The government is trying to make you think schools will be socially distanced

[noblegiraffe]

The government are currently running a (well publicised) propaganda campaign to say that schools are safe. They are using social media influencers, journalists and friendly scientists (firmly ignoring any unfriendly ones like the Royal Society). Branwen Jefferys of the BBC tweeted “So how high is government anxiety about school return? A PR company acting on behalf of the Cabinet office is now emailing media offering experts to support the “messaging”. Strange way to approach news journalists ..”

And just about every news outlet running stories about schools seems to be rotating stock footage of half empty classrooms with teachers miles away from the kids. There have even been photos of kids getting temperature checks (not allowed). I was watching Sky news where a commentator was saying how awful it was that kids would be sent back to socially distanced schools. The PM gave a rambling speech to carefully spaced kids in a library. And in a visit to a classroom it’s clear that the kids were all shoved down one end in order to give some lovely spaced kids at the other end for the PM to pose in front of.
metro.co.uk/2020/08/27/boris-johnson-staged-school-visit-social-distancing-13188600/

Matt Hancock was on the news saying it was really important for teachers to stay 2m from the kids to avoid spreading the virus between all the bubbles they’ll be working in, despite knowing that this will be utterly and hopelessly impossible.

Why are the government lying? Why are they sending the ‘right’ experts to the press? Why are kids being spread out for staged photo shoots instead of honest pictures?

And why are the press largely going along with it?

Schools are going back, in a lot of cases to an estate that is unfit for purpose. Old buildings, no ventilation, large class sizes. Pupils will be crammed in facing a teacher who won’t be able to stand 2m from them. If it’s so safe, why aren’t they showing and acknowledging the reality?

YABU: what they are doing is fine and there are perfectly reasonable explanations for all the suggestions of socially distanced classrooms and schools in the media

YANBU: the lying liars are lying to us again

@noblegiraffe

Close schools for years?

Why is it that the government have presented this as a binary choice, schools re-opening with no mitigation measures or schools staying closed (the narrative from their supposed wars with the unions) and people are lapping it up?

Because the alternatives are impossible.

I am not a child. If staff get sick schools will close.
And it's not just about dying. It's about long term life changing effects. I know a 16 year old who now needs a lung transplant because of Covid. Rare ? Yes. But that's not much consolation if that is your child.
The next few weeks will be calm. And then the cases will start. Let's just hope no one gets sick because schools are so Covid safe. They are not by the way. They are exactly as they were.

Well your arguing/reasoning is not up to much either noble, but if you have the time to spend all day spouting your propaganda, good for you.

Wish we could fast forward a month, I do hope the teacher's in my school actually want to teach my kids. They do actually give a good impression of that, but of course according to you they are all liars.

Because the alternatives are impossible.

Are you sure you know the meaning of the word 'impossible'?

Are you confusing it with 'expensive'?

They do actually give a good impression of that, but of course according to you they are all liars.

If I didn't want to teach kids, I wouldn't have been teaching the last 15 years?

It is entirely possible to want to teach kids and to want improved safety measures to keep schools open and to think that the government are a bunch of lying shitheads.

Thinking about your own school noble - what do you think your own school should be doing to make it safe enough to open?

Are you doing anything to make your school safe to open, such as assisting your SLT with your suggestions?

If you do keep you child at home you risk losing their place. A school will not keep a place open indefinitely, unless there was a severe risk factor eg cystic fibrosis.

alljustamoopoint
I don’t think anyone wants this, but again, what can we do? Close schools for years?
Because the alternatives are impossible.

Sorry I have put your two posts together.

The alternatives are not impossible, but the require significant investment.
Not only in equipment, but infrastructure and the profession.

And this in a profession/area that governments have been undermining for years

@noblegiraffe

Because the alternatives are impossible.

Are you sure you know the meaning of the word 'impossible'?

Are you confusing it with 'expensive'?

Expensive to whom, precisely?

Because once you start with part time schooling and the like the cost falls onto individual families.

If you are suggesting whole schools should be rebuilt to allow social distancing then possibly, but I am not sure that is particularly practical.

I want a safe return as much as you do. But I don’t think three endless threads trying to whip hysteria up on MN are healthy at all.

• these

Are you doing anything to make your school safe to open, such as assisting your SLT with your suggestions?

I'm a part-time chalk-face teacher in a large MAT. I'm not sure you realise how funny your suggestion is.

If private schools can require masks, why can't state schools? (Leaving aside other issues of enforcement, cost etc for now)

Is the guidance issued by the government 'just' guidance or is it actually law? The public seem quite happy to ignore 'guidance' in other situations (gatherings, visiting other houses, SD with friends etc), so why can't the schools do it?

LindainLockdown
I do hope the teacher's in my school actually want to teach my kids. They do actually give a good impression of that, but of course according to you they are all liars.

Where has anyone said that they don't want to teach?
All we are saying is that we want to be able to do so safely and prevent any closures.

But you read in to people's posts what you want.

And it's not just about dying. It's about long term life changing effects. I know a 16 year old who now needs a lung transplant because of Covid. Rare ? Yes. But that's not much consolation if that is your child

When people use that argument about vaccine side-effects they are shouted down as being irrational.

There is no wrong or right way; you just have to do what’s right for you and your DCs.

If we can. Not all of us have the choice, some of us are the sole earner, others are single parents forced to kow tow to the other parent, some can't work from home. Being able to do what we think is right is a luxury open to some but not all.

@toffeecashews

There is no wrong or right way; you just have to do what’s right for you and your DCs.

If we can. Not all of us have the choice, some of us are the sole earner, others are single parents forced to kow tow to the other parent, some can't work from home. Being able to do what we think is right is a luxury open to some but not all.

This is exactly why I am in favour of schools opening.

It’s all very well and good a two parent family where one works part time insisting schools should return part time. Not so much when it’s a single parent living close to the breadline as it is.

But I don’t think three endless threads trying to whip hysteria up on MN are healthy at all.

You'd prefer that the government were allowed to run their propaganda campaign without anyone flagging up the issues?

Interesting.

alljustamoopoint

Expensive to whom, precisely?

The government and the tax payer.

Because once you start with part time schooling and the like the cost falls onto individual families.

But it could be done and is not impossible.

If you are suggesting whole schools should be rebuilt to allow social distancing then possibly, but I am not sure that is particularly practical.

Various governments have stopped schools building new sections and have forced larger class sizes. Again difficult yes, impossible no.

I want a safe return as much as you do. But I don’t think three endless threads trying to whip hysteria up on MN are healthy at all.

The facts are the facts, they are not hysterical at all.

I'm terrified. Adult dd goes back to teaching 14-18 year olds next week with no ppe and no social distancing. I' not too worried about her getting it as she's ypung and healthy , but worried about bringing it back to me and my parents.

My school is exactly as was prior to lockdown, apart from sanitised dispensers, arrows on the floor and staggered playtimes. I'm stuck in front, 80 cm between me and first row, hardly able to move between tables or get to children needing assistance. It sucks. And don't guilt trip OP with 'how can you be part of the solution' talk; that's unnecessary.

If you are suggesting whole schools should be rebuilt to allow social distancing then possibly, but I am not sure that is particularly practical.

They managed to knock up Nightingale hospitals fairly quickly didn't they? They've had 6 months to sort out something for schools and have done precisely zip. They even told heads that they weren't allowed to implement any plans that would require extra space (marquees, using village halls etc).

By next Thursday, social media will be full of pictures snapped by pupils of crowded corridors/staircases and children sitting elbow to elbow. The contrast with this week’s staged spaced out pictures will be very clear.

alljustamoopoint

*This is exactly why I am in favour of schools opening.

It’s all very well and good a two parent family where one works part time insisting schools should return part time. Not so much when it’s a single parent living close to the breadline as it is.

And if schools were allowed pt/rotas etc. adjustments could be made for those that need them.

There is no one perfect answer, but if a whole year group is in isolation for 14 days what will those that are lone parents/on the breadline do then?

Is the point of the OP too subtle for MN? I agree that the govt may as well just say - look we’re going back as normal - cos that’s essentially what’s happening. Then they could
spend money and Provide an alternative for people who genuinely can’t go back to school.

They even told heads that they weren't allowed to implement any plans that would require extra space (marquees, using village halls etc)

Interesting, our school used marquees to get additional year groups back in June/July and still have them to give everyone more space. Didn’t realise this was against guidance.