Should schools close again?

[FuckinGoddess]

I’m at the end of my tether.

Worried about Omicron, of course, and the devastating effects it could have on lives.

Worried about children missing out on even more education. Worried about being forced to stay at home again. And worried about people dying.

What do you think will happen? What should happen ?

It's a simple no, children need to be able to continue their education

No way.
No way
No way
No way
No way
No way

Absolutely not.

I think they should absolutely not close and likely won't close.

No.

Some might have to temporarily close some classes because of staff illness (flu and covid and all the other usual winter bugs). But that's it.

(Knocks on wood, chucks salt about, etc etc)

No.

No. We'd be getting into the realms of serious negligence if they did imo.

No. My daughter is last year of a levels at the very least let her get to the end of this

If it means the pubs stay open then I'm all for it

Probably not but at least give the most vulnerable and their households the right to stay home

Don’t worry they won’t close. The quality of education might not be very good due to high levels of staff illness and self-isolating but they won’t close.
At the moment we have high levels of COVID and staff are on their knees; classes are taken by TAs and 1:1s which is very difficult for everyone.

I think more restrictions should come in to prevent even a whisper of closure.

Adults who can should be told to work from home.

Everyone should where masks everywhere - not just shops but cinemas, pubs etc.

Covid passports should be brought in for all theatres/ cinemas etc.

These mitigations should help reduce numbers and help school staff stay well and therefore keep schools open.

Children need to be in school- adults need to support them with this by being more diligent.

Is closing the schools seriously a first option on a parenting site? Have we forgotten children's education should come before adult activities?

As a parent and a teacher, no.

Surely it depends how serious it is? Which we don't know yet

NO WAY!

There is no reason for it.

If it’s serious then yes without hesitation.

A million, trillion, gazillion times, NO!!

Unless it turns out to be absolutely horrific, obviously (I don't think that it will)

no

On the basis of what we know now?

Because cases have been up and down but largely flat since the summer. Deaths and hospitalisations are falling.

The new variant might be a big issue or might be nothing. Surely it’s far too early to talk about schools closing?

No no no no no no

What devastating effect is Omicron going to have on lives? Is it a more deadly mutation? I haven’t heard that - the opposite in fact.

Or js all the fear more about the fact we could be back to square one in terms of no protection from vaccines?
I absolutely do not think schools should close again btw. To what end? Where will it stop?

No, I really really hope not.

There are lots of measures which could and should be brought in first before resorting to school closures.

Of course they bloody shouldn't.