We're having 2-3 teachers a day catching CV19 DFE You're not keeping us safe

[Anon12345678910]

Look at the image from www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3223
I've circled where we fall in classrooms. It's time for face coverings in classrooms. I don't want to loose any colleagues or my own life.

Are the posters who are saying ‘just get on with it’, ‘stop moaning’ etc completely missing the point in their rush to have another bash at teachers?

If you want me physically in school teaching, then don’t send in your child to school whilst they are waiting for the results of their test, which happens to be positive and from which, I now have Covid.
I have been off since my positive result and now I get a weekend email from my DD’s primary saying another teacher has tested positive, so I will continue to have to stay at home for the rest of this half term, to look after my 5 year old.
You want us in schools? THEN YOU SHOULD WANT SAFER MEASURES IMPLEMENTED FROM GOVERNMENT LEVEL.

Duh.

Actually I do remember the news last autumn about norovirus, especially in the north (north east I think) Lots affected and they closed whole schools for deep clean. The increase in numbers was deemed so unusual it was in the main stream media.

- -

Oh - and DfE people, why did PHE tell my headteacher to use my test date (rather than my 'non big 3 symptom' onset date) when deciding what to do after I tested positive?

Can you think of any reasons why they might deem that the most suitable date when track and trace decided otherwise?

I know it would have meant six out of nine classes closing instead of none, but surely PHE wouldn't be prepared to put that many people at risk would they?!

22 members of staff in my Primary have tested positive since September.
Their husbands, wives, children and babies have caught it.
Our 2 shielders came back and instantly caught it.
Both our pregnant staff caught it.
4 staff are still suffering with post viral symptoms weeks later.
It is literally a waiting game to see who catches it next. Several kids and parents have tested positive BUT they're just the ones who are being tested. We have a huge intake of children from a particular community that is notoriously difficult to engage and they simply won't engage in the testing/isolating process. Sick children are being sent in to school and when parents are asked to book them a test they refuse. Yes, the child then has to isolate for 14 but a) they don't; they play in the park, out the front of school and go to the shops etc. and b) that's no good to the people who have been around that child and now don't know whether they need isolate or not.

I am so, so angry at PHE's response. As our cleaning/sanitizing procedures are rigorous, their line all the way through has been "it's very unlikely to be spreading in school" which is dishonest, offensive and just completely incorrect. One day we will look back on this and wonder how the fuck we wandered so blindly into this situation.

That is so awful, Gnome and must be so incredibly stressful.

That people who were shielding and pregnant women have been inadequately protected by this shitshow of a government is utterly unforgivable.

I think this is misleading, OP.

The speaker endangers the listener. So a teacher at the front of a class will inadvertently release small droplets of moisture/spit which would be contaminated if they are infectious. The risk is of teachers spreading covid to students. Unless students are being encouraged to speak, I can't see they are a particular risk to a teacher.

I don't trust the tests anyway, but two to three cases per day nationally doesn't sound particularly high. How does this compare to people working from home?

@ChloeDecker

Are the posters who are saying ‘just get on with it’, ‘stop moaning’ etc completely missing the point in their rush to have another bash at teachers?

If you want me physically in school teaching, then don’t send in your child to school whilst they are waiting for the results of their test, which happens to be positive and from which, I now have Covid.
I have been off since my positive result and now I get a weekend email from my DD’s primary saying another teacher has tested positive, so I will continue to have to stay at home for the rest of this half term, to look after my 5 year old.
You want us in schools? THEN YOU SHOULD WANT SAFER MEASURES IMPLEMENTED FROM GOVERNMENT LEVEL.

Duh.

I would love for the 'Schools must stay open' posters to explain how schools can stay open if proportions of teaching staff are off with Covid.

Unless students are being encouraged to speak, I can't see they are a particular risk to a teacher

Spare us the armchair commentary. Try being in a modern secondary classroom instead of some imagined Victorian era one and then come back and talk about how students may present a risk to a teacher.

but two to three cases per day nationally

That’s one school.

I really hope teachers get pushed up the queue for vaccinations. They deserve to be, very few work places where employees are expected to be ok with no face masks, loads of people and no social distancing.

4 staff are still suffering with post viral symptoms weeks later

I’m sure it won’t be long before the no win, no fee solicitors start taking such cases on. I’m sure they’ll win their cases. People who have been put at risk by their employers and suffer long term consequences deserve to be compensated. It should never have happened and it’s a disgrace.

@Taciturn

I think this is misleading, OP.

The speaker endangers the listener. So a teacher at the front of a class will inadvertently release small droplets of moisture/spit which would be contaminated if they are infectious. The risk is of teachers spreading covid to students. Unless students are being encouraged to speak, I can't see they are a particular risk to a teacher.

I don't trust the tests anyway, but two to three cases per day nationally doesn't sound particularly high. How does this compare to people working from home?

Do you honestly think kids are quiet in secondary classrooms unless answering questions?! My God!!

@Taciturn

I think this is misleading, OP.

The speaker endangers the listener. So a teacher at the front of a class will inadvertently release small droplets of moisture/spit which would be contaminated if they are infectious. The risk is of teachers spreading covid to students. Unless students are being encouraged to speak, I can't see they are a particular risk to a teacher.

I don't trust the tests anyway, but two to three cases per day nationally doesn't sound particularly high. How does this compare to people working from home?

Do you honestly think children don't talk? Teaching involves a huge amount of discussion work, both with the teacher and also in pairs and groups. That's apart from the general conversations.

The speaker endangers the listener. So a teacher at the front of a class will inadvertently release small droplets of moisture/spit which would be contaminated if they are infectious. The risk is of teachers spreading covid to students. Unless students are being encouraged to speak, I can't see they are a particular risk to a teacher

Did you go to school during the Victorian era?!

Surely teachers should be wearing masks if this is the case ?

@Taciturn

I think this is misleading, OP.

The speaker endangers the listener. So a teacher at the front of a class will inadvertently release small droplets of moisture/spit which would be contaminated if they are infectious. The risk is of teachers spreading covid to students. Unless students are being encouraged to speak, I can't see they are a particular risk to a teacher.

I don't trust the tests anyway, but two to three cases per day nationally doesn't sound particularly high. How does this compare to people working from home?

And I think this is naive at best.

Taciturn

I think this is misleading, OP.

The speaker endangers the listener. So a teacher at the front of a class will inadvertently release small droplets of moisture/spit which would be contaminated if they are infectious. The risk is of teachers spreading covid to students. Unless students are being encouraged to speak, I can't see they are a particular risk to a teacher.

Speaking like someone who has no idea what happens inside a school. Students don’t speak , really ???

@Taciturn: "Unless students are being encouraged to speak, I can't see they are a particular risk to a teacher"

And when was the last time you set foot in a classroom?

Unless students are being encouraged to speak

😂😂😂😂

Unless students are being encouraged to speak, I can't see they are a particular risk to a teacher.

Have you been in a classroom?
You are seriously expecting that children sit in silence in class and do not speak to one another or the teacher?
We aren't in Victorian times anymore, despite still being in Victorian buildings, where children sit silently listening to a teacher read from a textbook.

I'd love to see you keep a bunch of 5 year olds sat in silence all day, and still learn effectively.

It’s the assumption that the 2-3 cases per day was a national figure too.

That poster clearly hasn’t read any schools threads lately.

I'm just surprised there aren't more parents up in arms about both the disruption to the education of their DC by the high infection rate in schools and the risk to the health of their own children by being in these environments where they are at a much higher risk of catching Covid.

If teachers get sick or have to isolate, they can't teach your kids. My primary school has just been closed for two weeks as we had too many staff who tested positive or were self-isolating. Not exactly convenient for parents. We've had two other bubbles close this term.

DH's secondary has had to close to all pupils as they currently have over 50 pupils who have tested positive, plus an undisclosed number of staff. And that's just how many there are at the moment, not across the whole term.

Most young people may get it mildly but some become very unwell. We still don't know whether there may be long-term health effects for young people who catch it. I'm just surprised more parents aren't worried about this.

I also don't think parents realise how fortunate they are that schools in the UK are open. Most other countries with our level of infection rate have partially or fully closed schools. I have a friend from Argentina. Their schools have been closed since Spring. Everything is online, and internet access there is not widespread and reliable. Many parts of the United States are fully or partially online. Yet teachers here, with some of the largest class sizes in the world, just have to carry on as normal until they drop.

Even if the children didn't speak, surely they... breathe?

Even if the children didn't speak, surely they... breathe?

Most certainly breathing of any kind is discouraged

Especially if Michael Rosen’s teacher is in charge

Actually, I bet that teacher had very limited covid transmission in their classroom.

Actually, I bet that teacher had very limited covid transmission in their classroom

Indeed. That’s where we’ve been going wrong!

I haven't heard of teachers dropping dead like flies

I can’t see who said this but honestly, thing about what you’re saying. These are real people. Whilst it’s impossible to prevent all infections we need to minimise them. These are people with families. Even if you’re not bothered about teachers imagine being a child who gives the infection to vulnerable family members and the guilt and worry associated with that. It’s not good for anyone in society for schools to have uncontrolled infections.

Whatever we’re doing it’s not working. We should all be pushing for re-evaluation. What those changes are needs to be evaluated and evidence based, ignoring the problem is what needs to stop. Many parents are annoyed about the situation for many in the summer term but there does have to be acceptance that it was sprung on everyone and it probably could be better now.

My colleague died. Healthy mum of 3. That's one too many deaths for me. Didn't need to happen. If schools were safe she'd be alive and her children would have their mum this xmas. But I expect some will just say 'oh well people did every year'. They might. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't try and keep people safe.