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Original poster

If it's OK for teachers to have to carry on working....

256 replies

jomartin281271 · 31/10/2020 20:40

If it's OK for teachers to have to carry on working, why isn't it OK for MPs to go back to Parliament and work no PPE and no social distancing? These MPs know how dangerous it is out there and there's no way they'll put themselves in danger, but they're quite happy to throw teachers under the bus. And by the way, I'm not a teacher, I'm an appalled parent.

OP posts:
Valenciaoranges · 31/10/2020 23:33

www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-in-education/face-coverings-in-education
It seems to say that it is up to individual schools etc, so not expressly forbidden.

WhyNotMe40 · 31/10/2020 23:36

Recently updated I notice. However not still says "Face coverings can have a negative impact on learning and teaching and so their use in the classroom should be avoided."

WhyNotMe40 · 31/10/2020 23:36

However it still say....

Valenciaoranges · 31/10/2020 23:37

@commandatori
Absolutely agree that working where I do is why we have appropriate equipment. The screens are clear plastic and in no way offensive or intimidating to my students. When I leave the desk area, I put my mask or visor on as it is impossible to social distance.
I just wish every school and staff member felt protected.

Alizzle · 31/10/2020 23:38

A lot of people are facing job losses as a result of this further lock down. Bloody hell. At least you'll have a job.
I personally believe if you aren't in an at risk group it should be business as usual. Why should I be terrified of a virus that poses no risk to me??

Valenciaoranges · 31/10/2020 23:40

@WhyNotMe40
I don’t understand why it’s so hard to provide equipment or just allow staff to wear their own masks. It doesn’t impede in secondary, although I acknowledge that it could be difficult in primary or other educational settings.

WhyNotMe40 · 31/10/2020 23:41

Yes, my husband is facing redundancy. If he was then I would have handed my notice in as I am vulnerable due to an auto immune condition.
But I can't. Can't socially distance, not permitted a mask. In rooms with 250 teenagers over the course of a week, for an hour at a time, with windows that only crack open. Noone wearing masks.
I don't feel safe.

Wales34 · 31/10/2020 23:41

Closing schools has a significant negative impact on children from difficult backgrounds . Its not about protecting everyone from getting covid as most people will be fine , its about reducing the overall infection rate to protect the vulnerable from getting the infection

saraclara · 31/10/2020 23:41

I'm willing to bet that it's the same posters who give a hard stare to someone whose mask doesn't cover their nose, (or who doesn't wear one at all) when they pass them in the supermarket, who think teachers should just get on with it and stop moaning. Not caring that they're in front of, and often within a meter of 30 kids who aren't wearing them at all.

Of course if those posters were expected to walk into a cramped poorly ventilated room with 30 unmasked people and stay there for an hour, they'd be freaking out.

Wales34 · 31/10/2020 23:44

@WhyNotMe40

Yes, my husband is facing redundancy. If he was then I would have handed my notice in as I am vulnerable due to an auto immune condition. But I can't. Can't socially distance, not permitted a mask. In rooms with 250 teenagers over the course of a week, for an hour at a time, with windows that only crack open. Noone wearing masks. I don't feel safe.
If you have an auto immune condition and can evidence that ( note from doctor) the school should be making adjustments to support you. If they can't make it safe , given your condition, I would have thought they would ask you to work at home . Check what the school policy is on this
user1471530109 · 31/10/2020 23:46

@Alizzle

A lot of people are facing job losses as a result of this further lock down. Bloody hell. At least you'll have a job. I personally believe if you aren't in an at risk group it should be business as usual. Why should I be terrified of a virus that poses no risk to me??
But that's bollocks , isn't it? Everyone has the potential to be at risk. If nothing else, we have learnt that is appears to be random.. with only the link with viral load being a correlation to severity outside clinically vulnerable groups. Besides. I AM clinically vulnerable. I'm expected in with not mitigation. Yes Ive got my job.. but have I got.my.health? What kind of counter arguement is that? Because others have lost their jobs you have to keep going without any PPE.." yes you are the only fuckers we don't give a shit about".
Kitcat122 · 31/10/2020 23:46

"personally believe if you aren't in an at risk group it should be business as usual. Why should I be terrified of a virus that poses no risk to me??"

Wow are you super human?? How do you know?

pinkprosseco · 31/10/2020 23:51

Freakstar @timeforanewstart I think it should be a choice. I just want the gov. and everyone to acknowledge that teachers are probably one of the highest risk professions, rather than people saying they should get on with it and be grateful they have a job.

They are not high risk compared to carers, nurses and doctors on COVID wards and in care homes. Not all school children have COVID but on a COVID ward all patients do. Teachers are better paid than carers and nurses.

echt · 31/10/2020 23:53

Teachers are better paid than carers and nurses

So what?

saraclara · 31/10/2020 23:55

@pinkprosseco

Freakstar *@timeforanewstart* I think it should be a choice. I just want the gov. and everyone to acknowledge that teachers are probably one of the highest risk professions, rather than people saying they should get on with it and be grateful they have a job.

They are not high risk compared to carers, nurses and doctors on COVID wards and in care homes. Not all school children have COVID but on a COVID ward all patients do. Teachers are better paid than carers and nurses.

Of course. No-one's saying that teachers are at the highest risk of all workers. But they're up there.

The number of medical staff actively working on COVID wards is very small. But I'm sure everyone appreciates what they're doing.

NeverTwerkNaked · 31/10/2020 23:56

I would and could keep my children at home while teachers educated them remotely. I warned senior union reps and teachers last term that the summer term was the time to pull out all the stops and prove they could teach remotely in readiness for a far grimmer autumn.

Not one of our 4 children (in 4 different schools) received anything even vaguely resembling an education from their schools betwern march - September. two of them didn't even get a single phone call or message.
That was the chance for teachers to prove there was another option when the shit hit the fan this autumn. Simply not educating the children was never going to wash.

IlonaRN · 31/10/2020 23:56

Teachers should not wear masks while teaching. What they do between classes/in the staff room is up to them.

Teaching is not as effective if the teacher wears a mask!

Kitcat122 · 31/10/2020 23:58

They are not high risk compared to carers, nurses and doctors on COVID wards and in care homes. Not all school children have COVID but on a COVID ward all patients do. Teachers are better paid than carers and nurses.

What about us TAs?? £825 per month working 8.45-3.15?? We are not better paid. Why should we have no PPE or sd? How is that OK I have 4 children?

Hercwasonaroll · 31/10/2020 23:59

They are not high risk compared to carers, nurses and doctors on COVID wards and in care homes.

Non covid wards and care homes are lower risk than secondary teaching because you aren't exposed to so many people. NHS workers and carers get weekly tests. Teachers get nothing.

Duemarch2021 · 01/11/2020 00:00

@Alizzle

It doesn't pose a risk to YOU.. so yes why would you care?

Im studying to become a teacher (all from home at the moment) but i can completely see why teachers are scared... maybe THEY do have reasons that make them vulnerable to the virus or maybe they live with vulnerable family members with COPD or cancer or care for their elderly parents... this is probably very common for a lot of teachers. Its not like their being unreasonable, they are in a room with 30 children or teenagers every day without PPE .. and lets face it a lot of teenagers and children probably arent as hygienic as they should be... is it really LUCKY that they still have their job?

echt · 01/11/2020 00:06

Teaching is not as effective if the teacher wears a mask

Based on what study?

callistography · 01/11/2020 00:07

@IlonaRN

Teachers should not wear masks while teaching. What they do between classes/in the staff room is up to them.

Teaching is not as effective if the teacher wears a mask!

So what you're effectively saying here is that it's ok for teachers to be placed at a high risk of infection. To not be allowed PPE is acceptable? No other profession would accept this so why should we? I love teaching but at the end of the day ITS A JOB And I love my family more and would quite like to stay alive for them. Oh and not potentially kill them too. That'd be great, thanks...
echt · 01/11/2020 00:09

I love teaching but at the end of the day ITS A JOB

This made me laugh. I remember saying this at an INSET day and the look of hatred from the HT!!

Sewsosew · 01/11/2020 00:10

I think it’s difficult in a week where we’ve talked about children starving in holidays being sent home again for weeks. Schools are a safe space for many many children. This can’t be fixed in the short term.
I worked in a school where lunch was the only hot meal some children would have. We would condemn these children to weeks of packed lunch food. It’s not right, but it’s happening.

Smellbellina · 01/11/2020 00:12

If you don't think your role is important enough to carry on, go and do something else.
I’d love to be able to think like this, but having had to leave our family home due to DV and move in with elderly vulnerable parents it’s not that simple. Wish it was!

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