Anti-lockdown campaigners using children to push their agenda

[noblegiraffe]

I can't be the only one disgusted with how certain groups are using faux concern about children to push the earliest dismantling of lockdown restrictions.

They are loudly catastrophising on the front pages of the press about our kids. The lost generation. £40,000 in lost earnings. Articles about schools full of traumatised kids suffering PTSD caused by lockdown.

And the solution they propose is always to re-open schools as early as possible. Even before March 8th. Regardless of covid.

Now, the situation in schools before Christmas was awful. Some areas of the country had less than 50% attendance due to the new variant ripping through secondary schools. Secondary school kids were the most infected subset of the population by far, and are now the second least infected subset of the population behind the 70+ age group after schools were closed, demonstrating that there was a massive problem with transmission in secondary schools. It wasn't good for pupils' mental health or education to be in a situation when they didn't know if they'd be in school or out at the drop of a hat. But before Christmas, there was complete media silence on the impact that this was having on children.

CAMHS has been devastated by cuts. Waiting lists are intolerable and children in dire need of support don't even qualify. Same for social care around vulnerable children.

Yet you won't hear these people clamouring for schools re-opening as soon as possible talking at all about how to improve safety measures in schools to prevent the scenario we had before Christmas happening again. You won't hear them demanding more funding for children's mental health services and for more support for social care services.

And the reason you won't hear that is that THEY DON'T GIVE A SHIT.

The reason that they want schools re-opened as quickly as possible is because the message was that schools had to open first.

They can't get what they really want open (everything else) until schools are open, hence the massive focus on schools and how terrible things are for children.

This catastrophising isn't good for parents or kids. It's scaremongering and unhelpful.

I know that there are kids (and parents) really struggling with their mental health and worried about their education. Blaring out messages about how terrible things are and how they will never recover because you want to hype up the message about schools going back is irresponsible and sickening.

We need sensible and calm conversations about how to support children and parents. We need funding for schools and massive investment in support services. We need a long-term program of recovery, not 9 months of a Catch-Up Tsar and quick fixes. We need a measured and sensible approach to schools re-opening that won't see kids in and out and in and out due to lack of mitigation measures causing rampant covid spread (particularly with the new variant).

We need these anti-lockdown campaigners to shut up and stop dominating the narrative.

[quote stilllovingmysleep]**@noblegiraffe* I couldn't agree with you more on this: "Lots of children's mental health professionals are pleading with people to stop this damaging 'children will never recover' messaging."*

In fact I wrote a little article about this exact thing

I'm disgusted by how a supposed concern for children's mental health is being pushed by libertarian Tory types who for years and years couldn't have cared less about CAMHS underfunding and other children's services / education neglect

I'm also disgusted how they're pushing a reopening without actually taking proper steps to look after children and teachers (and parents) to open up properly

As for children's mental health. Of course they are struggling. I worry as much as any parent. But how could they not? It's a bloody pandemic. In what world untouched by reality would children cheerfully be going to school as normal, with no mitigation, while people die in their thousands around them? How is that "good mental health", to ignore society around them and the needs of others? What are we teaching them?

I completely support looking after children's mental health and education- and yes opening schools. But do it properly and care when it matters, not these crocodile tears from those who never cared before and will never care in the future [/quote]
Exactly this. Thank you, stilllovingmysleep for putting it so well.

Schools may not be safe but they may be safer for many children. These things are relative.

@dividedwefall

You are so wrong on this. Children are really suffering. They are being robbed of social interactions, family & friends time, birthday parties, holidays, swimming lessons, music lessons, education (not provided by a harassed parent teaching 3 kids at all different levels). Disabled children have had their therapies and leisure activities cancelled and don't understand why.

It's easy just to think of yourself, your own perception of the situation etc. But some of us see the much bigger picture and aren't USING children, we are genuinely sad and worried for them.

Adults need to get a grip on their fear and irrationality surrounding covid, and stop putting the entire cost of that fear on innocent children who deserve so much more than they have had this year.

@dividedwefall except I don't think anyone here is saying they are not really suffering. We all 100% agree they are. And how could they not with a pandemic and a lockdown?

The issue is how the discourse about children's (real) suffering is used to open schools with no proper mitigations in order to push a herd immunity strategy

If the requirement for schools to go back on 8th March was for everyone KS2 and above to wear masks in classrooms I wonder how parents would react to that and if they would support that if it meant all vulnerable children could be back in school.

@MessAllOver

Schools may not be safe but they may be safer for many children. These things are relative.

And wouldn't it be good if they could have some funding for mitigation measures so that the kids could actually stay in school without the Hokey Cokey experienced by so many last term?

I could be angry about lack of MH resources. My son is probably ASD. He has been diagnosed with sensory processing and on the list for Autism Outreach. We were supposed to have our first appointment March 2020. It was cancelled. Was supposed to have a virtual appointment July 2020. It was cancelled. No communication since then. Luckily his school are continuing to offer him a TA without a PSP but it’s on a term by term basis.

I could cry and stamp my feet and scream ‘what about my child?’ but at the end of their day their physical health, and the physical health of their peers etc, takes precedent.

So yes I do understand @noblegiraffe’s point about ‘faux concern’ because no-one cares about my child, or children like him, before Covid. He was just seen by parents of children in his class as a nuisance.

[quote stilllovingmysleep]**@noblegiraffe* I couldn't agree with you more on this: "Lots of children's mental health professionals are pleading with people to stop this damaging 'children will never recover' messaging."*

In fact I wrote a little article about this exact thing

I'm disgusted by how a supposed concern for children's mental health is being pushed by libertarian Tory types who for years and years couldn't have cared less about CAMHS underfunding and other children's services / education neglect

I'm also disgusted how they're pushing a reopening without actually taking proper steps to look after children and teachers (and parents) to open up properly

As for children's mental health. Of course they are struggling. I worry as much as any parent. But how could they not? It's a bloody pandemic. In what world untouched by reality would children cheerfully be going to school as normal, with no mitigation, while people die in their thousands around them? How is that "good mental health", to ignore society around them and the needs of others? What are we teaching them?

I completely support looking after children's mental health and education- and yes opening schools. But do it properly and care when it matters, not these crocodile tears from those who never cared before and will never care in the future [/quote]
Agreed

@Forestshade
Also agree! 100%

@Nuitsdesetoiles

"The overriding narrative from the teachers has been very me me me and it's refreshing to see some teachers on here actually have the opposite perspective."

That is a really mean thing to say. Teachers are me me me because they don't want to be in unventilated spaces with 30 kids unmasked during a pandemic? With no proper ventilation rotas etc? Seriously?

I'm not a teacher but I've collaborated with and talked to many during this whole year (I too have been working throughout) and they've gone above and beyond. This teacher attacking really upsets me.

I see the converse. Every time I raise a concern about children on Twitter someone comes along with all or a combination of:

1. Their child is fine at home and is enjoying lockdown learning.

1. An assumption I am a Tory voter (I think because I am not trotting out the accepted middle class leftie line that lockdown long and hard until COVID vanishes is the only “right” and compassionate policy).

1. That because I am apparently a Tory voter I have no right to raise concerns about children. They as Labour voters can stand by their voting record to show they are caring and on the right side of things.

1. Their mental health will be worse when all their grandparents, parents and teachers die.

1. Lockdown learning is all about parents doing lots of arts and crafts and reading.

1. A total lack of engagement about the fact there are kids who don’t have delightful SAHM to do arts and crafts with and for who school is a much needed lifeline.

1. Safeguarding concerns are basically irrelevant because schools should not be at the frontline of safeguarding.

Overall the impression I get from these posters is that it doesn’t actually matter about safeguarding or deprived children falling behind as long as you can blame the Tories and austerity and your kids are ok.

In other words I see the opposite: people who are not struggling during lockdown refusing to acknowledge a different reality for anyone else and using politics as a fig leaf to mask the fact they don’t really give a fuck. I was even told today that as she had always voted for left wing parties that was enough to show she genuinely cared for these kids, even while pushing for schools to stay closed for longer (which impacts on them).

What's really got to my year 11 and year 13 students and is causing them huge anxiety is that exams were cancelled and replaced with who knows what.
If their mental well-being was at all a priority, plans would have been made before the announcement.

Now suddenly when the world is suffering as a result of a pandemic that some countries have successfully suppressed by listening to the scientists, suddenly there is all this faux concern for those with Cancer from those who prefer to get their science from dodgy websites on the internet.

@Emilyontmoor you're so right. Another area that has been used in a shameful way this year to push herd immunity. The stupidity of it is that cancer patients end up paying a much much higher price if the virus is left unchecked. First because NHS gets overwhelmed. Second because they have to shield for longer

We need these anti-lockdown campaigners to shut up and stop dominating the narrative.

As if!

@MrsHamlet

What's really got to my year 11 and year 13 students and is causing them huge anxiety is that exams were cancelled and replaced with who knows what. If their mental well-being was at all a priority, plans would have been made before the announcement.

Same for mine @MrsHamlet

@LivinLaVidaLoki

I have always advocated for vulnerable children as I work in children's social care and have seen first-hand the effect of cuts to services, and the crap funding of camhs. Given the economic disaster that is looming this will only get worse, these things aren't funded through magic money trees.

@LivinLaVidaLoki you're quite right. They are funded through fair progressive taxation.

@TrustTheGeneGenie

I'm saying these people gave no shits for MH before, they won't care when CAHMS remains under funded after either And you know that, how? How do you know If "these people" who you don't even know cared before? And how do you know they won't care after? This has opened a lot of people's eyes to the attitude in this country towards children. I am well aware of the lack of funding myself because I couldn't access any help as a teenager.

They won't care when schools are forced to become increasingly responsible for all societies ills with even less fundingt

Again you know this how? Crystal ball? Or judgemental presumption?

They only care right now because they can see a route for their kids to be out of the house
You honestly think that's all it is? Not that children NEED socialization? Really?

That says a lot more about your attitude towards children than anyone else's.

Vile

Because only the people that vote the right way and agree with the acceptable policies and trot out the right mantras care...

@Shesingsshangrila

What a surprise, giraffe back to her usual goady posts the second we get closer to schools going back. Tell you what giraffe, you can come and deal with my 6 year old who has turned from a happy carefree child into an angry, lonely, emotional child, who refuses to engage with school work anymore, won't sleep, has become violent, started wetting themself, won't feed themself, insists stay with them all the time. But yes, "faux concern". You've sunk to a new low today.

This.

@HercwasanEnemyofEducation

You can be both a concerned parent and also see through the government BS that schools are safe.

She's posting because she is concerned about other children as well as her own.

Nothing is "safe"

Noble seems to think that anyone who doesn't bow down to her is an us for themmer. As it happens I don't agree with their views either, but apparently because I think schools opening is a good thing for children generally, it's just faux concern.

@MrsHamlet

What's really got to my year 11 and year 13 students and is causing them huge anxiety is that exams were cancelled and replaced with who knows what. If their mental well-being was at all a priority, plans would have been made before the announcement.

Words cannot express how angry I am at the government for this particular shitshow.

I phone my Y13s every week and am having to keep them going despite them not knowing what on earth they are facing in terms of assessments. Some are really struggling with trying to make plans for uni and continuing to learn new work and revise previous work when the rug has been completely pulled from under them despite previous assurances that exams would 100% absolutely definitely be going ahead. All that changed unexpectedly and without warning in one evening with no plan about how to continue.

No headlines about the effect of that mess on their mental health.

What's also interesting is how many people are attacking me instead of the premise of my post that campaign groups are using kids to further a political agenda.

[quote FrippEnos]**@Moondust001
Funny thing is that I have noticed a great many pro-lockdown people also using children as their argument - and notably the OP, who posts repeated hysterical posts about how children / everyone will die if schools don't close. I doubt they could conduct a sensible or calm conversation if they tried.

Its a shame that you have no real point to make.[/quote]
I made my point. Shame you missed it.

I agree entirely OP.
I'm hoping my Y12 can continue to work from home, until it's safe.
I suppose as parents we have the choice.
Those that want to risk their childs longterm health can go ahead and send them, survival of the fittest, isn't it.

I made my point.

Well what I got from your post is that you appear to not be able to read my posts.

@noblegiraffe

I can't be the only one disgusted with how certain groups are using faux concern about children to push the earliest dismantling of lockdown restrictions.

They are loudly catastrophising on the front pages of the press about our kids. The lost generation. £40,000 in lost earnings. Articles about schools full of traumatised kids suffering PTSD caused by lockdown.

And the solution they propose is always to re-open schools as early as possible. Even before March 8th. Regardless of covid.

Now, the situation in schools before Christmas was awful. Some areas of the country had less than 50% attendance due to the new variant ripping through secondary schools. Secondary school kids were the most infected subset of the population by far, and are now the second least infected subset of the population behind the 70+ age group after schools were closed, demonstrating that there was a massive problem with transmission in secondary schools. It wasn't good for pupils' mental health or education to be in a situation when they didn't know if they'd be in school or out at the drop of a hat. But before Christmas, there was complete media silence on the impact that this was having on children.

CAMHS has been devastated by cuts. Waiting lists are intolerable and children in dire need of support don't even qualify. Same for social care around vulnerable children.

Yet you won't hear these people clamouring for schools re-opening as soon as possible talking at all about how to improve safety measures in schools to prevent the scenario we had before Christmas happening again. You won't hear them demanding more funding for children's mental health services and for more support for social care services.

And the reason you won't hear that is that THEY DON'T GIVE A SHIT.

The reason that they want schools re-opened as quickly as possible is because the message was that schools had to open first.

They can't get what they really want open (everything else) until schools are open, hence the massive focus on schools and how terrible things are for children.

This catastrophising isn't good for parents or kids. It's scaremongering and unhelpful.

I know that there are kids (and parents) really struggling with their mental health and worried about their education. Blaring out messages about how terrible things are and how they will never recover because you want to hype up the message about schools going back is irresponsible and sickening.

We need sensible and calm conversations about how to support children and parents. We need funding for schools and massive investment in support services. We need a long-term program of recovery, not 9 months of a Catch-Up Tsar and quick fixes. We need a measured and sensible approach to schools re-opening that won't see kids in and out and in and out due to lack of mitigation measures causing rampant covid spread (particularly with the new variant).

We need these anti-lockdown campaigners to shut up and stop dominating the narrative.

You couldn’t be more wrong if you tried. My daughter has been in and out of CAHMS services so don’t you dare tell me that I don’t care about mental health funding. I have been talking about it since long before Covid. Your post is highly offensive and complete bollocks . Personally I am utterly disgusted at the attempt to keep putting people down and name calling just because they have a different view point. If you want a discussion then stop telling people what they do or don’t care about.

@MrsHamlet

What's really got to my year 11 and year 13 students and is causing them huge anxiety is that exams were cancelled and replaced with who knows what. If their mental well-being was at all a priority, plans would have been made before the announcement.

I couldn't agree more. My own dc are in Year 11 and 13 and not knowing what lies ahead in terms of assessment is really worrying. They have worked hard throughout but have nothing now to focus on or aim for. If the education secretary and the dfe cared, they would have had contingency plans in place last September, when everyone who was working in schools knew that there was little chance exams would go ahead this year.