Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

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

999 replies

noblegiraffe · 28/08/2020 08:58

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

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
Gwynfluff · 28/08/2020 18:15

Thats good then. General public in England have been told should be symptomatic.

WhyNotMe40 · 28/08/2020 18:17

@Nellodee

Teachers will not need to strike. If things go badly, the schools will close of their own accord. If things go well, there will be no need to strike.
Let's hope so.
MarshaBradyo · 28/08/2020 18:18

@FrippEnos

MarshaBradyo

I know several teachers that are leaving the profession and have walked out, ignoring the leaving period.

The sad thing is that I know several more that are thinking about doing the same thing.

And no matter what various posters on here think, they are good teachers and will be missed.

And this is on top of those that I know that left during lockdown and gave notice before the notice period.

That is a shame. What happens when they break the contract? Or have they found another way (signed off sick)
Gwynfluff · 28/08/2020 18:18

Info on testing here - assuming it’s something covered by U.K. guidance?

www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested

toffeecashews · 28/08/2020 18:21

Attend school and work in the library/computer room in June/July?

@Clavinova and how were they meant to do that then? School were not allowing pupils in to work in the school because the government told them they couldn't and all of the teachers were busy doing live lessons. My DCs had 2-4 live lessons a day plus work set for subjects not doing a live lesson that day plus homework. Then they had summer holiday homework on top of that. I see from the electronic systems that teachers have been online this week (outwith term time) setting out details of topics for the first week of term and checking on summer holiday submitted and giving feedback. It's clear to me that the shortfall in education is the fault of the government

They had set up to do key worker provision but as they are a high school parents decided not to send their children on the whole. The most they had in was 5 pupils at any given time. They were supervised by the head teacher and deputy head.

lazylinguist · 28/08/2020 18:21

So we all know that the government is bullshitting and we all know the limitations of our schools/workplaces... so if you don't like bullshit you should homeschool or resign?! How the hell did we get to this?

^This. Dh and I are teachers with secondary school aged dc. We want to go back. We want our dc to go back. We aren't particularly worried about catching the virus - we're all healthy and I'm pretty certain I've already had it. But the safety of schools is being deliberately misrepresented and it's disgraceful, and unfair to vulnerable school staff and children with vulnerable family members.

Why do some posters think 'teachers should just resign' and 'parents should just homeschool if they don't think it's safe?' The whole point is that parents are making those decisions on the basis of deliberately misleading information. And, as many people have pointed out, there simply aren't enough teachers for it to be manageable if loads decide to quit. Where will you get replacement teachers to teach your child?

Gwynfluff · 28/08/2020 18:21

Will teachers really leave en masse? We are at risk of 1980s levels of unemployment and they are going to leave permanent jobs with pensions?

I’m not so sure.

FrippEnos · 28/08/2020 18:23

MarshaBradyo

As they are leaving the profession I doubt that anything will happen.

Its not as if the HT can make them go into work.

MarshaBradyo · 28/08/2020 18:24

I suppose so. I’m used to sticking to contracts no matter what. But I guess if they don’t need a reference.

WhyNotMe40 · 28/08/2020 18:26

I've checked the testing guidance.
In England teachers (and other essential workers) can get tested if they have symptoms, or they are isolating because a member of their household has symptoms.
That guidance does not mention any other circumstances.

FrippEnos · 28/08/2020 18:28

Gwynfluff

Various posters have been saying for weeks that if teachers don't like it they should resign.

Some are doing just that.

Much to some people's disgust we have transferable skills and have various levels of industry knowledge.

lazylinguist · 28/08/2020 18:28

Will teachers really leave en masse? We are at risk of 1980s levels of unemployment and they are going to leave permanent jobs with pensions?

Even if there were an exodus consisting mostly of part-timers, teachers who could just about afford to quit with no job to go to because their partners are the main breadwinners, plus supply teachers, I imagine that would still be enough to cause a major problem.

WhyNotMe40 · 28/08/2020 18:28

@Gwynfluff

Will teachers really leave en masse? We are at risk of 1980s levels of unemployment and they are going to leave permanent jobs with pensions?

I’m not so sure.

I will if I feel it's not safe. I have other, higher paying, better respected qualifications to fall back on. I just prefer teaching.
FrippEnos · 28/08/2020 18:30

@MarshaBradyo

I suppose so. I’m used to sticking to contracts no matter what. But I guess if they don’t need a reference.
This is want some people have being saying that they want teachers to do.

Unfortunately it they won't be happy when they find out that its their child's teacher.

TheKeatingFive · 28/08/2020 18:30

Will teachers really leave en masse? We are at risk of 1980s levels of unemployment and they are going to leave permanent jobs with pensions?

Not en masse or anywhere close. Those who don’t need a salary might well do. I can’t imagine that’s too many.

WhyNotMe40 · 28/08/2020 18:31

Well, we will see

TheKeatingFive · 28/08/2020 18:32

Yes we will

HoneysuckIejasmine · 28/08/2020 18:34

Government testing info is currently saying expect results in 2-4 days. I'm at 28 hours post test and no result yet. I'm not symptomatic any more Hmm just as well the weather is shite as we're not going anywhere until the result comes back.

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 28/08/2020 18:35

We don’t need teachers to leave en masse for schools to be fucked.

OP posts:
Shitfuckoh · 28/08/2020 18:38

@noblegiraffe

We don’t need teachers to leave en masse for schools to be fucked.
1 of my DCs schools only need 1 or 2 to close and they'd be in trouble as they can't/shouldn't be combining classes, the TA's aren't suitable to be teaching the class until they get it sorted - especially as the TA's are shared throughout the school anyway (and I think there's only 3 or 4 of them!)

The other one is a specialist school, again if a couple left they'd have issues.

Shitfuckoh · 28/08/2020 18:38

To leave that meant - not to close, although resulting in possible closure of classes.

MarshaBradyo · 28/08/2020 18:41

This is want some people have being saying that they want teachers to do.

Unfortunately it they won't be happy when they find out that its their child's teacher.

Do the schools know? or is it a don’t turn up on first day thing

lazylinguist · 28/08/2020 18:42

Not en masse or anywhere close.

Teachers were already leaving the profession in their droves before the pandemic.

GalesThisMorning · 28/08/2020 18:45

I haven't read the full thread. The FE college I work in will have 24 students, aged 17 - 60? But more likely 17 - 25 all sitting in one small room with windows that don't open. In order to allow 2m for the tutor at the front the desks will have a gap of inches between them. 2 learners to a desk. Masks in the corridors but not the in classroom.

This isn't going to work

Californiastreaming · 28/08/2020 18:45

@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

Seen it and my children will remain at home with me, I predicted they would do this leading up to next week. When everything returns back to normal, when GP surgery's reopen, when Parliament returns in full and the NHS reopens like normal, then and only then will I consider sending my kids back. Any fines I get will be binned, they can try all they want, parents will stand their ground and will not be threatened by the fools running this country.