Am I missing the point here...

[kookykins]

I'm going to try and make this as measured as I can and try not to make it come across like a torrent of frustration.

Why is it that teachers are getting to say when schools go back? Why does it feel like teachers are constantly complaining about the virus? No one is an ideal situation right now so why does it feel like they are being allowed to 'opt out' of their careers now times are tough.

I work in a busy NHS hospital and It honestly sickens and saddens me that there are men and women, many parents relying on schools to open, relying on their children's education being properly resumed next week they are giving life saving treatment in dire situations every day. I haven't heard them complaining about having to come in and save lives work extra hours and a lot on low pay.

Teachers to an extent have chosen a career to support teach and mentor our children I feel when the going has got touch (very tough fair enough) they are opting out...however many of these teachers will expect ITU nurses to treat someone in their family who happens to get ill with this virus. How can this be? How is this ok?

I have friends who are teachers who don't feel like this and who want to get back to work but are very much being pulled along by the union so I don't want to paint all teachers with the same brush...

What happens to the children who need to go back to school, who need that hot meal that support that escape? Do they not matter?

Surely the children of this country are a higher priority right now?
Teachers and unions are being given insane amounts of power right now and I don't understand it. If we are all meant to 'be in it together' then why aren't we all cracking on like the next person and getting on with our jobs because we realise the impact if we don't...

Rant over...

So worried about liability if they wear masks against Government advice but not worried about liability if they close the school without say so?

Nikhedonia Does that apply to the hoards of NHS staff wfh not being given key worker status?

Depends on the NHS workers job.

But it's a fabulous line for me to add into my letter to my MP, teachers are expecting us to all juggle WFH and our jobs at the same time, but are sending their children into school under key worker provision.

The double standards are disgusting.

How exactly does it depend on the job?

How are NHS staff entitled to wfh and key worker places but school staff aren’t?

@Nikhedonia

that mask wearing in class would damage education.

I'm sure closing schools damages education more... and there was me thinking headteachers might actually be clever.

I am absolutely aghast that teachers could be prevented from wearing the PPE of their choice (a hazmat suit might be a bit much though)

It's not the heads who wrote the guidance.

when outbreaks occur because other work places haven't adhered to guidelines there is a big out cry about working conditions

No there really isn't. My husband works in new build construction. All the big construction companies make a show of ensuring covid safe measures. Behind the scenes, there's nothing. Trades are crammed into houses to meet building targets; no distancing, no ppe, no running water in most plots. No track and trace if workers go off ill with covid. No testing. And a steady flow of different trades travelling in from all areas. Any refusal to attend work means no money and out of a job as most are self employed, agency or zero hour contracts.

I imagine many other sectors are the same. Plenty of working class people are being similarly "thrown to the wolves" as teachers are putting it.

I knew it, so bloody predictable. Teachers expecting parents to WFH and look after children at the same time, but won't do it themselves.

So incredibly predictable. No wonder you have such little support.

For the first time ever, I'm really bloody glad I'm in a Tory constituency.

So 30 traders are squashed into small rooms together without ventilation or social distancing all day? They’re serving meals for each other, doing medical care and cleaning the room?

You didn’t answer my question.

NHS staff seem to expect wfh as an option and Kw places but begrudge the same for those in the education sector.

Don't be obtuse Strand. Maybe not 30 tradesmen but yes there's no social distancing or measures in place and there are different faces all the time. I'm illustrating the point that others are working in "unsafe environments", not just teachers.

It's not a race to the bottom

Education is essential but teachers are not protected. Any other sector is allowed to protect themselves except teachers. And yes teachers did chose their profession but their contract surely doesn't encompass infectious diseases, which a contract with the NHS would.

If you want infection rates driven down
If you want to decrease the chance of mutation
If you want the NHS to be able to provide non-Coronavirus treatment(s)
If you want the NHS to operate on anything other than a disaster-response basis

Close the schools.

The data is telling us that schools are now the primary nexus of transmission

Scientists are telling us that the new variant has an R rate, right now, over 1

Scientists are telling us closing schools is the only way to control this

So ... 🤷‍♀️

No it's not a race to the bottom but comments like "any other sector are allowed to protect themselves" are simply not true.

But it's a fabulous line for me to add into my letter to my MP, teachers are expecting us to all juggle WFH and our jobs at the same time, but are sending their children into school under key worker provision.

So you were teacher bashing @Nikhedonia so maybe stop with the faux innocence?

@SmileyClare

No it's not a race to the bottom but comments like "any other sector are allowed to protect themselves" are simply not true.

My comment wasn't in response to yours. We x-posted. I wholeheartedly agree with your points re: construction workers

@MrsFezziwig

But it's a fabulous line for me to add into my letter to my MP, teachers are expecting us to all juggle WFH and our jobs at the same time, but are sending their children into school under key worker provision.

So you were teacher bashing @Nikhedonia so maybe stop with the faux innocence?

I wasn't. And I'm not now. I'm stating a fact.

If I can work from home with my DD and do my job at the same time. So can teachers.

Teachers delivering online learning should not be classed as key workers and send their children into school.

Pointing out a double standard doesn't equate to "bashing" FFS.

Smiley no not being obtuse illustrating the reality . Socially distancing with 2 or 3 tradesmen whilst wearing a mask for a few hours indoors is a world away from being squashed in small rooms already not for for purpose all day everyday doing close contact work without even masks close to humans that don’t cover their mouths or turn away when coughing.

www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/construction-and-other-outdoor-work

Lots of safety measures in gov guidelines for the construction industry that teachers don’t enjoy.

I don't think my family will be hugely affected if we get Covid. We haven't (as far as we know) got any underlying conditions and are 43 and under.

I do think it is sensible to keep my children off so that they don't spread it as I can wfh easily and homeschool. The more kids that can be at home makes the NHS's job easier as it's to curb the spread and protect the NHS. The teachers have no protection and children are not social distancing at all. Teachers are surely wanting safer conditions so they don't end up being part of your massive workload.

I really don't think anyone in the teaching profession is opting out.

Nikh And the same goes for the many many nhs staff who have been working from home( unlike school staff) all through the pandemic.

Because medical professionals to some extent are prepared for something like this happening - in that there's always the risk of being exposed to infectious diseases, at least every year during flu season, etc.

Teachers, however, did NOT sign up for this.

They didn't sign up to be in a room with up to 30 young people, who still think it's a great idea to lick each other's faces despite being in a pandemic.

They didn't sign up to being the ONLY profession who have to remain at work with such high risk and such little protection.

And plus, your children have NEVER been denied school if you're a key worker. Never. They would always be allowed to attend if needed. So I'm not sure what you mean by that part, acting like you couldn't go to work etc. Of course you could.

Closing schools would make YOUR job easier too.

I'm just about fed up of people's attitude like yours who seem to think because you're on the front line (which I know is shit, and scary, and you want it to be over) it's wrong for other people to want to protect themselves and their families.

I am a teacher as is my husband. We have never used the key worker provision and won't. I had my youngest daughter at my side completing tasks while I completed mine last time and I intend doing the same if needed this time.