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

What if there is never a vaccine?

Cross that bridge when we come to it, but given the number in trials now, I don't think that's one to worry about just yet.

What some posters might not be aware of is that one reason I post these threads is to have them on the record.

Absolutely.

@noblegiraffe

What if there is never a vaccine?

Cross that bridge when we come to it, but given the number in trials now, I don't think that's one to worry about just yet.

I disagree, because restrictions and lockdowns have massive consequences, so if the plan is to continue to restrict life until a vaccine then those consequences have to be taken into account.

Look at China - they stopped it. Massive social isolation /lockdown and then mass testing of populations.
As we are very unlikely to do that to eliminate the virus, we have to do suppression until a vaccine.
Saying "ah well, it's here now" and giving a Gallic shrug, will lead to another peak, mass sickness absences from everywhere and back to March. Exponential remember?

I disagree, because restrictions and lockdowns have massive consequences, so if the plan is to continue to restrict life until a vaccine then those consequences have to be taken into account.

What if a vaccine were approved and rolled out by November, say? Would you still think it wasn't worth it?

@TheDailyCarbuncle

I said it wasn't binary. In the bit you quoted!

You slow it so that people don't catch it. Then in a year, or two, we hope there may be treatment. Or maybe a vaccine.

Like I said, if you are keen to catch it now, you should be able to manage it. I will defer because next year we will know more than we do now.

As we are very unlikely to do that to eliminate the virus, we have to do suppression until a vaccine

Yes, with no restrictions then we are back to the NHS being fucked.

Bof

This is just bizarre.

So we all know that the government is bullshitting

and we all know the limitations of our schools/workplaces

and therefore that creating Covid secure, socially distanced spaces is bullshit

so if you don't like bullshit you should homeschool or resign?!

How the hell did we get to this?

Are other workplaces shrugging their shoulders, it is what it is, you can't eliminate risk, what can you do? How many employed parents (ignoring the wider community) are going with 'fuck it, bring it on'? Or facing the call to resign if they don't feel lucky?

Plus, this is macho shit! Viruses don't do pissing contests.

The virus is a risk, unequally, to individuals but they are all members of the whole community. This is not necessarily fixed. Seemingly invulnerable groups can become vulnerable because we are all human. First they/it came for xxx but I was not xxx so I did nothing ...

Eeyore I think they need to over correct because the initial stay at home message was so effective. I don’t have a problem with that, nor the messaging now. As long the high risk people have their own lines of communication. There was a teacher thread on here with lung transplant whose consultant said do not return. Far better to have that targeted information direct to that person, the 3%.

On whether the majority very low risk should go back, but parents are moderate risk, to give an example parent with diabetes with non vulnerable child. I’d still say better their child is in school for the child, but if they want to de-register due to own increased risk it’s up to them. I do think there’s enough information out there for people to understand what is low, moderate and high.

This campaign is for the very low risk majority and I think that’s ok. If it wasn’t it wouldn’t be as effective. Just like the stay at home message.

@KeepOnKeepingOnAgainandAgain

This is just bizarre.

So we all know that the government is bullshitting

and we all know the limitations of our schools/workplaces

and therefore that creating Covid secure, socially distanced spaces is bullshit

so if you don't like bullshit you should homeschool or resign?!

How the hell did we get to this?

Are other workplaces shrugging their shoulders, it is what it is, you can't eliminate risk, what can you do? How many employed parents (ignoring the wider community) are going with 'fuck it, bring it on'? Or facing the call to resign if they don't feel lucky?

Plus, this is macho shit! Viruses don't do pissing contests.

The virus is a risk, unequally, to individuals but they are all members of the whole community. This is not necessarily fixed. Seemingly invulnerable groups can become vulnerable because we are all human. First they/it came for xxx but I was not xxx so I did nothing ...

I'm sorry but I would bloody love it if we had a slide saying "are you feeling lucky?" on our Inset

Why are the government lying?

Because the Government wants people back to work. They cant if the kids are at home.

And why are the press largely going along with it?

They are losing money. Business are pushing this. The press are a powerful voice and most owners are business owners. The newspapers are in the pockets of the Government. It is in their interests to get the masses back to work.

If the Government are lying and its really not safe where are the Unions? Theyre made up of teachers arent they? Why arent they walking the streets letting us know? Why are we getting letters from the LEA saying its safe, why is our headteacher sending videos saying its all hunkydory? Where is the action on the teachers part? If its so terribly unsafe why arent they up in arms and standing outside schools protesting? We are getting reassured by schools its safe and staff saying they cant wait to welcome us back - are they all lying too? This is so confusing for parents but the only place I actually "see" these concerns is on mumsnet!

Where are the Unions?

The unions are partly in the pocket of the Government. Here in Scotland the Union negotiated some aspects of a safe return. They made an agreement with the Government in order to have something they wanted in return. Basically they shut them up.

The unions are involved in a game of chicken with the government. The media campaign about "unions blocking schools reopening" in June (when it was the government capping groups to 15 and being unable to comprehend that we can't clone teachers or magic up more classrooms), meant that if the unions do anything now they will be destroyed by the government "thinking of the children".

Then, to pretend they were with us teachers they sent out a survey for more changes at the last minute. This acted as a way for people to think, oh, the unions care!

@Piggywaspushed

I actually think it is even more insidious than you say. The pictures of Boris literally wedging himself up next to a year 7 girl, sat on the floor was a coded message 'look, aren't these teachers who won't get in amongst the kids silly? Look at me next a child! I know no fear!' He also was not 2 metres away from them at points in the filmed lesson.

I'd actually be cross if my child was used like this.

He did the same with Covid patients in hospital.

Look where that got him

In reality they are just making deals with the government. Thats how it works.

Continued....However the government really want the unions to strike as they can't back down on their promises to get schools back as normal, but they know it will go tits up.
So the government aren't backing down, neither are the unions....

@neveradullmoment99

Where are the Unions?

The unions are partly in the pocket of the Government. Here in Scotland the Union negotiated some aspects of a safe return. They made an agreement with the Government in order to have something they wanted in return. Basically they shut them up.

Do you know what they got in return?

@WhyNotMe40

Continued....However the government really want the unions to strike as they can't back down on their promises to get schools back as normal, but they know it will go tits up. So the government aren't backing down, neither are the unions....

Not sure re this. They must know the threat of strike is very low

Who knows. But i do know that how it can work and how some deals are passed with unions and employers.
Here, they probably already knew that masks were going to be a thing in secondary schools. It was probably already agreed with the unions but of course they didnt introduce it straight away. So the union here were made to look good by drip feeding.

Then you underestimate the general feeling amongst school workers. Regardless of the public facade.

Don't forget that Cummings and Gove will have an eye on the long game. Any opportunities to reduce "the blob" will be grasped.

I dont think anyone voted to strike here. It wasnt mentioned in the survey returns from the EIS [union] Masks were. Fitted their drip feed narrative.