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

noble would it not be better to get in touch with your school, local facebook etc and see what you can do to actually help? Rather than just posting endlessly on here for months on end with the same message over and over. It can't be good for you to get this worked up all of the time.

It is not good to be this negative or stressed out, I feel worried for the children you teach tbh. I hope it all goes well for you next week

I’m not telling you off. I’m saying that it runs the risk of being obsessive and aggressive.

FrippEnos
A made up percentage!
I take it that you couldn't find a c&p for your 'evidence'

It wasn't my link!

"education secretary Gavin Williamson told parliament the laptops “would all be distributed by the end of June and we are on target to do that”.

"During the same hearing on June 9, Williamson reiterated the government was “on schedule to distribute the full 230,000 computers over the coming month”."

"But new figures published today [1st July] show 202,212 laptops have been delivered or dispatched as of yesterday (88 per cent of the government’s target)."

MarshaBradyo

Already written to my MP and others, but I have have either no response or a generic answer.

But you would think/hope that the very least that would come out of this would be increased investment in education.

Because if it doesn't all this 'our priority is educating the young' is just just more governement BS.

And I think most of us know which it is.

incredible gaslighting
keep a grip on reality

We are just going back to school....

Clavinova

Your made up percentage was

if 88% of teachers had stepped up

or do you have a link/evidence for that?

I feel worried for the children you teach tbh

😂

@FrippEnos

toffeecashews

From the new u turned u turn.

Schools can require masks in communal areas.

If the head is ok with it. (paraprhased)

Still no masks in classrooms.

And an addition of "if heads allow it."

So still as clear as ever.

So if teachers really want to wear masks, surely the Heads should take note of this an allow it?

Clavinova

And lets point the figure where it should be pointed.

At the complete lack of guidance from the DfE and Government.

I’m not telling you off. I’m saying that it runs the risk of being obsessive and aggressive

Ad homs really aren't addressing the issue of the government lying to us though are they?

Seeline

but then the heads would be going against the contradiction in the guidelines of
"masks are not required in classrooms"

Clear
As
Mud.

@noblegiraffe

I’m not telling you off. I’m saying that it runs the risk of being obsessive and aggressive

Ad homs really aren't addressing the issue of the government lying to us though are they?

And posting on here does?

And posting on here does?

At least one poster has said that they wouldn't be aware of the real situation in schools if it weren't for Mumsnet.

Ad homs really aren't addressing the issue of the government lying to us though are they?

How would you like it to be addressed? What action do you want people to take as a result of your thread?

Friendsoftheearth

I feel worried for the children you teach tbh

You would rather have a teacher that blindly follows guidelines and teaches to the test, than someone that teaches them to question, critique and think for themselves.

I would rather have noble

Further latest media campaign article below. I believe London state primaries will open but close again as witnessed globally when Covid is incubated and detected within non social distancing cramped indoor settings. Looks likely to be a cyclical cycle but hopefully no fatalities to school community nor elderly relatives. All Covid risk management mitigation should be common sense commonplace including masks for obvious scientifically proven safety reasons so not just hands, face, space and trace.

www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/what-schools-in-england-are-doing-to-get-set-for-a-safe-return-in-september-a4532801.html

What schools in England are doing to get set for a safe return in September

Hi OP. Just letting you know, we've moved this thread over to our Coronavirus topic.

BlueBerryBiscuit
The money refunded by exam boards has already been earmarked by the government for students who want to do Autumn resists so mine has been spent. No savings at all!

Really?
100 plus students sitting 9 GCSEs each in the Autumn?

These threads pit teachers against parents and vice versa. For every accusation of "teacher-bashing" there is goading from teachers who are stroppy and/or feeble. I don't get the impression that DC's teachers are like that.

We should be holding the government to account.
I've written to my (Tory) MP asking about sanitisers for schools, PPE for teachers who want it, testing for teachers/pupils to help minimise absences/lockdowns. Copied it to ministers/shadow ministers et al.

Let's start pestering the buggers!

OP I agree with you about this being propaganda and think many of the responses are missing your point: irrespective of whether schools are safe, the government needs to be held to account by the press for their lies/ blatant disinformation.

Correction -
100 plus students sitting 2/3 GCSEs each in the Autumn?

@unmarkedbythat

Ad homs really aren't addressing the issue of the government lying to us though are they?

How would you like it to be addressed? What action do you want people to take as a result of your thread?

This is what I also want to know.

And can we start a Mumsnet campaign for more sinks in schools?

Schools have always been a bit gross.

Yes noble - a Union - presumably you are already a member of one. What are they advising you to do?

As not all teachers are union members, many teachers belong to different unions, not all school staff are teachers, some schools can open safely, some can't, etc, etc, it needs a school staff 'union/force' of school staff that feel the same as you.

And yes, as PP posters have stated, a School can make its own safety measures if SLT decide it's needed.

I don't think this thread needed to be moved to coronavirus topic. It's a thread about propaganda 🤨