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

MarshaBradyo and Xenia

Would you you agree that publishing a paragraph and then changing it a couple of hours later is pretty incompetent?

That paragraph would have limited spread much more effectively than the replacement. At least by printing it then changing it we know it's an active choice.

Smile it’s not good no. I can imagine the state of the team to be in a place where changes are made after publishing. I think what they are pushing out is hugely labour intensive, and if it got to the stage where something like that happened at my old work it’d be because people are working up against it.

Marsha they’ve had six months

But it stressed me out at midnight last night and when I realised it had gone it was better. But I have a child going in to yr11.

I just don’t think it’s an easy time over there, I’ve asked on the DfE thread, but I can imagine it’s hard.

Marsha

They’ve had weeks to sort this. The “Plan B” is similar to what has been discussed by teachers here, on Twitter, with the unions. The government haven’t engaged in that and instead have released something at the last possible minute. Again.

There is no excuse.

The main changes are masks and rota in lockdown areas when specified. Anything else?

I’ve already received an email from school on former, they are fast, but on the latter what has to be done now?

Marsha. It's lovely that you're being understanding and kind to the government department in charge of education.
But advice and guidance to schools about a pandemic, in the middle of the pandemic, surely has to be their focus and primary task?
They've had all summer holiday. Nothing fundamental has changed during that time.
It's pretty shit.
There will be many many teachers now going back on Tuesday incredibly stressed, lacking on sleep, hassled, feeling off step etc as a result. Do you really think that's a good thing?

And Marsha - we STILL don't know if teachers count as part of a bubble. We are not supposed to count for track and trace as we are supposed to be 2m away at all times despite breathing the same air for an hour, and actually trying to help and talk to students etc...

The main changes are masks and rota in lockdown areas when specified.

Do you appreciate how much work will need to go into setting up that rota?

The government has been briefing the friendly press to slate the unions all summer for ‘blocking school re-openings’ with their demands for a Plan B. Well clearly the Plan B was needed, the government has massively fucked up and the unions and teachers are totally vindicated.

The NEU wrote to the government on the 10th of June asking for discussion of a Plan B.

They got no reply.

And remember, Marsha you’ve got a kid going into Y11. If you also had a kid in Y13 who had been massively screwed over by the results fiasco, you’d be feeling less kindly towards the DfE.

And if you’d had anything to do with schools re-opening in June and the late guidance (later than this set) and constant updates with no track changes, you wouldn’t have any sympathy at all.

Re rotas - No it’s why I’m asking. You don’t know when that rota will happen, but likely not for a while for majority of areas. Can you organise it now when you don’t know when it will be, I assume you can. How long does it take to plan it?

Of course it will need to be organised now.

Why I think it’s their only task all summer.

Nothing is easy, there’s nothing definitive to refer to. I can only imagine the huge number of voices are involved in writing this stuff. The number of times it bounces around the department.

The A level fiasco is what is making me stressed. I don’t want yr11 fucked up with more time off so that paragraph going helped.

I do feel for teachers who are stressed, and feel this is a worse way to do it. But it’s not unlike any business that’s got tight timelines and the stress gets passed along. I’m used to it, but this time it’s on SM too

Noble how long does it take?

It will have to be done now because cases are already rising and no one has any clue how long until closures may be put in place.

So much for 'no plan b'.

They can all see what is happening in France. Exponential rises confirmed and macron now not ruling out a second national.lockdown.

Can you organise it now when you don’t know when it will be

We can. But last time we did the rota dance, the government initially didn’t mention rotas at primary, then after Heads had organised things, they said “no rotas”. Then told Heads to make their own decisions.

At secondary, we organised rotas for Y10 and 13 - then the govt said “but no more than 25% in at a time”, so they had to be completely redone.

So forgive me if I have not one iota of confidence that they’ll do exactly the same again.

No, Marsha, sorry, but what they need to do is listen to teachers and exam boards and alter what year 11 need to learn and adapt! Not charge on regardless...

People who didn't want closures would have been better pushing for part time in half classes, so the virus couldn't spread in the first place. I've been boring on about this on every thread!

I have older kids and this guidance will potentially cause closures not prevent them imo as it will drive transmission.

I'm impressed with gracious unions are being.

A big I told you so moment after all the shit the government slung at them and they are simply praising them for doing it and just saying shame it's too late.

I'd want to say "we asked you this back in May you shower of shite holes"

Smile fair enough. Although if they had said rotas in summer it still might not help for the reason you said.

Things do change quickly, France may have been a factor.

To give an example, in devolved NI, and in Ireland guidance is clear, shorter and timely and gives actual examples of seating plans and how to use space and rotas. Both Wales and Scotland have launched an immediate independent enquiry into the exams business and NI is planning an overhaul of curriculum for their year 12s/14s. It can be done.

@MarshaBradyo

Why I think it’s their only task all summer.

Nothing is easy, there’s nothing definitive to refer to. I can only imagine the huge number of voices are involved in writing this stuff. The number of times it bounces around the department.

The A level fiasco is what is making me stressed. I don’t want yr11 fucked up with more time off so that paragraph going helped.

I do feel for teachers who are stressed, and feel this is a worse way to do it. But it’s not unlike any business that’s got tight timelines and the stress gets passed along. I’m used to it, but this time it’s on SM too

But the thing is - if they actually consulted with teachers and schools and the unions, we could have easily suggested workable options. But they don't do that because they are too arrogant.