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Original poster

What are your predictions for this school year?

466 replies

Sheepsheepmoresheep · 25/08/2021 11:35

Be interesting to look back. I didn’t think they’d close the schools again this time last year, but I was wrong!

I don’t think they’ll close the schools again … but we’ll see!

OP posts:
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14
Jourdain11 · 26/08/2021 07:12

It's awful, but our PM genuinely does not care how many children are ill or how ill they get.

If you're so sure that your argument is based in fact, don't use an emotive statement to make your point.

You've got no way of knowing whether or not he "genuinely doesn't care" about "our" children. And I'm not sure caring makes such a difference, anyway.

PrincessNutNuts · 26/08/2021 07:15

@lannistunut

There's nothing realistically to suggest that tens of thousands of children are going to end up with Long Covid (whatever you class as Long Covid...) and there's really nothing to suggest that this virus has a worse effect on kids (and families) than the many other viruses Well, nothing apart from the scientific data, no. Confused

My prediction is a very high number of cases, and therefore a high number of children ill for the longer term, with a proportion of them permanently affected.

Hospitalisations of children are currently 30+/day, that'll be far higher a month after schools reopen in England.

It's awful, but our PM genuinely does not care how many children are ill or how ill they get.

Agree you must get a PCR test if your child is ill as you will need the proof for health support and sadly, for some, benefits claims.

This is what I find baffling on this board.

If you look at how many children are going to hospital with covid every day at the moment, then multiply it by the number of days in a school year you get thousands.

What some people label as "scaremongering" is just...Maths.

Jourdain11 · 26/08/2021 07:17

Yes, but that's not the way it works!

PrincessNutNuts · 26/08/2021 07:19

@Jourdain11

Yes, but that's not the way it works!
What isn't?
Jourdain11 · 26/08/2021 07:20

But anyway, whatever. Some people are just determined to try to scare and worry others, which is really not very nice. But anyone who challenges it has their personality/intelligence/motives/politics/use of grammar attacked. Someone will be along in a moment to call me a Tory and an anti-vaxxer, no doubt. But yeah, it is what it is.

camelfinger · 26/08/2021 07:21

I think there will be a huge increase in childhood hospitalisations in September (like there always is, but this year it will be reported widely). The NHS will struggle, but just about cope until January, when Something Will Be Done.

I think it will be harder to arrange mass vaccination centres as venues are being used for other things and staff involved in giving vaccinations move onto other work. So there will be delays in getting people vaccinated who were among the first tranche.

I’m hoping there will be a new type of test launched which is less invasive and quicker to interpret.

I think parents/the media will start to get more resistant to going along with covid theatre and will demand evidence-based effective solutions. People are tired of following rules that don’t make a difference but there may be some appetite if there is a clear and workable strategy, like open the windows for 2 mins every hour, not leaving people to freeze all day.

I’m hoping that some of the children who’ve been screwed over the last couple of years will use their experience and superior technical ability to come up with a model for future learning.

Watapalava · 26/08/2021 07:21

There's nothing to say those kids are admitted because of covid (kids go to hospital everyday). Majority of those will be vulnerable - as data shows - and they're eligible for vaccine now

Jourdain11 · 26/08/2021 07:21

If you look at how many children are going to hospital with covid every day at the moment, then multiply it by the number of days in a school year you get thousands.

PrincessNutNuts · 26/08/2021 07:23

@Jourdain11

It's awful, but our PM genuinely does not care how many children are ill or how ill they get.

If you're so sure that your argument is based in fact, don't use an emotive statement to make your point.

You've got no way of knowing whether or not he "genuinely doesn't care" about "our" children. And I'm not sure caring makes such a difference, anyway.

We can only judge what someone cares about by their actions.

Boris Johnson's are infecting our children and not protecting our children.

Which is why there will be thousands of children going to hospital with covid this school year.

Jourdain11 · 26/08/2021 07:24

That hypothesis doesn't adhere to the Law of Large Numbers, in itself.

Bryonyshcmyony · 26/08/2021 07:26

You could equally say that he is protecting our children by letting them get an education. An education is a human right, remember.

Disclaimer I do not vote Conservative and think the govt is a bunch of muppets, but I find the ideology of the left trying to close schools and keep lockdown even worse.

Jourdain11 · 26/08/2021 07:26

Boris Johnson is not "infecting our children". He's not personally charging around the country breathing Covid into every classroom. If you want to argue, let's have facts!

twinkletoesimnot · 26/08/2021 07:27

@Jourdain11

But anyway, whatever. Some people are just determined to try to scare and worry others, which is really not very nice. But anyone who challenges it has their personality/intelligence/motives/politics/use of grammar attacked. Someone will be along in a moment to call me a Tory and an anti-vaxxer, no doubt. But yeah, it is what it is.
And some people are patronising and condescending when people voice valid points of view, often based on their own experiences. They want to shoot them down and make them stop saying things they don't want to hear. That's not very nice either. If the truth is scary should it be censored? Or should people make decisions or have to go along with things but at least with their eyes wide open, instead of being shocked when it all goes wrong (again.)
lannistunut · 26/08/2021 07:28

@Jourdain11

It's awful, but our PM genuinely does not care how many children are ill or how ill they get.

If you're so sure that your argument is based in fact, don't use an emotive statement to make your point.

You've got no way of knowing whether or not he "genuinely doesn't care" about "our" children. And I'm not sure caring makes such a difference, anyway.

I can post what I like.

I judge people by their actions. Johnson sure as hell doesn't give a toss if my child gets ill to the extent they miss a month of school. If Johnson did care, there would be efforts to minimise the numbers this will happen to.

My feelings about the PM do not change the facts about Covid.

I can post both what I think about Covid and what I think about the PM.

Jourdain11 · 26/08/2021 07:31

I don't think I've ever said anything patronising or condescending. I understand why people are worrying. Perhaps I'm worrying. You have no way to know! But there are some who seem to delight in being as negative as possible and seem positively eager for everything to go as wrong as possible. What can I say?

lannistunut · 26/08/2021 07:31

@Jourdain11

Boris Johnson is not "infecting our children". He's not personally charging around the country breathing Covid into every classroom. If you want to argue, let's have facts!
You are right.

The factual statement would be:

Boris Johnson's deliberate choice of policies will knowingly lead to higher infections, illness, disabilities and deaths amongst children, and Johnson is fine with that.

GiveMeNovocain · 26/08/2021 07:31

My prediction for schools? They'll be pretty much back to normal and children will get ill, but not from Covid, from all the bugs they've always caught but it'll be more intense as they rebuild immunity.

Can I make a prediction for Mumsnet? There'll be the usual hyperbole and demands for safe schools, which really mean closed and part time school and more damage for children.

Bryonyshcmyony · 26/08/2021 07:33

But how do you minimise it happening? If someone tests positive they need to self isolate. That's surely as good as it can possibly get, now we know what damage lockdown does to kids MH, education and the economy generally.

PrincessNutNuts · 26/08/2021 07:34

@Jourdain11

Boris Johnson is not "infecting our children". He's not personally charging around the country breathing Covid into every classroom. If you want to argue, let's have facts!
"We can only judge what someone cares about by their actions.

Boris Johnson's are infecting our children and not protecting our children."

What are your predictions for this school year?
Bryonyshcmyony · 26/08/2021 07:35

I would rather get covid than my teen miss any more education. I think plenty of parents feel the same.

Jourdain11 · 26/08/2021 07:36

@GiveMeNovocain

My prediction for schools? They'll be pretty much back to normal and children will get ill, but not from Covid, from all the bugs they've always caught but it'll be more intense as they rebuild immunity.

Can I make a prediction for Mumsnet? There'll be the usual hyperbole and demands for safe schools, which really mean closed and part time school and more damage for children.

Yeah, but their child will be fine, doing "homeschooling projects" and going for hearty walks before settling down to some baking in the afternoon. Let's not worry about the kid who will be stuck in a 1 bed flat, with no internet except on his mum's phone, eating pot noodles 3 times a day. Schools are closed, so you can't see him.
PrincessNutNuts · 26/08/2021 07:36

@Bryonyshcmyony

But how do you minimise it happening? If someone tests positive they need to self isolate. That's surely as good as it can possibly get, now we know what damage lockdown does to kids MH, education and the economy generally.
Ventilation, masks, social distancing, vaccination in schools.

Low cases in the community.

lannistunut · 26/08/2021 07:37

I think what is frustrating is when posters express a view some don't like, they get the patronising replies saying they are 'delighting' in 'scaremongering' etc.

I personally am not eager for things to go as wrong as possible. Why would I be eager for that?? I have children in school who I love above all else. I want them to stay well.

But Covid is what it is. I can see no reason to suggest it won't spread very fast in schools and the rates of children contracting it, having long lasting symptoms, having permanent damage and dying from it will be higher than they could be.

I simply consider that another poor policy choice from a government that has consistently made poor policy choices.

Bryonyshcmyony · 26/08/2021 07:37

What about lft testing in schools?

borntobequiet · 26/08/2021 07:38

@Jourdain11

I am perfectly able to understand scientific data, thank you. Nor am I "statistically challenged".

I think the point Watapalava makes about opinion polling is, it's really difficult to know whether the "random sample" really is reflective of society overall. 1,500 is a small cohort, too.

1500 is a standard poll size carrying up to a 2.5% random sampling error compared to the whole population.

A more valid critique might be made, if required, by looking at the organisation carrying out the poll and their sampling methods.

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