The rate of infections in schools is being suppressed from public knowledge

[noblegiraffe]

...claims Karam Bales of the NEU.

I’m pretty sure I agree. When the newspapers are going mad about university cases and 13,000 kids and 700 teachers being off school in Birmingham doesn’t make national headlines, then something dodgy is going on.

This twitter thread collates all the evidence and is pretty damning twitter.com/karamballes/status/1315067136394625032?s=21

My own thoughts:
Why are the government ignoring the WHO recommendations on masks?
Why have they stopped PHE deciding who is sent home when there are cases in schools setting up their own helpline instead which sends home far fewer kids?
Why are the figures not being presented in a way that makes it clear which cases are in schools and not universities?
Why did Chris Whitty use a graph of test positivity rates instead of actual infection numbers in his briefing when it came to claiming that schools aren’t an issue?
Why are they insisting that children only get a test if they exhibit one of the three main adult symptoms, ignoring that the majority of children who test positive don’t have any of them?
Why are they insisting on vulnerable children being sent in with the threat of fines for non-attendance?
Why did they spend the summer pretending that unions were blocking the re-opening of schools and then paying social media influencers to say schools are safe, without taking any steps to ensure that they are?
Why did they announce a Plan B of rotas for schools in tiers of lockdown and then never actually use it?
Why did they say that an effective test and trace system was vital to opening schools and then also say they were surprised when demand increased when schools opened?
Why do they keep saying schools are a priority and that be the only thing they say about keeping them open?

And where the fuck is Gavin Williamson?

Well I am limping on to half term, but then who knows. The 'carry on regardless' lot are in the ascendancy tbh.

Of course it’s being suppressed. It’s almost a joke now, especially with those parents who bang on about it as well. The schools are fine line, is making people look foolish.

Hence why countries with high transmission are now closing all schools again. The issue you have is, parents work in hospitals, care homes, schools the communities. All it takes is the children to be silently spreading it, onto the adults in their lives and then you have this. An absolute mess, after only one half term.

The school spread deniers are frankly coming across as bonkers. This carry on as normal will not last. I’ve not done a full week with my class because I’m covering everything. Oh low incidence area btw.

Does anyone think that something will change over half term? I'm so upset every day I send the DC's in. Never feel like I'm doing the right thing.

This is so area dependent though. In our school, we had a couple of tests early on, but nothing since. We are functioning with full classes and staff, as normal.

From what I know of other schools in our region (I know a lot of parents and staff) they're the same. Covid just hasn't taken hold here...yet...🤞

I think it is the size of the school, not just the prevalence in the area, that matters. My authority was in the bottom 5% foot cases, right from the start until September. It is absolutely the school driving the spread here, we have a rate ten times higher than the external community.

Oh, and no criticism of my schools implementation of the guidelines from me. They actually did an excellent job of separating year groups within school, minimising bubbles within year groups, giving teachers 2m distance and providing optional visits and lots of cleaning in classrooms.

Visors, not visits.

We have only had 1 case in our school so far.
If schools do have to close, I'll always be glad of the few weeks DC have been able to attend, their overall mental health is so much improved.
We're in a low risk area though (at the moment).

@PracticingPerson parents didn't push (although many wanted schools to open for valid reasons, my reasons were not childcare related) it was a government decision. I would have been happy with blended learning, I do think there needed to be a standard set for this though and not the huge discrepancy there was between schools earlier this year.

I agree it was the government's message that children were safer going back to school and that it was absolutely the right thing to do that gave parents the reassurance. The government spoke for weeks before September that contact track and trace would do its job. The us4them nuts stirred things up but the government reassurances is what most parents went with.

@Beebityboo I know how you feel. I don't know but personally I can see schools in tier 3 eventually closing as I'm not convinced the other measures will slow the infection rates down sufficiently. Either that or they stay open until there's no staff left to keep them open safely.

parents didn't push

Parental campaign group getting the front pages of the papers says otherwise.

[quote PracticingPerson]@Nellodee and

I am so frustrated with parents who due to intransigence and wishful thinking pushed the kids into this mess. I'm not a teacher, I'm just another parent, who wanted stable part-time school over this winter.[/quote]
This is such an extraordinary attitude. Being angry with parents who want their children to have an education and attend school.

What were parents being 'intransigent' about? I don't remember part-time schooling being on the table, do you?

It's on par with being angry with teachers when the government closed the schools down and suspended the curriculum in March.

Neither parents or teachers are the decision-makers in this.

I was just reading that Donald trumps son had coronavirus but that they only knew because he was tested. He never showed symptoms and has now tested negative. Secondary schools almost seems like the perfect to encourage spread. With loads of asymptomatic people going around passing the virus amoungst each other with no social distancing. Literally 1000s within one building

@noblegiraffe

parents didn't push

Parental campaign group getting the front pages of the papers says otherwise.

Yes, because at that point it backed up the govt line.

There were also campaigns to not fine parents who keep children off, and for schools not to return in September.

In all seriousness, what would have been a safe and realistic plan? My thoughts were about the govt heavily investing in tech/Broadband so that all children could get online, and schools having provision to be open for children who had nowhere quiet to work at home.

But that wouldn't address the needs of primary schools. You can't teach Early Years on online. I fully appreciate that schools aren't childcare, but what could parents who have to work outside the home do (other than lose their jobs which has happened anyway)?

I don't think teachers and other school staff should have been put at risk in the way they have been, but honestly what would have been a better plan that maximised the safety of all but didn't leave children without a tech/Broadband, somewhere to work at home, with additional needs etc behind?

but honestly what would have been a better plan that maximised the safety of all

Anything other than sending everyone back as normal and fingers crossed?

I mean, we don’t even have masks in corridors in some schools, let alone in classrooms. Compare internationally. And SAGE minutes show they are well aware that classrooms are often poorly ventilated and this is a massive issue but schools are on their battling with kids to keep the windows open because the messaging isn’t there from the government. WINDOWS OPEN, WEAR A VEST would be a start.

but honestly what would have been a better plan

Can you really think of nothing?!

Surely its culpable deniability? If you put enough contradictory information out and fail to look at the hard evidence, by avoiding answering the right questions, you can spin the situation at a later date and deny that you knew better.

Governments have been doing this for ever.

Re "-The-rate-of-infections-in-schools-is-being-suppressed-from-public-knowledge", this is top of my twitter feed this morning

Teacher 1
"Yesterday I was advised by the DFE that I didn't need to call in future cases and could manage it in school???????? I challenged the operator and asked how PHE could track or even identify an outbreak if this happened. I got the scripted response. Hasten to add I shall report all"

Teacher 2
"5 of 15 classes sent home. We asked at what level DfE may be concerned, they said all were individual controlled outbreaks and unrelated, so no further action."

Teacher 3
"I don’t understand how they decide if a school gets moved to tier 2,3 or 4 if they’re not tracking our case numbers??"

Teacher 1
"There are no outbreaks if they are all deemed one offs. If there are it becomes the schools fault would be my guess. Shift the blame."

Teacher 4
"We've had four cases (735 on roll) and we have been told not to call again!"

@chickenyhead

Surely its culpable deniability? If you put enough contradictory information out and fail to look at the hard evidence, by avoiding answering the right questions, you can spin the situation at a later date and deny that you knew better.

Governments have been doing this for ever.

Yes. That has been going on since February here. When eventually the dust settles and we are over this future historians will be studying the propaganda, the lies, the confused contradictory information from this crazy period.

I remember one news broadcast was explaining with lovely scientific diagrams and videos how this airborne disease was transmitted in enclosed spaces. Hard evidence from remodelling of actual events in a restaurant is one I remember. Later in the same news broadcast was a government minister smiling away saying back to school would be absolutely fine and no don't be silly masks are not required in schools! And then there were the children are not spreaders messages that chopped and changed daily. It is unbelievable really.

I should have said not all parents pushed.
I think if more schools had shown an ability to do blended learning - most parents would have been happy with this. And yes to ppe/funds for cleaning etc

Appuskidu yes of course I can think of better plans.

I was asking other people their view, if that's okay with you?

My children's schools do have all their windows and doors open, teaching outside in coats when possible. There are one way systems, staggered starts and finishes, breaks and lunches, don't use changing rooms for PE, don't share equipment, no after school clubs, no assemblies etc.

It's not carrying on as usual. I don't disagree that the govt have handled pretty much every aspect of the pandemic dreadfully, and schools/exams exceptionally badly but given that they're not going to plough money and resources into school and life goes on, I was wondering what other people thought.

The children are fine in school. The evidence is accelerating to show that they are not at risk from this virus. Most are asymptomatic.

Why would you feel bad sending them? If they’re happy there, and given their health isn’t at risk, what is the issue?

Children are not responsible for infection control and their lives should not be put on hold for people who have already enjoyed their right to an education. That would be selfishness in the extreme on the part of older age groups.

Don’t force kids to pay for the chronic Tory underfunding of the NHS

Kids are already going to shoulder the financial burden of paying for this in the future. Let’s at least give them a fighting chance by equipping them with an education so they can earn the money in the first place!

@Ouchy

The children are fine in school. The evidence is accelerating to show that they are not at risk from this virus. Most are asymptomatic.

Why would you feel bad sending them? If they’re happy there, and given their health isn’t at risk, what is the issue?

Children are not responsible for infection control and their lives should not be put on hold for people who have already enjoyed their right to an education. That would be selfishness in the extreme on the part of older age groups.

Don’t force kids to pay for the chronic Tory underfunding of the NHS

Kids are already going to shoulder the financial burden of paying for this in the future. Let’s at least give them a fighting chance by equipping them with an education so they can earn the money in the first place!

How many times does it need repeating? There are adult staff in schools. The asymptomatic children can and do transmit the virus. What do think is causing the high community cases? 8 million children all mixing together and then back home and out and about elsewhere.

This is such an extraordinary attitude. Being angry with parents who want their children to have an education and attend school.

What were parents being 'intransigent' about? I don't remember part-time schooling being on the table, do you?

Parents including on here screeched when anyone including me suggested full time school with no social distancing would drive transmission.

I do blame the political leadership too, but a lot of parents put their heads in the sand imo.

@Ouchy

The children are fine in school. The evidence is accelerating to show that they are not at risk from this virus. Most are asymptomatic.

Why would you feel bad sending them? If they’re happy there, and given their health isn’t at risk, what is the issue?

Children are not responsible for infection control and their lives should not be put on hold for people who have already enjoyed their right to an education. That would be selfishness in the extreme on the part of older age groups.

Don’t force kids to pay for the chronic Tory underfunding of the NHS

Kids are already going to shoulder the financial burden of paying for this in the future. Let’s at least give them a fighting chance by equipping them with an education so they can earn the money in the first place!

I feel I’m back in March again.

Schools don’t just have children in them. Yes the students I teach may not be in at risk category but I’m not confident I can just shake it off, especially as the viral load will be greater because of the length of time I’m with students.

It’s not ‘selfish’ to consider the needs of adults in schools. Who will teach when we’re ill? At my school currently we have had to give up our PPAs as the cover is increasing daily and it’s difficult to get supply in. (And before anyone questions why I’m on MN in school time I’m PT and in after lunch).

And it’s not just becoming ill with Covid. I’m PT and exhausted from the constant moving, extra duties, extra cover. I’m not sure I could cope full time. Staff are on their knees with tiredness and stress. This will also contribute to absence.