So how the F are we meant to work?

[Littlewhitedove2]

3 primary age kids. One parent left who won’t leave their house except the shops much less come anywhere near me or the kids. Inlaws in a similar position.
Primary school closed. It won’t be 2 weeks - it will be far longer than that.
Husband full time work.
I work part time as much as I can around school but not critical worker.
How do women work now?

Interesting that pre-Covid parents were criticised if they dared take their children out of school two days early to save a few thousand on a holiday. But now we can close schools for months on end and we don't need to worry as teachers will "catch them up".

The same teachers who have been saying that the curriculum is jam packed as it is and they are struggling to fit it all in

@wasgoingmadinthecountry

And yes fear, because we have no protection.

Masks, visors, ventilation, sanitisers, hands face and space

I am starting to better understand why the government are so concerned about some children isolating at home with their parents.

@wasgoingmadinthecountry

What can you do to mitigate in a primary school? I'd love to know!

Your a teacher, you'll know kids have carried germs time immemorial, it's not anew phenomenon, if your too vulnerable to teach, get off the horse

We've all understood for some time why teachers would like schools to be closed.

*You’re

@OppsUpsSide

I am starting to better understand why the government are so concerned about some children isolating at home with their parents.

Excuse me but my valuing my kids being in school doesn't make me a monster

@CountessFrog

I’ve just read this whole thread and I remain astonished that we have tied ourselves up in this knot yet again rather than ask the elderly and vulnerable to ‘stay the fuck at home’ for a few more weeks until they get vaccinated.

All these adults and kids who will likely never die from covid if they catch it. All ruining their lives to save my 70 year old MIL who refuses to follow the rules.

Utterly batshit

I have some sympathy with this view and find myself thinking that way on occasions but you need to remember that it's not just the over 70s who are getting this and getting really ill. Much you get people with no previous health conditions are ending up in ICU

But you are coming across slightly irrational and scary.

@reesmoggsglasses

I like many of my colleagues have been in every day making children feel comfortable and confident, teaching them and covering all of their breaks/lunchtimes. I will do it because I have to and the best bit of my year so far has been seeing all of my lovely class interacting and enjoying being together.

BUT it's not safe for me. I am not expendable. My quality of life matters too. Just give us the jab and I'm fit to go. Right now, it's not safe. If I was 30 and didn't have asthma I might feel differently.

@OppsUpsSide

But you are coming across slightly irrational and scary.

Well you'll excuse me if I do t feel a bit pissed off, this whole charade is causing me and others untold stress

As the OP says, exactly how the F are we meant to work?

Most of us don't work for pin money, we work to keep a roof over our heads

Yes, you and others, the situations and stresses might be different but it’s still shit all round.

@reesmoggsglasses

Being 56 and asthmatic doesn't make me unfit to teach. Just means a pandemic that affects breathing means my health should be considered. Give me PPE or a jab and I'll get on with it. I have neither in a crumbling old prefab that lacks ventilation and is overcrowded. I'm happy to work WHEN IT'S EVEN REASONABLY SAFE.

@OppsUpsSide

Yes, you and others, the situations and stresses might be different but it’s still shit all round.

Yes but you'll get paid even if you don't perform is the difference

Its shit, i'm in Scotland and heres the deal with our local authority. Both parents have to be category 1 or 2 to qualify to put child into the school "hub" for essential workers. My DH is cat 2 (oil and gas worker) and i'm cat 3 (retail). We have both worked throughout but can't put our 11 yr old to the school hub because i'm cat 3. Really struggled since March because we obvs can't work from home, i have a 16yr old who is looking after the 11yr old which is really shit for all of us but nothing else we can do (vulnerable gparents childcare not an option)

And have you actually been in a primary school? Masks, visors, space??

old people can't be expected to stay at home, thats breaching their liberties

No but we can expect children do it, apparently they have no rights or liberties during a pandemic, a pandemic i might add that has next to no health implications on the vast majority of them, but yeah screw the kids over, they don't know any different

I won’t bore you with my circumstances but no actually there’s no guarantee I will be paid/keep my job at all, unfortunately right now that isn’t the worse option I am facing.
Like I said, every one is dealing with shit right now and just doing the best we can, it’s not a competition and we aren’t enemies.
None of us created this situation and none of us want to be in it!

@wasgoingmadinthecountry

And have you actually been in a primary school? Masks, visors, space??

This is where the profession needs to adapt and move with the times, it's happening in Europe, it can be done - but no, dong rock the boat

Incidentally, I did volunteer to work during summer unpaid to run childcare facilities for vulnerable/key worker children. I have never been on strike.

This is where the profession needs to adapt and move with the times, it's happening in Europe, it can be done - but no, dong rock the boat

We’re not even allowed to fart without the DfE’s approval.

Mask I can do (and use when reading or doing dyslexia 1:1 lessons with children) but space isn't happening!

Our school had to close the week before Christmas because so many staff were off sick it wasnt safe to keep it open. So you can nominally keep schools open all you want, but if numbers get bad, you wont necessarily be able to deliver any education in them.

Teachers should be provided with PPE and given appropriate training on how to use it.