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

borntohula

So do you believe that the schools can be social distanced?
Even when there is video evidence that the government has lied when bojo has been in the classes and that the media is using pictures from when schools had limited numbers in the classroom?

Not when you're in my year 11!! They work hard enough in term time

I think the government have made such a mess of schools returning it’s not hard to see why so many people are concerned.

I really wouldn’t trust anything the gov say now as they are clearly incompetent at guiding us through this.

However I will watch what certain independent scientists and well accredited organisations are already finding in their evidence based findings and not projections like Sage.

Kids will not be able to SD, they are not SD outside of school either.

It’s going to take brave teachers to watch what’s happening in Scotland and to follow the hospital admissions very closely, just like brave police officers and staff in shops who don’t wear masks.

There is always an unknown but the fact that pubs reopening didn’t cause a second wave I don’t think it’s going to be the apocalypse. I was in a very crowded bar last Saturday, the high street was full of them and I’ve checked the infection rates every day this week and nothing

I know very few people going to pubs-none of my friends and family, only teen friends of DC. I know of nobody who was shielding who was going to pubs either.

With schools reopening, it’s the staff and pupils who were vulnerable, who are likely to be the ones to get ill and die. It is also likely to be brought home to vulnerable family members who will get ill and die.

@Appuskidu

I know very few people going to pubs-none of my friends and family, only teen friends of DC. I know of nobody who was shielding who was going to pubs either.

With schools reopening, it’s the staff and pupils who were vulnerable, who are likely to be the ones to get ill and die. It is also likely to be brought home to vulnerable family members who will get ill and die.

I understand that but what is the solution other than those vulnerable people stay at home?

We can’t keep millions of children off school to keep protecting a small sliver of that.

Maybe if an opt in long term distance learning should be introduced for teachers and children that don’t want to go back to class room settings should be available. It would probably elevate some of the school crowding tbh.

None of my children have issues but if they did and I was worried I wouldn’t send them back. My grandmother is still shielding so I really do understand the concerns.

We can’t keep millions of children off school to keep protecting a small sliver of that.

Why is this still being posted when no-one is recommending it?

My son's class will have 36 kids in it. I completely agree with the OP - the whole notion of social distancing in schools is a farce.
Most of mine will be 32. Social distancing isn't possible and it's deliberately misleading of the government to speak like it's the norm.

It's buck passing so they can blame schools for the government's incompetence.

I was not in favour of lock down from day 1 and support the Swedish solution.

But Sweden, as our UK presented it, did not just carry on regardless. Some schools were closed to start with. And they had other concerns about their handling too. I have relatives who live in Sweden - they don't just carry on as before in any way shape or form.

So, @Xenia, I believe your children have left school and you work from home?
Just how much of a risk are you personally not taking, but are prepared for others of us to take?

I agree with the OP. I realise kids have to go back. I for one find it very difficult to homeschool with a 2 year old, a 12 year old and a 14 year old who has ASD (Aspergers). It's just too much for me to be able to do it effectively. I'm not scared as I think our family has already had the virus, I don't have contact with anyone who is very vulnerable. But, I do object to the way the government lies. They said there was 'little evidence' transmission occurs by children in schools . Why not? They're human and this virus affects humans. I think they are deliberately mixing it up with 'children aren't severely affected', which isn't the same thing. They can still transmit it!

I've written to the head of our school because nowhere in the government guidance or the schools do they mention ventilation. This is key. Lots about disinfecting things, which is great. But you're more likely to pick up the virus sitting for long periods in a room with no ventilation. As for social distancing. Let's face it, that's not going to happen. They are doing 'year group bubbles' which is basically pointless when many have siblings in other years.

@CallmeAngelina

So, *@Xenia*, I believe your children have left school and you work from home? Just how much of a risk are you personally not taking, but are prepared for others of us to take?

Bit like all those people aged 65+ who think 'everyone' should get back to the office

I cannot magic my children back into school but two are students and my grandchild has been at nursery and will be in school. I appreciate the issue is dividing the nation never mind the scientists/the chief nurse etc. and that times are very difficult for lots of people for all kinds of reasons.

So when you said Xenia “we all then just take the health risk for the greater good”

What you meant to say was “YOU all then just take the health risk for the greater good”

@Xenia

I cannot magic my children back into school but two are students and my grandchild has been at nursery and will be in school. I appreciate the issue is dividing the nation never mind the scientists/the chief nurse etc. and that times are very difficult for lots of people for all kinds of reasons.

I thought you only had one student, the other finished uni?

@Aragog

I was not in favour of lock down from day 1 and support the Swedish solution.

But Sweden, as our UK presented it, did not just carry on regardless. Some schools were closed to start with. And they had other concerns about their handling too. I have relatives who live in Sweden - they don't just carry on as before in any way shape or form.

It seems to be that the pro-lockdown brigade wants to eat their cake and have it too. If Sweden managed to avoid lockdown only by virtue of having a responsible citizenry that socially distanced of its own accord, a feat beyond the wit and will of a feckless/racist/Brexit British public, then why do they have approximately the same deaths per million as the UK?

Is it possible that the virus follows more or less the same trajectory in countries having the same demographic, and our policies have very little or nothing to do with the outcome apart from squeezing deaths out a few weeks?

If I had an extremely vulnerable child I'd probably keep them off for a few weeks in the start of term just to see how things unfold because the toll of losing a child is so very high. If I were a vulnerable teacher I'd do a very sober assessment of the risk of c19 vs a usual year and probably crack on with it. Indications are that c19 has attenuated into a much milder strain.

If I were a vulnerable teacher I'd do a very sober assessment of the risk of c19 vs a usual year and probably crack on with it. Indications are that c19 has attenuated into a much milder strain.

TBH that's kind of what I have done myself. Let's face it - I don't really have much choice as I really don't want to leave my job. I am relying very much on the fact that my own school will do its best for the staff and the children, that reports seem to be that we are getting much better at treating Covid and that there have been to or three reports now that seem to suggest it is changing somewhat to be more infectious but less dangerous.

thanks Aragog. How vulnerable would you say you are, on a scale of 1-10?

If I were a vulnerable teacher I'd do a very sober assessment of the risk of c19 vs a usual year and probably crack on with it. Indications are that c19 has attenuated into a much milder strain.

Have to be honest, I can't see how those two sentences go together. Perhaps it is the word sober.

I wasn't shielded so not extremely by any means, fortunately.

My rheumatology had a 3 point rating system near the start - shielding was for 3. I was 2 due to my medical condition and the combination of medication I was taking,. Not helped as I have had some flare ups over lockdown which means my immunity is more affected at those times. I got the initial shielding letters and continued to get the texts and emails throughout, despite telling them that my consultant had told me I didn't need to shield but needed to be very conscious of SDing and other hygiene measures, etc.

Ive since spoken with my consultant again. I managed to have a consultation when I had the last flare up and needed to arrange a steroid injection a couple of weeks or so ago. He is happy for me to return but I am supposed to careful. I did smile somewhat at the idea of SDing where little children are concerned tbh! My HT has said I can wear a mask if I wish, though obviously that does more to protect others than it would be.

So mid range - I guess 5 if 1 is no risk and 10 is shielded.

[quote Nard75]**@itsgettingweird* anyone with half a brain knows that kids aren’t going to be SD at school. I don’t need you to tell me whether I care about my kids or not. I wouldn’t be on a form like this if I didn’t care. FACT kids not going to SD at school. We all know that and we don’t need to be told this by @noblegiraffe* I think we can work it out for ourselves. These are the same people moaning they don’t want to send their kids to school but are quite happy to take them to an overcrowded pub. What’s your solution keep them at home for the next year and then we can leave you to deal with the mental health pandemic we have on our hands.[/quote]
I didn't say you didn't care about your kids!

Problem seems clear. You don't bother reading posts properly.

I said you don't have to care that they won't be social distancing.

But that doesn't change the fact the government are trying to convince parents they will be.

And not all parents are aware. Some actually believe the photos the bbc keep trotting out are representative.

If you know great. Let people educate those who don't.

Everyone deserves to the know the truth

People always talk about the mental health epidemic of kids not being in school.

Weird though because the people saying this never seem to give a shit about the lifelong mental health impact on children who are bereaved.

Why the government isn't funding schools to do proper risk mitigation in schools is beyond me. Why they've banned taking up offers of free use of other spaces to allow SD classes (e.g. village halls ) is beyond me.

@IloveJKRowling

People always talk about the mental health epidemic of kids not being in school.

Weird though because the people saying this never seem to give a shit about the lifelong mental health impact on children who are bereaved.

Why the government isn't funding schools to do proper risk mitigation in schools is beyond me. Why they've banned taking up offers of free use of other spaces to allow SD classes (e.g. village halls ) is beyond me.

Also I feel it will be stressful if there is disruption, closures etc.

Because there are no spare staff to teach in church halls, that's why.

Anyway, we're done here! Nothing more to see.
Fin.