Why do my children not deserve an education?

[noitsachicken]

Just because we are not key workers?
My children don’t qualify for a school place, that means they won’t be educated in a classroom, by a teacher, with their peers, they won’t have time to socialise with their friends or play in a group.
They will be sat around the kitchen table, sharing a space with siblings of different ages, all with different needs, with a non-teacher parent trying to do the best they can.
Last lockdown school provision was ‘childcare’ the curriculum was suspended and there was no expectation. That is not the case this time, children who are not allowed in school are at a huge disadvantage.
I realise we are ‘lucky’ compared to others, we have access to technology and I can be home with the children, but I worry for my children, for their mental health and their education.
Why do they not deserve an education and others are prioritised for an education based on their parents job?
How long will those of us with children who are not allowed in school accept this?
I understand the reasons for closing schools, but children are not being treated fairly, if childcare is needed for those with critical jobs then it should be no more than that.

I think the true key workers are getting animated on this thread unnecessarily as no one begrudges the children of doctors/nurses/policeman etc etc their key worker school space. It’s the people who are very obviously taking the piss that annoys me anyway. I know of some abs they are EXACTLY the kind of people I would expect to demand a school space without the right to it. Entitled, privileged and very middle class.

Well, if you had chosen in the past to train for a badly-paid job that was useful to society then you’d be reaping the benefits now. If you think about it, it’s actually a neat reversal of the age-old situation in which they kids of the privileged bankers and corporate lawyers got an educational advantage by their parents paying for private school..

I'm a teacher and in my school the teachers are teaching live via google classroom. Every student is getting exactly the same work. Yesterday I sat in a classroom with key worker children working at the computer with earphones and accessing the work from their teacher. Meanwhile I'm supervising them and live teaching my own classes. My school are now having to go down the route of quizzing parents about why they wish to send their child to school. So many have contacted the school in the last few days to claim that they are entitled to send their child in. Many do not fit the criteria set out by the government but are trying anyway. The school have agreed to provide spaces for 6 groups of 15 students at a max to keep staff and students as safe as problem. The students are socially distanced within their classroom. Unfortunately I have heard many stories of schools where they haven't quizzed their parents and as a result there are teachers and students whose lives are at risk because there are 25+ students in the classroom. Those poor teachers are then having to go home after putting their lives at risk and potentially pass anything on to their families. How is that fair on them? Wouldn't you feel guilty if you unknowingly sent your child into school with Covid and as a result the teacher or another student was seriously ill or died as a result. Just keep everyone safe PLEASE! I beg you as a teacher and a human being!

@noitsachicken

I am aware of the crisis. But children are being treated unfairly, all children should be treated the same. Childcare should be provided for those who really need it

Well you're clearly not aware there is a crisis.

Children will catch up. Allowances will be made. Their school will be providing virtual lessons or work packs.

We are all in the same boat. Children are missing out. Parents are losing jobs. Children are going hungry. People are having mental breakdowns, people are suffering long covid, people are sick in hospital, dying of covid, dying because vital cancer treatment was missed. Isolated, lonely, in despair.

I personally am sick to death of people caring only about their situation and ignoring the bigger picture. Don't you realise if it carries on like this and your husband has a serious car accident, where will he be treated if all ICUs locally are full? He would be shipped out to somewhere else and this would have a detrimental affect on his overall recovery. Don't you realise schools are a huge issue in spreading the virus?

Stop whining, stop being selfish, think of other people situation.

I don’t think the OP is objecting to the kids of key workers being in, or vulnerable children.
It’s the pointy elbowed middle class families who have gamed the key worker definition to send their kids in which gets to me. I’m talking about high earning families where the non key working parent is in a part time wfh creative job. That’s how ridiculous it is, in my school at least. Those families are sending their kids in. Endangering the teachers, TAs and kids who genuinely need to be there.
People are claiming that as the kids in school are getting the same remote teaching input as those at home,
But that’s not really true. For a start, a TA isn’t just anyone. They are highly experienced educators. But more importantly, they are in that school environment, where they know the thing to do is work, not mess around. And they are being properly supervised, as opposed to having mum or dad trying to ensure they get the work done while also juggling their own full time job.
I’m a single parent. The gov guidance is allowing families with 2 parents where only 1 is a key worker to take up these places in schools.
Why?
It seems to me it’s because my child’s education is not as important as these other children’s. What’s good enough for me and my kid is apparently too much to ask of other families.
The OP is right it is totally unfair. I’m not asking for my child to be allowed into school. I’m asking the rules on key worker kids to the equitable, so we can keep this period of closures as short as possible and so teachers and TAs don’t have to endlessly juggle teaching remotely with teaching overly large classes of key worker kids because the pointy elbow brigade are looking after themselves at the cost of everyone else. They are the ones who need to “be kind”.

I actually agree with you, I know its a very unpopular opinion but as a two form entry school they have 1 class teacher setting work online - uploading worksheets and writing comments on google classroom and 1 class teacher in the classroom supporting the work of the children in school. I am working full time (yes I know many are) and even when I do manage to find an hour between meetings to do some work I am not qualified to teach it, yesterdays maths was alien to me and I know it's not fair on my son because my best isn't good enough and he's not learning. I know we have to say home to stop this virus and the sooner we do the sooner we can get out the mess but I still feel very sad for my son that he's not being taught properly and that it may go on some time and he will fall behind the children in the classroom with the teacher to explain and support the topics being taught. We have to make do with a video. At least if it was like last time where they are in mixed groups at school and not actively learning new topics then it wouldn't feel as unfair as it does now. I guess I'm also finding it unfair that there is so much disparity as my friends children in the same borough but at a different school are having 3 online lessons each day where our school won't provide anything like that so its just me, my limited amount of time and knowledge and a video/worksheet. I think there is just too much disparity across the board for those in school and those at home and its making me sad for my son. Just feeling grumpy and frustrated by the whole situation.

Not that I think it’s a competition BUT in my opinion the children benefiting the most are probably the ones with parents able (time and ability wise) to give the time to supporting them 1:1 at home with school work.
I got a glimpse in the first lockdown of how beneficial it was to my kids having 1:1 attention to try and understand and practice a concept. Unfortunately j didn’t have much time to do that due to work.

This is exactly how I feel. Yes I was exhausted but one is my dc who was struggling with reading flew. Now this could have just happened but reading & doing phonics & spelling 1:1 for hours everyday has definitely boosted him.

It’s the pointy elbowed middle class families who have gamed the key worker definition to send their kids in which gets to me. I’m talking about high earning families where the non key working parent is in a part time wfh creative job.

That's not representative of my area. Those that can have kept them home or got an online tutor.

I am finding this difficult too. My kids could have a place at school because DH is a doctor (I work part time out of the house but not a keyworker myself), but we’ve juggled things around so that we can manage without. We did this because we thought that was what we were supposed to do for the communal good. Then I hear of other parents who have put their kids in school - for example someone I follow on Instagram who is a dog walker, but married to a doctor, has her kids in school. Yes I’m sure it’s inconvenient walking the dogs with the kids but aren’t we supposed to be sucking it up for the good of all? Am I the fool here, making my kids miss out on socialisation yet again (not fussed really about the learning - they can catch up on that), living the same old lockdown life again, compromising my own output at work etc?

[quote CisMyArse]@17bluebirds
There's no ideal solution here, is there? We're each and every one of us, trying to adapt to this increasingly bad situation, the best we can. We all know that it's hard, but we just have to get on with it.

I've got 2 DC at home (11 and (14) and I'm fortunate that they are resilient and have mostly adequate tech. But there are times when they need me.

I've recorded voiceovers for all my lessons posted this week but have been emailed by 2 parents yesterday, complaining that I wasn't delivering'live' lessons. It's forcing my hand to go into school next week where I'm able to be live online. It's a real concern as I also care for 92 year old Mum who lives with us.

But we just plough on through, because we simply have to. I want my DC to build their resilience by taking their cue from me.
[/quote]
You shouldn’t feel obliged to go into school, unless specifically asked by your Head. You could invite another member of staff to your live lesson (virtually), so that safeguarding is adequate. Check the Union advice on live lessons. If you can be available to answer queries during your lesson time, that should be enough. Teaching at this time shouldn’t be causing you extra anxiety, particularly when you have DC of your own.

My sons school is teaching the children in. I know this as they post photos of it and videos. They do class activities get help with the work they are still seeing friends. I agree o.p that it is a shame for those at home not getting this. However those children are freezing , probably wondering why only half the class is there and worrying so it’s not exactly pleasant for them either. I do all the work with ds and I’m trying to make sure he gets a decent education.
I worry he’s going to be behind those being taught but it’s nobody’s fault not the teachers , not the students in there it can’t be helped. As much as I worry for my child I’m glad the children in there are being taught and the risk to the teachers is less than a full class.

@SingleparentHomeschool

I don’t think the OP is objecting to the kids of key workers being in, or vulnerable children. It’s the pointy elbowed middle class families who have gamed the key worker definition to send their kids in which gets to me. I’m talking about high earning families where the non key working parent is in a part time wfh creative job. That’s how ridiculous it is, in my school at least. Those families are sending their kids in. Endangering the teachers, TAs and kids who genuinely need to be there. People are claiming that as the kids in school are getting the same remote teaching input as those at home, But that’s not really true. For a start, a TA isn’t just anyone. They are highly experienced educators. But more importantly, they are in that school environment, where they know the thing to do is work, not mess around. And they are being properly supervised, as opposed to having mum or dad trying to ensure they get the work done while also juggling their own full time job. I’m a single parent. The gov guidance is allowing families with 2 parents where only 1 is a key worker to take up these places in schools. Why? It seems to me it’s because my child’s education is not as important as these other children’s. What’s good enough for me and my kid is apparently too much to ask of other families. The OP is right it is totally unfair. I’m not asking for my child to be allowed into school. I’m asking the rules on key worker kids to the equitable, so we can keep this period of closures as short as possible and so teachers and TAs don’t have to endlessly juggle teaching remotely with teaching overly large classes of key worker kids because the pointy elbow brigade are looking after themselves at the cost of everyone else. They are the ones who need to “be kind”.

I wish I’d written this post. It’s exactly how I feel but articulated far better than I’m capable of because I am not well educated. Thank you.

@borageforager

I am finding this difficult too. My kids could have a place at school because DH is a doctor (I work part time out of the house but not a keyworker myself), but we’ve juggled things around so that we can manage without. We did this because we thought that was what we were supposed to do for the communal good. Then I hear of other parents who have put their kids in school - for example someone I follow on Instagram who is a dog walker, but married to a doctor, has her kids in school. Yes I’m sure it’s inconvenient walking the dogs with the kids but aren’t we supposed to be sucking it up for the good of all? Am I the fool here, making my kids miss out on socialisation yet again (not fussed really about the learning - they can catch up on that), living the same old lockdown life again, compromising my own output at work etc?

Yes this annoys me too.

I know someone who has asked their boss to say shes a keyworker (company have provided PPE in the past but don't at the moment) so she can send her kid to school. Obviously they haven't done it but she's still trying.

You're right that it's not "fair".
It's not fair that you get to keep your children at home, lowering their risk of catching a deadly disease and passing it on to other members of the family, while key workers - who signed up for their jobs knowing it was hard, but not expecting to be in THIS position - have to face that risk themselves on a daily basis at work, then expose their children to that risk too, at school.

You and your children are the lucky ones.

@Bitbusyattheminute

If it helps, I'm a teacher and my kids aren't being educated by by me.

When they're at home, they do their thing while I do live lessons to my big kids.

When they're in school, they sit distant from other kids and do their thing.

When I'm on rota and go into school, I help with the occasional query, but if it's outside my subject area I can't really help. I'm definitely not teaching kw kids, because I have to keep disappearing to teach online.

Then all kids get the benefit of my wisdom. Except my own. They are ignored for roughly 12 hours a day, but they're used to that.

This.

I agree that all children deserve an education and that they should not have to sacrifice it to 'help' others.

Schools are required to provide remote learning for 3-5 hours a day. So if you are getting one worksheet speak to the school.

Deserving?? You think schools are only taking those deserving? Children in school are not receiving their normal education, they are sat in freezing rooms because the windows are all open, doing remote learning with a teaching assistant or a one to one working with an sen child in the class to supervise them all whilst they get different teachers in everyday or lesson depending on the school to "be" there but they are doing video calls with other classes and remote learning. Your child will be left to get on with just like the last lockdown. And I know this because I'm a teaching assistant working in a school and having to bring my own children to school because I have to be in to supervise these children. So next time you want to moan that you don't want your child at home with you, where its warm, where you can help your child with those lessons, support them, give them some praise, make the most of that time and not taking any risks, think of the children of school staff who are putting themselves at risk, sat in a cold class with other kids they can't play with, having to get on with very little support. Those kids don't get a choice and have to be in so we can provide this childcare you claim your child deserves but have openly said doesn't need. People with your attitude cause these resources to be pished to the limit and push staff to their breaking point.

CheetasOnFajitas Well that's a bit of a sweeping statement My DH is a very high earner and a KW. We could've sent our DC in but didn't but are now reconsidering because of the unfair way school are organising the use of resources.

censoredhead.wixsite.com/website/post/shell-shocked?fbclid=IwAR13hCEGB_AvmfuQOSfsEt83AqVgijTDPoXlut5qeQMUHY9Oa4zAEkfEYAU

OP, many parents whose children have special educational needs and disabilities have been asking this very same question for years. Except nobody has ever really cared about children missing education.......until now.

Im a keyworker
My dd is not going into school
DH can work from home
And she’s better off at home and society is better off with as few kids as poss in schools right now

Can I also remind posters that you often do not know what goes on in someone's home. Schools don't email out the sen & safeguarding registers. Just because someone is a SAHP & is mc doesn't mean their dc doesn't need a place.
Now some people will take the piss but I doubt it's the majority

My year 1 kid is in with nursery and my year 3 kid is being supervised by a TA and doing the same work set on seesaw by the teacher. The headteacher and a TA have tested positive this week--remember there is a very real risk of infection having your children in school. It's far from perfect but what options do we have? I think there are a lot of emotive threads on here suggesting everyone is in and they are getting full lessons taught by the teacher whereas that is not the case in my experience at all. Between 4-8 in my daughters class according to shifts. It's basically childcare with a bit of home schooling thrown in. It sounds like you have a good set up with enough tech and space so why not focus on what you do have rather than what you don't? Try and not let your head go down the negative route. Turn it on its head; you have the opportunity to keep your children safe at home.

OP, many parents whose children have special educational needs and disabilities have been asking this very same question for years. Except nobody has ever really cared about children missing education.......until now.

Well said