Those wanting school open - are you not worried about your DC?

[Hicksville21]

Just that really. Do you not think it’s time to keep our kids home safe until this wave passes?

@toocold54

I'm aware the virus is real. I am not a conspiracy theorist.

Ok that’s good to hear, so why do you think the government are trying to scare us then? Or trying to get us to comply?
What would their reason be? - genuine question.

To limit the numbers of deaths. High numbers make a government look incompetent. As do overwhelmed hospitals.

Nearly 90% of those who have died are 65+

So on current figures, around 7,000 people have died low age of 65, many of them ft one professionals and people with under long conditions that normally would have meant they statistically lived beyond retirement. 7,000 people who have left families, friends and colleagues. 7,000 deaths that a year ago were thinkable. If you had an underlying condition, would you want to be in a room with 30 people of questionable hygiene, with no PPE at all and little or no ventilation for up to 6 hours a day?

To limit the numbers of deaths. High numbers make a government look incompetent. As do overwhelmed hospitals

Overwhelmed hospitals mean that people who could have survived covid - and a whole host of other conditions - die. No Government wants that on their conscience. And you never know when it might be you or one of your loved ones that needs that bed.

@kowari as a single parent, I left my 12 and 14yo home alone for an hour to food shop during lockdown 1. I was reported to the police. Police took no action but just the fact they saw fit to attend / people felt the need to report ...

@Waxonwaxoff0

I completely understand that. I don’t think anyone including school staff would stand for schools to be closed as long as they were last time. But then again they probably wouldn’t have a say on reopening them anyway if the government says no.

I think I am worried that the longer they leave it the longer schools will have to close for whereas if they acted quickly it would only need to be closed for a shorter time. But it might not work like that which is why they’re waiting.

To limit the numbers of deaths. High numbers make a government look incompetent. As do overwhelmed hospitals.

But if these are real things then the government shouldn’t need to terrify us to comply, surely we should all be complying to limit the number of deaths.

Nearly 90% of those who have died are 65+.

Yes, and then there are all the people who will die as a result of the huge surge in cases overwhelming the NHS. They won’t necessarily die of covid but of cancer, heart attacks, strokes etc. That’s before you look at the repercussions of those with long covid or those with MH. It’s not just about the fact the virus primarily kills older people.

@toocold54

To limit the numbers of deaths. High numbers make a government look incompetent. As do overwhelmed hospitals.

But if these are real things then the government shouldn’t need to terrify us to comply, surely we should all be complying to limit the number of deaths.

I don't think the decimation of the economy and education system is worth it to avoid the deaths of elderly people...lots of people would agree with me. It really helps if people believe that they themselves are at risk

@formerbabe

Elderly and/or vulnerable? Or just elderly?

I'm not worried about my children going back, as a parent. I can understand teachers feeling differently.

I am worried due to the high numbers, and the new strain being even more contagious. But the effects of closing schools are worrying too. The effects of the first lockdown can still be felt. It is not doable for them at all. On the wheighing scale, she will go for as long as it is open. And I hope that they manage to stay open.

@sherrystrull

It's very easy to say school staff aren't at risk going into school each day when you're not doing it yourself.

I'm under 65 and not CEV but still worried about getting it and my TA taking it home to her CEV husband or my colleague who is CV catching it.

Why do so many people try to tell school staff they shouldn't worry and they need to just get on with it as children 'need to be in school.'

I agree sherrystrull, but it's clear that quite a few people on here just don't give a toss about school staff. When teachers / TAs / cleaners / LOs all go down with the virus, guess what? Schools will close anyway.

Definitely more worried by them not going back.

Last term they were still catching up on the previous year's work. It's not fair for them to miss even more time.

@Waxonwaxoff0 @TheKeatingFive

But schools are expected to be flexible and to adapt. I've had volunteer school staff run hubs for KW/vulnerable children unpaid during their holidays for instance.

Teaching isn't something that we ever said could be done from home...but suddenly the expectation is that it has to be. Staff retrained to use IT, equipment put in place, curriculum redesign, pedagogy changed. All this with two out of three schools with a deficit budget that legally must be corrected back into the black (yes by redundancy) ...yet your businesses can't do anything, even if they were supported by the government.
Schools can't do this alone (and take the flack) when 'it's not as simple as that' the business community to adapt too!

But schools are expected to be flexible and to adapt

Businesses have adapted hugely. In multiple ways. Is this news to you, seriously?

Unlike schools however, if they don’t turn a profit, they’re toast.

I really don't care enough about random elderly people to sacrifice my children anymore.

But nobody cares enough about your children to keep a functioning health care service for them, it seems.

really don't care enough about random elderly people to sacrifice my children anymore.

It's not just the elderly....

I expect you will want treatment if you need it. And you will be righteously indignant if you call an ambulance for another reason and are turned away...

Schools have it really bad. I don't think anyone disputes that. But they don't have the monopoly on having it bad or having to adapt in ways they'd rather not.

Not necessarily on this thread but in other places, I think this competitive worst -off is getting people down. Not all teachers are faultless saints the same as not all businesses are tax dodging, profiteering leeches and working parents aren't lazy, whining and leeching childcare.
The polarising is really harmful.

The Incas sacrificed their children.

We're not sacrificing our children.

In fact, we need a good hard look at the course of illness in children with the new variants before we send millions of children out to get it.

Your children will be guinea pigs. But still, not sacrificed, I shouldn't think.

We may not be sacrificing our own children but we are sacrificing other people's children.

Schools have it really bad. I don't think anyone disputes that.
May I introduce you to Us for them?

I don't think the decimation of the economy and education system is worth it

Which would happen anyway if the virus were allowed to run rampant.

@ByersRd I work in manufacturing with specialist machinery and printers. I do not have that machinery at home. Some of the staff at my work could do their job from home, payroll for example, but not everyone. You can't make furniture at home.

Nope, not worried. My eldest had the virus in November and was absolutely fine. My husband had it at the same time too, also fine. The other three people in our household didn't get it.
I am worried about the impact on them not going back to school.
My children are secondary school age and my husband can easily work from home so I do not see schools as childcare as a previous poster suggested.

@Hicksville21

They can bring it home though. What if they were then left with the effects of knowing they gave the virus to their loved one and they didn’t make it? We should be allowed to decide if we want to risk it or not

Surely if, God forbid, a child contracted the virus and passed it on to a family member who sadly died, no one in the family would actually put the blame on the child? The child shouldn't ever feel as though that was their fault in my opinion.