I don't understand why blended learning/part time schooling would work

[Whatchasayin]

I thought the argument for not returning to school before the summer was that even with half the class in it was still impossible to social distance the DC and teachers. Our primary only managed 8 DC in a classroom in June. My DCs school has smaller rooms than that so could presumably fit less in. When my year 10 went in for a few days there were 6 in his group to ensure no close contact and they all had to sit on their own table in the hall at lunch. How do you envisage part time schooling being possible at all?

[LastGoldenDaysOfSummer]

What happens to the children when they are not in school? Does a single parent need to resign and claim benefits? Poverty. What happens when food is only provided in a school environment. How are homes heated throughout the day in winter. It’s not just as simple as saying send them home half the week is it.

That's for others to work out. As I sad, there are plenty of empty community buildings. Schools are currently unsafe and that cannot be allowed to continue.

We were lied to about how infectious children could be. Teachers and children are unsafe in schools as they are. The priority is to make them safe then they won't have to keep closing when bubbles burst.

Classes small enough for social distancing have to be a priority.

No one reasonable expects teachers to risk their health. If it means part time schooling that's what will have to happen.

[flumposie]

The school I teach at is unable to offer live teaching to pupils isolating. We simply do not have the technology, web cams etc to do this. I had to buy a new laptop in March to enable me to record narrated PowerPoints. Last week I used it to complete Parents' evening via teams but from home as we were unable to do this at work , again due to lack of technology. Every school is different with what it is able to offer.

[CallmeAngelina]

"their teachers should be teaching on line as normal."

What do you mean, "as normal?" We have no webcams in school, and none of us has been provided with any laptop/technology for use at home.
So before we think about providing laptops for kids at home, it might be an idea for the government to splash some cash and kit out the teachers first. Oh, and some training would be nice, too.

[Remmy123]

It any of this happens it's going to be futile.

Do you expect secondary school kids to just sit at home and not mix with thier mates???

They will just spread it in other ways.

How about stop these silly threads with 'your ideas' and leave our kids to get an education?'

[Barbie222]

How about stop these silly threads with 'your ideas' and leave our kids to get an education?'

Just leaving that one here for posterity!

Do you have anything enlightening to say to the thousands of children who can't currently go to school in the UK?

[Nellodee]

Blended learning is shit. I don't think anyone is saying that it can work as well as full time learning in school.

But it's not an alternative to full time learning, it's an alternative to chaotic part time learning with students in and out like yoyos, never knowing who has covered what work, with some children missing weeks on end.

If we get to the point where students are, on average, in school less than 50% of the time, but randomly and chaotically, wouldn't it be better to have them in 50% of the time but rota-ed and systematically? And if you can only fit 30% of the students in, then its surely worth swapping when you get to the 30% mark?

That's the real comparison you have to make. How many kids can we safely fit in the school (properly safely, in a way that will mean students don't take down half the year when they get a positive)? Then when we're teaching less than that, switch over.

[Nellodee]

And to be honest, we should add in some calculations about which students are off.

If we have most of year 7, 8 and 9, but we've lost all of 10 and 11, that's not good enough. All students deserve an education, but 10 and 11 (and 12 and 13) don't have time to make it up.

[LastGoldenDaysOfSummer]

@Remmy123

It any of this happens it's going to be futile.

Do you expect secondary school kids to just sit at home and not mix with thier mates???

They will just spread it in other ways.

How about stop these silly threads with 'your ideas' and leave our kids to get an education?'

How about having a thought for the health of those educating your children and stop being so selfish?

I would expect my children when of secondary age to do as they were told and not mix with their friends. They are both intelligent enough to have understood why.

It's up to parents to control the behaviour of their teenage children. How about stop coming up with silly reason to not keep schools safe.

Most people can control their teens.

[Fridgeandkitchen]

LastGoldenDaysOfSummer

Where does it end though? What about supermarket staff, what about their health. What about the health of retail workers, what about the health of office workers who cannot work at home. Public transport workers and not to mention the NHS etc.

I have been at work since 1st July. In an office role where I cannot work from home. I’ve dealt with the public but to keep my job, I need to take my own precautions and get on with it.

[Bollss]

That's not really the school's problem. It's a problem for wider society to resolve. You don't really expect staff to risk their health for the convenience of parents, surely?

you must think very little of yourself if you think your job can be replaced with 2 days in school and the rest with a childminder on in a church hall.

[Remmy123]

I've got at least 6 friends and family who teach primary and secondary - not one has said they are concerned.

Why am I selfish? I just think these threads are pointless it's not like Boris is reading all of your ideas!!

[Lavendersy]

Yes, some children will be disadvantaged but that's a small price to pay if the over all effect if better.

Wow. Thats potentially going to damage the future prospects of an entire generation of already underprivileged children!!

Hopefully there is no need to close all schools anyway. So far I'm not seeing children, teenagers, their teachers or parents being hospitalised or dying.

But I do think vulnerable teachers and children should have the option to stay at home and get financial support if needed.

[Remmy123]

No not all parents have control over teens and not all parents care about following the rules. Don't be so naive!!

At least when they are in school they are in some sort of bubble.

Not to mention their mental health. Imagine being a teenager stuck at home alone?

should be the absolute last resort.

[LastGoldenDaysOfSummer]

Where does it end though? What about supermarket staff, what about their health. What about the health of retail workers, what about the health of office workers who cannot work at home. Public transport workers and not to mention the NHS etc.

All of those people are allowed to wear PPE. In most cases the people using their facilities have to wear masks. Children don't and in some schools teachers aren't allowed to. That's not right. The people you mention don't work with 30+ people in cramped, unventilated conditions.

There is no comparison. Surprised you think there is, frankly.

[Fridgeandkitchen]

@Remmy123

No not all parents have control over teens and not all parents care about following the rules. Don't be so naive!!

At least when they are in school they are in some sort of bubble.

Not to mention their mental health. Imagine being a teenager stuck at home alone?

should be the absolute last resort.

I agree. Sadly the poster in question isn’t interested.

[Lavendersy]

Where does it end though? What about supermarket staff, what about their health. What about the health of retail workers, what about the health of office workers who cannot work at home. Public transport workers and not to mention the NHS etc.

Exactly.

Is there any evidence that more teachers are hospitalised, compared to other professions?

[LastGoldenDaysOfSummer]

you must think very little of yourself if you think your job can be replaced with 2 days in school and the rest with a childminder on in a church hall.

I think very little of people with no respect for teachers.

The suggestion of community rooms was to those who were incapable of making their own childcare arrangements and a suggestion only. It's been suggested many times by those more qualified than you or I to think it could work.

I think very little of those who want to endanger the health of teachers and children. Most sane people feel the same way.

[CallmeAngelina]

@Lavendersy

Where does it end though? What about supermarket staff, what about their health. What about the health of retail workers, what about the health of office workers who cannot work at home. Public transport workers and not to mention the NHS etc.

Exactly.

Is there any evidence that more teachers are hospitalised, compared to other professions?

Oh God, not again.
It's like Groundhog Day on here sometimes.

[Lavendersy]

Imagine being a teenager stuck at home alone?

With their parent/s working, I think it would be very tough for a 13 or even 17 year old. Certainly if it went on for weeks!

[LastGoldenDaysOfSummer]

At least when they are in school they are in some sort of bubble.



Have you not read that the bubbles are constantly bursting? Half of secondary pupils have had to stay off school to isolate already. The present system isn't working in many schools. Maybe if they had socially distanced then they wouldn't have got infected and the bubble wouldn't have burst.

With one week in one week out and social distancing at least there will be consistency. Planning will be easier and there will be no sudden closures of entire year groups, hopefully.

[cantkeepawayforever]

@Nellodee

Blended learning is shit. I don't think anyone is saying that it can work as well as full time learning in school.

But it's not an alternative to full time learning, it's an alternative to chaotic part time learning with students in and out like yoyos, never knowing who has covered what work, with some children missing weeks on end.

If we get to the point where students are, on average, in school less than 50% of the time, but randomly and chaotically, wouldn't it be better to have them in 50% of the time but rota-ed and systematically? And if you can only fit 30% of the students in, then its surely worth swapping when you get to the 30% mark?

That's the real comparison you have to make. How many kids can we safely fit in the school (properly safely, in a way that will mean students don't take down half the year when they get a positive)? Then when we're teaching less than that, switch over.

Exactly this.

Of course blended learning is worse than full time in school education. However, hundreds of thousands of children are already embarking on random, unplanned periods of blended learning due to contact with positive cases. Half of secondary schools are affected. In some areas, all schools are affected.

The point therefore becomes 'when is planned blended learning, however imperfect, better than the emerging status quo of unplanned, chaotic part time learning due to outbreaks of Covid?'

[Bollss]

I think very little of people with no respect for teachers

that's a funny thing to say to me considering i actually do have a lot of respect for teachers - hence why i am confused as to why you think your job can be done my someone unqualified.

The suggestion of community rooms was to those who were incapable of making their own childcare arrangements and a suggestion only. It's been suggested many times by those more qualified than you or I to think it could work

incapable? i think most of us are pretty capable, its the sheer lack of childcare providers thats the issue. You think we should set up a school, which isn't a school because we cant have teachers getting sick, but childminders are fair game.

I think very little of those who want to endanger the health of teachers and children. Most sane people feel the same way.

I dont think my child's health is endangered and i dont know anyone who does, tbh. I dont think teachers are at the sudden death kinda risk that you do either tbh.

if we do what you want to "keep you safe" right - you see half your class and then the other half. What about all the extra contacts they will all have from your brilliant childminder school idea? does that really make you feel more safe?

[sonnenscheins]

Yes, some children will be disadvantaged but that's a small price to pay if the over all effect if better.

Some might that too high a price to pay.

[herecomesthsun]

Also very tough on a kid to have a parent very ill or dying ?

And if schools are forced to close because of uncontained community spread, they will stay closed for longer and with less provision than if a plan can be put in place to mitigate infection now.

[Bollss]

@herecomesthsun

Also very tough on a kid to have a parent very ill or dying ?

And if schools are forced to close because of uncontained community spread, they will stay closed for longer and with less provision than if a plan can be put in place to mitigate infection now.

of course it is, but to how many children is that going to happen? a very, very small number.

even with blended learning bubbles will burst, so youll still have unplanned closures but youll have had less time in school to start with anyway! and if the same teacher is teaching both bubbles then the whole class will be sent home anyway surely?