Wish I wasn't a teacher because of Covid

[NebularNerd]

In my family/friends circle, I am the only one who will be face to face with 150+ people per day with no PPE, no social distancing, nothing.

I have one relative who is not expecting to return to the office this year.
Another who now only works in the office two days per week, in a building where numbers are severely restricted, one way systems, spaced out desks etc.
Another friend who is also able to wfh for the foreseeable future.

I can't help but think that had I made a different career choice I would not now be faced with contracting a potentially life threatening virus and passing it on to my clinically extremely vulnerable husband or elderly parents.

I will go to work and try to ignore what's going on in the world and do my best. But I wish I could be made to feel safer - screens, masks, fewer pupils, something.

I hope I'm worrying for nothing, but it is getting difficult to sleep at night.

*teachers

@FrippEnos there’s loads of supply teachers where I live and nqts looking for experience. The schools here aren’t going to leave kids without a teacher because some decide to leave.

@FrippEnos, I'd apply for another job right now if I thought I could do this. Will your friend be in breach of contract if they just walk?

@Piggywaspushed

If a self employed roofer came to my house to work with nothing to protect him or any of the people he is working with, I'd send him away and get someone who took health and safety more seriously instead.

Interesting examples you gave,as you probably know that plumbers at the moment are wearing gloves and masks , keeping away from occupants and wiping surfaces down.

Please could you tell me what safety measures a self employed roofer should have? Please do tell. They aren't equipped with safety harnesses.

[quote Thefab3]@FrippEnos there’s loads of supply teachers where I live and nqts looking for experience. The schools here aren’t going to leave kids without a teacher because some decide to leave.[/quote]
What are their specialisms?

What My friend delivers many teachers can't.

[quote SaltyAndFresh]@FrippEnos, I'd apply for another job right now if I thought I could do this. Will your friend be in breach of contract if they just walk?[/quote]
I am not sure what their contract stipulates. but they are not that bothered and will just walk.

@SaltyAndFresh shall we give OP false hope? Shall we now blame the parents for the lack of PPE. What can we do it’s a shit situation I think some people do need to get over it and it’s an insult to others without PPE. Teachers are under an illusion that they have it harder than anybody else yet the majority have WORKED FROM home... increased workload well so have many of us! We should be grateful we have an income coming in!!! During the height of Covid it was bad and said to my colleagues at least we have a job and we are not at risk of having our jobs cut. So swings and roundabouts!

Are there any stats around serious cases/hospitalisation/deaths by profession from earlier in the pandemic? Because it’s now clear that COVID was spreading wildly Feb half term onwards, and schools didn’t close until towards the end of March. Teachers and other adults working in schools would have been coming into contact with exponentially more carriers of the virus then than they will be now. Might the impact it had then be a clue to the likely impact now? It’s a genuine question, by the way, I’m not attempting to make a point - it’s just not something I’ve seen anything about. I’ve seen comments about risks to different professions being dismissed because schools were closed to most pupils, but this glosses over that early period.

[quote Backtobasics5]@SaltyAndFresh shall we give OP false hope? Shall we now blame the parents for the lack of PPE. What can we do it’s a shit situation I think some people do need to get over it and it’s an insult to others without PPE. Teachers are under an illusion that they have it harder than anybody else yet the majority have WORKED FROM home... increased workload well so have many of us! We should be grateful we have an income coming in!!! During the height of Covid it was bad and said to my colleagues at least we have a job and we are not at risk of having our jobs cut. So swings and roundabouts![/quote]
I mean, as a teacher myself I'm in the same position. We're quite aware that it's hopeless.

No amount of money is worth taking this level of risk for.

Backtobasics5

Teachers are under an illusion that they have it harder than anybody else confused

The old ones are the best.

But in this case why are other workers afforded protections that teachers are not?

Schools are already back in Scotland and there have been no significant outbreaks or issues for teachers. I suggest you just get on with it

oneday the guy that fixed my chimney stack had a helmet and safety harness.

Any other roofers I have had work for reputable local companies in teams. I wouldn't actually want, usually, someone to work alone in roofing. they have helmets , scaffolding, gloves,harnesses and toetectors. As they were working with asbestos they had special masks.

@FrippEnos - what protections are teachers not getting?

@CayrolBaaaskin

Schools are already back in Scotland and there have been no significant outbreaks or issues for teachers. I suggest you just get on with it

What, like the 36 confirmed cases in a school in Dundee Cayrol?

@BikeTyson if you were sick back in the spring you wouldn't have been tested, you were only to seen medical help if you needed to go to hospital. I was ill in March (prob not CV) but I could only have had a test if I had been in contact with someone from China or Italy at that point.

@CayrolBaaaskin

Schools are already back in Scotland and there have been no significant outbreaks or issues for teachers. I suggest you just get on with it

Alright Cayrol, you're obviously the expert. I prostrate myself before your superior judgement.

Teachers are under an illusion that they have it harder than anybody else
In your head maybe. Not any actual real life teachers. Defensive perhaps at being told constantly we were on a long holiday.

I believe we have Us4Ourselves onboard

[quote CayrolBaaaskin]@FrippEnos - what protections are teachers not getting?[/quote]
Social distancing and masks to start with.

@CayrolBaaaskin

Schools are already back in Scotland and there have been no significant outbreaks or issues for teachers. I suggest you just get on with it

Apart from the schools that have closed with it preventing significant outbreaks.

I am assuming if a roofer doesn't follow the industry guidelines/regulations they wouldn't be covered by insurance if anything happens to them.

It has suddenly occurred to me to wonder where I stand with my life insurance if I can't SD at work.

Are people seriously arguing that because something is wrong in one industry something else should be wrong in another industry to balance it out. Wouldn't it be better to argue for increased safety all round.

@FrippEnos

Backtobasics5

Teachers are under an illusion that they have it harder than anybody else confused

The old ones are the best.

But in this case why are other workers afforded protections that teachers are not?

Ask your unions? Down tools? Surely if you all did this they would have to look at letting teachings wear masks. I’m not against PPE for the teachers. Not all fields have PPE it’s the same old and a mask won’t prevent the COVID-19 I don’t think the virus is how the Gov have made out to be.

Are all the teachers falling dead in Scotland??? Because from the teachers POV on MN you would think so.

Backtobasics5

The unions have already submitted requests for information and checklists.

Remember how well that went down?

Are all the teachers falling dead in Scotland??? Because from the teachers POV on MN you would think so.

Really I don't see any teachers mentioning death, that comes from those with no argument about what teachers are asking for.

We are trying to make things as safe as possible for the children and staff members and make sure that schools can stay open, unlike some schools in Scotland.