's even certain that they'll return, let alone what the exact conditions of return will be.

Why is it every thread of this nature becomes derailed by someone endlessly stating 'schools need to rethink-open!' and implying that teachers are workshy, over reacting and cowardly?

When teachers state that they/the students should wear masks, how is this then translated as 'close schools until there is a vaccine'???

It is infuriating and weird to wilfully misinterpret what teachers are saying.

I've not heard a single teacher saying schools should remain closed. Not one.

Teachers AND students deserve better protection, although unfortunately I'm pretty sure this won't happen.

@Notfeelinggreattoday I'm a teacher in a Scottish secondary. We went back last week, although that was just one year group per day. We're all back fully from tomorrow.

In my school, the vast majority of the staff are wearing face coverings, and a good number of the pupils are too. I think this is at the the discretion of the school, though, as I know others have said that they have been told that they're not allowed to wear face coverings.

Also what do people propose if there is never a vaccine ? Which is a possibility also ?
Wearing masks makes sense social distancing almost impossible in most school situations , i would say most teenagers around here are not sd as much now
How are europe going back does anyone know any rules in some other countries ?
Our school seems to have some measures in place def not back to normal

Marking place to watch after work.

@pontypridd

Staff- At the moment masks aren’t allowed in schools are they?

We can wear masks if we choose. Same for the students (secondary).

We are not allowed to wear masks (secondary). Don't know about students as it's not been said yet - although they will have to wear them on the public transport to get there and on the school buses

Let’s wait for a second wave?

Once one is underway we’re back at square one. That’s how exponential growth and pandemics work.

Jesus.

Secondaries: the government could have spent the summer funding to get all pupils online with laptops so that everyone can access online learning. Then schools could do blended learning with not all pupils in at once. This age shouldn't need babysitting and half at school, half online learning would enable more (any!) social distancing.

actually this really pisses me off.

12 and 13 year olds (and let's be honest, many 14 and 15 year olds) are fine to be left alone for a few hours. But for 5 full days a week, left at home while parents work, and expect them to sensibly get up and settle down to work, and do all that is required, without being stupid, going out, meeting friends, downloading crap on the internet or just fighting with siblings, is a day dream.
Also, working all day on a laptop, with endless power point lessons is soul destroying. And it is impossible to restrict access to only school material. We have tried to block youtube altogether on my dd's laptop, as she kept getting distracted. My husband works in IT, it was impossible.
I have a 12, 15 and 17 year old. They are great kids, and mostly pretty sensible. They are decent workers, and on track for good grades.
I work from home, so I am there, we have all the kit, laptops, places to work, garden to relax in etc etc, but still the long months of schooling in lock down were AWFUL, truly poor experience for all of them.
2 of them are coming up to exam years and the yongest is anxious and struggling, in July she was sobbing on my shoulder about the lack of friends and school.

It is so easy to say - oh yeah, they are old enough to use a laptop and work from home.
Really, it is almost as if teachers in schools didn't do anything!

Oh and in the middle of all that I was actually trying to work myself, which was impossible.

I get it, I have watched the video etc. I would be happy for them to wear masks, but please, don't roll out the 'Secondary school kids can be left alone' line. It is crap.

I am at a secondary and we are allowed to wear masks when we return. Students can were masks as parents were vocal that they wanted them to. As I said previously we have a number of medics on WhatsApp class groups who are driving the demand so the head said yes

12 and 13 year olds (and let's be honest, many 14 and 15 year olds) are fine to be left alone for a few hours. But for 5 full days a week, left at home while parents work, and expect them to sensibly get up and settle down to work, and do all that is required, without being stupid, going out, meeting friends, downloading crap on the internet or just fighting with siblings, is a day dream.

Absolutely. What’s being discussed is nothing less than neglect, to be frank.

@Heathershimmer95

Let’s wait for a second wave?

Once one is underway we’re back at square one. That’s how exponential growth and pandemics work.

Jesus.

I know... just stunned at the level of ignorance on here.

Primaries are a different matter; I think with careful planning, distancing and masks they may be able to do what is being asked of them

Clearly you've never worked in a primary. We have a bubble of 90 and are going back as normal. No social distancing, no cleaning in between activities, just washing hands every 20 mins with 6 sinks 😭

@StaffAssociationRepresentative

I am at a secondary and we are allowed to wear masks when we return. Students can were masks as parents were vocal that they wanted them to. As I said previously we have a number of medics on WhatsApp class groups who are driving the demand so the head said yes

I am going to wear a mask and visor/goggles. We've been told only if you are administering medical provision as is the guidance. If I get pulled up on it I hope the union will support.

Part of the problem, is that there isn't one scienctific view or one science on amy of this.

A few days ago I listened to a great programe on radio 4. I can't remember what it was called. It was an analysis programme. They looked at all the evidence for and against schools openeing and all the implications. It was very balanced, and talked about risk, how the disease spreads, how children are vectors of the disease and what that means both for schools and for families, masks etc.
It had everything. It was also UK based which, considering that we are doing better than the US at the moment in terms of community spread, is relevant. The current community spread in UK is low.

One very interesting piece of information was the comparison with schools in countries where they have re-opened, or never shut. The schools have NOT been sites of increased infection, or sites which have increased infection within the community. In other words. Kids didn't get sick. Staff didn't get sick, and families didn't get sick.
It is not 100% clear why not, but that is the empirical data so far.

I'm happy to send my kids back based on that.

I am in the US in a suburb of a major city. My local public high school decided in July to go online only, as did the local big city district and many other suburban districts.

There were howls of protest from a small but loud minority of parents on the high school parent FB group. They got their asses handed to them on a plate by the majority.

The public elementary schools are trying a hybrid model. Nobody expects to have their children in school for more than two weeks in the upcoming semester. Ads for reading and maths tutors are mushrooming on local FB and buy/sell pages.

A huge number of universities are also online only.

While the federal government has cocked up its covid response, local municipalities and counties have had to step up with a far more aggressive approach.

Luckily, local control over public health and education is a concept with teeth in the US - local taxes plus some state and federal funding is the usual financial model.

You're stuck with central control in England, and I suspect a lot of suffering lies ahead.