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?

@Timeforanotherusername the facts are bubbles are part of Government gaslighting. The poster I took issue with said they are working hard to maintain them. This shows a lack of comprehension as to how this virus spreads.

The White House cluster is a current relevant example of how maintaining bubbles through “hard work” is a fairy tale.

The White House had daily testing. It’s not enough. Fact.

Let’s not kid ourselves or say fact is opinion.

Personally I’d like my children educated by people who have a grasp on reality!

I can't believe how many people have been taken in by bubbles .

They are completely, utterly pointless, other than to make a bad situation sound nicer.

Note Whitty never uses the term.

Oak again another example of teacher bashing. Yes it works both ways!

@Timeforanotherusername I think you need to be quiet unless you can come up with something useful to add.

I am a massive proponent of education but that differs from being a proponent of schools being open!!!

Most just want schools open and let’s brush H&S under the carpet!!!

@Janevaljane

The only people I know who want schools closed are on MN. Everyone I know is thrilled they are open

Same here.

I've not seen anyone who wants schools closed anywhere?

oak you have seriously just told me to be quiet?

Habe you ever heard about free speech?

I am guessing you missed that lesson.

Oak i hope your children are not in school at the moment?

@notevenat20

People suggesting that teachers don’t understand the importance of kids being in school should think a bit more carefully about that

Teachers aren't one amorphous mass. It is important not to over generalise.

There are certainly some teachers who only mention the costs of keeping schools open without addresses the costs of having them closed.

Perhaps that’s because they are answering posts by people who only mention the benefits of having them open without considering the costs of having them either open and closed.

@Timeforanotherusername it’s incredibly frustrating how the amount of intelligent discussion re schools is rather limited. Most unfortunately just “want schools open”. This is very different from Education. Yes I get frustrated at “teachers” who claim everything is ok. It’s not. Education in its true sense is severely compromised. Those who actually believe in Education not just childcare would prioritise public exam years. We can also foresee what’s on the horizon with schools this winter and there was a better way!

@Timeforanotherusername no I’m temporarily homeschooling and it’s been the best decision ever given their school has been severely disrupted! They’ve definitely not fallen behind and yes I took expert opinion from Head Teachers before making such a drastic decision.

@Attictroll

It is only on mumsnet that I feel negativity about schools opening. A recent chat with Ds ( primary) teacher discussing my worry about schools closing again and his view was that most of the teachers in the school would ignore it and find a way to carry on. It's a state school covering an area of mixed backgrounds and I think they have really seen the impact on some children both mentally and educational.

Nonsense. How could they possibly ignore it? It would be law, like last time. And I doubt any teacher has said anything of the sort. They may have said they’d prefer the, open and would like to stay open - that’s true of almost all teachers. But flout the law when it puts them, their pupils and their pupils’ families (as well as the wider community) at risk? If they really did, I’d look to changing schools to somewhere where the teachers have a better grasp of the law and responsible behaviour.

I prefer schools to be open but I am in Greater Manchester. We have already had short notice self isolation for parts of two of the year groups at my DD's school.
Despite the school's best efforts, this is chaotic and confusing.
Manchester's universities are in fucking chaos.
The Rule of Six bollocks doesn't really apply because we can't go into other households. The fucking PM can't even be arsed to find out what the restrictions are across the country.
Do I think shutting all schools would be better? No. But I think having grown ups run the country would be better .

@BikeTyson

No one I know irl is in favour of schools closing or going part time, including the teachers working in them. And that’s in an area with the worst rates in the country.

‘Not in favour of’ is not the same as recognising that it might be necessary because of the government’s fuck ups with testing and the stupid and careless way schools have opened. I’m not in favour of it. It’s much easier and more effective to have kids in front of me. It’s going to be necessary though, at some point. And that’s on the government. Governments, actually, because the devolved governments allowed the careless opening too.

@notevenat20

In case a comparison is interesting, my friends who are university lecturers tell me that all the online delivery and lecture recording is being done at the lecturers' personal cost. That is using their personal computers, webcam and software and their home internet connection.

Same happened with recorded and live lessons and online resources in schools during lockdown.

Totally agree about bubbles they are An absolute farce and more than that, it's misled the students too. The younger ones are actually reasonably well controlled in school, primary but older dc seem to think they are OK and safe... Because they are in a bubble!

You can make a claim for working from home home. It's not ideal but I'm happy to use my own lap top to keep safe!

No I appreciate that, but there are some in here who you can imagine jumping up and down and rubbing their hands with glee at being proved right, and that’s totally alien to my real life experience where people would be gutted (and probably unemployed) when/if it happens.

@BikeTyson

I am gutted that schools cannot be open as usual, but I will be happy when people start to recognise the serious risk that schools open as they are now are causing us at a societal level because it is only once this is recognised that we can try to implement a better solution. I want schools to be open safely. At the moment they are open, but they aren't safe and that isn't good enough for me.

@notevenat20

In case a comparison is interesting, my friends who are university lecturers tell me that all the online delivery and lecture recording is being done at the lecturers' personal cost. That is using their personal computers, webcam and software and their home internet connection.

Well I used my own laptop and internet connection as well when delivering online lessons. Also had to buy my own document reader - another £80 for that. Schools are not reimbursing teachers for internet usage.

We were not given money to buy tables and chairs for home offices either.

New study on transmission in schools and it’s not good

environment.princeton.edu/news/largest-covid-19-contact-tracing-study-to-date-finds-children-key-to-spread-evidence-of-superspreaders/

Schools in the uk won't close because of research in Tamil Nadu.

I wonder if the teachers who think their school is doing a wonderful job and are oh so happy about hire things are going are the same ones who don’t bother opening any doors or windows and don’t report when the classrooms are out if hand sanitiser and disinfectant wipes. In sick of going into rooms in the last lesson of the day and finding that the staff who have been in previously have not taken any of the weak mitigation precautions we have at our disposal.

Now which of those teachers are behaving in a manner designed to keep schools open? The ones who have no concern about COVID or the ones worrying about its spread?

Why on earth would they be the same?!

Because both groups have a lack of concern about the spread of COVID in schools, and both groups clearly underestimate the contribution of air borne transmission if they think all the hand washing and table spraying actually does anything whatsoever.

eh, so you are cross with them for not wiping things but also for thinking it might help?!