Safe to reopen schools

[askmehowiknow]

Article from oxford professor summarising new data that it's safe for children to be in school. Great pre September reading!

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/aug/18/children-covid-19-english-schools-virus-safe-reopening

@Uhoh2020
It's a real shame that your 'can't do' attitude is preventing you from seeing the positive measures that could be brought in. It's also shocking that you believe that if everyone can't have mitigations than no-one can. What if that same attitude was applied to all public service workers?

@noblegiraffe

Current measures are working at keeping rates very low in the vast majority of the country.

They are, aren’t they? What do you think will happen when those measures are abandoned and large groups are suddenly shoved in a building together with no mitigation?

Quite. Once we get all the school kids squished back onto buses and trains, back into class sizes of 30 in rooms more suitable for 20, back into all the outside clubs lets see what happens.

@UserNeedsGin

Why do people lose sight of the realities of this virus?

1. Death rate is low even for vulnerable people.
2. The NHS is not overwhelmed with covid patients
3. 0.05% of the population currently have the virus.
4. Current measures are working at keeping rates very low in the vast majority of the country.
5. I could go on and on.....

The problem this is your over-reliance on the word 'current' as we head into autumn.

With this

[quote Iamnotthe1]@Uhoh2020
It's a real shame that your 'can't do' attitude is preventing you from seeing the positive measures that could be brought in. It's also shocking that you believe that if everyone can't have mitigations than no-one can. What if that same attitude was applied to all public service workers?[/quote]
go on then what positive measures could be brought in for all schools that aren't that dont require any extra resources or funding? Because is there isnt any extra, which is bullshit ive said that a thousand times its bullshit its not fair

@Uhoh2020

If you look back at my earlier posts, you'll see several suggested measures. Some require new funding, some require that the Government provides the funding they already promised but haven't given, some require adjustments. However, saying there isn't available funding is disingenious. The Government finds money for the things it wants to fund, such as:

• its campaign to persuade people schools are safe,
• investment a bankrupt satelitte company to produce gps satelittes they've never made before and we don't actually need,
• the money funnelled into companies that didn't make PPE in order to get them to make some PPE which they never actually did (and the money has just been written off)
• the redesign of a public health body in the middle of a pandemic (which by the way they state won't be full operational until spring 2021).

And you've not answered my question: do you believe that if everyone can't have protective measures then no-one should have protective measures?

[quote Uhoh2020]@noblegiraffe read my post at 13.50 that could answer my thoughts on safety

Ps I promise to reply quicker next time 👌[/quote]
It’s fine, I get that you had to await further instructions from HQ.

I see they’ve decided to revert to ‘it’s expensive and there’s no money so teachers will just have to suck it up’... while workers on furlough tuck into their Rishi dinners.

@Iamnotthe1 ok there is money but it isn't being directed at schools but I think you knew thats what I meant.
And yes I think everyone should have the same opportunities and environment

@noblegiraffe who is "they" and HQ?
FWIW I'm not on furlough never was worked all through and have now been made redundant not quite sure why that makes a difference though

[quote Uhoh2020]@Iamnotthe1 ok there is money but it isn't being directed at schools but I think you knew thats what I meant.
And yes I think everyone should have the same opportunities and environment[/quote]
You're right - education isn't being funded as it should be. The Government must be 'encouraged' to spend as is needed, just like it was shamed into keeping free school meals going during the holidays. If we united together, our voices would be loud enough to force change.

Two questions then:
Are you saying that no protective measures for anyone is genuinely better than some protective measures for some?

Second question, do you also believe the employees in schools should not have the same protections as other public-facing employees if you think that everyone should have the same?

There's no point arguing with me about money given to schools its not like its my decision or me holding it back! I wholeheartedly agree as I have said many many times now more money should be thrown at schools yet you choose not to acknowledge this. Arguing the toss about the rights or wrongs of school funding is not going to change anything is it.
For one last time at no point have I said its fair or its safe

I didn’t say you were on furlough, uhoh, I was pointing out that ‘there’s no money’ won’t wash when it’s clear there’s money for other things. Furlough and half price dinners.

Schools have been told ‘there’s no money’ for years. It’s a lie. What they actually mean is ‘we don’t want to give you money because we don’t give a toss about education, our kids go private’

I’m surprised that parents aren’t agitating for better for their kids.

I have stated I believe part time schooling with distancing would be the best option

The point is it isn't a flaming option though whether we like it or not! And stating it on every comment on every thread isnt going to change it.

This is from about twelvety pages back, but just to say that I maintain it is an option, the government is choosing to only consider options that require no effort and no additional funding. But the option exists, therefore it is an option.

People who are adamant they have to go back fulltime really need to decide whether it is a) because this is best for children or b) not best for children but the only practical option.

I find we ping backwards and forwards between the two endlessly.

@Uhoh2020

There's no point arguing with me about money given to schools its not like its my decision or me holding it back! I wholeheartedly agree as I have said many many times now more money should be thrown at schools yet you choose not to acknowledge this. Arguing the toss about the rights or wrongs of school funding is not going to change anything is it. For one last time at no point have I said its fair or its safe

My point was that if you recognise this (both for the funding and safety), which you clearly do, then join with the other voices advocating for change and for the Government to step up. Isn't that better than just accepting things the way they are?

It's a great shame that it has taken Covid for parents to finally realise what teachers have been saying about school funding for years has been true.

As for the new schools building programme that takes years and is not a quick fix and does not resolve the problems we have with day to day funding.

If everyone should have the same opportunities and environment, do teachers deserve the same protections as other workers?

Other countries have invested lots of money in schools for safer measures.

We have the money. We see that by how much has been wasted by this government or given to their friends in contracts that don’t deliver.

I get that you’re saying the funding isn’t with schools. But we shouldn’t accept that or use it as a reason not to go for safer opening.

I respect that you think that way of course but I just feel we should be demanding better for our children.

I’m surprised that parents aren’t agitating for better for their kids.

I agree with this. Our schools are not great at the best of times due to underfunding. Teachers do so much but you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear or whatever.

This pandemic has revealed just how bad they are. UK has experienced some bad timing with the pandemic - just whilst the government was obsessed with Brexit so halted pandemic planning, just after ten years of austerity, just as our biggest birth rate years went into schools. But all these things were decisions made by government. We could have been in a much better place.

Well the birth rate wasn't their decision but the fact they haven't invested in necessary space was. The kids going into secondary this year have been alive 11 years. It's not like we only just realised how many there were!

Join with the other voices advocating for change and the Government to step up

In practical terms how exactly? And I don't mean sounding off on Mumsnet about it because that isn't going to do diddlysquat.

Not sure Mumsnet is a fair representation of parents view. Everyone I have spoken to can't wait for schools to reopen.

Everyone I have spoken to is astonished that the reality of what’s proposed doesn’t match the pictures they see on TV. “What, no social distancing? 30 in a classroom?!”

@Uhoh2020

Join with the other voices advocating for change and the Government to step up

In practical terms how exactly? And I don't mean sounding off on Mumsnet about it because that isn't going to do diddlysquat.

As a starting point:

• email or write to your MP and encourage them to speak up in their role,
• share these thoughts with others and encourage them to do the same,
• sign petitions to force the Government to discuss the points raised once parliament resumes.

@Uhoh2020

Join with the other voices advocating for change and the Government to step up

In practical terms how exactly? And I don't mean sounding off on Mumsnet about it because that isn't going to do diddlysquat.

You could start by sending an email to your mp and councillors to say you think schools need additional funding to properly keep schools covid-secure.

You could read more from the unions about the concerns and learn how much little it would cost in the scheme of things to provide e.g. laptops and wifi.

You could sign one of the petitions saying parents should have the option of not returning if concerned.

If you want to get more active than that, there are ways.

No need to worry now as Matt is helping Big Gav.

Gav says all schools back now.

Matt says all offices back now.

And yes lots of people were working in usual environments anyway eg healthcare, police, supermarkets

Giddy up everyone - back to it! None of this namby-pamby WFH nonsence

@Iamnotthe1 snap!

I guess the fact there's no evidence that they will transmit it is reassuring

There is evidence that they transmit it though - only this week 14 secondary school children have been diagnosed with it after they all attended a party. How did they catch it if they can't transmit it? Oh, and they'd all been to school too.

Just sticking your head in the sand won't stop this from happening.