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.

SaltyAbdFresh what do you want from Mumsneters? Do you want us all to agree that teachers all have it much worse then shop workers, bus drivers, NHS staff , nursery workers, meat packers etc. That many hundreds of teachers will die from Covid in the next few weeks? Does this make you feel better about going to work? We are just trying to make you feel less scared if anything. It’s not teacher bashing.

Why would they be scared? They have masks, they have screens, they are working in huge buildings with limited amount of customers.

If we had all that, we wouldn't be scared either.

@stairway that's exactly the what we want. Because is people admitted the truth then maybe we could've given some safety precautions. Like bus drivers, supermarket workers, carers. Like masks and screens

My typing is awful. But hopefully know what I meant.

Now can anyone work out how I apparate into a room with no space between desks. I need to get to the front while it's full. Thinking might need to be one Tarzan.

@stairway

SaltyAbdFresh what do you want from Mumsneters? Do you want us all to agree that teachers all have it much worse then shop workers, bus drivers, NHS staff , nursery workers, meat packers etc. That many hundreds of teachers will die from Covid in the next few weeks? Does this make you feel better about going to work? We are just trying to make you feel less scared if anything. It’s not teacher bashing.

We just want people to support us in having safety measures like other workers, that will help keep schools open.

It's a weird, backwards thing. People want schools fully open but none of the measures that will help keep them this way. Most odd.

@KatherineOfGaunt it's so odd I just don't get it. Keep me well and I can teach your kids. I'm 53, bit chubby and haves heart condition. Just give me a chance to stay in school and I'll grab it. If I get sick I sure as hell ain't rushing back !!!

@Flaxmeadow

supermarket workers haven't been endlessly criticised though have they

But they haven't made dozens of threads saying they're scared either. People are not criticising teachers, I think they're more not understanding what the fears are.

Being a teacher feels less like being a part of something and more like being the scapegoat to blame for the entirety of society's ills at the moment.

I don't see that. I just think people want children to be back in school and some teachers don't seem to agree with that ATM. Some want them schooled form home or to go back next year

That simply isn't true.

@stairway

SaltyAbdFresh what do you want from Mumsneters? Do you want us all to agree that teachers all have it much worse then shop workers, bus drivers, NHS staff , nursery workers, meat packers etc. That many hundreds of teachers will die from Covid in the next few weeks? Does this make you feel better about going to work? We are just trying to make you feel less scared if anything. It’s not teacher bashing.

Unfortunate examples, given that teachers have fewer protections than all of the above. I'm not expecting to drop dead in the next few weeks (I mean I might, but I don't expect it). I wouldn't be surprised if I'm quite unwell by Christmas though, and unable to live my life for some time. The risks for my family are unthinkable, so I'm pretending this will only affect me.

It therefore doesn't make me feel better, no. It makes me feel angry and frustrated.

Just read this.

'What I fear, though, is that teachers may have had lasting damage done to their ability to trust themselves. It’s a trust that has been eroded over months, and those who have carelessly dripped negativity need to recognise the consequences of their actions. Now, more than ever, we need to trust teachers. And we need them to trust themselves.'

www.tes.com/magazine/article/back-school-trust-teachers-september

It's very true. The way I feel now is a direct result of the continuous, toxic, drip-drip of criticism of schools and teachers specifically, on Mumsnet over several months. I don't feel the risk is worth the pay and certainly not worth the disdain, but I have to take it until Dec 31st and indefinitely if I can't find an alternative job. I'm hoping that being with my pupils gives me my confidence and enthusiasm back. Some posters need to recognise that they have directly contributed to a decline in teacher wellbeing. It can't be good for education.

Very interesting tone shift on this thread. We've gone from overt criticism to head-tilting concern.

‘I think it's harder to understand what's been going on out there in the workplace if you've been working from home for the last 6 months and its understandable that all kinds of fears might get blown out of proportion because you're not used to it’, ‘People are not criticising teachers, I think they're more not understanding what the fears are. ‘, ‘ We are just trying to make you feel less scared if anything. It’s not teacher bashing.’,

And then a couple of adds to the original list:

our two schools did diddly squat.’, ‘I was doing my bit by helping others and by especially helping and talking to some of the elderly customers who were nervous and scared.’ (But I think teachers who are nervous and scared shouldn’t be teaching). ‘How is this different to anyone else working in a supermarket or restaurant or pub? ‘But it's very unlikely that those breathing will ha e the infection. Its not the dark days of March and April anymore’, ‘Let's just hope no teacher dies or is left with long term health issues: But that's the risk we all have to take’
‘so many comments on teacher threads seem irrational ‘,’just complain and bitch online’, ‘Make a stand or accept the situation. ‘
‘Instead of complaining do something constructive about it. ‘, ‘ I want my children to be taught by confident teachers who have a passion for seeing their pupils thrive.’ And yet here I am adding to the kicking).
‘I hope you all enjoy your time back at your job, working and contributing to our society as it should be.’ ‘If you don't like it leave.’ ‘14 weeks paid holiday.’ ‘It's not exactly working a covid ward with rubbish ppe, 12 hour shifts for weeks on end, less pay and watching people die now is it! ‘, ‘It's a vocation.’ ‘The amount of hand wringing on here from teachers gives us all a bad name’, ‘perhaps you should consider being signed off work if you cannot rationalise the risks involved’, ‘What about the supermarket workers who have been in close contact/no PPE throughout the pandemic. The hospital workers who have been exposed? Bus drivers.’, ‘This virus needs to be lived with.’, ‘you either suck it up or don't go in’, ‘I'm not sure what else you want to happen’, ‘This is so out of proportion it's unreal’, ‘Are you scared of flu?’, ‘they don't put people on ventilators as much’, ‘Sick of this shit’, ‘This fear only seems to have gripped Mumsnet’, ‘This is not the bubonic plague’, ‘children have suffered the most throughout all this and if you (teachers) can't see that then maybe you should take up a different career’, ‘these teacher on here are wetting the bed every night about a tiny risk.’, ‘mental health in children has always been there’, ‘what other job would you feel safer in?’, ‘they just don't have the option to sit home on full pay,’, ‘It could be worse, we could be in Beirut or Colombia’, ‘ I'm sure you are not irreplaceable’, ‘Any comment from teachers about the restaurant workers working 7 days currently? ‘, ‘If you are that scared/anxious of the virus then please do resign’, ‘you're talking like you're the only people on earth who are at risk of COVID’, ‘Think of the children ‘,

Is there any reason why you feel that in the unlikely event you do catch Covid, SaltyAndfresh that you will be so badly affected by it. If you have underlying health conditions I suggest you try and get signed off by your GP, I have colleagues that have done this. If it’s just anxiety then you must realise that the vast majority of healthy adults either are symptomless or have mild versions of Covid. I’m not bashing you I’m trying to make you feel better. No one on Mumsnet can change government policy.

MilesJuppIsMyBitch

Still trying the new approach. Simply dripping with kindness & concern.

‘If you have underlying health conditions I suggest you try and get signed off by your GP, I have colleagues that have done this. If it’s just anxiety then you must realise that the vast majority of healthy adults either are symptomless or have mild versions of Covid. I’m not bashing you I’m trying to make you feel better.’, ‘I think it's harder to understand what's been going on out there in the workplace if you've been working from home for the last 6 months and its understandable that all kinds of fears might get blown out of proportion because you're not used to it’, ‘People are not criticising teachers, I think they're more not understanding what the fears are. ‘, ‘ We are just trying to make you feel less scared if anything. It’s not teacher bashing.’,

Honestly, it's so interesting watching this play out. It's text-book.

Well, my BMI is a risk, I'm mid-40s, my immune system is shot after glandular fever ... I don't expect death but neither am I likely to get away with a sniffle. I have no wish to be signed off. I just want some decent safety measures in place so that I have a better chance of avoiding it.

The change in tone is largely down to you Miles. It must be embarrassing to see your haranguing words come back to haunt you.

I really don’t understand what you are getting at MilesJuppIsMyBitch? I have a colleague who died who really should have not been working if proper risk assessment was carried out as she had risk factors. All of my other colleagues that didn’t have risk factors or even those with risk factors have been absolutely fine and we’ve all had some level of exposure. Surely it must be reassuring that the only people who believe teachers are at incredible risk are in fact teachers? It’s not because we hate teachers either. When I went into work during the pandemic we were all getting claps and being told how brave we were. Which although was nice added to the fear, plus everyone else was at home keeping themselves ‘safe’. The media made it even worse with the pictures of dead NHS workers and daily death toll. I believe today only 1 person in England has died. Tragic as that is surely it’s reassuring?

I'm also concerned about viral load. We are lab rats in this respect.

It is interesting Miles As a side note - as a linguistics nerd I’ve noticed a huge ramp up of hyperbolic language over the last few months. For eg you’ll notice it’s never “teachers are saying..”, it’s often “teachers are screaming/wailing/moaning..”

It pushes any debate to the end of a spectrum and forces defensiveness. It’s quite a good tactic to use to avoid a reasoned debate actually.

@SaltyAndFresh

Well, my BMI is a risk, I'm mid-40s, my immune system is shot after glandular fever ... I don't expect death but neither am I likely to get away with a sniffle. I have no wish to be signed off. I just want some decent safety measures in place so that I have a better chance of avoiding it.

The change in tone is largely down to you Miles. It must be embarrassing to see your haranguing words come back to haunt you.

It's particularly tough to have extra body nonsense atm

SaltyAbdFresh I suggest you insist that you are allowed to wear good quality surgical masks while at the school. Change them at least twice during the day if you can. They really will decrease your risk. They have prevented many thousands of NHS staff from catching it.

Did you deal directly with Covid patients @stairway? Genuinely interested as I think working in the NHS can be a bit of a red-herring when I think of my former colleagues. Point taken if you did.

@TaxTheRatFarms

It is interesting Miles As a side note - as a linguistics nerd I’ve noticed a huge ramp up of hyperbolic language over the last few months. For eg you’ll notice it’s never “teachers are saying..”, it’s often “teachers are screaming/wailing/moaning..”

It pushes any debate to the end of a spectrum and forces defensiveness. It’s quite a good tactic to use to avoid a reasoned debate actually.

It is so effective isn't it! As we have repeatedly witnessed.

Also hyperbole like 'tiny' and 'minuscule' when referring to risk.

@stairway

SaltyAbdFresh I suggest you insist that you are allowed to wear good quality surgical masks while at the school. Change them at least twice during the day if you can. They really will decrease your risk. They have prevented many thousands of NHS staff from catching it.

See this is how I think about masks because I had to wear one when it was feared my DM had a notifiable, contagious disease and was quarantined (she didn't as it happened). Why are we being told that they don't really protect the user? Or is that because most people won't be wearing medical grade masks?

And it continues. Breathtaking.

Surely it must be reassuring that the only people who believe teachers are at incredible risk are in fact teachers?’
‘If you have underlying health conditions I suggest you try and get signed off by your GP, I have colleagues that have done this. If it’s just anxiety then you must realise that the vast majority of healthy adults either are symptomless or have mild versions of Covid. I’m not bashing you I’m trying to make you feel better.’, ‘I think it's harder to understand what's been going on out there in the workplace if you've been working from home for the last 6 months and its understandable that all kinds of fears might get blown out of proportion because you're not used to it’, ‘People are not criticising teachers, I think they're more not understanding what the fears are. ‘, ‘ We are just trying to make you feel less scared if anything. It’s not teacher bashing.’,

The one that really sets my teeth on edge is 'vanishingly small'. I read it in a Guardian headline last week and thought the journo must be a MNer.