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

Why is Clav talking about funding and not the government propaganda campaign?

@Livelovebehappy

The options are there though. Those that feel their DCs will be fine can allow them to return. Others like yourself who are clearly anxious should keep their DCs at home and make alternative arrangements for their education ie home schooling or tutoring. Everyone has very different opinions on this Covid/schooling situation. There is no wrong or right way; you just have to do what’s right for you and your DCs.

We shouldn't have to do this at all. The government has had months to come up with a safer plan. Instead they have twiddled their thumbs and done nothing. Now its heads down, everyone back and wishful thinking. Other countries have spent money to enable smaller bubbles. Our government will not do this. We are heading for another disaster and scandal. I don't know how they keep getting away with getting everything spectacularly wrong. There is risk everywhere but we do things to minimise them. They should have gone back part time building up to full time if the numbers say it is safe. This government is lying to parents and the mainstream media are being used to push their propaganda. It is disgraceful.

The lack of understanding of school budgets and debt levels. www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-46826990

Schools are I huge debt. When they run out of budget for paper, what do you think they do? They have to buy it anyway and go in to debt. Or would you accept your kids having no exercise books from Easter because the budget is gone? FFS.

You can check your child's school here schoolcuts.org.uk/

I'm lucky - my child's school is tiny and qualifies for extra cash due to its rural location. But we still have to fundraise to pay for extra sanitiser and dispensers, tissues, disposable hand towels etc. We only get money for cleaning if there's an actual outbreak - nothing preventative at all.

The headteacher at our school told us straight that the children won't be social distancing. They said it is an unrealistic expectation. Juniors will be encouraged too but they probably won't even mention it to the infants.

@noblegiraffe

Why is Clav talking about funding and not the government propaganda campaign?

Especially because there is a difference in funding amounts and real time funding.

So rising costs of buildings, wages, utilities.

@AutumnLeavesSeptember

I think the risk to my children is very small - see new study out today.

Then why the need to lie about social distancing?. Anyway I am absolutely sick of the constant refrain of ' Children are perfectly safe, I am not worried about mine' Well, I'm sure your little darlings will be fine, the adult staff members maybe not so much .

For clarity I am not a teacher and my son will be going back to secondary school when they open in Sept. I am not ' nervous: or ' anxious' for him but that does not make me any less angry with the blatant disregard and disrespect that this government has treated our edducation professionals . It is absolutely disgusting and now they have the bloody gall to try and convince us of something that is blatantly not true. It's bloody infuriating

The use of the word propaganda is very ironic. However as a parent of a secondary school child I have been informed very clearly of the arrangements in place at my child's school and there is no pretence at all from the school that SD will be in place because of course it is impossible.

As an individual I have read the very detailed information (including what precisely should be in my child's pencil case) and I am currently drilling this information into my child's head.

As an individual I am very happy for my child to go to school, and so are they, because my child is entitled to have an education.

I worked in schools for 10 years, left a few years ago, but would I be happy teaching in school next week - yes. If I was not happy would I do something about it, get another job like I did - yes.

We currently all have an informed choice to make.

Have you factored in the teacher’s pay rise which hasn’t been covered centrally?

I think one of the unions complained that half of the new (pre-covid) funding increase would be spent on the teachers' pay rise - you can spend the other £1.3bn increase on hand sanitiser.

@MilktheMilk

"Resign then, if you don't like your working conditions."

"Deregister and homeschool if you're so fearful of the virus."

I see flippant comments like these constantly on threads to do with schools and it's so frustrating because firstly it's a complete non-argument designed to shut down any discussion or acknowledge other people's concerns.

But secondly, I wonder if the people who think it's as simple as just resigning or just deregistering have ever extended their thinking beyond this basic argument and thought about how that will actually impact their OWN child. If teachers resign then who is going to replace them? The fact is that teachers in general are hard to replace as there is both a recruitment and retainment crisis. Add into the mix those who are maths specialists, for example, and it makes the chances of them being replaced even harder still. So "just resign" is utterly pointless if you actually care about your child getting a decent education. Less teachers means even bigger classes, non-specialists potentially teaching specialist subjects and limited subjects available for those in secondary.

If all the parents with concerns about the virus just deregister their children and homeschool then how do you think that is going to impact on the school budget? Do you think schools will be able to afford more staff? Nope. Can they afford to keep support staff? Nope. Will they be able to afford day to day resources, like pencils, paper, Pritt sticks etc? Nope. Will they be able to fund swimming lessons or experience days? Nope. Can they afford decent technology or to replace broken laptops or tablets? Nope. The list goes on.

If you can't put yourself into someone's else's shoes without giving a dismissive response in return then look at it from your own child's point of view and how teachers resigning and schools losing per pupil funding will impact your own child and then tell me losing teachers and children in schools is a good idea.

Excellent post.

There is a secret government department in basements all over the world that employes people to come up with these ideas just to pull the wool over the publics eyes no one admits to working there but they rarely see daylight

I haven’t seen any of the news reports that you mention, however I know the children won’t be social distancing at our school as the headmistress told us that they won’t be in all the literature we received pre term starting (mine went back on Monday). So I am aware of the situation.
Surely people look at the information they’re sent via their school rather than judging based on news reports featuring other schools?

@Clavinova as you like spouting out a lot of figures, can you explain why our local MAT only received 20% of the laptops they requested under the Government scheme? I’m sure they are not the only ones. Or are all the schools going to be pleasantly surprised when they go back and find the other 80% waiting for them.

The children are safe in schools even without social distancing so there is no need to worry. Children don't die of CV19 and teachers tend not to catch it from them either.

If a parent is concerned they have an option to educate children at home.

The idea that parents can figure out what is going on for themselves and of course don't believe what the government tells them is pretty much destroyed by the posters on here spouting exactly the government lines.

And not all of them are being paid to do so...

@noblegiraffe

The idea that parents can figure out what is going on for themselves and of course don't believe what the government tells them is pretty much destroyed by the posters on here spouting exactly the government lines.

And not all of them are being paid to do so...

I can figure out what’s going on for myself because our headmistress has told us exactly what’s going on. I suppose there is a problem if parents don’t read the literature they’re sent, or if the headteachers themselves aren’t honest who it the situation.

our headmistress

Private school?

I complained to the BBC about their reporting of return to schools and challenged their supposed lack of bias, their reluctance to report on the threat to teachers and the wider community and their inability to distinguish between primary and secondary schools. It's all very well people saying that parents aren't so stupid to believe the pictures but the general public might. A couple of people in my family (particularly those without children) assumed until I corrected them that schools were going back on a part time basis in September! I don't think a lot of people realise how overcrowded a lot of secondary schools actually are now. I've been listening to a couple of podcasts from ex- journalists recently where they discuss the lack of investigative journalism in the msm due to lack of funding, previous tabloid scandals and lack of appetite by the BBC to challenge powerful people and organisations. So, you will get episodes of Panorama for example on the care home situation but after the event not before.

Think you should stay on your supportive school thread @noblegiraffe, where you all believe your own propaganda.

Don't insult the intelligence of parents who have actually read the detailed information provided by schools. If some schools have not bothered to provide this information to parents, that says plenty about those schools.

Only read your op but a friend was saying she didn't know how the (secondary age)kids would socially distance while getting changed for PE. I had to point out that they aren't going to be able to socially distance in lessons either as there are no extra classrooms or teachers!

ineedaholidaynow
as you like spouting out a lot of figures

At least I have provided several links to figures - your evidence is hearsay.

Completely average state school before you accuse.

What do you want to happen, noble?

Schools to remain closed, indefinitely?

Schools to open part time, meaning that in addition to the current travelling circus of parents dropping children off at different times, we have a never ending rotation of children in and out and the disruption this will cause to working families and ultimately to teachers themselves (teachers are parents too, I’m sure I don’t need to remind you of this?)

The government to be truthful? Coffee spitting time: you know that won’t happen. So does everyone. Do you think every time there’s an article about schools with well dressed children eagerly poised with hands up that parents fondly imagine that’s what schools look like?

It is best fit, and that’s for schools to open.

I agree vulnerable staff should be offered an alternative but other than that I have no idea what to suggest.

Sweden never closed schools and never implemented social distancing and there is no evidence that it has lead to any infections. Our national total mortality rate has been below the 5 yer average since June. Children cannot have their futures destroyed by hysteria. We cannot hibernate to avoid an internationally endemic virus. The NHS is coping well. We have good support in place for people who need to shield. We really are doing all we sensibly can.

It is not hearsay as I have been given the figures by the MAT, sorry to disappoint you @Clavinova

Don't insult the intelligence of parents who have actually read the detailed information provided by schools.

Get a headteacher drunk then ask them what they really think of it all. Of course they are providing reassuring info to parents.