Secondary schools are stuffed, GOVERNMENT ADMITS

[noblegiraffe]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55265098

Mass testing for secondary school pupils in worst affected areas.

I don’t think that people without dc would know much about the situation in schools. So it doesn’t surprise me.

Even individual schools are different. I found it interesting that private might not be bigger classroom (and I’ve used private) but schools can be quite varied.

For instance that hall pic that circulated - not similar to our secondary

I don't know anyone in a care home or have any relatives at university yet I'm well aware of all the issues there, because they were headline news.

Yes because people found it highly important.

Parents know the situation. They don’t need to read about it.

Which leaves non parents. Is it much more than an oh right ok so they don’t SD? We had the briefing last night about high transmission so that is known now. Mass testing on the news but not headline. It’s not hugely interesting on its own.

And what’s the desired outcome for non parents? Would they then say ok spend more money

Maybe a thing on ventilation could be good but tricky as not all schools - or even office buildings - can be fixed

Overall it’s not as care homes us because it’s not as provocative as a headline - high number of students out, transmission high all out there now

Yes because people found it highly important.

You don't think it's important that schools are in a total mess and millions of kids have been out of school due to it?

Parents know the situation. They don’t need to read about it.

It's clear from here that some don't have a clue. Their kid hasn't had to isolate therefore schools are fine.

Do you not get how totally appalling it is to have your education screwed, or that of your kid screwed and for it to be deemed 'not of interest'?

And how is it not of public interest that the government is lying about it?

I mean, why is it apparently important to me that care homes have been screwed, but not important to a non-parent that schools have been screwed?

That's a really bizarre take.

I have children at Uni and a mum in a care home. Unis got their cases down to virtually zero within weeks by asymptomatic testing. When the students left they were all tested again. Care home residents and staff are tested every week.
School ? Apparently we are COVID safe aren't we ? That's what we have been told for months. Isn't it weird how 11-18 year olds are biggest number of cases. Either they are a) mixing outside school in massive numbers b) crammed into classrooms with little ventilation, no masks or social distancing.

Not at all.

I want local reaction. I don’t want National mandates. And National press is neither here nor there. We go online when it hits.

Anyway what is your desired outcome? More money? I’m not against that but it’s a tricky sell -atm.

@MarshaBradyo

Not at all.

I want local reaction. I don’t want National mandates. And National press is neither here nor there. We go online when it hits.

So you don't what a national crisis in schools to be national news in case someone shuts down your individual school?

People need to know what's going on so that they can plan accordingly for Christmas.

Businesses need to know that lockdown was less effective because the most infected subset of the population was still freely mixing.

The government needs to be taken to task about the lack of mitigation measures to improve safety.

And you should know what I want by now.

So you don't what a national crisis in schools to be national news in case someone shuts down your individual school?

But is that what you want?

It is very difficult for heads because they are getting crap advice from PHE.

I think it would be a useful role for Indie SAGE you know, some guidelines on isolating that are supported by scientific evidence and are effective infection control (@noblegiraffe have PMed you )

I think doing group testing 60-90 secondary school kids at a time would be useful, maybe every 2 weeks, that would be an effective use of tests.

Apparently the mass exit testing in unis turned up surprisingly few cases. I was cynical as DS's uni wasn't offering much in the way of tests, but where lots seem to have been done (Reading, for example) infection rates were very low. This does show that the early testing stamped on cases, that some immunity ahs built up : but also, that shutting down areas of high transmission (pubs,clubs etc) AND abandoning most Fs2F teaching worked!! Not what people want to here (including students who feel short-changed) but , in terms of public health, it's a triumph.

And of course I don’t want that we’ve had two cases.

So it’s better to be clear on desired outcome. Shut schools or more money? Or other

It should be a national scandal and disgrace that children's (and, therefore, the nation's) futures are being so mishandled and mismanaged. Not just aggro on a female led SM site.

The media does seem a tad more interested in exams. Not much, though.

I think some of it is the narrative that teachers should be martyrs. It's the Mother Teresa trope. if we complain we are wrong/ bullied or misled by unions, or not sacrificing ourselves for the greater good. Come on... some people on here complain that closed schools are a feminist issue.
Dangerous schools are also a feminist issue.

To me it makes sense to work out what you want then use a campaign to get it

For me it’s

• mask issue looked at
• ventilation
• local response in secondary or going online with high cases

A National response that drives closure isn’t meeting what people say they actually want

I tell you what people want. They want not to hear about it. They want teachers and kids to get to school and stop inconveniencing others.
They know that even if their child gets the virus, they are unlikely to have it very seriously...in fact they might not get any symptoms at all, so it’s a case of ‘leave it as it is, stop complaining and certainly stop trying to draw attention to the issue’.

I’d just like to say though that our area has been hit very hard. Cases have soared and my son (year 11) today finishes his 3rd lot of isolation.
I respect the rules fully, so if he has to isolate, he stays in the house. No friends over. No visits. No girlfriend over.

He’s worried about his GCSEs; he’s worried about his girlfriend; he feels left out; he is lonely as both his dad and I are teachers and have to work, so he’s home alone a lot; he’s sad, depressed and anxious. He’s stir crazy from being in all day every day, with only the odd walk to break things up. He’s lost interest in his computers. He’s barely eating. He goes to bed when he’s not in online lessons. And I am so very worried about him.

My son isn’t a unique case either. Kids all over the country are going through similar, so it’s frustrating and makes me very cross to see people want to brush such an important issue under the carpet. This should be front page news. And government need to get their ass in gear and make things safe enough in schools for us to go in and teach those kids properly.

@MarshaBradyo

So you don't what a national crisis in schools to be national news in case someone shuts down your individual school?

But is that what you want?

What?

I've always said that I want schools to stay open. Testing. Masks. Ventilation. Support for ECV families to remove their kids.

But the government have massively fucked up with Christmas. People are going to die because of it.

Christmas can't be solved with testing, masks, ventilation, it's too late.

If lives can be saved with moving secondary schools online for the last 4.5 days (and Wales have done it) then that option should certainly be offered to heads in particularly badly hit areas. But the government have said no. Those deaths are on them.

Quite a few of my GCSE group have said that they will not be in school next week so they won't have to quarantine over Christmas.

It's a total fucking shambles.

But sure, let's keep it out of the headlines. Nothing to see.

To me it makes sense to work out what you want then use a campaign to get it

Oh, we're back to individual teachers lobbying in local areas while everyone else gets national headlines. Fucksake.

Oh come stop being so affronted.

It’s not aimed at you individually. Just a general rule about change you want to see.

Just think about what is best. Anyway can’t stand it when it gets like it’s going to look at Christmas trees

We don’t even want different things so ridiculous

Oh come stop being so affronted.

You’re telling me that unis and care homes are of national interest but that schools aren’t.

And that you’d prefer schools to stay out of the national headlines despite being a national crisis in order to keep your status quo.

How exactly do you think any headway will be made regarding masks, ventilation and testing (national policy decision making) while there’s no publicity?

Fgs teachers are dropping like flies and you suggest it’s not important. Of course I’m affronted by your lack of giving a shit until it hits your own kids.

local response in secondary or going online with high cases

The national government brought in policies that said school locally could respond, in late August.

They then rescinded this as soon as cases rose in certain areas and banned Liverpool, Hull, various academy trusts from taking local control or making decisions.

There is no local power to deal with education in reality.

I am sorry, really, but I don't do small government. This is a national issue, overseen by a manipulative, chaotic and deceitful educational department. .

Yeh ok if that’s what you are worked up about. Not true though.

What is off about the list I put? It’s the same as yours.

Bar the fact that I’ve suggested that a National campaign could lead to mass closure which you also say you don’t want.

And I’ve more been taking about why it’s not happening and that it’s not suppressed more than my personal circumstance.