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Original poster

If so many people wanted schools closed then why are some schools seeing up to 75% of children in?

348 replies

Waxonwaxoff0 · 07/01/2021 08:52

I have never wanted schools closed although I do recognise why they need to and that they need to be made safer.

Yet it seemed like I was in the minority, all over the internet people wanted schools closed and their children safely at home.

So why are so many trying to send their children in? Is it a case of "schools should be closed except for my child?"

OP posts:
the80sweregreat · 07/01/2021 08:56

Probably. Double standards are what humans do best :(
It's always ok for everyone else's children.

CeibaTree · 07/01/2021 08:59

I don’t know anyone in real life who wanted schools closed, just a vocal minority on mumsnet!

Seasaltyhair · 07/01/2021 08:59

Because people who wanted them shut shouted very loudly and aggressively, the people who wanted them open were probably at work with their heads down trying not to be made redundant.

Thislittlefinger123 · 07/01/2021 09:01

Because people are hypocrites, and also yes I agree with a pp, i don't think the majority did want them closed. It's shameful the two tier system it's creating.

Downriver · 07/01/2021 09:01

Because we are not in a proper lockdown and so many are still having to work. The categories of critical workers have been expanded to keep people working. And people are stupid.....because the will just go in and on till vaccines..

Wakeupin2022 · 07/01/2021 09:03

I didn't want schools to close previously. However this new variant and the easy infection / transmission in children mean that it was no longer feasible and the risks of keeping them open were too great.

I am not sending my children, even though we are 2 KW parents because the actual childcare bit is not the issue.

And we need to get the numbers down & down fast. Sending them in, when I had an alternative seems daft to me.

Seasaltyhair · 07/01/2021 09:04

@Downriver

Because we are not in a proper lockdown and so many are still having to work. The categories of critical workers have been expanded to keep people working. And people are stupid.....because the will just go in and on till vaccines..
Yes people are stupid about being scared of losing their jobs and homes. I forgot were only allowed to be worried about a virus that for the overwhelming majority of people is like a cold or flu.
lurker101 · 07/01/2021 09:05

Also many schools are more likely to be “affected” by key workers due to their locations and people living close to work traditionally i.e. school very near to affordable housing close to a large hospital will likely have more nurses, porters, radiologist’s children attending whereas a school on the other side of the same town might have very few hospital workers children and mainly wfh parents not classed as key workers so could have for example only 15% uptake of places

mrshoho · 07/01/2021 09:06

The keyworker categories are being abused and the governmrnt is putting unrealistic expectations on schools to provide places for all who don't have adequate tech for example.

There are some parents who despite the country being the middle of a pandemic, feel that their circumstances shouldn't be inconvenienced. I do question why anyone would push for a place in schools when it is possible for their children to be safe at home.

user1493413286 · 07/01/2021 09:06

I think it’s case of the people who wanted schools closed were shouting the loudest, posting more etc and the people who didn’t were quiet and worried about the way they’d be attacked if they said that ; the people who I know who wanted schools closed were the ones who were at home so didn’t have to worry about who would look after their children or people with older children who again didn’t have to worry. Whereas the ones who work outside the home were caught between thinking that maybe schools should close but worrying about what they would do. During the first school closure so many people were furloughed that it wasn’t such a worry but this time there are lots of families where both parents need to work outside the home. I’m a key worker and my DH isn’t and we would have been ok during the first lockdown as he was furloughed but this time he’s not and we wouldn’t survive without his income.

Frouby · 07/01/2021 09:07

Because the people screaming for them closed were hoping to be furloughed again and unfortunately for them, employers have said no, so are now having to send their kids in. Payroll clerks are keyworkers apparently. So companies have looked at the list and said no you can't be furloughed, you are a keyworker so get a school place.

HarryLimeFoxtrot · 07/01/2021 09:07

Because a lot of people who wanted schools closed don’t have school aged children. The most vocal advocates I’ve come across personally were former teachers with adult children.

3littlewords · 07/01/2021 09:07

I think most people were pushing for a 2 week circuit breaker which you can just about manage to juggle childcare etc, now its going to be weeks, probably months, they are realising its not actually doable and therefore doing everything possible to send them in knowing the disruption it caused last year in many children to be off so long

Wakeupin2022 · 07/01/2021 09:10

@3littlewords

I think most people were pushing for a 2 week circuit breaker which you can just about manage to juggle childcare etc, now its going to be weeks, probably months, they are realising its not actually doable and therefore doing everything possible to send them in knowing the disruption it caused last year in many children to be off so long
I think that's a valid point.

I had thought mid / end Jan so was shocked at Mid Feb at earliest.

Still it is what it is. We can't keep piling the pressure on the NHS. It's unsustainable.

Original poster
Waxonwaxoff0 · 07/01/2021 09:10

@user1493413286

I think it’s case of the people who wanted schools closed were shouting the loudest, posting more etc and the people who didn’t were quiet and worried about the way they’d be attacked if they said that ; the people who I know who wanted schools closed were the ones who were at home so didn’t have to worry about who would look after their children or people with older children who again didn’t have to worry. Whereas the ones who work outside the home were caught between thinking that maybe schools should close but worrying about what they would do. During the first school closure so many people were furloughed that it wasn’t such a worry but this time there are lots of families where both parents need to work outside the home. I’m a key worker and my DH isn’t and we would have been ok during the first lockdown as he was furloughed but this time he’s not and we wouldn’t survive without his income.
Absolutely the same situation for me, DS's dad is a key worker and I'm not, but I can't work from home. I was furloughed last time but this isn't an option this time.

I feel for those children who can't be in school right now.

OP posts:
user1493413286 · 07/01/2021 09:12

Also for the people that are saying key worker positions are being manipulated I still haven’t had an answer about how two parents who work outside the home are supposed to manage. Not everyone has family support and a lot of grandparents are older or have health issues so you try to avoid using them.

PodgeBod · 07/01/2021 09:21

Outside of MN (where I dont know peoples circumstances) a lot of the people I saw crowing for school closures either don't have kids or don't have school aged children

TheGreatWave · 07/01/2021 09:21

@Seasaltyhair

Because people who wanted them shut shouted very loudly and aggressively, the people who wanted them open were probably at work with their heads down trying not to be made redundant.
This. On MN those who wanted schools to remain open kept their heads down as saying you wanted your child in school was akin to saying you wanted all teachers to die.
Eng123 · 07/01/2021 09:26

I did not want schools closed! Those that did were a vocal minority and generally those who were SAHM.

Jrobhatch29 · 07/01/2021 09:28

I dont know anyone in real life who wanted schools closed. I am on maternity and now feeling very guilty as if I was at work my kids would get a key worker place. My 8yo is devastated he can't go to school!

TheKeatingFive · 07/01/2021 09:32

I don’t know anyone in real life who wanted schools closed, just a vocal minority on mumsnet

This

Dontsaykwen · 07/01/2021 09:34

@Seasaltyhair

Because people who wanted them shut shouted very loudly and aggressively, the people who wanted them open were probably at work with their heads down trying not to be made redundant.
Couldn’t have said it better. MN is great for gathering opinions but it’s not a balanced subsection.
Tangledtresses · 07/01/2021 09:34

I don't think any parents wanted school closed!

Wish I could send both my children to school.... or at least my yr 11 so he could actually do his GCSEs

TheOtherMaryBerry · 07/01/2021 09:39

I don’t know anyone in real life who wanted schools closed, just a vocal minority on mumsnet!

This, absolutely. I haven't met a single person in real life who sees it as anything other than a tragedy for children to have their education interrupted, whether they thought it was necessary or not. The email that came through from our school was full of regret and said that they wished they could stay open.

NotABridezillaToBe · 07/01/2021 09:43

It seems that many people want other people to keep their children home and follow the rules to limit the virus spread and thus protect the NHS, but they would rather not be personally inconvenienced by such measures. The remaining people want a proper lock down to limit the amount of time we have this madness imposed on us.