Schools - why are they doing this?

[Scrooge89]

Why are the media preparing us for school closures? They simply can’t do this to us…

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-59673271

Not to my children. My youngest struggled so much at home and was one of the 25% who couldn’t go to school (although I saw how much some people fudged the key worker card I may have to do it).

[quote whenwillthemadnessend]@CarrieBlue
Not dismissing uk at all.

I love a uk hol and been all
Over uk all times if the year

But for a proper rest I'm sorry
But A packed car- tents- rain or worse expensive Meals out or self cater
Heaving traffic in school
Holidays expensive days out is not what a consider a rest. A change yes but not a rest

Still they do say a
Change is a stood as a rest so 🙅‍♀️

[/quote]
As a teacher, that sounds like most of the holidays I’ve had. They are in the school holidays (as that’s when I’m not working) and in the UK as that’s been more affordable.

I’m not sure what your point is?

@whenwillthemadnessend - I see, not a holiday you would want. Aren’t you lucky to be able to have a choice. I’ve never wanted a ‘sit on a beach, do nothing, eat too much’ type holiday myself, I’d rather be in the U.K. in a tent. Horses for courses I suppose, but as much a holiday as going abroad to a lot of people. And in no way not a proper holiday. What an odd thing for you to say.

Great post TheHoneyBadger

It's worth saying that none of the teachers who regularly post on MN are among the 'pro school closure posters' referred to upthread.

Most (all?) are firmly in the 'make schools safer so they don't have to close' camp and have been throughout.

[quote CarrieBlue]@Iheartbaby
Like many other workers, that’s my point teachers are acting like they are the only ones.

No, not like any of the workers you mentioned - that’s MY point. As I said, which other profession is working under these conditions?

@OnceuponaRainbow18 - was that supposed to be a tag for the poster who I was replying to? I made exactly the same point as you - all workers are entitled to annual leave.[/quote]
But this is the point that is annoying me about teachers, teachers are not the only ones working under stressful dangerous conditions, so stop saying they are

But this is the point that is annoying me about teachers, teachers are not the only ones working under stressful dangerous conditions, so stop saying they are

And the point that you’re trying to make is that teachers (and other childcare workers) are working in stressful, risky conditions without the protection that others have. You haven’t named any other profession that is expected to work under the same conditions yet. So stop saying that teachers are working in the same conditions as others when they are not.

*I’m, not youre

teachers are not the only ones working under stressful dangerous conditions, so stop saying they are
We're the only ones expected to work with a totally unvaccinated population (in primary schools) with no mitigations whatsoever.
And for the umpteenth time, we're asking for mitigations which will also keep the children safer.

@CarrieBlue

But this is the point that is annoying me about teachers, teachers are not the only ones working under stressful dangerous conditions, so stop saying they are

And the point that you’re trying to make is that teachers (and other childcare workers) are working in stressful, risky conditions without the protection that others have. You haven’t named any other profession that is expected to work under the same conditions yet. So stop saying that teachers are working in the same conditions as others when they are not.

Many public facing roles, police, taxi drivers, anyone who has to work in busy public facing environments, nurses, hospital workers, teachers are not the only ones

Many public facing roles, police, taxi drivers, anyone who has to work in busy public facing environments, nurses, hospital workers, teachers are not the only ones

Six hours, no masks, no vaccines, no social distancing, no testing? Nope, keep trying.

Many public facing roles, police, taxi drivers, anyone who has to work in busy public facing environments, nurses, hospital workers, teachers are not the only ones

With 30 unmasked, unvaccinated people in a room at once?

@Appuskidu

Many public facing roles, police, taxi drivers, anyone who has to work in busy public facing environments, nurses, hospital workers, teachers are not the only ones

With 30 unmasked, unvaccinated people in a room at once?

A taxi driver will be coming in to contact with more than 30 people a day as well as shop workers, bus drivers, nurses, hospital porters, the list is endless, yes teachers have a hard job but so do many people at the moment who are putting themselves at risk as well.

A teacher comes into contact with more than 30 people a day, none of them fully vaccinated bar a very few sixth formers. Keep trying.

@CarrieBlue

A teacher comes into contact with more than 30 people a day, none of them fully vaccinated bar a very few sixth formers. Keep trying.

So do a lot of people, so you keep trying. What about nursery workers who have a room full of very young children/babies who they have to actually hold and feed and take to the toilet and change nappies. Oh look guess teachers are not the only ones.

I’d already included nursery workers in my previous post - I count teachers/tas/school staff/nursery workers together.

And plenty of teachers do exactly those things too.

@CarrieBlue

And plenty of teachers do exactly those things too.

Guess what, so do nurses

And?

I had a minor op done this week. I had to wait in my car for a phone call to say the nurse was ready and to ask if I had any covid symptoms. I was admitted in my mask by a masked nurse, my temperature checked and we both kept our masks on throughout.

@CarrieBlue

And?

And, your not the only ones

You're still ignoring the point that nurses have masks. Many patients have masks. Many patients will be vaccinated. Most school aged children are not.

I'd be keen to know how many people screaming 'schools must not close' stopped wearing masks in shops.

Us4Them who are screaming not to close schools are also outraged at the suggestion that they might like to get a booster jab.

We weren’t prioritised for vaccines either. Or require those being cuddled/changed/fed to wear masks. Or for them to be vaccinated.

For the record, I do not in any way believe that teaching staff have it worst at all. Front line NHS staff are amazing how they have kept going, the police continually putting up with idiots, prison officers similarly and a whole host of others. But teaching staff do work in a unique environment that offers little protection if any, unlike any other of the jobs you have mentioned.

I heart baby

I don't argue at all that many other workers are coming closer to covid than others.
However... When police approach people they can decide how close they get in usual situations?
Mostly they are outside not inside and not with 30+ others in one room?
Supermarkets staff again can turn move.. Walk away from super crowded ailses those on tills are at risk but at least have that plastic?
The main issue for teachers is physically having to be constantly present with the children in an enclosed space?

My work has been horrendously stressful due to staff absence with many support staff teaching classes without extra support (like the teacher would have). I for one am thankful for xmas break as we're all at breaking point and exhausted. I don't want my children home (as I'm still in work and they don't get on with work or socialise, the usual) but trying to get ex teachers, who left the profession because of how awful it is now, aren't likely to be biting the govenment's hand off to come back.