It feels like people on MN are willing schools to close

[Marcellemouse]

Lots of threads being really negative about schools reopening. These have been largely started by teachers, the latest one being about a gagging order on the BBC. My 2 and every other DC I know are thriving on schools opening again. DS actually stands a chance of doing well and getting back on track with GCSES. DC are happy and animated again. Their teachers have been fantastic, I'm massively impressed. Friends of mine who are secondary teachers are positive and happy to be back teaching in school instead of home learning. I just get a different vibe in RL than on MN about schools. What's the reality?

That orange younger line is falling?

That’s good for primaries. Part time, and usually less than half time, brings its own problems. Good to see that.

Secondaries if people are talking about mitigation, what? Ventilation always good. Maybe masks. I keep to ft got exam years as a priority.

To be fair @Oaktree55 I believe the lack of testing is more down to general incompetence than a sinister government plot, but it is odd that they haven't updated symptoms guidelines for DCs. Many DCs - including my own - had to get a test due to a cough that was clearly due to a cold, but one friends DD was off due to general malaise and a bad headache and sore stomach - and apparently that illness was doing the rounds at school. I suspect her DD was much more likely to have covid than the rest of the hacking class, but as she didn't fit the symptom list and as we're constantly being told not to test unnecessarily, we'll never know.

Exam years as a priority ft..

Oh and I know there has been comment about France relaxing rules re positive cases in schools and isolation. I heard it won't last long they are having big issues with schools and Paris about to go into further lockdown. There is only so long we can push for normal before the virus inevitably wins! Seems we're all a bit slow at learning this lesson though in the West.

There is only so long we can push for normal before the virus inevitably wins!

This. Without SD or masks in schools, we're heading for trouble.

Without SD or masks in schools, we're heading for trouble.

The problem is that with masks and SD in school we are heading for a different lot of trouble. The key question is how do we want to balance the happiness and future of our children against the safety of those who look after them.

@notevenat20

Without SD or masks in schools, we're heading for trouble.

The problem is that with masks and SD in school we are heading for a different lot of trouble. The key question is how do we want to balance the happiness and future of our children against the safety of those who look after them.

I want to support the safety and happiness of my children by protecting those who look after them.

I don't see those things as incompatible. They are profoundly related in a synergistic way.

I can give quite an emotive example of this, if you would like.

I understand the angle you are coming from. But I do feel that telling children they can't be within two metres of their friends and have to wear a mask all day will also come with a heavy cost to them.

Trouble with what? The virus is largely ineffective to the overwhelming majority of society.

Bless.

But I do feel that telling children they can't be within two metres of their friends and have to wear a mask all day will also come with a heavy cost to them.

More of a cost than losing a teacher, a parent or a friend's parent to covid-19? Which will be a lifelong cost, not a temporary measure for a few hours a day.

It's just a face covering. It's not for that long, kids are adaptable. I think this idea it's a problem is really underestimating how lovely and sensible most children are and is very much coming from the prejudices of adults.

@IloveJKRowling

But I do feel that telling children they can't be within two metres of their friends and have to wear a mask all day will also come with a heavy cost to them.

More of a cost than losing a teacher, a parent or a friend's parent to covid-19? Which will be a lifelong cost, not a temporary measure for a few hours a day.

It's just a face covering. It's not for that long, kids are adaptable. I think this idea it's a problem is really underestimating how lovely and sensible most children are and is very much coming from the prejudices of adults.

this

@notevenat20

I understand the angle you are coming from. But I do feel that telling children they can't be within two metres of their friends and have to wear a mask all day will also come with a heavy cost to them.

Don’t worry if they are all off to treat n treat parties COVID will not spread there.

More of a cost than losing a teacher, a parent or a friend's parent to covid-19? Which will be a lifelong cost, not a temporary measure for a few hours a day.

I am not sure it is reasonable to describe a child's school days as just a few hours a day. They are formative in a fundamental way.

You always have to weigh up the chance of something happening and how bad it is. I drive my car every day even though being brutally mutilated by a car accident is possible.

Have any teachers at all died from covid in the UK so far? Parents of school age children are largely under 60 so are at very little risk of dying. Similarly there appear to be few teachers over 60, at least in the state sector. Those old men who married young women may be somewhat more nervous however.

10% ecv group have kids under 16.

There's a school in London where dozens of children are bereaved.

I think we have to be careful both of overstating the risks, but also of understating them.

People are keen on saying I have more chance of being hit by a bus than of getting seriously ill with covid. This is not true - plus my risk of catching covid is currently increasing every week as cases rise, whilst the number of buses which might hit me remains stable!

Covid is a threat to my family in a number of ways, especially financially if I get longer-lasting symptoms.

Have any teachers at all died from covid in the UK so far?

You might find this article interesting from between March and April this year. I don't think it's a particularly large number, but a simple google might have stopped you continuing to sound so callous in your posts.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.tes.com/news/coronavirus-revealed-least-26-teachers-have-died-covid-19%3famp

@RepeatSwan

There's a school in London where dozens of children are bereaved.

I think we have to be careful both of overstating the risks, but also of understating them.

People are keen on saying I have more chance of being hit by a bus than of getting seriously ill with covid. This is not true - plus my risk of catching covid is currently increasing every week as cases rise, whilst the number of buses which might hit me remains stable!

Covid is a threat to my family in a number of ways, especially financially if I get longer-lasting symptoms.

Repeat is it a primary or secondary school?

Dozens is a lot. If it is secondary what timing was it (March etc)

It was secondary, it was an article in a paper, the school was in a badly-hit borough. Some small areas saw a lot of deaths, and other areas very few.

Dozens? In one school?

It was 25 bereaved pupils. I rember feeling really upset reading it www.theguardian.com/education/2020/jul/04/one-school-25-bereavements-essex-head-fears-emotional-impact-of-covid-19

Goddard has been keeping track of the number of family bereavements at Passmores for years, and knows that right now, more than 10 times as many of his pupils than usual are grieving.

It was printed in July, school must have been closed for a while since March. I wonder what period of time he is talking about.

It is high but sounds rare

It is not rare in LAs that were badly hit, especially in deprived areas.