UsForThem - “opaque lobbyists” with links to the far right?

[LacyEdge]

Prof Alice Roberts started an interesting Twitter thread discussing this, linking to Nafeez Ahmed’s article about U4T in Byline Times. Replies suggest UsForThem aren’t a concerned parents’ group at all and are linked with a far right funded group.

Well I never.

twitter.com/theAliceRoberts/status/1352993581414424576

It’s really not a far right group. It’s a bunch of parents who are trying to highlight the serious harms these restrictions are causing our children. I’ve volunteered with them for a while and can honestly say their intentions are good - as are mine. They are just organised and very focused. I’m sure I won’t convince all of you but thought I should say it as I see it.

Btw I have no affiliation with the Group.

They all say that on here. All of them.

@noblegiraffe

Btw I have no affiliation with the Group.

They all say that on here. All of them.

Lol what can you do.

Us4Them fans - what’s your opinion on masks in classrooms?

Have you dropped the plans to sue heads over mandating them?

What about social distancing?

They were also against open windows and complained that children weren’t allowed to sing happy birthday to classmates as it was a high risk activity in an indoor space.

Did I hear a klaxon?

WhenWillThisEverEnd

If they cared so much for the mental health of children why have they only just started "campaigning"?

Why have they not been "campaigning" for years about the reduction in funding that has been going on for many years?

And if they really gave a fuck why do they need to put forward, lies, slurs and general misinformation about teachers, teaching and education?

@SarahJHarper148

It’s really not a far right group. It’s a bunch of parents who are trying to highlight the serious harms these restrictions are causing our children. I’ve volunteered with them for a while and can honestly say their intentions are good - as are mine. They are just organised and very focused. I’m sure I won’t convince all of you but thought I should say it as I see it.

Whose intentions are good? I'm sorry but no. Threatening legal action against a school for daring to mandate masks? Citing it being in contravention of government guidance?

Can I ask - how effective do you think masks are, ado you understand the downsides, and do you think that forcing children to wear them is a good costs to benefits measure?

Us4Them is a group that believes their desires and wants supersede those of head teachers, teachers, TAs, support staff, vulnerable children and parents. Basically the general community. They want no mitigation in schools because masks are ‘frightening’ to their dcs and everything should be as ‘normal’ even though NOTHING has been normal since March ‘20.

I suggest Us4Them open up the schools and they can staff them with their supporters. If they are so convinced that there is zero risk they can rally support and create their own open schools - where social distancing, masks, ventilation, etc is thrown out the window. Teachers willing to risk their lives and the lives of their loved ones can remain safe whilst Us4Them revolutionise education during a pandemic.

It’s really the only way forward - survival of the fittest 😉

I can't take anyone seriously who writes for conservative woman and then claims to care about children. I wonder if they've been campaigning against austerity for the last decade?

They could learn some patience tbh. We'll be onto lockdown 4 if schools open too soon before teachers are vaccinated.

I suggest Us4Them open up the schools and they can staff them with their supporters

They tried. They called it a Parent Army. Inexplicably no school wanted them.

They now appear to have gone online and are begging for government funding.

@Radio4Rocks

Did I hear a klaxon?

Batshit signal.

As always.

Omg, children's health, education and well being is affected by COVID!!

Covid!

Cooooooocvvviiiiddddd

Unlock the schools!

@Radio4Rocks

Did I hear a klaxon?

And watch them all come running

I actually saw one, complaining about a teacher, trying to explain the importance of hand gel and ventilation for a tiny part of an English lesson.

Apparently this was dreadful because school, skool, is the one place where there kids need to get away from this covid lark for their mental health.

I can well imagine, incredibly worried, stressed teachers, battling freezing room, endless arguments with students about ventilation, students ignoring hand hygiene etc... Wondering.. Why are these students not understanding or complying with the basics... Thinking Let's run them through it...again?

When it's these blinkered parents who are obviously not in the slightest bit interested in anyone's safety, sending their dc in with no mandate to gel, mask etticute, don't complain about windows etc ect!! Then have the temerity to blame a teacher for running students through it.

Personally I think students who don't comply should be sent home and parents who do not want to support safe schools and as much teaching about how covid spreads, to also be asked to de register their dc.

Their astroturfing here would be enough to make them very suspicious. Genuine parents groups don’t need to do that.

Us4Them Scotland had to be sent a cease and desist letter by the main Scottish teaching union because they were encouraging members to record teachers in online lessons to share and complain about.

Lots of deleted tweets there too.

I would have hoped we could have a debate about the costs and benefits of school closure without mischaracterising concerned parents as far-right loons.

But I fear sensible discussion on schools went out of the window a long time ago

mischaracterising concerned parents

There’s concerned parents, then there’s shady campaign groups who spend an awful lot of time being vile to teachers.

They were also vile to vulnerable families who also wanted schools to be safer. That was pretty disgusting.

To suggest a debate suggests choice.

There is no choice, we are in a global pandemic, and we pretty much one of the, not the worst affected country.

U4T are certainly idiots but Alice Roberts thinks everyone who disagrees with her is 'far right'. She is to Science what Owen Jones is to journalism.

If not.. The most worst affected country.

@HalfPastThree

I would have hoped we could have a debate about the costs and benefits of school closure without mischaracterising concerned parents as far-right loons.

But I fear sensible discussion on schools went out of the window a long time ago

What a shame there was no civilised debate last Summer from this lot when the plan for schools to reopen was being thrashed out. If I remember the only way was all schools back with absolutely no social distancing, masks or rotas.

Oh lord no... It's cringed when I Owen attached himself to the unions stuff.