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

DS says it's something that's irritating, for example if somebody ate the last rolo and you were annoyed and did little things to get back at them then you'd be being salty.

I'm waiting for yeet to make an entrance.

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.

I think my dd showed me that footage. After he left they panned over to kids almost on top of each other and one called him an arsehole!

Omg I need to try to find the arsehole kid video.

I think my dd showed me that footage. After he left they panned over to kids almost on top of each other and one called him an arsehole!

Ahaha, that kid has great parents.

Yeet. My 10yo uses this as a verb. It seems to be an amorphous blob of a word. DC needs to get onto these @Piggy

My 11 year old DS has discovered yeet over lockdown.

“I just yeeted it over there”

I’m not even sure he’s using it correctly.

It does mean to throw, at least in gaming.

My DSs don't game which explains our use of the Queen's English in my house

@Girraffophant

The BBC website is showing a socially distanced classroom in pictures AGAIN 🙄

Can anyone tell me what information they have had from their primary school with regard to the return? Have policies been updated and can anyone tell me what policies they should be sharing about this?
Thanks

Our attendance policy has been updated. 97% or above attendance is still the hoped for attendance but children to be kept off with colds - our head went as far as to say sniffles too. Staggered start times which aren't actually staggered as they've said all to arrive between 8:45 and 9 and all to collect between 2:5 and 3! There's 1 gate for parents/children to go through in the morning, doors for each year group. In the afternoon 1 year group can use the car park gates but not in the morning. No pencil cases or big backss to be taken in. Book bags okay but they'd prefer not as they'll be providing those wipe clean zip wallets. No social distancing between the year group bubbles but yes, we've to encourage our children to keep their distance from all staff. To ensure the children know to catch it & bin it. Lots of hand washing - to wash/sanitise hands before school, they'll do it when they arrive at school, before & after break. Before & after lunch, before & after afternoon break and then before coming home.

PE kit to be worn on the day of PE.

I'd really love to know how all this hand washing is going to take place. They have 4 boys & 4 girls toilets for the full school with no extra sinks available. We've been told not to send DC in with sanitiser either.

Mine’s started dabbing.

Unfortunately he’s quite bouncy so has developed a dab that gives him whiplash and anyone within arms reach a hefty whack in the eye.

That should say ''No social distancing within the year group bubble'' but supposed to be distancing from all others but unsure how that will work in practice.

@noblegiraffe

My 11 year old DS has discovered yeet over lockdown.

“I just yeeted it over there”

I’m not even sure he’s using it correctly.

yeet has been in use here for a couple of years, so much so that even I know what it means without being told

One of my favourite part of doing EAL interventions is when they ask me what random slang means. Luckily I have an 11 year old that speaks only in obscure slang so I can mostly keep up.

(I shared my favourite tweet with them - “The Lord yeeteth, and the Lord yoinketh away” to analyse and they not only figured out the “-eth” endings (thanks to one of them doing bible study I think?) but also the meaning of “yoink” from context AND used it perfectly in context when I told them that the next Monday was a bank holiday but that they also had extra homework )

I miss “my” kids so much!

@TaxTheRatFarms

One of my favourite part of doing EAL interventions is when they ask me what random slang means. Luckily I have an 11 year old that speaks only in obscure slang so I can mostly keep up.

(I shared my favourite tweet with them - “The Lord yeeteth, and the Lord yoinketh away” to analyse and they not only figured out the “-eth” endings (thanks to one of them doing bible study I think?) but also the meaning of “yoink” from context AND used it perfectly in context when I told them that the next Monday was a bank holiday but that they also had extra homework )

I miss “my” kids so much!

I love this so hard (which is another Americanism from my FB group).

Yeah, Nard some other bright spark tried that insult to noble earlier on, but I'm afraid the general consensus is that we all would LOVE her to teach our children maths, and not just because arsey remarks like yours is partly what's driving the mass resignation problem we already have in schools.
Be careful what you wish for.

You’re not paying attention then, Nard

@noblegiraffe Maybe you should take another month off because all you seem to do is complain. I hope you’re not a teacher at my DC’s school because the thought of them being taught by someone with your bad attitude and negativity fills me with dread

Do you think the government are doing a good job? Really?

You’d rather have your children taught by someone without any critical thinking skills? I’d have noble teaching my DC any day.

Bad luck, Nard

Thanks friends!

@Nard75, but what if she is your kid's teacher? What then? Are you going to remove your children because in your mind, taking issue with the DfE's poor decision to release guidance five hours past the last working hour of the last week of the holidays, exemplifies a bad attitude? Because, I mean, complain to Noble's employer if you like but I think they'd probably have her back on this one.

And I'll ask again, as I do all these brainless 'you should resign / go off sick'.- who's going to pay the supply/benefits bill of all these teachers who don't turn up for work because Us4Ourselves think we're struggling with out mental health?

@Nard75

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

@noblegiraffe speaks the truth. Please listen. If you have kids of school age then you should be thanking her for standing up for them and their education and safety during all of this.

I hope you’re not a teacher at my DC’s school because the thought of them being taught by someone with your bad attitude and negativity fills me with dread.

I hope she's not too because I'd quite like her to be a teacher at my DC's school. I suspect she works somewhere localish to me but I've never asked because it's none of my business.

@lucylocketspockets

I hope you’re not a teacher at my DC’s school because the thought of them being taught by someone with your bad attitude and negativity fills me with dread.

I hope she's not too because I'd quite like her to be a teacher at my DC's school. I suspect she works somewhere localish to me but I've never asked because it's none of my business.

She’s not my kids’ teacher.... ☹️☹️ Why all the nastiness piled onto teachers. They are doing the best for our children. It’s the Govt & DfE you should be fuming about!

YANBU. My teacher friend was back to school in NI for all of a few days before their first Covid case required teachers and pupils to be tested. This was with one year group in school and kids very well distanced. Fast forward to full classes returning all over Britain and scale up the disruption.