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Ways to make schools safer without closing them

504 replies

noblegiraffe · 24/10/2020 13:05

Because I am so bored of the misrepresentation and lies going on on this site by people who shout down anyone who raises concerns about the current situation in schools as 'wanting schools to close indefinitely'. The people lacking in imagination who seem to insist that either things carry on as they are (with hundreds of thousands of kids not in school due to the spread in infection), or that schools close and there's nothing in between that can possibly be done to make things safer.

So here's my list, mostly copied from another thread:

We could start with an effective test and trace system, which we were told was essential for the safe re-opening of schools, but we opened without.

We could move onto making sure that all classrooms have windows. And then that those windows open. A national WEAR A VEST campaign to stop parents and kid complaining that it's cold. Germany have just invested a large amount of money in improving ventilation in schools, the UK should follow them.

Masks. Why do the government keep insisting they're not needed in corridors (from the comfort of a socially distanced parliament) and that it's impossible to use them in classrooms when the rest of the world seem to manage? What lessons can we learn from the international experience?

Marquees/covers on the playgrounds so that kids aren't inside for wet break. I know that wet break caused a whole year group to be sent home in a local school as it was uncontrolled indoor close contact.

For it to be mandatory (not simply 'where possible') that classrooms are arranged so that teachers are 2m from the kids when teaching. If smaller class sizes are needed to facilitate this, then solutions must be found even if the government needs to pay money for bigger spaces.

Parents to be supported/sanctioned to avoid kids being sent into school with symptoms or when they're supposed to be isolating.

The government to update its list of symptoms for children requiring a test to include the main ones that children experience, instead of the adult symptoms which they mainly don't.

Regular testing in schools, particularly when there are outbreaks, to enable more effective isolation.

Vulnerable kids to be allowed the option of staying at home. Schooling could be provided by Oak Academy (why spend millions on it and not use it?) and the army of 'catch-up tutors' to provide feedback on work (or ECV teachers also permitted to stay at home)

Any other suggestions?

OP posts:
LastGoldenDaysOfSummer · 25/10/2020 07:45

I have so much admiration for noble for speaking up for teachers in the face of abuse and haranguing from a few.

Such sensible suggestions but the usual nit-picking occurs.

herecomesthsun · 25/10/2020 08:32

@2020fedup

If people think it’s ‘unsafe’ to send kids to school, don’t send them. Let the ones with more sense crack on .
I'm glad you agree with me that parents ought to be allowed to educate their children at home (temporarily). That's not the arrangement right now, sadly.
IloveJKRowling · 25/10/2020 09:48

Gosh, yes, good idea noble for PM or education secretary at least.

Far too sensible and intelligent and not enough pals in high places though, I suspect.

JamminDoughnuts · 25/10/2020 10:04

define vulnerable children?
that will remain on home learning?

AmIstillonmsnet · 25/10/2020 10:15

This thread is strange. Is it a kind of support group? it's certainly not a typical thread. Posters give alternative view points or question certain points & are shot down immediately by nobles fan girls. Any note of dissent is not tolerated & if a poster has a valid point it's ignored or deflected. Hence why now it's just back slapping. Have you not heard of Whatsapp?

JamminDoughnuts · 25/10/2020 10:23

re vulnerable children,
having read the thread a bit i understand you are referring to clinically vulnerable children.

JamminDoughnuts · 25/10/2020 10:23

are you going to petition anyone @noblegiraffe

LastGoldenDaysOfSummer · 25/10/2020 10:24

@AmIstillonmsnet

This thread is strange. Is it a kind of support group? it's certainly not a typical thread. Posters give alternative view points or question certain points & are shot down immediately by nobles fan girls. Any note of dissent is not tolerated & if a poster has a valid point it's ignored or deflected. Hence why now it's just back slapping. Have you not heard of Whatsapp?
Fan girls? Oh dear. Not worth reading past that, really.

Grow up, pet.

noblegiraffe · 25/10/2020 10:26

Posters give alternative view points or question certain points & are shot down immediately by nobles fan girls.

I love it when people lie about stuff that people can read for themselves. I spent ages yesterday responding to questions fleshing out certain suggestions, as did others.

OP posts:
LastGoldenDaysOfSummer · 25/10/2020 10:37

@noblegiraffe don't let the truth get in the way of a carefully prepared lie.

noblegiraffe · 25/10/2020 10:50

What was funny with this thread was that there was a lull from the usual types while they tried to figure out how they could derail a thread that was about keeping schools open.

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AmIstillonmsnet · 25/10/2020 11:17

You just demonstrated my point. I'll leave you to get back to your paranoia (questioning how workable some points are is not derailment) & crowing.

noblegiraffe · 25/10/2020 11:19

The derailment was trying to make the thread about me, AmI

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SmileEachDay · 25/10/2020 11:26

Any note of dissent is not tolerated

I mean this is patently bollocks but I suspect I’m one of noble’s “fan girls”.

Do I get a badge?

LastGoldenDaysOfSummer · 25/10/2020 11:34

It's all gone a bit "Mean Girls", eh?

Grin Grin Grin Grin

SmileEachDay · 25/10/2020 11:40

It has a bit, Last.

SmileEachDay · 25/10/2020 11:42

are you going to petition anyone @noblegiraffe**

Do you mean about making schools safer?

JamminDoughnuts · 25/10/2020 11:44

@SmileEachDay

are you going to petition anyone @noblegiraffe**

Do you mean about making schools safer?

yes i did
SmileEachDay · 25/10/2020 11:47

Can’t speak for noble but I’ve written to my completely useless MP.

My main push for safety is through my union and through the H&S working party at school. I think that’s far more effective than a petition - I think if parents wanted to organise and petition it’s probably worth it though.

noblegiraffe · 25/10/2020 12:08

My completely useless MP just voted against feeding hungry children, he’s a brown-noser who supports the government in all matters. When I emailed him about school safety he responded with a bland cut and paste from the DfE about how safe schools are with bubbles and whatnot even though my email detailed specific concerns about why the DfE guidance was inadequate.

I’ve raised concerns about my own school with my union rep and head of department who feed back to the head and these have been taken seriously and acted upon as far as practical (i.e. within the guidelines). The consensus in my school is that the head is doing as good a job as is possible.

I post fairly prolifically on here(!), some polls I started on AIBU had more than 2000 votes, most saying YANBU so more people seem to be reading than posting.

I’ve filled out questionnaires from my union and from TES so they can get a better view of what is happening on the ground.

There are already petitions out there so I don’t see the point in adding to them.

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SmileEachDay · 25/10/2020 12:14

When I emailed him about school safety he responded with a bland cut and paste from the DfE about how safe schools are with bubbles and whatnot even though my email detailed specific concerns about why the DfE guidance was inadequate

I got the same email.

IloveJKRowling · 25/10/2020 13:20

Well my MP seems to have given up replying to me and hasn't responded to my last two emails at least.

I'm thinking the next one might be copied to the local paper. Local press seem to be the only ones bothering to record the number of school closures. They are doing some excellent work, I suspect on a shoestring.

notevenat20 · 25/10/2020 13:26

I'm glad you agree with me that parents ought to be allowed to educate their children at home

I think it's worth reminding ourselves why school is compulsory in the first place.

StaffAssociationRepresentative · 25/10/2020 13:28

@AmIstillonmsnet fan girls? Bit sexist

noblegiraffe · 25/10/2020 13:30

It isn’t compulsory, not, you are always allowed to home educate.

What parents would like in this pandemic is to keep their children off school for safety reasons (this could be agreed with the school), receive remote learning support and not lose their school place.

OP posts: