Is anyone planning on refusing to allow their children to have the lateral flow tests.

[Witchcraftandhokum]

I'm really not looking to start a bunfight. Just tying to better understand the reasons if you are not planning on allowing your child to be tested.

In my view using up the tests we over bought might do more harm than good and may be we should donate them to another country instead or to employers who want them.

I imagine they have already tried. There'd be no employer interested in purchasing a test worth so little - even giving them away for free can't be done because of the costs involved in waste disposal. They can only really be buried in a sector that can't refuse.

@PracticingPerson

And it is because I (try to) understand the science, as much science as I can read, that I think LFTs are a big pile of crap

You said "JOhnson encouraged mixing over christmas. Let's put the blame where it belongs." If he said it was a good idea to jump off a cliff, you'd do that, would you? Johnson is a liar, and a piece of work. "He told me to do it.. all his fault"

Held a gun to your head, did he? NO, he didn't. You *know he's a liar. ANyone who decided to mix over christmas knew exactly what they were doing.

Adults need to take responsibility for their decisions. If they re-launch "Eat out to help out", are you going to do that, too?" It doesn't matter what someone encourages (and he didn't... he changed his mind again). This is a git who wrote two versions of almost every article he ever submitted. He's a consummate liar.

JOhnson is Tesco Trump. Both are cheap and nasty liars. Both rely on idiots to not apply critical thinking.

@MmeLaraque Your post leaves me a little , I think you have misunderstood my position.

No, I didn't mix over Christmas, because it appeared to me it was not a sensible move.

No, I didn't do EOTHO, because it appeared to me it was not a sensible move.

But I won't stand for blaming those people who did listen to our lying Prime Minister. The person to blame is the lying Prime Minister. For lying.

Why test the children in school though why not every one in going in to Supermarkets. it’s so badly thought through and unnecessary in my OPINION, however the pressure to have the “correct” opinion and do the “correct” thing when it comes to COVID is unreal if you stray away from the accepted stream of thought you’re hunted like a witch in the 1500s. the letter from the school made testing seem mandatory and when I emailed checking my DD would not be pressured into anything she didn’t want to do I had no email response to my question but a number of missed ignored calls from the school and an email reply asking me to try contacting them I’m guessing to try and pressurise me and DH into changing DDs mind. Leave the kids alone test the adult population if needs be. kids have had enough shit to deal with the last year without now being pressured to not do what is right for them but instead for “the greater good”.

@SATSmadness
*It beggars belief that we're coming up for a year into this pandemic, there has been an overload of information available to anyone one who has fully functioning eyes and ears and yet some people still haven't grasped the whole asymptomatic spread thing and can also be so selfishly precious about their children as to demonise a simple test as "invasive" (yep, a little but no pain, no gain as they say) and "dehumanising".

I suppose I shouldn't wonder how bonkers conspiracy theories spread with ignorance like that merrily typed up and shared with the world !

Tina, my love, I really hope that you're not home-schooling your kids in science matters. For the love of all things holy, please leave that to a science teacher.

I realise that this is a bit of a viper style reply to your post but I'm stunned by your post, absolutely stunned *

I totally agree.

My dd wont be tested as she had covid at new year but once weve got past 90 days she will

Why test the children in school though why not every one in going in to Supermarkets

Because you're not going to spend several hours a day in the supermarket, all within a few metres of about 30 other people

My DS has had hundreds of Covid tests and has now been vaccinated but will still have the tests if required. It's no big deal for us tbh.

[quote PracticingPerson]@MmeLaraque Your post leaves me a little , I think you have misunderstood my position.

No, I didn't mix over Christmas, because it appeared to me it was not a sensible move.

No, I didn't do EOTHO, because it appeared to me it was not a sensible move.

But I won't stand for blaming those people who did listen to our lying Prime Minister. The person to blame is the lying Prime Minister. For lying.[/quote]
Which part of that post do you have a problem with, exactly? which part?

People *are responsible for their actions.

Which part of that post do you have a problem with, exactly? which part?

Hmm, I don't think we'll agree here. You clearly don't seem to be a Johnson supporter, but you also appear to blame the public for doing largely as told they could by the government.

My view is the government is responsible for governing, which they have done badly. Government failures have caused very high deaths.

Maybe we should leave it there as I'm not understanding your train of thought it appears.

@Notestinghere 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Most countries have taken similar measures to the UK. It is more of an international issue than UK. With the UK teachers' unions are an issue which is presumably why this voluntary testing where the teenager/parent agrees and voluntary masks comes in as it keeps the unions happy even if the tests are not very accurate and could damage the child educationally and the finances of the parents.

If teachers return to work full time on 8 March because there are these voluntary mask/test rules that cannot be imposed on children then that is probably a reasonable compromise. I assume a teacher who refuses to work in a classroom where teenagers are exercising their right not to wear a mask gets sacked.

Personally my feeling is that refusing a vaccine or any kind of testing that can protect and save the population ( without a medical or exceptional reason) negates the hundreds of hours dedicated and committed scientific communities have put in to get the world through this. I loathe our Government but cant people see the work that has gone into this to help people?

@Xenia it seemed to me that most teachers prepared to take action in January were primary and the masks and tests are only affecting secondary schools so it's not about the unions or those pesky militant teachers being appeased at all. I imagine it's an attempt to avoid the increased covid transmission we've seen every time schools have opened up fully.

If anyone is being targeted for reassurance it's parents, 29% of whom apparently think it's too risky to open schools up on 8th March.

As a parent and teacher I'm feeling quite relaxed, my family are in good health, I've had covid once and survived, we're in a rural area and infection rates are falling here. If I was in a city with health issues I'd be less relaxed.

It all depends on the mutations and hoping the new variants from unchecked increased face to face multiple household mixing don't beat the vaccines and are not more life threatening being more contagious with more severe breathing symptoms etc.

Is there anything that people won’t try to pin on teachers? Neither teachers or the unions have had any say in this. The gov have chosen to make this voluntary because, whether or not you agree, they cannot force a person to take a test or to wear a mask.

When you read ‘teachers’ in the press, you should read it as ‘gov pinning it on teachers.’ Teachers and school staff worked masked/ maskless, pre tests, through tests and still will when there aren’t enough tests (as is already the case).

Believe it or not, Teachers don’t make the rules.

My 11 year old is refusing to have the tests done. I will give my consent but he won’t have it done and I will warn them that he’s very worried and distressed. He’s desperate to go back to school and can without the tests. If he couldn’t go back he would chose to stay home rather than have the test but luckily that’s not a choice he has to make.

Gov response to masks ‘ On the basis of current evidence, in light of the mitigating measures education settings are taking, and the negative impact on communication, face coverings will not generally be necessary in the classroom even where social distancing is not possible. There is greater use of the system of controls for minimising risk, including through keeping in small and consistent groups or bubbles, and greater scope for physical distancing by staff within classrooms.’

@expatinspain

saraclara That sentiment is all well and good if you don't have an anxious child. For those that do, or a child with additional needs, it's not that simple.

I spent my entire career teaching in special schools. We were really skilled in helping children overcome their anxieties over new experiences. I seldom felt more useful than when we enabled a child to cope with something that then benefited the family. Because we were more emotionally removed than parents, the children could very often deal with things better if we took the lead, and once we'd helped them to cope, that transferred to the parents who could then also get their children to let them do whatever it was.

I do understand how difficult it is when you're risking a meltdown with your own child. But so often I had parents say "I never thought he'd be able to do that!"

Because so many parents, especially those with kids with SN underestimate their kids.

I was matter of fact with my youngest about the tests, I said they were uncomfortable but done in a jiffy. Then it's out the way and can get on with his day.

@Jamboree01

Gov response to masks ‘ On the basis of current evidence, in light of the mitigating measures education settings are taking, and the negative impact on communication, face coverings will not generally be necessary in the classroom even where social distancing is not possible. There is greater use of the system of controls for minimising risk, including through keeping in small and consistent groups or bubbles, and greater scope for physical distancing by staff within classrooms.’

That is from the old guidance -from 8 Jan 2021 It is under review following the Prime Minister’s announcement on 22 February 2021 and will be updated www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-in-education/face-coverings-in-education

And this was from the minister for education this week:
www.itv.com/news/2021-02-25/covid-tests-and-face-masks-not-compulsory-but-recommended-at-schools-says-education-minister

I am grateful to all parents allowing tests, even though they are not wonderfully accurate it's the only thing teachers have aside from those children consenting to masks and a window.

I just have the window in primary. I'm allowing my secondary kids to have the test, of course. They see me take it, it's fine. I will still be insisting on isolation though.

What are the odds based on recent experience on last minute no notice government u turns on:

• schools are safe for full reopening mass indoor multiple households face to face mixing
• testing to blame the resulting incubation and spread on optional non testing
• face coverings again to use as an excuse for continuing super spreading
• following the science - recorded actual and mathematical modelling guesstimate plus newly sequenced local mutations impacting current administered vaccines efficacy

As all subject to change as with a change of wind direction if according to recent experience and pattern of pandemic mismanagement pandering to those who shout most. As like Christmas there is an expectation that people will ignore criminal laws and won't be told what to do in super entitlement exceptionalism customary British selfish behaviour and culture I'm alright mate style. Let's see how long before the next schools closure when non sustainability is the default short sighted "solution". Not so much I told you so but what did you expect?

I am a bit worried about the 'not compulsory but recommended messages' for testing and masks. A few people making a stand and refusing to do something can affect everyone and completely undermine the efforts everyone else will be making. What are they going to do when someone refuses to test but is spreading CV19 around the school (and maybe refusing to wear a mask as well)? I have signed up my DS for testing and let him know he will be tested. He said OK. I didn't ask him if he wanted to object and don't intend to suggest such an option to him! Even if its difficult the first time (he's never had one before), I think it is something he would get used to with some gentle support and encouragement. It is a means to an end and worth it to be back at school.