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Original poster

Surely they can’t keep schools open as normal if cases keep going up like today!

999 replies

Worriedmum999 · 06/09/2020 23:24

My daughter went back to school last Thursday. She really needed to go as lockdown played havoc with her mental health. She was fine doing her academic work but she is someone who needs the social side of school.

We are a vulnerable family and, with this shitshower of a government, I had no faith that cases wouldn’t rise and I wouldn’t be forced to take her out of school again. But I cannot believe that she has been back 2 days and the jump in cases has been so huge. I honestly expected us to be able to get to half term. Of course deaths are going to rise now. Why wouldn’t we follow the pattern of the other European countries. Add to that the fact that people can’t get tested now and we’re fucked. And I’m so fucking angry and upset about the damage that this is doing.

What are the government going to do? Surely it will be impossible to expect parents to keep sending their children to schools when the death toll is huge again and the ICUs are full.

OP posts:
monkeytennis97 · 07/09/2020 21:27

@Timeforanotherusername I don't know who mentioned primary schools but I stated secondary schools.

Bollss · 07/09/2020 21:27

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monkeytennis97 · 07/09/2020 21:28

Oh dear @TrustTheGeneGenie that's where I'll leave this....

TheKeatingFive · 07/09/2020 21:29

They're also not cheap at all if you're using them properly you'd need lots of reusable ones and a way to launder them regularly.

They’re extremely cheap compared to the building work that would be needed to be done to schools to fix ventilation. Hiring tonnes of backup teachers. The economic costs of further closures or ‘blended‘ learning (shudder).

If there’s a reasonable chance that they’re minimising spread, minimising infections, keeping schools open (and I believe there is) then ‘they’re a bit annoying’ isn’t a good enough reason not to frankly.

Timeforanotherusername · 07/09/2020 21:30

[quote monkeytennis97]@Timeforanotherusername I don't know who mentioned primary schools but I stated secondary schools.[/quote]
Page 1

2. get primary kids back into the extra space with real and proper SD AND MASKS all the time

Others have happily agreed.

Bollss · 07/09/2020 21:30

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Bollss · 07/09/2020 21:31

@TheKeatingFive

They're also not cheap at all if you're using them properly you'd need lots of reusable ones and a way to launder them regularly.

They’re extremely cheap compared to the building work that would be needed to be done to schools to fix ventilation. Hiring tonnes of backup teachers. The economic costs of further closures or ‘blended‘ learning (shudder).

If there’s a reasonable chance that they’re minimising spread, minimising infections, keeping schools open (and I believe there is) then ‘they’re a bit annoying’ isn’t a good enough reason not to frankly.

But they're not going to be supplied by schools are they? Parents will be expected to fund them. Not everyone has spare cash right now weirdly enough!

I don't believe I've stated they're a bit annoying as a reason, but if you want to minimise it you go right ahead.

TheKeatingFive · 07/09/2020 21:32

Just to be clear I’m arguing for mask wearing at secondary not primary.

monkeytennis97 · 07/09/2020 21:32

@TrustTheGeneGenie Not belittling just stating that as someone who is in a classroom all day I think I can have an opinion.

Bollss · 07/09/2020 21:33

[quote monkeytennis97]@TrustTheGeneGenie Not belittling just stating that as someone who is in a classroom all day I think I can have an opinion.[/quote]
You can have an opinion. It doesn't mean your opinion is any more valid than anyone elses because you're a teacher.

MarshaBradyo · 07/09/2020 21:33

@noblegiraffe

We'd do a lot better if all teachers wanted to teach

There are many teachers out there who are absolutely brilliant and really want to get on with doing their job.

If this situation helps us get rid of the teachers who really don't want to teach, at least there will be a bit of a silver lining to compensate for all the kids thrown under the bus.

(But that is still not fair on those kids)
If you don't want to teach then leave -- and that goes for all that feel like this.

Yes it will cause a crisis, but then more money will have to be put into education (or we will go blended and half of you would lose your jobs anyway)

But ideally we may then get some decent teachers (like the majority out there) who put the kids first

See, Marsha? The first hint of a teacher asking for improved safety measures and you get this absolute bullshit thrown at you.

That’s what the problem in this debate has been.

Noble my brain is a bit fried and I can see that would be horrible to read. I got sick of the but you just want to do yoga / Costa / work type posts so haven’t always expressed how much teachers are appreciated. The top priority for me has been education not childcare.

But my dc are so happy to be in school, they don’t have a bad home life at all, but they are motivated, positive, engaged, happy all that stuff. So I am really appreciative right now.

And my sore point was maths for GSCE as it was complex (further maths) so being back in the classroom for that is great Flowers

TheKeatingFive · 07/09/2020 21:34

Parents will be expected to fund them.

Two reusable masks can be got for less than a fiver. Secondary school children can hand wash their own. It’s not a huge ask in the circs.

Bollss · 07/09/2020 21:36

@TheKeatingFive

Parents will be expected to fund them.

Two reusable masks can be got for less than a fiver. Secondary school children can hand wash their own. It’s not a huge ask in the circs.

But they'll need more than two if they use them correctly? One for the bus in. One for let's say morning before break. One for after break. One for after lunch and possibly the way home if they don't remove it. That's 4 a day.

Unless they.... Don't use them properly?

The reality is it'll be the same one all week chucked in a back pack covered in god knows what germs and you'll be lucky if it gets washed over the weekend. Gross.

monkeytennis97 · 07/09/2020 21:36

@TrustTheGeneGenie no of course but I am in the classroom with less protection than other workers.

Bollss · 07/09/2020 21:37

[quote monkeytennis97]@TrustTheGeneGenie no of course but I am in the classroom with less protection than other workers.[/quote]
That maybe so but it doesn't mean you know better than everyone else does it?

monkeytennis97 · 07/09/2020 21:39

@TrustTheGeneGenie I JUST WANT THE SAME PROTECTION AS OTHERS. Sorry about the caps but that really is all it is about. I don't know more than others... I am a mum first to two DS's one of whom is severely disabled and a teacher second.

HipTightOnions · 07/09/2020 21:41

You can have an opinion. It doesn't mean your opinion is any more valid than anyone elses because you're a teacher.

Oh for crying out loud. A teacher’s opinion about being a teacher ought to carry some weight.

monkeytennis97 · 07/09/2020 21:42

Thank you @HipTightOnions Smile

Bollss · 07/09/2020 21:44

[quote monkeytennis97]@TrustTheGeneGenie I JUST WANT THE SAME PROTECTION AS OTHERS. Sorry about the caps but that really is all it is about. I don't know more than others... I am a mum first to two DS's one of whom is severely disabled and a teacher second.[/quote]
That has never been the case. Who goes into teaching thinking you'll have the same level of germs as your average office?

You have always been at more risk being a teacher.

I appreciate your children are the most important thing to you - who's aren't. But I don't think demanding the impossible is helping you!

Schools are never ever going to be covid safe offices (and you're only as safe as the least hygienic person so worth remembering that most people aren't "safe" at all)

Bollss · 07/09/2020 21:44

@HipTightOnions

You can have an opinion. It doesn't mean your opinion is any more valid than anyone elses because you're a teacher.

Oh for crying out loud. A teacher’s opinion about being a teacher ought to carry some weight.

It was an opinion about masks. She's a teacher not a scientist!
TheKeatingFive · 07/09/2020 21:46

But I don't think demanding the impossible is helping you!

But she’s not.

She’s asking for pupils to wear masks. Which given that they’re pretty standard elsewhere doesn’t seem particularly unreasonable.

monkeytennis97 · 07/09/2020 21:48

@TrustTheGeneGenie I can't deal with anymore of this tbh. Reread what you just wrote to me... that I'm demanding the impossible. Sorry but that is rubbish. That teachers are always exposed to germ risks.. yes, but not a novel virus that has killed tens of thousands in a couple of months. I just can't deal with this.

MinesAPintOfTea · 07/09/2020 21:48

Even part time school would be better than the last 6 months. Get them in two mornings a week and teach basic maths, English, set homework.

Yes, some won't do the homework, but far more will than kept going through months of nothing but twinkl worksheets

ChanceChanceChance · 07/09/2020 21:54

I'm not a teacher, but I'm really angry about how teachers have been treated. I think suggesting masks, as in a lot of other countries,, is actually a very small request.

Bollss · 07/09/2020 21:55

@TheKeatingFive

But I don't think demanding the impossible is helping you!

But she’s not.

She’s asking for pupils to wear masks. Which given that they’re pretty standard elsewhere doesn’t seem particularly unreasonable.

They're not though... Not many workplaces are mandating masks all day you know?

Let's just agree to disagree because as much as you're pushing you're "they're nothing it's fine' opinion on me I'll never ever agree.

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