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Original poster

Can we unlock the schools at start of Feb?

776 replies

MeandT · 21/01/2021 17:49

I'm totally supportive of the lockdown BUT by the end of next week, case numbers nationally will be the same as they were at end of November. Hospital admissions are falling again.

Rather than going back into tiers with the shops and food pubs open (where all the spreading happened in December), can we not issue all the teachers with N95 masks (and vaccines for the clinically vulnerable), make all the kids wear triple layer face masks all the time, and just get on with the important job of educating this country's kids in person? Starting again 1st of Feb.

AIBU to ask if we can send the kids back as soon as we hit the case rate we unlocked at on 2nd December?

IABU= no way, the cases will shoot up too quickly again, even if they all wear masks all day.

IANBU = yes, get them back before half term, the only reason it went nuts in December was because everyone was out Christmas shopping and seeing family.

OP posts:
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Wheresmykimchi · 21/01/2021 23:25

@whattodo2019

keep schools until after Easter but shorten the summer holidays to increase teaching hrs
Won't happen.

Holidays can't be adjusted as easily as that - this argument comes around every time.

Yearbook76 · 21/01/2021 23:27

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Saturdayrabbit42 · 21/01/2021 23:28

ONS shows no increased risk for teachers...

PurpleDaisies · 21/01/2021 23:29

@Saturdayrabbit42

ONS shows no increased risk for teachers...
Schools weren’t closed because of risks to teachers.

The infection rate in teachers and support staff is definitely higher than the general population.

noblegiraffe · 21/01/2021 23:30

@Saturdayrabbit42

ONS shows no increased risk for teachers...
Well that's not true is it? Even the ONS disagree with your analysis there.
Wheresmykimchi · 21/01/2021 23:31

@Saturdayrabbit42

ONS shows no increased risk for teachers...
And?
noblegiraffe · 21/01/2021 23:31

Where has that been reported?

That the scientists on the ed select committee didn't seem to know their arse from their elbow? You just needed to listen to what they were saying and compare it to what happened before Christmas.

Nellodee · 21/01/2021 23:33

I’m working a full online timetable. Prep time is up massively. I’m not contracted or paid for the summer and if I’m working now, I’m not working then as well for no pay. Or for pay, for that matter.

BustopherPonsonbyJones · 21/01/2021 23:33

@whattodo2019

Keep schools properly closed? No online teaching? No learning packs? No emails or phone calls? No key workers’ children? No ‘key’ workers children? No vulnerable children? No lunch delivery? No assessments? No predicted grades?

Properly, properly closed for three months?

RedToothBrush · 21/01/2021 23:34

You are taking some hard drugs or are in total denial by this point if you think the schools are going back in February.

Even Gavin is pushing for an 'early reopening' in March 'before the Easter Holidays' now.

February. No chance.

smogsville · 21/01/2021 23:35

@happinessischocolate says:

Majority of people never use so much of what is taught at school, Macbeth? Crop rotation? The tudors and Henry VIII. Kids can miss some learning. It's not going to do them any harm. And i say that as the parent of a year 11 who missed some of his mocks due to illness.

Do lots of other posters agree with this? I emphatically don't but am interested in how many do.

Great username btw. I'm not trying to start a fight, just genuinely interested in others' views here as I'm definitely in an echo chamber IRL.

Greenygrape · 21/01/2021 23:38

@purpledaisies I'm sure many people would prefer a 2 week Feb half term, a 3 week Easter and 4 week summer hol to schools closed until May and only 10 weeks of school time for the rest of the academic year!

The fact that school is closed for 'holiday' when Covid rates are lowest is disgusting, especially in the context that parents are using what little annual leave they have to homeschool their kids.

Nellodee · 21/01/2021 23:44

I agree that people do not use huge amount of what is taught in school and in a maths teacher. I strongly believe we should split maths into a functional stream and an optional one. The functional stream should contain most of the number, a little geometry but not trig, and some statistics. And lots and lots and lots of percentage work.

happinessischocolate · 21/01/2021 23:45

@LickEmbysmiling

Happiness, it could be the loo? The kettle? The office sponge... 20 years old and re used without proper sterilisation.
No, more likely the air, they all sit at the far end of the office. Not the loo as 1 is female and the others are male, no office sponge 😁 just a cleaner, a dishwasher and paper towels, the kettle is still a possibility though.
PurpleDaisies · 21/01/2021 23:47

[quote Greenygrape]@purpledaisies I'm sure many people would prefer a 2 week Feb half term, a 3 week Easter and 4 week summer hol to schools closed until May and only 10 weeks of school time for the rest of the academic year!

The fact that school is closed for 'holiday' when Covid rates are lowest is disgusting, especially in the context that parents are using what little annual leave they have to homeschool their kids.[/quote]
And I’m sure just as many people would want the opposite.

I would not want the holiday dates changed and I can assure you none of my school colleagues would be up for that either.

KatherineJaneway · 21/01/2021 23:48

Absolutely not.

Wheresmykimchi · 21/01/2021 23:48

[quote Greenygrape]@purpledaisies I'm sure many people would prefer a 2 week Feb half term, a 3 week Easter and 4 week summer hol to schools closed until May and only 10 weeks of school time for the rest of the academic year!

The fact that school is closed for 'holiday' when Covid rates are lowest is disgusting, especially in the context that parents are using what little annual leave they have to homeschool their kids.[/quote]
Hmm eh??

portico · 21/01/2021 23:52

whattodo2019
keep schools until after Easter but shorten the summer holidays to increase teaching hrs

I am not a teacher. But, we can’t ask teachers and other school staff to give up their vacation time. I know teachers are under appreciated in the UK. I know many who spends hours outside of school, planning and marking. What about impacts to their health and family life, in giving up their vacation time to increasing teaching hours. They has to be an alternative better solution

LickEmbysmiling · 21/01/2021 23:55

Maths, definitely needs an over haul!

It's ridiculous pushing poor teens who have slogged away for years with it and never got past the basics, trying to work out algebra, about to go into the world alone, working... Independent, with not a single clue about money, banks, loans, credit cards! Shocking! Not even family budgeting... Food...

Greenygrape · 22/01/2021 00:01

@purpledaisies I'm well aware you and your school colleagues wouldn't be keen but for those of us whose children have only been in school for 3 months out of a whole year it would be wonderful for them to have more contact with teachers and other children who they learn an awful lot from. It also solves the practically of what you do with them with a 6 week holiday when you have no annual leave left because of Covid. But it would be nice if it was on the table.

@wheresmykimchi I'm talking about the 2 month + summer period last year where covid rates were low, lessons could have been outdoors and kids could have all had a good month of teaching after schools had been closed.

It could be an option and no reason it couldn't be considered now to have less pressure on schools and families over coming months and then opportunity for more normal schooling when large numbers have been vaccinated.

Thewiseoneincognito · 22/01/2021 00:11

Surrreeee send them back. They’ll be closed again within 3 weeks.

Lots of parents need to start adjusting to the fact that the schools are closed at least until Easter. Minimum

Wheresmykimchi · 22/01/2021 00:18

[quote Greenygrape]@purpledaisies I'm well aware you and your school colleagues wouldn't be keen but for those of us whose children have only been in school for 3 months out of a whole year it would be wonderful for them to have more contact with teachers and other children who they learn an awful lot from. It also solves the practically of what you do with them with a 6 week holiday when you have no annual leave left because of Covid. But it would be nice if it was on the table.

@wheresmykimchi I'm talking about the 2 month + summer period last year where covid rates were low, lessons could have been outdoors and kids could have all had a good month of teaching after schools had been closed.

It could be an option and no reason it couldn't be considered now to have less pressure on schools and families over coming months and then opportunity for more normal schooling when large numbers have been vaccinated.[/quote]
I agree in principle but holidays can't be changed for a number of reasons.

Wheresmykimchi · 22/01/2021 00:19

@greenygrape your response to purple daisies is odd. We are not there to solve what 'to do with them' in a holiday.

DBLM · 22/01/2021 00:19

[quote Greenygrape]@purpledaisies I'm well aware you and your school colleagues wouldn't be keen but for those of us whose children have only been in school for 3 months out of a whole year it would be wonderful for them to have more contact with teachers and other children who they learn an awful lot from. It also solves the practically of what you do with them with a 6 week holiday when you have no annual leave left because of Covid. But it would be nice if it was on the table.

@wheresmykimchi I'm talking about the 2 month + summer period last year where covid rates were low, lessons could have been outdoors and kids could have all had a good month of teaching after schools had been closed.

It could be an option and no reason it couldn't be considered now to have less pressure on schools and families over coming months and then opportunity for more normal schooling when large numbers have been vaccinated.[/quote]
There are actually plenty of reasons why this is not an option.

You cannot demand people’s working contracts are changed to suit you and your childcare needs. Many teachers actually work other jobs during the holidays. They are set in advance and planned around. That’s the end of it so why work yourself up hoping for something that won’t happen?

Instead lobby for summer camps etc which can be run separately and paid for by the government or even by keen parents who want to make up the perceived lost education. Then it’s optional and you’re not relying on people who are already working above their normal capacity and frankly don’t want to look after your kids for you when then should be off on their well deserved and unpaid holidays.

Wheresmykimchi · 22/01/2021 00:21

@DBLM quite.

The camp I usually work for with children on the summer break was cancelled and turned into an NHS hub. Lots of people there who didn't need to be. The entitlement infuriates me.

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