To think schools should be shut during lockdown.

[Ilovegreentomatoes]

So shutting down everything but keeping schools open.AIBU to think that a lockdown should involve schools closing as well.Have been about six cases in my dds secondary zero social distancing and is just defeating the object of a lockdown as it has now been proven that schools,colleges etc can easily spread the virus.

My concern is the ons figures are rising year 7-11. How can a lockdown be effective if young people are mixing? How can young children take it seriously if they’re being told to continue with school and college?

Retail? Really? Which shops are like this?

I just want rid of the virus so we can get back to some normality asap

Well we all do but it’s here to stay for a very long time unfortunately. Lockdown isn’t designed to get rid of it, it’s designed to suppress/reduce numbers enough so that hospitals can cope with both Covid patients and those with other medical needs.

We need a solution to schools that will work in the long term considering both teachers and children. I don’t have the answer on what that is and nor do unions or the government because the reality is there is no simple one.

For primary age, being at home simply does not work for several reasons. One being that they are not old enough to be given work or listen to an online lesson and get on with things. The other is that they are not old enough to be at home alone. To say they are ‘your responsibility get on with it’, is really ignorant. You can’t magic up childcare or just give up your job on a whim, that’s not realistic. Plus kids need proper education and they need social interaction.

For secondary, as much as I don’t want it, I can see how one week in school and one week doing online lessons at home could work.

Retail? Really? Which shops are like this?

All of them or haven't you been in a shop recently

I looked at the data. Lockdown -rates low. July / August -everythng reopened -rates low. But School shut.

September school open -18th Sep -graph takes off like a rocket.

They were stupid not to implement a two week half -term and 4 week christmas in my book.

Could have shut school week before half term -reopened for November and then shut for December.

Anyone can tell you it is rife in secondary schools.

@Flaxmeadow blimey what shop do you work in ??? Everywhere I've seen is limiting numbers and insisting on masks. What shop is allowing this to happen - so we can name and shame. I am very surprised shops are this busy at the moment - husband had to Q for ages to get into Tesco yesterday as they limit numbers.

I work in a factory environment with no PPE where it's difficult to distance and I agree with @TrustTheGeneGenie I'm just cracking on. No point in spending my life stressing, it is what it is and I need to do my job.

Retail? Really? Which shops are like this? None of them.

@Waxonwaxoff0 how many people are you finding it difficult to distance from ? 5, 20, 100 or 2,000 ? I'm the latter. It's not fun.

Flaxmeadow, I call bullshit that any shop in the country looks like that.

And even if they did, which they absolutely don't, if that crowd of people was in a shop, the vast majority would be wearing masks.

Are you allowed to wear a mask, Wax?

@mumsneedwine about 100. We've had 4 positive cases. Life has to go on, I don't expect the world to stop for me.

We are allowed to wear masks if we want but it's not mandatory and I choose not to.

@Flaxmeadow
Retail
Staff in retail wear masks, they socially distance, they’re not in close contact with 30 odd people all day and many will be off during this new lockdown if they’re in non essential retail. Not the same conditions at all.

So, you could wear as mask but don't, and are within 2m of far fewer people than school teachers?

Mhm, exactly the same then.

Pastoral managers, welfare staff, child protection officers in school monitor child welfare issues in the home.
Teaching staff refer all concerns to these people. I would be disciplined if I started contacting home directly myself regarding welfare issues (secondary).
Schools have strict safeguarding guidelines.

I know teachers refer to those agencies. That was my whole point. It's a very important part of child protection too, obviously because children spend so much time in school and by law they do. A child who is being abused at home needs schools open desperately and especially during a pandemic, when other interactions outside the home are curtailed as well.

I was replying to someone calling for teacher strike action.

I would also like to point out that as well as other key works like the police already having a higher risk to their jobs. Those who work in health care and shops have been able to wear PPE and social distancing has been introduced (although I'm aware some shoppers aren't good at this).

In high schools kids are crowded in no social distancing (despite the suposided 1 meter rule for the students like that was ever going to happen). Very little social distancing among staff, partially due to lack of space in the building. No PPE, some schools have taken a better opinion on this, and in higher tier areas at lest it's compulsory in communal areas. High schools have been forbidden with taking any actions which may help reduce these pressure, ie blended learning, using other spaces like county halls and church halls, other buildings. The government said NO to any of these measures, with a last minute repeave on a possible one week in one week out option. Why can't high schools in particular be allowed to reduce the number of students on site and increase PPE. When ever other work place has to be covid secure.

My husbands place of work is heaven in comparison, all desks now 2 meters apart, screens up where needed and all meetings done virtually. They all wear makes in the office to, makes me want to go back into the private sector. I see us lossing a lot more school staff over this and we already had a big retention problem as it was.

I know it's not the same, I'm just pointing out that it's not just a case of teachers being the only people putting themselves at risk to work.

Gene

So on one hand you’re saying that your advice for
’retail staff whose employers refused to give them masks or screens, or health care workers whose employers refused to give them masks, aprons and gloves or social services who were expected to go into homes with no distancing or masks’

is
’Deal with it, would be my advice. You know, like they did in march before they had any of that?‘

but Everyone is selfish. If you don't put your own kids first you've got fucking issues.

Isn’t that exactly what teachers, health workers, retail staff are doing by demanding PPE? To stop them from potentially spreading the virus to their family?

[quote Waxonwaxoff0]@mumsneedwine about 100. We've had 4 positive cases. Life has to go on, I don't expect the world to stop for me.[/quote]
And you still don't wear a mask? This isn't being tough, it's being irresponsible. Wear a fucking mask if you're allowed to and able to.

@Waxonwaxoff0 that's your choice, but you may be the reason for the 4 cases I'm afraid. Not wearing a mask helps transmit the virus. I don't like wearing one but I do so because I can protect others. Seems a v small price to pay.
If I only had to avoid 100 people every day I too may feel safer. That's what I'd like, school in on a rota. But I have 2,000+, most of whom are mixing on buses and in sports clubs after school.

I'd support PPE in schools though if that's what it takes.

@Waxonwaxoff0 it would be a start.

@LolalovesLondon

Gene

So on one hand you’re saying that your advice for
’retail staff whose employers refused to give them masks or screens, or health care workers whose employers refused to give them masks, aprons and gloves or social services who were expected to go into homes with no distancing or masks’

is
’Deal with it, would be my advice. You know, like they did in march before they had any of that?‘

but Everyone is selfish. If you don't put your own kids first you've got fucking issues.

Isn’t that exactly what teachers, health workers, retail staff are doing by demanding PPE? To stop them from potentially spreading the virus to their family?

I've never said they shouldn't demand PPE - they can demand what they like. I got asked for my advice and I gave it. Personally I'd just get on with it because the risk of dying is minute.

@TrustTheGeneGenie risk of dying is not minute for me. I'm 53 with a heart condition.