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.

Well let’s all follow the rules

@StaffAssociationRepresentative oh absolutely but you mentioned specifically dispensers instores and I wanted to highlight an issue I've witnessed. Most people I know have their own and carry it in cars and handbags etc but get frustrated when crowds of people blocking entrance/exit trying to get gel! I think everybody including stores should be doing all they can

More people are going to die from the impacts of this lockdown and the resulting poverty than from covid itself from which over 95 (probably higher) will recover. Our children's education cannot suffer anymore when they will likely be the ones working the rest of their lives to pay off the debt we will be in for years to come because of this foolish policy.

During the last lockdown, many parents had complaints about provision of online education. Some issues due to teachers lack of effort/ingenuity, some issues completely out of teachers’ control.

Then, the government tried to get kids back into school at the end of the summer term and teachers’ unions were obstructive.

Given students’, parents’ and the government’s experience of teaching during the first lockdown, I believe there will be broad based resistance to closing schools again.

Then, the government tried to get kids back into school at the end of the summer term and teachers’ unions were obstructive.
It wasn't the union which prevented kids getting back to school. It was the government guidance.

Why are teachers teaching in so many different classrooms? Someone up the thread said they were in 24?
This is a genuine questions as that really surprised me! Other than practical lessons like chem, drama, PE etc, surely they can all be done from one room?

Because the students aren't moving. Instead the teachers are.

Nope. YABU.

Wait, ignore me. Lack of sleep meant I ignored the fact that teachers teach different subjects and therefore have to love classrooms rather than students moving and in older classes they have their GCSE options to consider too. I blame lack of sleep

I blame lack of sleep
It's pretty much nap time here :)

Due to the guidelines high schools have generally followed either one of two options (there being some variations depending on each individual school setting)

Children have either been bubbled into one area of the school and then the teachers move around the whole school, meaning they are teaching in many different classes rooms or students are moving around the school in a one way system not mixing with other year groups at break or lunch and teachers are remaining in the same classroom. This means the classroom needs cleaning between classes.

The idea with both systems being year groups don't mix with each other especially during break times. No equipment is allowed to be shared between bubble groups either.

[quote Ecosse]@LindaEllen

The university teaching that is happening in person is carefully socially distanced with lots of measures in place. It is certainly not spreading COVID.

Transmission is happening in halls- this was always going to be the case with the number of communal facilities.[/quote]
Unfortunately you can add as many measures as you want, but if you're there in person, there's always a chance. Otherwise, why are shops closing? I sanitise my hands on the way in and wear a mask and stay 2m apart from other people - so surely this is a zero risk environment too?

They should not shut, but I think by early December they will be unfortunately.

Nope.

Shame all these shut the schools threads cannot be lumped together.

Does anyone know anything about playgrounds? Really hope they are ataying open this time

Why will they be shut by early
December? I remember the threads over the summer and people on here said that they would shut in a matter of weeks - didn't happen.

@stopgap

I’m in the US and several significant studies have been released this week to say that children under the age of 10 are not transmitters. The local cases we have had at elementary level all involve teachers or admin, and they’ve all picked up the virus elsewhere. Our children are in masks and on a rota system.

Re children 11+, those schools have had more cases and are more of an issue. The school districts that have been doing well have had the children in person two days a week, Zoom lessons from home three days, with students operating on a rota system.

They must be. I've got 2 under 10. In different schools. Every single case has been siblings. At both schools!!! So they must do

I am really pleased to see that parents are now up in arms about part-time timetables and D.C. being out of school for months.

Recognising the impact on parents ability to work and impact on mental health of parent and child.

I assume this also applies to SEN DC in non-COVID times?

Really good that you are all finally on board.

(FYI - carer's allowance is around £260 a month for 37+ hours caring (including nights) so nowhere near enough to live on).

The pain and suffering of lockdown is real but is pointless if schools remain open as they provide a transmission hub and link between multiple people of multiple generations in a community. It really doesn't matter what ideological weight you give to a hub.

Even those who say, magically, kids don't transmit are not advocating that all primary school aged D.C. should be placed in a huge firebreak bubble in camps and have no contact with teaching staff, parents or grandparents or the wider community for the next month. Maybe they can be looked after, and importantly taught, by secondary aged children as their infection rates are hotting up nicely - perhaps this can go towards a DoE award? Then the immune youth can be released back into the community to save our freedom loving nation. No?

@keeponkeepingonagainandagain I have no idea what you're talking about or which "side" you're on.

However if you're asking whether we agree that SEN DC should have full time education appropriate to their needs then yes I do agree and always have done.

The pain and suffering of lockdown is real but is pointless if schools remain open as they provide a transmission hub and link between multiple people of multiple generations in a community

We're locking down other areas SO THAT schools and hospitals can stay open.

From a society point of view, the costs of closing schools would far higher than the benefits.

@echt

How on earth are the lives of teachers ‘being put at risk’?I agree that vulnerable DC and staff should. It be in school. But the vast majority are not at risk of death from COVID

Who's talking only about death? Haven't you heard about long Covid.?
I could have sworn I mentioned it the last time you posted your ill-informed (sic) ideas on MN.

Possibly the time before that.

Thank you, @echt

I'm not in the least hysterical. I have concerns about my health and the health of my colleagues. We spend all day, every day, in classrooms with 30 children. No PPE.
We are at risk.

And I said I felt schools should stay open for the benefit of the children's well-being, but only if teachers are protected.

But if it's easier to call me names and insult my intelligence, crack on.

To be frank ‘Long COVID’ is not sufficient reason to devastate the economy and DC’s futures and mental health by closing schools.

It does not exist. A small number of patients suffer after effects, but this is no different to any other virus. The vast, vast majority will have no symptoms after 6 weeks.

@Ecosse

To be frank ‘Long COVID’ is not sufficient reason to devastate the economy and DC’s futures and mental health by closing schools.

It does not exist. A small number of patients suffer after effects, but this is no different to any other virus. The vast, vast majority will have no symptoms after 6 weeks.

I'm assuming, then, that you would be perfectly happy to expose yourself to that risk? Mixing and mingling, unprotected, with 30+ households every day?

And that if you or someone in your family, became long-term ill, or died, you'd feel that the sacrifice was worth it for the economy?

It's very easy to minimise when it's other people's health on the line.

@ThreeImaginaryBoys

I would be more than happy to teach in a school.

What I think a lot of people don’t grasp is that COVID is not the only cause of harm and death that exists. The economy has huge impact on people’s health.

Unemployment causes deprivation which causes health issues which cause deaths.

I asked if you felt the sacrifice of your health or a loved one's health (or life) would be worth it for the economy, not whether you'd be happy to be in a school. It's also impossible to generalise about schools. Some have mandatory PPE. Some have none whatsoever.

And I'm well aware of the effects of poverty and deprivation. I see it in the classroom every single day.

It really isn't unreasonable for teachers to ask to be protected. The discussion should be 'we need to keep schools open so it's shameful that the government aren't protecting teaching staff' not 'we need to keep schools open so shut up and suck it up you hysterical whining teachers'.