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Original poster

Should schools close again?

445 replies

FuckinGoddess · 30/11/2021 16:56

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 ?

OP posts:
Almostmenopausal · 01/12/2021 22:39

Personally I think they should close a week or 10 days early for Christmas and be kept at home for that extra period. Give them that isolation period. The last week before breaking up for Christmas isn't a great loss to their education anyway (besides them missing out on festivities at school which would be a shame I admit) but could make a huge difference to transmission of this variant

thejollypostwoman · 01/12/2021 22:42

Just no.

VikingOnTheFridge · 01/12/2021 22:44

[quote GreenLakes]@Angrybird123

DD overheard some of the teachers discussing their Christmas night out plans this morning.

I’d have thought teachers would want to do everything possible to minimise the risk of infection, particularly at this time of year. I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard that a buffet and night out was planned.

I have no issue with teachers perhaps quickly collecting a takeaway coffee or similar and taking it home or perhaps sitting on a park bench. But I was very surprised to see multiple teachers crowded round a table in a packed Costa branch after school yesterday![/quote]
If you want to have a say on what teachers do outside work hours, you can take personal responsibility for paying them more.

siestalady · 01/12/2021 22:45

@Almostmenopausal

Personally I think they should close a week or 10 days early for Christmas and be kept at home for that extra period. Give them that isolation period. The last week before breaking up for Christmas isn't a great loss to their education anyway (besides them missing out on festivities at school which would be a shame I admit) but could make a huge difference to transmission of this variant
This post is very 2020.

How can you make a sweeping statement about it being no loss to their education?! Maybe the last two weeks of term are no great loss to kids in foundation or year 1 - but how about those year 7s who haven't completed a full year at school since they were in year 4?? Or the year 13s with a levels round the corner?? Just no. Enough already.

We need to stop resorting to closing the fucking schools! Education should be non negotiable.

TheKeatingFive · 01/12/2021 22:47

Personally I think they should close a week or 10 days early for Christmas and be kept at home for that extra period.

Once again. Who looks after them when their parents are at work?

VikingOnTheFridge · 01/12/2021 22:51

@Almostmenopausal

Personally I think they should close a week or 10 days early for Christmas and be kept at home for that extra period. Give them that isolation period. The last week before breaking up for Christmas isn't a great loss to their education anyway (besides them missing out on festivities at school which would be a shame I admit) but could make a huge difference to transmission of this variant
If school closes a week early, my DC certainly will not be kept at home. Ludicrously naive to imagine that isolation would happen.
CallmeHendricks · 01/12/2021 22:58

So, @GreenLakes, you think it's fine that teachers can mix with hundreds of unvaccinated children all day every day, but they're not allowed to grab a fucking coffee after school?

Too damn right we're going to have our Christmas parties like everyone else in the country and as Boris has ordained.

Naughtynovembertree · 01/12/2021 23:00

Jenny harries once again says don't mix!
What planet is she on she's caused me the most stress during covid!

Naughtynovembertree · 01/12/2021 23:02

Mumsnet dc are both so compliant re the need for ventilation, wearing vests, hand washing etc.. They get it and understand.
But unfortunately many dc go to school asking why windows are open, arguing etc.

Naughtynovembertree · 01/12/2021 23:03

Sorry posted too soon so those who want school open I will really hope your aiding the effort, helping to make them understand the need for ventilation and to be supportive etc. Wear masks when fold, my dd said no one does Confused

CallmeHendricks · 01/12/2021 23:07

@GreenLakes, if you want your child to attend school and for staff to run the gauntlet that is the covid pit of infection in classrooms, then you have to accept that those staff members WILL have been mixing outside of the school premises too.
If you don't like that, then feel free to keep your child home.

cantkeepawayforever · 01/12/2021 23:29

I do isolate after school and after school terms if I have to see vulnerable relatives, and repeatedly test before mixing - that’s just obvious risk mitigation.

However, I resent anyone who themselves mixes socially inside - or allows their school age children to do so - because it is allowed, but then tells teachers that they shouldn’t.

JanglyBeads · 01/12/2021 23:30

Hear hear cant!

allbartwo · 01/12/2021 23:37

I have no interest in what teachers do outside work, it's none of my business.

PrivateHall · 01/12/2021 23:49

@motherrunner

Educational setting en masse will not close but individual classes, years or school will close if there aren’t enough staff to safely open.

Schools staying open won’t mean education provision as usual though. Myself and my colleagues are exhausted through cover, illness and stress. Our pupils aren’t getting the best of us at present but they are in school.

I get it, it is tough. But please understand that EVERYONE is exhausted right now, everywhere is short staffed, literally everywhere. But life has to go on and we have to keep moving forward as this is our lives now going forward, it isn't going to change, is it. We cannot all shut down our work places to take longer holidays because we are tired, even if our patients/customers/clients/service users/children etc aren't getting the best of us. Unfortunately we just have to all keep going.
NovemberWitch · 02/12/2021 00:01

[quote GreenLakes]@Treaclepie19

I don’t expect teachers to be punished but I would think they’d be cautious at this time of year.

They don’t need to self isolate outside work but I wouldn’t have thought crowding into packed staffrooms and non-essential nights out would be top priorities.

I’d be absolutely fine with teachers grabbing a takeaway coffee and sitting distanced on a park bench.[/quote]
Why?
Many have become fatalistic about their situation, considering the working conditions and the lack of cash or interest from anywhere.

PrivateHall · 02/12/2021 00:07

@Howshouldibehave

This is a genuine question. Why are these classrooms so bloody cold?

Our heating goes off at lunchtime to save money-it has done ever since I’ve been there. The morning heat used to last a ‘bit’ but I’d often be marking after school in my hat, gloves and coat. Now, with windows open, it’s bitterly cold all afternoon.

I really feel for staff working in the freezing cold, it really isn't right. You must all be miserable Sad I have heard so many parents complain about their DC being cold and they seem to forget there are freezing adults there too, who lets face it, feel the cold more than DC do.
Kokeshi123 · 02/12/2021 01:04

I have no issue with teachers perhaps quickly collecting a takeaway coffee or similar and taking it home or perhaps sitting on a park bench.

Weirdest post on this thread. It's not May 2020, you know?

borntobequiet · 02/12/2021 05:48

I’d be absolutely fine with teachers grabbing a takeaway coffee and sitting distanced on a park bench.

This is possibly the most ridiculously condescending thing I’ve read on Mumsnet, ever.

I went to Costa yesterday but it’s OK because I’ve retired from teaching, partly because of the attitudes to teachers I see on here (which have also put me off doing any supply, a shame when there’s such a shortage of supply teachers).

motherrunner · 02/12/2021 06:09

@RuleWithAWoodenFoot

I’d be absolutely fine with teachers grabbing a takeaway coffee and sitting distanced on a park bench.

How very fucking generous of you. Everyone else in the world allowed in hospitality venues with no masks at all, no real protective measures, but you'll 'be fine' with teachers having to stay outside on a bench.

Echo every single word @RuleWithAWoodenFoot has said.

Tbh, this doesn’t apply to me as 1. we still don’t have a staffroom 2. we don’t have a Christmas buffet (or anyone social)

But, I will go out and socialise with whoever I want to and wherever I want to because I can. You want other people to give up their ‘freedom’ (as that word is spouted on here so much) just because of their job they do? You don’t want your child’s school to close, push the government for funding for measures for ventilation which isn’t just ‘open a window’.

echt · 02/12/2021 06:22

@GreenLakes

I strongly suspect if individual schools end up closing, it may well be as a result of staff behaviour!

DD is in year 8 and informed me this evening that she saw at least 50 staff members packed into a small staffroom at lunchtime, all unmasked, tightly packed and sharing food and drink.

She has also told me that a Christmas party is planned for the teachers with a buffet and night out!

I personally have also seen teachers packed into costa coffee branches after school, with others sharing cars and visiting bars.

If it bothers you so much, say something to the school.

WTF does it have to do with you what teachers do outside school?

Panacotta · 02/12/2021 06:38

God no.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 02/12/2021 06:54

@Almostmenopausal

Personally I think they should close a week or 10 days early for Christmas and be kept at home for that extra period. Give them that isolation period. The last week before breaking up for Christmas isn't a great loss to their education anyway (besides them missing out on festivities at school which would be a shame I admit) but could make a huge difference to transmission of this variant
Great, and who will pay my bills if I can't go to work? We can't all work from home.
Waxonwaxoff0 · 02/12/2021 06:56

@GreenLakes

I strongly suspect if individual schools end up closing, it may well be as a result of staff behaviour!

DD is in year 8 and informed me this evening that she saw at least 50 staff members packed into a small staffroom at lunchtime, all unmasked, tightly packed and sharing food and drink.

She has also told me that a Christmas party is planned for the teachers with a buffet and night out!

I personally have also seen teachers packed into costa coffee branches after school, with others sharing cars and visiting bars.

God forbid teachers have a life outside of school too.
FrippEnos · 02/12/2021 07:00

GreenLakes

I am loving your hypocrisy.