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

Sponsored by the Government.

Not the first 'news' article on back to school to appear in this way either.

@Aragog

Sponsored by the Government.

Not the first 'news' article on back to school to appear in this way either.

Sponsored articles like that are designed to be an antidote to the original poison, which included scare-mongering, over the top, irresponsible images like this one. It's two side of the same coin - scare people shitless, patronise them out of their fear.

@ineedaholidaynow - I suggested on another thread parents who were able to donate hand sanitiser, soap, cleaning wipes etc and all the teachers saying no it was best to leave to the school?

MarshaBradyo

I have no issue with parents advocating for their children, but IMO I don't believe that is what is currently happening.

Wouldn't it be nice if we just had a government who treated us like adults and could give us information without spin and manipulation?
I'm absolutely fed up of gaslighty bastards trying to manipulate me.

But isn't also irresponsible to show inaccurate and false photographs of what classrooms will look like next week?

Two wrongs don't make a right and all that!!

Most parents are happy to be sending their children back to school.
So show honest photographs. Don't pretend that all schools will be like the made up 2m spaced out rooms.

All that means is that when parents do see and hear the reality in their child's classroom they'll start questioning why their school hasn't done what the Government has shown them should be happening.

Mind, its probably just another way for the blame, if anything goes wrong and there are outbreaks, to be pushed back to schools and teachers rather than the Government.

They've already lit the flames for that by saying that the transmission is highly likely to come from between the teachers 'socialising in their coffee breaks' so it wouldn't really surprise me.

I've just been into a shop right by our local secondary school.

It has a screen system that says how many in shop. How many spaces. Green for enter and red to wait.

In comes 5 teens (2 spaces only left) all with scooters, no face masks and when I'm laying one came up and stood right next to me (not even normal acceptance of space)

And when I asked manager (he was serving me) why they don't say anything he just said they can't. And if they did the kids would just mouth off and do stupid things like deliberately start coughing in people.

THIS is the reality some secondary school teachers are going to have to face.

Whilst I don't want our teens to be fearful or worried they really should have understanding and respect for the guidance to protect the vulnerable around them.

Important to note that whilst the government is keen to use pupil mental health as reason to return to full time school, academic research is showing a decline in self-reported teen MH issues since school shut.

Possibly there will be a big MH spike when schools return, lots of stress and anxiety, and of course school will be massively less engaging and pleasant due to certain activities being limited.

Part time schooling with SD would have allowed a much better transition back, healthier all round.

@latticechaos

Important to note that whilst the government is keen to use pupil mental health as reason to return to full time school, academic research is showing a decline in self-reported teen MH issues since school shut.

Possibly there will be a big MH spike when schools return, lots of stress and anxiety, and of course school will be massively less engaging and pleasant due to certain activities being limited.

Part time schooling with SD would have allowed a much better transition back, healthier all round.

Lattice do you mean the study on anxiety specifically conducted in May?

There’s no doubt long term this picture would change. And should include motivation etc as questions.

@noblegiraffe

I think the risk to my children is very small

Why are the government lying to us? If it is fine as things will be, why are they not showing that?

This with bells on.

@alljustamoopoint

itsgettingweird pretty much what I said on page 1. I think it’s an imperfect solution but I also recognise any solution is imperfect. I honestly don’t see a way around it.

The only thing I would change would be that vulnerable staff should be signed off.

But you don't think people from education should be campaigning to make things better?

Because these threads are for awareness. Maybe instead of maiming about the quantity and accepting an imperfect solution you and other posters could help those teachers in here to get better funding full stop for education but in the meantime do what they can to keep schools open to provide a good education.

@Nellodee

The most important thing a government needs, when dealing with an outbreak, is the trust of its populace. We have seen this over numerous occasions with Ebola outbreaks in Africa. Unfortunately, having lost the faith of the English population, our government is now trying to win it back with more lies.

It didn't need to be this way. We could have had politicians who spoke to us honestly and like adults, as Merkel did in Germany. Of course, in order to get that, we would have needed to vote for someone with integrity.

Great post

Lattice do you mean the study on anxiety specifically conducted in May?

No, more recent.

Can you link?

I'd also look very closely at people and companies who are dodging their tax bill. Money to be found there, I think.

And I'd start with all the Tory boys mates who have been given multi million pound contracts during this.

Id like to know they are registered and paying tax in the UK.

@MarshaBradyo

Can you link?

Not without faffing about looking, no.

The one reported very recently was actually conducted in May.

Sponsored articles like that are designed to be an antidote to the original poison, which included scare-mongering, over the top, irresponsible images like this one. It's two side of the same coin - scare people shitless, patronise them out of their fear.

I agree that those particular messages were over-the-top but the difference there, I believe, was that the government thought that they were doing the right thing in getting people to stay at home and their message, while perhaps overly strong was basically honest - Stay at home, Protect the NHS, Save lives. They'd seen what had happened in Italy and were terrified of the NHS being overwhelmed and their messaging was supported by their actions - building Nightingale Hospitals, absolutely throwing money at the NHS and introducing furlough.

Here, I believe the message is deceitful. They are telling parents that it is safe to go back to school but their actions don't match their words. They are putting out suggestions of social distancing and bubbles that don't match reality. They are not throwing money at schools to improve safety measures with basic things like extra sinks or soap. They are saying that teachers will stand 2m away from the kids while knowing this is not true. They dither on masks because on the one hand, it might improve safety and prevent closures but on the other hand it will give a clear message that the current measures are inadequate. They have hamstrung themselves on that one.
Their covid-secure guidelines which apply to other workplaces are not being applied here and the 'tests' for schools reopening (world beating track and trace anyone?) have been lost to the mists of time.

@itsgettingweird

I'd also look very closely at people and companies who are dodging their tax bill. Money to be found there, I think.

And I'd start with all the Tory boys mates who have been given multi million pound contracts during this.

Id like to know they are registered and paying tax in the UK.

Yes, fab place to start.

All these contracts for friends of Boris reminds me of the Wars of the Roses when everyone wanted their mate to be king because it meant you'd be made a Duke and be given a bunch of land.

@noblegiraffe I haven't rtft, but I've read your responses...I think you make a lot of sense, don't think it's scaremongering etc, it's pretty factual. I personally find it really unnerving that the government keep taking this line - if they were honest about what was really happening, I'd bizarrely probably feel more secure. I'd also feel better if they allowed testing for some of the other main symptoms too, but that's another thread I guess.

@noblegiraffe

Sponsored articles like that are designed to be an antidote to the original poison, which included scare-mongering, over the top, irresponsible images like this one. It's two side of the same coin - scare people shitless, patronise them out of their fear.

I agree that those particular messages were over-the-top but the difference there, I believe, was that the government thought that they were doing the right thing in getting people to stay at home and their message, while perhaps overly strong was basically honest - Stay at home, Protect the NHS, Save lives. They'd seen what had happened in Italy and were terrified of the NHS being overwhelmed and their messaging was supported by their actions - building Nightingale Hospitals, absolutely throwing money at the NHS and introducing furlough.

Here, I believe the message is deceitful. They are telling parents that it is safe to go back to school but their actions don't match their words. They are putting out suggestions of social distancing and bubbles that don't match reality. They are not throwing money at schools to improve safety measures with basic things like extra sinks or soap. They are saying that teachers will stand 2m away from the kids while knowing this is not true. They dither on masks because on the one hand, it might improve safety and prevent closures but on the other hand it will give a clear message that the current measures are inadequate. They have hamstrung themselves on that one.
Their covid-secure guidelines which apply to other workplaces are not being applied here and the 'tests' for schools reopening (world beating track and trace anyone?) have been lost to the mists of time.

I see what you're saying, except that all the time that the 'stay at home, save lives' nonsense was out there and healthy people were sitting at home, covid was spreading around hospitals and care homes, infecting and killing the most vulnerable people. Staying at home is totally pointless if the ones being protected are the people least likely to suffer.

You know how after the WMD thing, Blair started having a sort of haunted look that's he's never lost?
I think that was because he sort of wanted to do the right thing, and he feels the weight on his conscience.

I don't think the current lot will ever have the care home deaths, lack of PPE for healthcare workers, or school outbreaks weighing them down in the future. Because they know what they are doing and they don't care. All they see is the "low hanging fruit" opportunities....

@MarshaBradyo

The one reported very recently was actually conducted in May.

Oh, I see, you mean the data. Yes probably.

Thing is that school itself is stressful and going back in current circs is not likely to be a barrel of laughs.

I say this, however my own kids didn't have problems with it, but I just think if a high number didn't like school before, that will presumably rise.

I think it's refreshing to hear a teacher telling the truth.

Yes we are being gaslighted by the government.

Secondary schools will help spread the virus.

It's a complete mess.

The majority are very happy about going back and that's great but I do wonder if they have thought through what will happen. The OP clearly has.

It is very frustrating when we know there are very few safety measures in schools and yet our HT is telling us it's safe and if we don't like it then degreg.

The post about the HT saying they will be closed by half-term is interesting. I can see this being wide spread.

Correct me if I'm wrong (I know many of you are not shy) but don't we have more cases now than we did when we locked down?

Noble piggy why etc.

I posted above my experience today in local shop.

I really see where you are all coming from. If this is what teachers in secondary are facing daily.

I work Secondary but severe and complex needs - not a teacher but do actually go to various classes (no bubble here ) and train/advise teachers.

I feel safer in my environment despite knowing SD is not going to happen and I will have 5 staff including me in any classroom I visit.

Not 100% safe because I do believe it spreads in schools after odd absences and high numbers off and the fact I caught it somewhere and in schools is where I spend most of my life!

But I do think secondary teachers in large comps probably have the worst deal.