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.

At the weekend, I look forward to living my new risk free existence. Friends, meals out, shopping trips and I might go to the rugby.

[quote Back50]@neveradullmoment99
There are risk in all jobs and most parents will have explained to their children about social distancing etc in school. I honestly think you are thinking too much in to it [/quote]
Thanks for that. Im not now. I will happily go about my business now. No need to SD or wear mask or take precautions. Everyone saying there is more chance of getting hit by a bus. I have decided to believe all of it. what the hell!
Im a changed teacher. Thanks.

I have mumsnet to thank for my epiphany!

Hey neveradullmoment, think we should meet up for a party? You bring all your friends and I'll bring mine. It's great to have been liberated from fear.

@neveradullmoment99
Obviously you take precautions

TEACHER CONGA EVERYBODY

No need for precautions
No need for precautions

Nah nah nah nah HEY

@Mistressiggi

"At the weekend, I look forward to living my new risk free existence. Friends, meals out, shopping trips and I might go to the rugby."

Yes please do this and stop living in fear, if you are a teacher your fear will pass on to the children and would not be good for them

Back50
Why do you feel so strongly that teachers should not have the right to the same safety measures as everyone else? What is making you angry?

No one is saying we should close schools, or that children's education/welfare is not important.

And, as I've said elsewhere, if we're playing the comparison game about who has it worse, let's level the playing field and remove all safety measures everywhere, shall we, since the international response to the current pandemic is clearly a vast over reaction.

@Back50 parents can talk to their children about social distancing but that doesn’t take away the fact that due to class sizes and pupil numbers social distancing is not going to happen in schools. In other work places where social distancing isn’t possible the government guidance states that other measures must be put in place such as mask wearing. My head teacher has said no masks or visors for children or staff. I have seen what happens if you go against the head’s wishes and it results in the staff member leaving the school.

Seriously though you're talking like you're the only people on earth who are at risk of Covid. If there's a breakout at a school then it's the parents who are at risk as they come into physical contact with their kids, whereas arguably you don't have to touch your pupils so there is a greater chance you could avoid it. Their are wider considerations to schools opening and teachers are only part of the picture.

Nebular, if you’ve not met this particular poster before, you are playing pigeon chess.

They just want you to talk to them and will post whatever it takes to keep you responding.

@NebularNerd

I'm angry because I have been working throughout the pandemic, initially with no protection, now with a flimsy mask. I have patient contact which cannot be done with a mask. I have to work. I and my colleagues do not complain we get on with it.

As I mentioned previous what my dc school have in place seems sufficient. What more can they do? If a teacher is so anxious about it then I wouldn't want them working with my child as it would not be good for them. I'm not being nasty but honestly it's getting ridiculous now, what if every single worker acted like this

But the thing is though, I don't know any restaurant workers ( many of them brown, older and overweight) who are clamouring to be allowed to wear visors and masks. They know it's not practical. They are just getting on with it.

I actually think teachers and students should wear masks in the same way shop keepers and customers do and travellers on public transport or in hospital. The risk in school is greater as the teacher is facing presumably a class of 30 and their colleagues sometimes in poorly ventilated buildings with little chance to social distance. I do not understand why people should think otherwise. Yes the younger kids might not like it but they could take them off outdoors and would get used to it. I hope the government back tracks.

Blimey Them 4 Us really put out the klaxon tonight.

Back have you read the study that said children's anxiety dropped in lockdown?

And I don't think a single " were all going to die" thread has been started on here by hospitality staff, nursery workers, food production workers, public transport workers or retail staff..not that I have seen anyway. And many if those people have been working throughout.

@noblegiraffe you argument isn't valid as when you don't know what to answer you bring up something irrelevant

I've been working throughout too, partly looking after the children of nurses etc. 🤷‍♀️

Every restaurant I have been in recently has had very strict protocols and staff in masks / visors, must say.

[quote Back50]@neveradullmoment99
There are risk in all jobs and most parents will have explained to their children about social distancing etc in school. I honestly think you are thinking too much in to it [/quote]
Parents can explain social distancing to their kids until they’re blue in the face, but that doesn’t change the fact that as soon as kids are in the classroom they’ll be shoulder to shoulder, two to a table. Because that’s the only way we can fit 30 inside a classroom.

Do parents realise kids can’t SD in the classroom? And also not so well even in the one way corridors?

@Piggywaspushed no I haven't, can you attach a link please?

@Nixen

I do sympathise but at least you’re decently paid for what you do. My 62 year old mum will be doing all of that for what is basically minimum wage, as a TA. I’m hoping she’ll choose to retire earlier than planned 🤞🏻

This is worrying me too. My mum is 66 next month (working as a TA) and has decided to retire then rather to wait until Christmas as per her original plan but I'm still worried about those 3/4 weeks. She's 66, my stepdad has had an operation to have a cancerous lump removed and I'm pregnant. We're very fortunate to live in a largely unaffected area in the countryside but it's a concern

[quote Back50]@NebularNerd

I'm angry because I have been working throughout the pandemic, initially with no protection, now with a flimsy mask. I have patient contact which cannot be done with a mask. I have to work. I and my colleagues do not complain we get on with it.

As I mentioned previous what my dc school have in place seems sufficient. What more can they do? If a teacher is so anxious about it then I wouldn't want them working with my child as it would not be good for them. I'm not being nasty but honestly it's getting ridiculous now, what if every single worker acted like this [/quote]
I'm sorry you haven't felt adequately protected at work. It is awful that this happened to you.

Why do you want me to go through the same?

What do I want?
Masks FOR ALL
Social distancing
Hygiene
Ventilation
Minimum.

Blimey Them 4 Us really put out the klaxon tonight.
Do you know what, that makes you sound really thick. Is that some Facebook nonsense? Do you seriously not understand that people who have experiences other than public sector have a different perspective, without needing to be part of some pressure group?

@TaxTheRatFarms

I realise children cannot SC, what I mean is parents will have explained SC regarding teachers; that they will not be able to be close/physical contact etc.