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Covid

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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Wish I wasn't a teacher because of Covid

952 replies

NebularNerd · 27/08/2020 20:08

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.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
stairway · 31/08/2020 23:13

Shitfuckoh it’s definitely not fakeness. I think I’d rather catch covid myself then my 5 year’s old teacher catching it. I cannot home school and work. I hope all schools remain open full time and teachers remain healthy, I really do. You will never know how shitfuckoh it was to homeschool and do long hospital shifts.

pooiepooie25 · 31/08/2020 23:17

@Flaxmeadow

where Scotland goes, England follows so let’s all hope for some sensible decisions from Nicola.

I'm no fan but she's made some good decisions in general. First to introduce mask wearing in shops etc and first to open schools and open them during the holidays

Wtf do you mean open them in the holidays? Shows how much you know about schools. Scotland finish school in June and go back mid August.
Mistressiggi · 31/08/2020 23:38

Nicola opened some (most of them I believe) one week early, to get a standardised date across Scotland. This was decided back when we were still expecting to do blended learning.
Can't say we have opened in the holidays, as all that happened is a year of this year's holiday has been moved and grafted on to another holiday somewhere.
Don't worry, we're still getting our week back Wink

Mistressiggi · 31/08/2020 23:39

A week not a year!

HateIsNotGood · 31/08/2020 23:57

I could wish away. wish I had, I hadn't and this and that and wish lots in my life because of.....

In relation to CV19, I'm digesting how the next term starts and how teaching and learning is planned to be implemented as DSs FE College issues any info and preparing DS towards it.

It would be a lot easier being a parent if CV19 didn't exist - as I'm sure it would be a lot easier being anything - but it's a reality that we all face so best not fight about it.

MadameBlobby · 01/09/2020 00:11

@Mistressiggi

Nicola opened some (most of them I believe) one week early, to get a standardised date across Scotland. This was decided back when we were still expecting to do blended learning. Can't say we have opened in the holidays, as all that happened is a year of this year's holiday has been moved and grafted on to another holiday somewhere. Don't worry, we're still getting our week back Wink
Wasn’t a week here, pre Covid teachers were due back 12 Aug and kids 15th. Changed so kids were back 13, 14 or 15 August depending on their year group.
MadameBlobby · 01/09/2020 00:11

Pre Covid teachers were due back 13th

Mistressiggi · 01/09/2020 00:18

Every region of Scotland sets its own dates

MadameBlobby · 01/09/2020 00:37

@Mistressiggi

Every region of Scotland sets its own dates
Sorry, yes I just meant in our area
Mistressiggi · 01/09/2020 00:40

Smile (it was longer for me, so I'm touchy!)

tornadoalley · 01/09/2020 09:27

Schools have had all summer to prepare classrooms and school areas for safer practices, and looking at the news now most have bubbles/masks in corridors/reduced movement/plans for suspected cases/temp checks/hand sanitizers and extra washbasins/staggered starts and many other measures.

Head teachers and teachers have had 6 months to understand how the virus transmits and educate themselves in mitigating transmission, so I don't get this air of bewilderment.

Children need education and most teachers are not in the high risk health category. We are not at the height of the epidemic or widespread infections. Cases are low. The situation is fluid and schools have to adapt.

I do not believe the OPs school is opening with no strategies in place and exactly the same as pre Covid.

tornadoalley · 01/09/2020 09:30

Nothing is stopping you wearing a visor at work?

MilesJuppIsMyBitch · 01/09/2020 09:38

Again, just for context, these comments have all been made after the OP expressed worry about going back to work with an ECV husband at home.

Lots of them after MNHQ posted asking people to be more supportive.

‘Head teachers and teachers have had 6 months to understand how the virus transmits and educate themselves in mitigating transmission, so I don't get this air of bewilderment.’ ‘I do not believe the OPs school is opening with no strategies in place and exactly the same as pre Covid.’ ‘We don’t see the sort of defensiveness of some teachers on mn from any other profession- I do wonder why. No one else claims that you are just “bashing” their profession if you dare criticize their industry. No one else has the oh so funny bingo. No one else claims any criticism is a Russian conspiracy. It’s a strange mentality. Maybe it’s just the clique on here - I do hope so’, ‘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 ‘,

‘I think teachers (and some other professions now returning to work) have had way too much time on their hands to overthink and dwell on all things covid related. ‘ ‘At the end there are things we have no power to change but there are still things we can do to protect ourselves.’
‘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.’,

CallmeAngelina · 01/09/2020 09:47

Jupp!!! Where are your citations and sources for those new references?!
You know they don't count otherwise.

MilesJuppIsMyBitch · 01/09/2020 09:58

@CallmeAngelina

Jupp!!! Where are your citations and sources for those new references?! You know they don't count otherwise.
Grin
MilesJuppIsMyBitch · 01/09/2020 09:59

A huge GOOD LUCK to all teachers going back, (and to all of you already back).

Whatever your views on all this nonsense, we need you, and most of us parents value you.Thanks

stairway · 01/09/2020 11:13

Jupp, there is nothing in your last carefully collected paragraph of quotes which is particularly bad. If you read it through carefully it’s all quite reasonable for Mumsnet at least.

Mistressiggi · 01/09/2020 11:41

Really? The relentlessness of the "not so bad" abuse has a cumulative effect.
Imagine if I told a child complaining to me about bullying on social media that none of the individual comments are "that bad".
But we know exactly where you stand Stairway, and you don't speak for most parents thankfully imo.

MilesJuppIsMyBitch · 01/09/2020 11:44

When my son was being bullied at school, I got him to keep a diary of the things that were said to him.

His bullies were careful to say things that were a bit undermining, but sounded like nothing much, so it was harder for him to explain to the teacher.

We kept a diary for two weeks, then presented the cumulative evidence to his teacher, who sorted it out beautifully.

It was empowering for DS.

Appuskidu · 01/09/2020 12:08

@MilesJuppIsMyBitch

When my son was being bullied at school, I got him to keep a diary of the things that were said to him.

His bullies were careful to say things that were a bit undermining, but sounded like nothing much, so it was harder for him to explain to the teacher.

We kept a diary for two weeks, then presented the cumulative evidence to his teacher, who sorted it out beautifully.

It was empowering for DS.

Absolutely-it’s looking at the bigger picture.
Enoughnowstop · 01/09/2020 12:10

Head teachers and teachers have had 6 months to understand how the virus transmits and educate themselves in mitigating transmission, so I don't get this air of bewilderment

We know how it transmits. That's the problem. Once someone with it is sitting in our classrooms, it will infect us (or some of us, anyway) within about 50 minutes according to the science. Given that we will be in a classroom for up to 6 hours a day with that person, we can expect to be infected with the high viral load that is associated with more serious illness. Ventilation in some schools is poor - this is particularly an issue in secondary with several floors where upstairs windows open just a crack. We have 'blow it about' heating in more modern schools rather than the old fashioned radiator. Some schools have some classrooms with no windows at all.

Now, of course there is the issue of just how efficient a spreader someone who is asymptomatic might be is something that will affect outcomes. But someone who is symptomatic but mum just dosed them up on calpol to get them into school whilst she goes to work is likely to go undetected for several hours. And then there is the issue of 'children don't spread' when the child in question is 6ft tall with size 12 feet.

No bewilderment whatsoever. We know exactly what we are facing. That's the problem. Sitting ducks. Collateral damage. Some school staff will die as a direct result of being in school.

IloveJKRowling · 01/09/2020 12:46

No bewilderment whatsoever. We know exactly what we are facing. That's the problem. Sitting ducks. Collateral damage. Some school staff will die as a direct result of being in school.

Yes. This will probably happen. It happened in Israel, it has happened elsewhere. It happened here (probably) back in March although people always argue about where they caught it. Teachers did die. www.nytimes.com/2020/08/04/world/middleeast/coronavirus-israel-schools-reopen.html
schoolsweek.co.uk/ons-figures-reveal-65-covid-related-deaths-in-education/

Everyone is very squeamish about talking about it but it will probably happen. Just as it happened for healthcare staff before they got proper PPE.

Other countries have decided that changing the way education looks for children for a while (blended learning, universal masks etc) is worth it to hugely reduce the risk of this and avoid the massively severe impact on a minority of families (and the huge mental health impact for the children of those who die or are disabled, and also the mental health impact for the children in schools where this happens).

Our government have decided the collateral damage of some teachers possibly dying and / or getting long covid is worth it to have schools open and not having to provide funding to make it safer / for kids to be properly equipped for home learning.

This is just fact.

As I've said before - my friends kids in US are at most in school half a week (therefore properly socially distanced) - have been provided new computers for home, set up with everything they need for the other days. They all wear masks, down to 5 years old. But obviously this set up needs money.

The way this government is sending schools back is a choice. Agree or disagree, argue about the numbers, argue about whether it's worth it for a few to die in order to get closer to the old normal, but it is a choice - many countries are making a different choice.

Personally I don't think the choice the government has made (while they funnel millions to their friends in non-tendered contracts) is the right one. I don't think it's fair for teachers in this country to have significantly worse safety at work than in many other countries. I think it's worth the government investing in schools to make the school environment safer.

But that's not what the government has chosen.

ineedaholidaynow · 01/09/2020 12:54

I don't know all these teachers who have failed to sort out the ventilation in the classrooms now they know how the virus transmits. God you have had 6 months to replace windows, build new classrooms to replace those rooms without windows or put in a new ventilation system. Obviously you would have had to put your hands in your pockets to pay for it as schools don't have any money. Think I feel a complaint to the governors coming up. Oh wait I am a governor and I know exactly how hard schools have been working to try and make schools as safe as possible under the guidelines on a shoestring budget.

Piggywaspushed · 01/09/2020 12:59

Gosh thanks for the note. I start tomorrow and forgot to pack my sledgehammer!

Enoughnowstop · 01/09/2020 13:15

Too late for sledgehammers, now @Piggywaspushed! Your own fault for being lazy and doing sod all on full pay March. Suck it up, buttercup!

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