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 does rota mean for areas that are currently restricted like parts of greater Manchester?

Oldbag firstly it’s masks in local lockdown. Rotas are the next step up and haven’t been announced (as yet).

It’s all for shoe in the press. A few days after school return in Scotland we had very wet weather and all the lovely plans of lunch and break outside were pushed aside and 3 year groups had lunch in a too small area, they had to eat standing or on the floor as there wasn’t space for tables, my child said there was no room to move, must have been 600-700 pupils from a chocolate with approx 1400 pupils. Schools have little option but our school has changed the wet weather arrangements, they are FAR from idea but better than that first day. It’s scary sending our children into schools crammed to bursting. From Monday Scottish pupils at high school will be wearing masks whilst moving around the school

MarshaBradyo

I understand you are seeing this just through the lens of the impact on your DC.

It’s very different seeing it through the eyes of teachers.

What we need is people listening to us, not people trying to persuade us that the poor government are just really overstretched.

Smile yes we mostly all react to our personal situation, including teachers, which is not surprising.

Actually I have listened, and written to MP for funding for PPE and cleaning. I’ve been on loads of threads with teachers (I always wonder where the rest of mn is? I do find the threads interesting I suppose).

I’m with Chris Whitty overall though, children are better in than out. I prefer a flexible response that one that is stuck as this situation changes daily. I know that’s hard on everyone though, and throws up situations like this.

Children are better in than out.
But what about teenagers.
What about all the adults in school.
What about the wider community.
What about the adults in extra curricular and wrap around care.
What about the general infection rates.
What about the adults they encounter out of school at home and around about?

I know that’s hard on everyone though, and throws up situations like this

This is not about the situation changing. This is about the government releasing the wrong guidance then releasing an amended version 2 hours later.

It’s incompetence not a government being agile and responding to a changing landscape.

Which is why I want funding for PPE, cleaning and I’m sure there’s other stuff that teachers have listed that does not mean part time school.

Yes they stuffed up and released wrong one. It’s not great but what can you do, it was changed.

But the lastest research shows that fomites are a lesser form of transmission. The main route is airborne.
All the cleaning in the world won't help in overcrowded unventilated rooms.

I guess it is comforting to believe the government are trying and can't help it, than believe they are an incompetent bunch of dipshits who are making this worse at every opportunity through arrogance and hubris?

Sadly I firmly believe the latter but I wish I didn't.

Ok then list that instead. Ventilation as priority. For a long time teachers were talking about cleaning on here.

@WhyNotMe40

But the lastest research shows that fomites are a lesser form of transmission. The main route is airborne. All the cleaning in the world won't help in overcrowded unventilated rooms.

Shhh with the scientific facts, there will be staggered start times, hand washing and lovely pretty bubbles.

Yes they stuffed up and released wrong one. It’s not great but what can you do, it was changed

It’s not good enough. It’s the cock up cherry on top of a very big cake made out of layers of shoddy, slippery nonsense.

Like a rainbow cake but fucking up education rather than being, you know, delicious.

I don’t think they are incompetent dipshits

I don’t think many people are

Lattice well there are a huge number of posts from teachers talking about extra cleaning. Maybe you knew not to post one though.

@MarshaBradyo

Ok then list that instead. Ventilation as priority. For a long time teachers were talking about cleaning on here.

We were talking about how the government has mandated extra cleaning yet not funded it. We have always requested masks, ventilation, social distancing and funding for extra cleaning and facilities.

@MarshaBradyo

Which is why I want funding for PPE, cleaning and I’m sure there’s other stuff that teachers have listed that does not mean part time school.

Windows that open so they can ventilate rooms which we are being told is very important for this airborne virus.

Sounds really bad but that will also mean things like bars too for security.

Also research changes things. The evidence that it is indeed airborne was released over the summer more recently.

Electric fans can be retrofitted to windows. How effective they would be though I don't know. But it's moot anyway as the government is not funding any extra Covid spending in schools.

Well, I'd put cleaning first as I know no one is going to magic up windows in my room!

I'd like extra sinks and handwashing stations. I'd like my school to have those handgel dispensers. I'd like not to have class sizes of 30,even at A Level.

I’m not against whatever people think is best. If it’s ventilation over cleaning yes that’s a switch and makes sense.

This is fairly new though. And I wrote a while ago when posts were filled with the cleaning situation.

@MarshaBradyo

I don’t think they are incompetent dipshits

I don’t think many people are

Well you have very low standards, I think they are beyond dipshits but didn't want to swear

We've had quite a few extra sinks put in, Piggy. Guess how many year 10s I saw using them when we were in before the summer holidays?

Zero.

I think it's hard enough getting kids to use the ones in the toilets, let alone extra ones. Half of them didn't bother with sanitiser. I'd say "Make sure you use some sanitiser on your way out to lunch," and a good proportion would just walk past it.

Our toilets have gone one in one out which makes access to sinks very hard.