It's best for children to be in school

[Billie18]

I'm shocked that the consensus here appears to be that schools should close. I believe that it's best for children to be in school. Also that they should not be forced to wear masks or perform any social distancing as this is a damaging for their mental and social development. A thread for parents and teachers who share this view and have concerns about the threat of school closures and forced isolation of children who are not ill.

Time it sounds like we’re kind of in the same boat, working in unsafe conditions and the people in charge not caring or appreciating how stressful that is.

I’m really sorry that you feel unappreciated and overlooked when you are doing such important work. It’s scandalous that you are paid so little.

And attitudes like yours OP are why my son caught Covid in school, why ten per cent of his class alone currently have it. Why there have been dozens of cases resulting in four lots of self isolation for my son in Gcse years.
Oh and my other son in Gcse years, well he's had a mere month away from school this term (not 8 weeks of self isolation like his brother) oh and he risks catching Covid now off his brother.

Us for Them are poison.

Are you from the West Midlands OP? Have you been inside secondary schools here? They are on their knees. All those are work with have multiple cases.

And you have the audacity to suggest no masks or social distancing? From your ivory tower? You are so out of touch OP that you and your US for Them FlatEarther chums are a danger to kids and staff and families.

Of course its not ideal to have teachers off ill, but a situation you describe with 90% of teachers absent (if 22/25 lessons are taught by supply teachers) seems very unusual, even with Covid.

My guess would be that those teachers who are in school will tend to be assigned to exam years, while other classes will predominantly have supply teachers. So if e.g. 3 out of 5 History teachers are off, the 2 remaining will teach GCSE A / A-level classes if possible, and the other classes will have supply. So some classes may only have e.g. 25-50% of their classes with supply, others may have 90%.

Riddle me this, wise woman of the woods (OP)

What is better....for my son to miss a few months of school, or for him to be an orphan.

Both his parents are CV. He is currently isolating as a close contact (primary school) 4 of his class mates have tested positive so far. Of he does and passes it to us, then there is a real chance we could be seriously ill and/or die.

@possums4ever yes agree secondary but that poster said primary , ds school secondary are keeping 2 m though mostly

They get support from multiple, different people every week so the risk is actually high
At the very least then you'd hope that all those different support workers are using strict infection control in case they are asymptomatic or presymptomatic, so your service users don't catch it (as they are probably clinically vulnerable) but also so they have less chance of passing it on to you!

I have a lot of sympathy as it is similar for us teachers - we know it needs to be done, but in our case there are simple inexpensive risk reductions that could be taken that some people have campaigned against!
And I teach 8 different classes in a week, plus a tutor group. That's a lot of people to be in a poorly ventilated room for an hour at a time with, with no masks.
And teenagers are not known for their risk assessing or social distancing....

You realise there are teachers dying? From COVID? Which could possibly be avoided if schools were allowed to enforce the safety measures demanded in all other workplaces.... but no coz kids can't wear masks.

@cantkeepawayforever

Of course its not ideal to have teachers off ill, but a situation you describe with 90% of teachers absent (if 22/25 lessons are taught by supply teachers) seems very unusual, even with Covid.

My guess would be that those teachers who are in school will tend to be assigned to exam years, while other classes will predominantly have supply teachers. So if e.g. 3 out of 5 History teachers are off, the 2 remaining will teach GCSE A / A-level classes if possible, and the other classes will have supply. So some classes may only have e.g. 25-50% of their classes with supply, others may have 90%.

Exactly. KS3 teachers are lucky if they get a non supply. And probably won't see "their" teacher as they have been re timetabled to exam classes.

Teachers from students that is , impossible for students to be 2m apart , also have windows open as luckily they open
Masks are optional I don't think many wear other than walking around where compulsory
I think his school have done well
Hand sanitiser has to be used upon entering every classroom etc

I'm a college teacher and I totally agree the best place for kids and teens to be is in education.

However the way things are at the moment is extremely disruptive, highly risky (currently 10 members of staff off after testing positive - all distancing measures, sanitiser etc in place). Students off constantly either isolating or tested positive.

I can't help but feel us as teachers aren't able to give the students what they need at the moment though. The way we are expected to work is unsustainable long term for our own mental wellbeing and workload (I understand different settings may be working differently to myself)

It's a constant battle between wishing we were all safe, and wanting to give a great education. Giving both is very tricky atm.

I think OP should sit in a room full of 16 year olds, hand selected to be currently healthy, but having family members who are presently positive with Covid, for a whole day - no masks or mitigations. She should then be made to go and visit her most vulnerable relatives.

If she is not prepared to do that, she should fuck off with dictating under what circumstances children should have to isolate in schools.

[quote Nicknacky]@noblegiraffe Yet I showed that photo to my daughter and she said her school is nothing like that. So many schools will be getting it right.[/quote]
My school is like that. At the moment we can’t even get most the students to wear masks. It’s hopeless.

@Nellodee

I think OP should sit in a room full of 16 year olds, hand selected to be currently healthy, but having family members who are presently positive with Covid, for a whole day - no masks or mitigations. She should then be made to go and visit her most vulnerable relatives.

If she is not prepared to do that, she should fuck off with dictating under what circumstances children should have to isolate in schools.

I can no longer go and help my ill FIL or disabled mother to help them, for fear of taking the virus to them. I can't remember the last time they saw their grandkids in RL. And neither have long left with us. Just because wearing masks is too traumatic for teenagers. I bet they wear them in shops when they get their sweets and energy drinks...

You realise there are teachers dying?

Do you have any stats as to how many have died? And please bear in mind many non teachers have died so it doesn't equate that every teacher death occured because they contracted covid from school.

It's best for lots of children (but not all, i.e. school refusers, bullying victims, etc).

As school is good (for most) we need to contain Covid so that children can be in school, rather then getting sent home because yet another staff member is off sick.

@formerbabe

You realise there are teachers dying?

Do you have any stats as to how many have died? And please bear in mind many non teachers have died so it doesn't equate that every teacher death occured because they contracted covid from school.

Unfortunately, it appears that the Government is not currently collecting these statistics.

It certainly isn't publicising them at all.....

@WhyNotMe40

They get support from multiple, different people every week so the risk is actually high At the very least then you'd hope that all those different support workers are using strict infection control in case they are asymptomatic or presymptomatic, so your service users don't catch it (as they are probably clinically vulnerable) but also so they have less chance of passing it on to you!

I have a lot of sympathy as it is similar for us teachers - we know it needs to be done, but in our case there are simple inexpensive risk reductions that could be taken that some people have campaigned against!
And I teach 8 different classes in a week, plus a tutor group. That's a lot of people to be in a poorly ventilated room for an hour at a time with, with no masks.
And teenagers are not known for their risk assessing or social distancing....

We wear a basic mask and that's it. I take public transport (as do many others) because i can't afford a car on minimum wage so took 7 buses today getting to clients. We sit in poorly ventilated houses with limited social distancing for multiple hours at a time and so aren't at a lower risk than teachers.

Same here, WhyNotMe40. People are so brave when it's other people taking the risks.

@formerbabe

You realise there are teachers dying?

Do you have any stats as to how many have died? And please bear in mind many non teachers have died so it doesn't equate that every teacher death occured because they contracted covid from school.

There's data on this Twitter thread

twitter.com/SarahDRasmussen/status/1330294388354899969?s=19

It will increasing to know (in the future, once we have data) how many school staff will develop Long Covid. I expect some of those currently off sick will be absent for weeks or even months. I hope there's enough supply staff to keep the schools open. Containment would have been so much better.

User I have every sympathy but I do not want to do a Covid version of the 4 Yorkshire men.
If there are practicable risk reductions available in a job that must be done, then those mitigations should be put in place.

@Juststopswimming

OP I don't think there is a consensus at all. There is significant echo chamber led by one very vocal MN'er and I think a lot of us who have tried to give an alternative point of view have now given up arguing over it, because, well frankly schools are still open and infections are declining, so that's sort of arguing the case for us!

I'm yet to meet a teacher in real life who wants schools to shut, thank god!

This.

@Aragog

Yes. I think healthy children should not be forced to isolate. Obviously no sick child should be in school.

So, what about the risk to their teachers?

At present all vulnerable staff and children HAVE to be in school.
Well I suppose I could hand in my notice and be able to stay home that way, I guess

That's not quite true

My CEV child got a letter that says to stay off school.

MrsMiaWallis,

there is no teacher on this thread - or any others - arguing for schools to shut.

We have a LOT of non-teachers CLAIMING that teachers want schools to shut ... that is not the same thing, as I am sure you will agree.

My CEV child got a letter that says to stay off school.

Until 2nd December, ie the end of lockdown, in general?