AIBU to stand up for children and parents...

[alwaysraining123]

... and say that closing schools is not an option. Some observations.

(1) millions of children will suffer poorer mental health, educational deficits and be at risk of physical harm.
(2) if schools close now the government will struggle to get them back open.
(3) the unions are playing a highly political game preying shamelessly on people’s fears.
(4) online learning is of no use for most of the primary school years. Parents basically need to be available all day to support children.
(5) more parents are going to find themselves unable to work causing more financial hardship. This won’t affect your middle class sahps or people who can work from home as much- there are people who actually have to go out of their house to earn a living.
(6) if you’re parent and you’re worried you can keep your child at home.
(7) educational transmission of the virus is low and infection control standards can be escalated where needed.

Whatever is done we need to place maintaining educational provision for children at the heart of it. We need to make it work...there’s no other option.

Dd (former teacher) pointed out that having dead teachers, dead parents and dead grandparents also might be prejudicial to children's mental health.

@Bizawit

I agree with you OP. But the rabid mob are clamouring to close the schools.

This is how it feels to me. This is my first ever thread on mumsnet. I just wanted to put the other side of the argument as it seems these points are becoming drowned out once again.

I think we have a much bigger problem in this country. If children’s mental health will decline with 2 weeks off school we have a serious issue seriously deluded if you think it will be 2 wks- wasn’t it just a month last March, most kids never went back that school yr

@Je551ca

That is exactly what heads are asking for. Have you actually read the NAHT statement?

They aren’t asking for total closure. They are asking for two weeks of KW kids only and better PPE so that testing can be properly set up and schools are more likely to stay open long term.

No teacher wants schools totally closed. We want better protection for ourselves, our families and our students and their families.

Why can’t we ALL campaign for that?

YANBU OP. Out of school football/rugby/netball/hockey clubs are still allowed to open. So kids from all different local schools, can still mix and play outdoor sport together at the weekends - but can’t go to school? I’m not buying that, our kids are being used as political pawns between the union and government.

Dd (former teacher) pointed out that having dead teachers, dead parents and dead grandparents also might be prejudicial to children's mental health

Indeed. And not one single fuck given about children who are themselves vulnerable, their mental health and their right to an education (because all anyone says is stay at home) or those children who live in households where there is someone who is vulnerable. Pretty shit for any 7 year old to realise it was probably them who gave their grandmother the virus that killed her.

Schools are not for the exclusive use of the fit and healthy and their families. We all have a stake in them as a whole society.

100% agree op.
I can’t homeschool 3 children and keep my business going again. I’m at my wits end. Because I’m not a key worker I have to just get on with it. I work from home yes but I have no support bubble and my children have basically only see us. They need school for friendships and support as well as education. There has to be a better alternative than just to shut schools again.

I’m with OP, I think we need harsher measures on all adult activity before shutting schools, we have learnt nothing!

I don't think we can take sides against a virus. And i don't think discussing it in those terms is helpful.

If schools have to stay open at all costs then the frontline position of teaching and support staff must be acknowledged and they
Must be vaccinated asap.

I am in an area with low levels which i would guess is about two weeks behind the south east. If schools here close now we won't reopen again before half term.

Of course i want my kids in school. But i just don't feel comfortable with throwing teachers under a bus either!

@Je551ca

So that is something that can change without closing schools. There is no need for children to be moving between rooms and teachers, especially in primary schools. My sons school has one teacher per class, they eat in the class room, stagger play time, and have no contact with anyone outside of their bubble.

What works in primary won’t necessarily work in secondary

I think most people would rather schools were open...safely, or as safely as possible

@biscuitsareessential
'But what about many of the young female teachers who are extremely low risk why should they come above far older members of the general public? I agree older/high risk teachers should be prioritised but surely not a blanket prioritisation of all teachers?'
I'll pass this on to the 28 year old teacher I know who's been battling long Covid since March 🙄
One in ten (!) sufferers of Covid develops long Covid and those are predominantly female.

YABU, the new strain of the virus is spreading like wildfire and we need to do something to get the r number down again whilst pushing forward with the vaccination plan.

If people don’t want the schools closed they should at least let parents make their own decisions without worrying about fines or losing their school places.

@Je551ca

You are very then but that is not always the case. And perhaps your delivery drivers are respectful but have you been to the warehouses where your shopping is picked and packed. Have you witnessed a delivery van being cleaned between drivers. Before Christmas shops were ridiculously busy where I live and we aren’t seeing behind the scenes. Class rooms can be ventilated and teachers can wear PPE as other professions must.

Funnily enough a large proportion of my sixth form students also have pt jobs with Amazon as our school is close to a huge Amazon warehouse. They say that their working conditions are very safe, and far safer than the conditions in school, not because school is negligent but because it is simply not possible to replicate the same anoint of safety (PPE, ventilation, Perspex screens etc.) under the current guidance and funding for schools.

@edwinbear

Yet children can't meet up with anyone inside their home, including family and friends but can meet up with hundreds of others in their school bubble!

My fear is they won't open back up this year.

I never would have believed when they closed in March that they wouldn't reopen until September. Except for the chosen ones who weren't banned from the premises obviously.

Such a pisstake that they didn't reopen in May/June when the infection rate was low. Why didn't they?

YANBU

That’s fine but PPE should have been in place already and it’s very unlikely to take just two weeks. Expecting parents and children to cope with closures with no notice is crazy. Your comment makes a lot of sense and I don’t disagree but the total closure for even a short period should not be a blanket approach. Schools that can open safely should. And if attendance is optional all the better. If 50% of people keep their kids home the risk is reduced and those attending actually benefit from smaller groups.

*same amount of safety

@mbosnz I'm with you. I'm off to hide this topic too. No matter what you say on here, you're wrong 🤷‍♀️.

Exactly. I’m invested in primary schools and if it can work then why close them at all. It’s the blanket approach that doesn’t sit well with me. Secondary school children can learn from home independently, primary age cannot

YANBU

the more people who get this might/will lead to more mutations & it could get worse - they could affect your children badly & the vaccinations might not work & people might be able to get covid again
I think our government didn't think long term & laterally about consequences. (like eat out etc sending dc back to school as normal without masks or having just one month off & returning when the number only went down a bit - not disappeared).
& Cummins

If you have kids you have to be prepared to take care of them 24/7
Most kids have 2 parents, 50/50 caring responsibilities is the fairest.
You can't expect others to care for them, especially in a pandemic.

@Je551ca

They aren’t being totally closed though. They are being shut to most children to allow for set up of testing and application of further safety measures to address the new variant.

You are right. This should have been done over the Summer. If you are unhappy with this (as I am) please write to the education secretary demanding to know why he impaired that schools go back with weak safety protocols.

@GypsyLee I agree. Now refund our tax money if the service isn't there.