How long before those in support of schools shutting will soon be shouting for them to open again?

[Upyoursism]

How many weeks before MN is full of threads about lazy teachers, substandard home learning and demanding schools to open again? It won't be long...

Why did it take so long to open schools again last time?

@Catawaul

I'm allowed to think both. I don't want to send them in but don't want them at home either. Rock and a hard place etc!

This! I think in real life most parents are confused and conflicted, change their minds often (because the situation changes often) and are trying hard to be responsible citizens while standing up for the rights of children. Fwiw, I think all schools should and will close and I hope with all my heart that it won't have to be for long.

@Reiningitin

I don't understand that either *@caringcarer*. I'm a secondary teacher and we are very much allowed to wear masks. Personally I don't as I find it difficult to talk wearing one, but we are certainly allowed.

Not all schools have the same attitude unfortunately. My friend has just had to fight to be allowed to wear a mask at the primary school she works at because the headteacher has told staff that wearing masks gives the impression to the parents that the school is unsafe and they must have cases of Covid.

Problem is even if a teacher can wear a mask it will be much more effective if the pupils are wearing them too

I want schools open especially for my ds with SN because he thrives on that routine. I don't want teachers to feel unsafe and anxious though so if they can't open in a way that makes everyone feel comfortable, I guess they have to stay closed. It's shit though.

I didn’t moan about them being closed last time so I doubt I will this time. It’s hard work and stressful having them home all the time. It makes work difficult. I just keep telling myself it isn’t forever

People are forming their opinions based on their individual circumstances - it’s a bit rude to make a blanket statement that those saying they want schools shut are the pens who will complain when they are. I want my children’s school shut, one child is in a school with some of the highest rates in the uk and they have dealt with situation up until now terribly in my humble opinion, one of my other children is in a school with not a single case, but it’s only going to take one before the potential to spiral, and I find it hard to believe that there’s so much protection a stones throw in one direction when a stones throw in the other it’s carnage! Personally, I want a bit of a consistency, and preparation as opposed to them opening and then in 2 weeks time shutting again when it’s spread! Nobody knows what the hell is going on and everybody is confused. No need for the bashing

@annevonkleve

People are dying from covid19 because people are not listening to advice

No they are dying because there is a virus and for whatever reason they are particularly susceptible to it. This constant blame game is so tedious.

Same. Viruses kill every year. Are people really blaming the victims of covid for not listening to advice? That's pretty dickish tbh. Pandemics kill, I thought that was widely established.

I want them shut right now (I'm my area, due to nearly 1% of the population having covid right now). I want them open as soon as possible. I don't see how that's unreasonable.

I think that the 2020 school closures lasted far longer than they should have.

@Daddyatethemincepies, so in that case it is the Headteacher/senior leadership team making the work conditions unsafe if they can mask wearing not the government. Do they ban students from wearing masks too?

God knows.

Speaking for myself, I was happy when they closed the first time and never said they should reopen. My dc went back in June as she was reception year. I was in two minds whether or not to send her though. Glad we did, as it was the safest I ever felt she was at school since C-19 started. I haven't been thrilled with the last term at school as she has had to isolate several times at last minute notice, (not the school's fault, but just due to the nature of SI). So, I haven't ever shouted for schools to be open. I'd homeschool permanently if I had my way tbh, but DH is very against it. Tbf dc loves school too, so probably wouldn't like permanent homeschool either.

@ineedaholidaynow, I agree in my foster sons special secondary school every child must wear a mask inside at all times. It has become a school rule. In my niece's normal state secondary school all students must wear a masks inside school all day. They can take them off outside at breaktime but she said many keep them on outside too. Not worn for outside PE. Children in school who can't/won't wear masks sent to one room with worksheets or if CEV can do home learning. My niece says this is just 1 child put of a whole school who won't keep mask on. Other schools could do the same.

Statistics released up until December 16, 'Only 377 people under 60 without preexisting conditions have died of COVID in England

From ONS Deaths exceeded their five-year average in age groups 15 years and over. The biggest increase was in those aged 85 to 89 years, with three-quarters of deaths involving COVID-19 in people aged 75 years and over.

@TheEchtMeaningofChristmas

OP, you're not keeping up with events, there's already been a thread anticipating how awful online provision will be because...er...it was last time.

It's like teenagers pre-drinking before going to the clubs.

Yep

[quote caringcarer]@Daddyatethemincepies, so in that case it is the Headteacher/senior leadership team making the work conditions unsafe if they can mask wearing not the government. Do they ban students from wearing masks too?[/quote]
Yes the headteacher is saying no to masks. It's a primary school so the children are not expected to wear masks.

You're right, OP. Damned if they do and damned if they don't.

I know this is massively unfashionable but I'm going to allow myself to be guided by our head teacher.

Very sensible, knows his school infrastructure, his teachers, his pupils, the current (if any) rates of infection, and seems pretty open about the facts. DS is due back on Wednesday and we'll all receive an email tomorrow. I'll decide then.

Kjc that statistic is meaningless. Have you not seen thay preexisting conditions for that reporting include excema/ depression/ having broken a limb at some point/everything under the sun. I think most families would have someone in their household that can tick one of these.

It isnt just the higher risk for covid conditions (which being asthma/diabetes /high blood pressure rtc) would also include a lot of parents of school kids.

@Kjc39

Statistics released up until December 16, 'Only 377 people under 60 without preexisting conditions have died of COVID in England

Yes. And no one else's lives are important. Like people with mild asthma.

@Mintjulia

You're right, OP. Damned if they do and damned if they don't.

I know this is massively unfashionable but I'm going to allow myself to be guided by our head teacher.

Very sensible, knows his school infrastructure, his teachers, his pupils, the current (if any) rates of infection, and seems pretty open about the facts. DS is due back on Wednesday and we'll all receive an email tomorrow. I'll decide then.

You sound very sensible to me

I don't understand your point OP. I desperately want schools to remain open and found home schooling DS extremely hard. However the numbers are now at such a level that there seems no other option but to close everything at this point.

This does not mean that I won't find DS not being at school hard again, and will hope that the at home provision is better this time round.

I would also expect schools to reopen when case numbers drop and for them to be shut the minimum amount of time possible.

I'm not sure that any of the above is contradictory.

I think most back the teachers and want closure now.

Its only on mumsnet I see anyone who wants them to stay open. In real life everyone I know wants them shut and most are refusing to send their kids in this week.

I have asked 7 parents in real life a mix of Primary and Secondary and all want kids back in school. That said we are not in London or SE where rates are so high. We are now in Tier 4 though. Parents where kids are in Year 10 and 11 and Year 12 and 13 are worried about impact on exams as it will affect these kids forever as no time to catch back up.

Yes schools will not reopen once shut, we know from last time they will open strip clubs before schools which as kids are not going to be vaccinated will never be “safe”.

And teachers don’t want to give up 100 percent paid leave while putting up a couple of worksheets on a website so there is no support for schools reopening. There were 400 covid cases a day in July, you could go to pubs and restaurants and they still refused to open schools, I wasn’t expecting any education for my child before September.

And please can we not have the “it’s only for x weeks” posts that we get we don’t know how long it is for until they do open! The “it’s only for two weeks” posts in April look pretty stupid now!

@Wsdhgujn
Indeed